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Foundation

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Foundation

By: Isaac Asimov
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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About this listen

The first novel in Isaac Asimov’s classic science-fiction masterpiece, the Foundation series

THE EPIC SAGA THAT INSPIRED THE APPLE TV+ SERIES FOUNDATION • Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read


For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future—to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save humankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire—both scientists and scholars—and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation.

The Foundation novels of Isaac Asimov are among the most influential in the history of science fiction, celebrated for their unique blend of breathtaking action, daring ideas, and extensive worldbuilding. In Foundation, Asimov has written a timely and timeless novel of the best—and worst—that lies in humanity, and the power of even a few courageous souls to shine a light in a universe of darkness.
Classics Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera

Critic Reviews

Praise for Isaac Asimov and his Foundation series

“A true polymath, a superb rationalist, an exciting and accessible writer in both fiction and nonfiction, Isaac Asimov was simply a master of all he surveyed.”—Greg Bear

“Asimov served wondrous meals-of-the-mind to a civilization that was starved for clear thinking about the future. To this day, his visions spice our ongoing dinner-table conversation about human destiny.”—David Brin

“Isaac was still in his teens when I met him, a fan of mine before I was a fan of his. Writing for John W. Campbell back in the famous ‘golden age of science fiction,’ he became one of the founders of our field. With the Robot stories and the Foundation stories, he helped to shape science fiction as we know it.”—Jack Williamson

“I grew up on the ABC’s of science fiction—Asimov, Bradbury, Clarke. There’s a reason Asimov’s name comes first, and not just because of the alphabet!”—Janis Ian

“With his fertile imagination, his wit, and his prolific output, Isaac Asimov truly laid the foundation for all future generations of science fiction writers.”—Kevin J. Anderson

“If anything can be said to have been the launch pad for space-age science fiction, it has to be the Foundation trilogy. It’s a classic. And it’s unforgettable.”—Jack McDevitt

“The Foundation series is one of the masterpieces of science fiction. If you’ve never read these novels, then you’re in for a treat, and even if you’ve already read them, then you owe it to yourself to reread them, because they’re still great.”—Allen Steele

“Quite simply, Asimov got me started.”—Liz Williams

“Asimov’s Foundation trilogy was the pivotal touchstone of my life in creative fiction. His vision and scope spanned the galaxy across eons, and at the same time he told deeply personal stories of living characters. The writer I am sprang from the boy that these books touched back then. They continue to move me still. Thank you, Isaac, for opening my mind and my life to the possible.”—Tracy Hickman

“I’m sure there will be more Foundation stories, and more robot stories, and more science-fictional mysteries, because those are Isaac’s legacies to us. But reading them won’t be quite the same. There was only one Isaac Asimov; there will never be another.”—Mike Resnick
All stars
Most relevant

If you could sum up Foundation in three words, what would they be?

Captivating, engaging, interesting

Any additional comments?

I initally found this book hard to commit to, but once I got past the first couple of chapters it was great. The story is told mainly through conversations, which can be slightly confusing with one narrator, trying to work out who is speaking, but overall a great book.

Great story and easy to listen to

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Great book but requires regular listening or you might get lost in all the names. Once your in, your in...

Don't stop listening...

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This is a fantastic story, written from the context of a future thinker over 50 years ago and looking thousands of years in the future. The concepts and context is still relevant and I can see parts of this view to society showing up even still today. It's a shame this book is only fiction, or is it?
Either way it's a fantastic read for any SciFi buffs.

This must have been written by a time traveler

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great book. although character voices were confusing sometimes. Sci Fi in its fullness. will want to listen to the rest of the series

good book

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Great narration of a classic Sci-Fi novel. I read it at University, but I now feel it is dated and Asimov's intellectual hubris shines through. All his exposition is through dialogue (often unrealistic stilted dialogue) and all his main characters smug, over-confident and channeling the writer's own arrogance. I found it hard going from about a third of the way into the novel and only finished due to some obligation I felt to my youth. Compared to the political edifice of Frank Herbert's first 3 Dune novels this is lightweight for a Sci-Fi political novel.

Great narration but Asimov feels dated/Hubris

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