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Foundation and Empire

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Foundation and Empire

By: Isaac Asimov
Narrated by: William Hope
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About this listen

WINNER OF THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST ALL-TIME SERIES

The Foundation series is Isaac Asimov’s iconic masterpiece. Unfolding against the backdrop of a crumbling Galactic Empire, the story of Hari Seldon’s two Foundations is a lasting testament to an extraordinary imagination, one that shaped science fiction as we know it today.

The First Foundation survived two centuries of barbarism as the once-mighty Galactic Empire descended into chaos. Now it mist prepare for war against the remnants of the Empire as the Imperial fleet advances on their planet, Terminus.

Hari Seldon predicted this war; he even prepared his Foundation for it. But he couldn’t foresee the birth of the mutant Mule. In possession of a power which reduces fearsome opposition to devoted slaves, the Mule poses a terrible threat to Seldon’s Foundation.

©2019 Isaac Asimov (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Classics Fiction First Contact Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Exploration Space Opera Interstellar Star Wars Robotics War

Continue the series
Second Foundation cover art
Second Foundation By: Isaac Asimov

Critic Reviews

‘One of the most staggering achievements in modern SF’
The Times

‘Isaac Asimov was one of the great explainers of the age…It will never be known how many practicing scientists today, in how many countries, owe their initial inspiration to a book, article, or short story by Isaac Asimov’
Carl Sagan

‘Asimov displayed one of the most dynamic imaginations in science fiction’
Daily Telegraph

‘Asimov’s career was one of the most formidable in science fiction’
The Times
All stars
Most relevant
Foundation is Asimov's best read. The narrator does a great job performing his masterpiece of Sci Fi!!

outstanding

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The narrator just takes this great novel to the next level. One of the best sci-fi novels I have read.

Superb

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And I'm still loving Asimov's storytelling ability, and his ability to describe. His descriptions are sublime, never over-the-top or too long, and always interesting.

Here are two examples of the type of descriptions his books are peppered with.

"And behind a very sturdily-built and staunchly-defended facade of practical, unromantic, hard-headedness towards life, there was just that little pool of softness that would never show if you poked for it, but could be reached if you knew just how - and never let on that you were looking for it."

"There was quite a bit of smugness about his attitude towards Bayta - the satisfied awe that marks the triumph of someone who has been hovering on the edge of an inferiority complex for three years."

Another superb reading from William Hope

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Just a continuation of a great story, very well performed. Having made the point that the forces of history cannot be defeated by ordinary means, Asimov introduces something extraordinary - a mutant. l. And still the mystery of the Second Foundation lurks - no doubt to be a key focus of the next novel in the series. Genius.

Kazablanka

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I have lost count of how many times I have heard or read this. It still holds up

A classic

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