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The Foundation Trilogy (Dramatized) Audible Audiobook – Original recording

Isaac Asimov (Author), Geoffrey Beevers (Narrator), Lee Montague (Narrator),
4.6 out of 5 stars 1,491 ratings

The opening episode begins on Trantor, capital of the Galactic Empire, with the meeting of Seldon and Dornick, their trial, and their exile to Terminus. The action then jumps forward 50 years, to the first Seldon Crisis, where the repercussions of the recent independence of the Four Kingdoms of the Periphery are being felt on Terminus, and are handled by the first Mayor, Salvor Hardin. The scene then moves forward a further 20 years, as Mayor Hardin faces down the domination of the nearby and most powerful Kingdom, Anacreon.

The Merchant Princes
One-hundred-fifty years after the Foundation was established, the now powerful trading nation faces its greatest threat to date, guided by master trader Hober Mallow.

The General
Two hundred years after its creation, the Foundation battles Bel Riose, the last powerful General of the dying Galactic Empire.

The Mule
A further hundred years have passed, and the Foundation is challenged by an unexpected threat named The Mule.

Flight from the Mule
During the war against The Mule, with things going badly for the Foundation, some key figures under the leadership of the Foundation's greatest scientist, Ebling Mis, flee Terminus in search of the Second Foundation, to warn it of the danger from The Mule.

The Mule Finds
The Mule attempts to find and overthrow the Second Foundation.

Star's End
Sixty years later, and a teenage girl is at the center of the Foundation's renewed search for the Second Foundation.

Changes from the written Trilogy: The conflict between The Foundation and Anacreon takes place 70 years into the Foundation era; in the novels it occurs at 80 F.E. A small segment in Foundation titled "Traders" has been removed entirely. General editing for time has been done throughout. A large, rather comedic section on farming on Rossem has been added to "The Mule Finds".

Please note: This is an historical broadcast recording, produced by the BBC in 1973. The audio quality represents the technology of the time when it was produced.

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  1. Listening Length
    7 hours and 49 minutes
  2. Author
    Isaac Asimov, see all
  3. Narrator
    Geoffrey Beevers, see all
  4. Audible release date
    February 15, 2011
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    ABN
  7. ASIN
    B004NVJGQ6
  8. Version
    Original recording
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 7 hours and 49 minutes
Author Isaac Asimov, Patrick Tull - adaptation, Mike Stott - adaptation
Narrator Geoffrey Beevers, Lee Montague, Julian Glover, Dinsdale Landon, Maurice Denham, Angela Pleasence, Prunella Scales
Audible.com Release Date February 15, 2011
Publisher ABN
Program Type Audiobook
Version Original recording
Language English
ASIN B004NVJGQ6
Best Sellers Rank

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
1,491 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise this science fiction trilogy as an epic story spanning both time and imagination, with thought-provoking ideas about human nature. The writing quality receives mixed feedback - while some find it very well written, others say it's hard to read. The print size is criticized for being quite small, and customers appreciate the series' quality.

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Sci-fi storyInsightSeries qualityTimelineWriting qualityPrint size
51 customers mention "Sci-fi story"51 positive0 negative

Customers praise this science fiction trilogy for its epic narrative that spans both time and imagination, with one customer highlighting its unexpected plot twists.

"...Keep going. It ties up so well at the end, that you wonder why you ever doubted Asimov. The trilogy is best read as a trilogy...." Read more

"...happen, or discuss something that just did happen...and the novels are still brilliant...." Read more

"...brimming with interesting ideas that not only make good science fiction subject matter, but are worth thinking about in our lives, our futures, and..." Read more

"Wonderful copy of one of the greatest Sci-fis ever! The foundation is incredible, and this edition is lovely...." Read more

23 customers mention "Insight"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and thought-provoking, exploring human nature and society's evolution, with one customer noting its ability to convey complex modern issues.

"...This makes it an unusually intimate exploration of humanity. (Much in the way Firefly has no aliens.)..." Read more

"...great of a writer when it came to plot or characters but awesome when it came to ideas. What do we know about his texts?..." Read more

"...only make good science fiction subject matter, but are worth thinking about in our lives, our futures, and any abstract moments of free time we may..." Read more

"...Interesting, but I must confess that this was no Heinlein...." Read more

9 customers mention "Series quality"7 positive2 negative

Customers praise the series, with one describing it as the finest science fiction series in existence.

"...with Asimov and that is tragic as this is viewed as such a great series. I am feeling let down by this book. Just not that great." Read more

"This is one of my all time favorite anthologies...." Read more

"I love the Everyman Collection. Great books with a great aesthetic. A joy to read, put up on the shelf, and read again." Read more

"Sorry - not the original 3 books series... I looked again at the website and it is listed that its not the original books but I didn't see it ...." Read more

9 customers mention "Timeline"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the timeline in the book, with one customer highlighting its fascinating extrapolation of human history across centuries, while another notes how it covers decades and centuries.

"...The Everyman's Library chronology is useful as ever and if you are building your own home library with Everyman's editions or have at least a few..." Read more

"More than any other great SF writer, Asimov's works are accessible. They draw you in. Asimov can make you care about a mutant or a robot...." Read more

"...One of the greatest books of all time. Nice introduction and Asimov timeline...." Read more

"...-up in Asimov's career that leads to this trilogy as well as a cool timeline that shows other interesting events that occurred during Asimov's life...." Read more

24 customers mention "Writing quality"15 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it very well written and noting good print clarity, while others report it is hard to read and completely useless as a text.

"...(SF) and know that the Foundation Trilogy is one of the best examples of well written SF..." Read more

"...a half century, this is still a great read, although the dialog is a bit more stilted and some of the characters are more one-dimensional than I..." Read more

"...The writing is crisp and sometimes sparse, frequently detailed, and always brimming with interesting ideas that not only make good science fiction..." Read more

"...It seems to have good quality paper, with a nice ivory color. Print clarity is good...." Read more

11 customers mention "Print size"3 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the print size of the book, with several noting that it is quite small in this particular edition.

"...After checking out this version once it arrived the text seemed a bit too large, and the pages had a heavy yellow tone...." Read more

"The book is very nice and pretty. However, the print is quite small and this will make it hard to read...." Read more

"...But it does fit three rather lengthy books into one compact volume, which is good for conserving your bookshelf space. Nicely done." Read more

"...Nice introduction and Asimov timeline. However the typography is very small for my 61 Year old eyes, so 4 stars." Read more

Incomplete version with a great cover
1 out of 5 stars
Incomplete version with a great cover
Wanting to read the trilogy about this version. The cover is amazing with stunning artwork. After checking out this version once it arrived the text seemed a bit too large, and the pages had a heavy yellow tone. The font was somewhat difficult to read as well. I started looking at reviews of this version online and found a reviewer who mentioned this version missing text. I found the location and saw that indeed my version was missing the same text. I’m not sure if there are other places in the book but have decided to return this copy.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • D. Arnett
    5.0 out of 5 stars If no other SF is read, this would be enough
    Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2023
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I love science fiction (SF) and know that the Foundation Trilogy is one of the best examples of well written SF (SIDE NOTE: While I never even touched it, my alma mater UMBC has one of the rough drafts in its special collections.) I fortunately chose it to introduce my teen son to SF and afterwards he agreed that it was a great read. My other recommended (both my opinion and ratings from groups ranking "top ten" [supposedly] "good" SF books and short story (probably the best format for SF) collections were not so well received, so I didn't win him over to being an SF-addict. Surprisingly, only one of the three public libraries (in different counties) that I go to has the trilogy on its shelves. NOTE: The TV series based upon the whole Foundation series (both the original trilogy and the decade-later Asimov approved follow-ups) shouldn't be used to gauge the original trilogy.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Heston E. Van Evera
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Basis of Modern Sci-Fi
    Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Asimov is one of the best authors I have ever read. Part of his brilliance is the complete degree with which he creates a very real world for the reader. But another crucial part is that the people you read about are real people. Sometimes sci-fi can do silly things, like "and then he pulled out his super-gun and blew up the evil space-ship." Asimov never settled for silly or second rate endings. The endings feel real--the sci-fi element just adds another dimension to the tale. This book can be kind of a slow starter--especially if you've read any of Asimov's Lije Baley novels--but the depth of this book is entirely worth it. It also has a bit of a lull in the middle for some readers. Keep going. It ties up so well at the end, that you wonder why you ever doubted Asimov.

    The trilogy is best read as a trilogy. The books are good individually, but amazing all together. I almost feel like the trilogy would have been better divided into two books instead of three... but I'm not the brilliant writer here.

    Reading the Foundation Trilogy is also great because much of today's science fiction takes it's cues from this earlier work. The galactic empire of Star Wars is perhaps a darker reflection of the galactic empire of the Foundation trilogy. Star Trek also takes a number of cues from this series. Yet one of the way it differs is that there are no extra terrestrials in the universe of Foundation. This makes it an unusually intimate exploration of humanity. (Much in the way Firefly has no aliens.)

    All in all, if you like Science Fiction, you will love this book. If you like books that make you think about things from a different perspective, you will like this book. If you like books with unexpected plot twists, you will love the ending of the trilogy. If you like books that explore human nature, you will like this book.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • K. Coleman
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's a classic for a reason
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Only Asimov could create a literary career of novels in which nothing happens...people discuss something that is about to happen, or discuss something that just did happen...and the novels are still brilliant. Then throw in his future vision for concepts that have come to pass...and you get...genius.
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  • Rodrigo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Quality - Recommeded
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Really like this edition including all the books in the trilogy
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  • J. Edgar
    4.0 out of 5 stars Worth Reading
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I wrote my master’s thesis on this trilogy. I’ve read it cover to cover over a dozen times, and parts of it more than that. I have come to a conclusion about Asimov generally and this text specifically, and that is that Asimov was not that great of a writer when it came to plot or characters but awesome when it came to ideas. What do we know about his texts? Psychohistory and the three laws of robotics! But the characters and the things they do? Not much.

    I didn’t go down this path to find out just what has been researched about the writing of the books, but I feel like Asimov came across the idea of Psychohistory (Basically history plus math and economics to tell (and control) the future). And he’s writing the first stories and the who arc is that there’s a crisis and then the characters go to the Time Vault and see Seldon, and the problem is solved though his Deus ex machina. That gets boring so he needed something outside of his own creation which is why he created the Mule and then had to bring in the Second Foundation. It’s like the old lady who swallowed the fly thing – and worse when you think of how he integrated everything in the late books he wrote in the 80s. Everything works if you don’t think too hard about it, but I literally spent years thinking about the thing and it falls apart on examination. Is it worth reading? Yes, a thousand times yes. But is it good? Not really.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Ingrid Roessel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Impeccable
    Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The book was like new and the delivery even earlier than promised!
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Nicolas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Très bien
    Reviewed in France on December 18, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Cette œuvre mérite d'être un classique. C'est très bien écrit et cohérent. Les complots politiques narrés par Asimov me semblent parfois un peu simples. Il fait preuve de pas mal de candeur et de légèreté à cet égard. L'histoire devient un peu lassante à la longue. Enfin, je m'attarde sur les défauts mais l'œuvre est excellent, elle mérite ses 5 étoiles. Je préviens juste des "défauts" de l'oeuvre qui m'ont déplu parceque vous pourriez trouver cela rédhibitoire.
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  • Ampagua
    5.0 out of 5 stars Regalo
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 31, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Exacto lo que quería
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  • Richard Klok
    5.0 out of 5 stars Used but in perfect condition
    Reviewed in Canada on June 14, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Loved this book
    Report
  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Edizione raffinata
    Reviewed in Italy on April 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Ho acquistato questo prodotto perché già avevo la trilogia di Asimov in singoli paperback inglesi e volevo un’edizione che fosse esteticamente migliore. Sotto la copertina acchiappapolvere si nasconde un volume ben rifinito in tessuto rosso, col titolo stampato sul dorso. La carta, dal piacevole odore, è stampata - come riportato in fondo al volume - con carattere Bembo, in onore al nostro Pietro Bembo, primo utilizzatore. Davvero raffinata, l’edizione è rilegata a filo refe e ben resistente, si apre sempre in piano e è presente un segnalibro di stoffa.

    Naturalmente, la trilogia di Asimov è di alta qualità letteraria, ben godibile per sintesi e prosa asciutta nell’originale inglese.
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    Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Edizione raffinata

    Reviewed in Italy on April 27, 2018
    Ho acquistato questo prodotto perché già avevo la trilogia di Asimov in singoli paperback inglesi e volevo un’edizione che fosse esteticamente migliore. Sotto la copertina acchiappapolvere si nasconde un volume ben rifinito in tessuto rosso, col titolo stampato sul dorso. La carta, dal piacevole odore, è stampata - come riportato in fondo al volume - con carattere Bembo, in onore al nostro Pietro Bembo, primo utilizzatore. Davvero raffinata, l’edizione è rilegata a filo refe e ben resistente, si apre sempre in piano e è presente un segnalibro di stoffa.

    Naturalmente, la trilogia di Asimov è di alta qualità letteraria, ben godibile per sintesi e prosa asciutta nell’originale inglese.
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  • Fabio Brazil
    1.0 out of 5 stars This is NOT the Foundation Trilogy of Asimov!!!!
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a transcripion of the radio novel!!!! I bought to give as a gift and I am ashamed !!!
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