Foundation (Apple Series Tie-in Edition)

By: Isaac Asimov

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

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

The epic saga that inspired the Apple TV+ series Foundation, now streaming. Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

For 12,000 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.

Listen to all of Isaac Asimov's Foundation series, including (in chronological order):

Prelude to FoundationForward the FoundationFoundationFoundation and Empire Second FoundationFoundation's EdgeFoundation and Earth

©1982 Isaac Asimov (P)2010 Random House

OK.This is a classic.

As I personally do not enjoy Scott Brick as a narrator, I downloaded this through an Audible Sale. Redardless, the story still holds up as a classic. This is for me another 'great' that I read ages ago, and hearing it read is a little like a lazy read.
I am still listening, and as the Sale is still on I wanted to let others know this is great story. I think what holds up is a view that humanity's development is slow indeed. With so much going on at the moment in research into Global Conciousness and the effectiveness of group meditations, this is a story that is worth hearing. Well for those who not yet read or heard of Foundation.... Think along lines of who is best served by manipulating belief systems, and put that against great Research that is being done.

Excitement turned into toil.

After seeing the Amazon Originals trailer for their adaptation of these novels, and learning that it has influenced several notible movie makers, I was excited to listen while I work. It has been a disappointment and a struggle for me to finish book one.

The narration fails effective delineation of characters...so you really need to actively listen. Especially if there are more than two. And the tone for each character is too similar.

The setting is under developed. I found most of the book is spent in long conversations between characters, and the listener doesn't have adequate tools to envision the environment the scene is taking place.

Just not able to keep my attention. Better reads in my opinion. The Bobiverse series, and the Red Rising series.

Sociology or Fiction?

Seems like every Science Fiction novel I read that was written in the 1960???s or 1970???s they seem to substitute story for social and philosophical issues. Foundation is no different, while this book has a very interesting take on a shifting society; I found the story and the characters very flat. While I didn???t like this aspect of the book there fast paced; rise of the foundation was really great. Don???t read this for the story; read this book for an interesting social aspects and the effects change has on mankind.

I really wanted to like this book

Genre: Sci-Fi Distant space future

Rated: PG-13 mild violence

1st or 3rd Person: 3rd person, 4+ main characters

Static or Dynamic: Dynamic. This are always changing. So much so that it can get confusing.

Art or Entertainment: Art. Asimov tries to (well at his time) create the genre of inter-space statecraft so expect never ending political scheming. This is not a book that is meant to entertain you and wow you with special effects. It's a classic that is meant to be thought about.

Linear or Non-Linear: Semi-Linear. Things progress in one way but there is a secular prophet (he would hate being called that) who predicts the future with sociological mathematics.

Narrator: Well done but not inspiring.

Plot Outline: This book could very very very easily have taken place at any time in Earths history with much the same effect. It happens to take place so far in the future that humans have forgotten which planet they first came from which in 1951 was probably mind boggling. The plot is essentially a statecraft novel that follows the Cons of five Con men/politicians. Their main strategies follow along Deception -> Tactics -> Coercion -> Guile. The book takes place over several hundred years and when the cons of one civilization eventually plateau the Foundation has to undergo a paradigm shift to maintain it's footing and continue growing. I really like the idea but I've seen it so many times now that it was a little underwhelming though at the time of it's publication I'm sure that it was extreme. I've read Asimov before and he tends to make his protagonists all powerful and his antagonists thoroughly hate-able (which is good) but always suffer from extreme character flaws that get them conned out of everything they have. Asimov has been described as having almost no illustrative techniques while still making a successful book. This is the case here. There are no succulent daisies swaying in the wind of an effervescent moon beam, however, the plot formulation is stimulating and genius. I would heartily recommend this book for the effects it's had in science fiction alone and it's individual merritt only adds to that, though it's more than a little political, so prepare to do something stimulating with your hands or feet while you listen to keep from losing focus.

Good story, wrong reader

Scott Brick is a competent reader, but he has only one voice. In many conversations, in this text, it is nearly impossible to keep straight just who it is who is speaking, when dueling statements by both characters are read with exactly the same voice.

Plotocracy. Isn't it beautiful 😍

I really enjoyed foundations. Its a ln interesting fantasy epic spanning 200 ish years in a future where the galactic empire seems to be declining, and a certain statistician has a plan to shorten the duration of the coming dark ages.

Great Sci-Fi Lite

I'm returning to Foundation after a couple of decades away, and after watching a very disappointing TV adaptation. It's a different kind of novel than what we are accustomed to today. It's almost entirely dialogue. It doesn't have any action to speak of. I enjoyed it tremendously. We're introduced to a series of characters. Each is faced with a series of obstacles - typically political - that they have to figure out a way to overcome. The characters are interesting, if shallow. Their motivations are not as complex or well-developed as we would see in a modern novel. The stories move along briskly. Do they resolve a little too neatly? Yes, But the resolutions are satisfying and believable. It's a fun ride. It made me think, and it left me wanting to spend more time in the series.

Not Altered or Changed!!!!!!

There are reviews on here that say this edition was altered by Apple TV. I followed along the audio with my original 1982 Edition. It’s the same. The only thing changed was the cover art. Still the same 1952 classic Asimov Book. I first read it in 1987 as a teenager and it’s as fascinating as ever. Epic in scope and vision. A true classic of the genre.

Gets better the longer you read!

It started out slow and confusing, but it was definitely worth it! the concepts outlined and theorized and the strategies used in the book are fascinating!

Classic sci-if, overly bombastic reading

Classic sci-if, overly bombastic reading that feels incredibly one note after an hour and makes it blend together too much. The last half sounded like nothing but shouting matches.