Prelude to Foundation
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prelude to Foundation
Buy Now for $26.22
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Scott Brick
-
Written by:
-
Isaac Asimov
About this listen
This daring story of humanity’s future introduces one of the great masterworks of science fiction: the Foundation novels of Isaac Asimov. Unsurpassed for their unique blend of nonstop action, bold ideas, and extensive world-building, they chronicle the struggle of a courageous group of people to save civilization from a relentless tide of darkness and violence - beginning with one exceptional man.
It is the year 12,020 GE and Emperor Cleon I sits uneasily on the Imperial throne of Trantor. Here in the great multidomed capital of the Galactic Empire, 40 billion people have created a civilization of unimaginable technological and cultural complexity. Yet Cleon knows there are those who would see him fall - those whom he would destroy if only he could read the future.
Hari Seldon has come to Trantor to deliver his paper on psychohistory, his remarkable theory of prediction. Little does the young Outworld mathematician know that he has already sealed his fate and the fate of humanity. For Hari possesses the prophetic power that makes him the most wanted man in the Empire...the man who holds the key to the future - an apocalyptic power to be known forever after as the Foundation.
©1988 Isaac Asimov (P)2011 Random HouseWhat listeners say about Prelude to Foundation
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tyski
- 2024-03-07
Fantastic narration
Always been a huge fan of Asimov, each book has you looking on as if you are in the room with the characters, guessing to the last page.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Artur A.
- 2024-08-13
I love this series. Such amazing writing.
Read it. We need more people in the world who have read series such as this!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- John Ryll
- 2019-12-03
Excellent
I fine example of why Asimov is considered a master. The Audible performance really brought it to life.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- legalos3
- 2019-12-23
In The Beginning
I’ve listened to this well let’s say more than 10 times as it is the tie that binds everything and anything to do with the foundation series. It’s definitely worth a listen even if you’re not an avid Asimov fan.
What I find more revealing as I watch science-fiction whether it’s Star Wars Star Trek blade runner is the use of Asimovs creative genius. For example at the end of this book there is a scene in blade runner that is almost identical between the interaction of a human and the AI.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Denise
- 2023-07-11
Wow … worth the read
I’ve never read any of his books before and so this was my first and I’m very glad I had the opportunity to start with the prelude before reading the other volumes. I could not put it down.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- kevin warner
- 2021-11-22
pity it came later
we can not see it as more than an afterthought another what if based on that present when it came about
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Eric Miller
- 2019-09-13
Asimov's weakest writing, read weirdly?
The lilted hyperexagerated vocal expressions of the reader do not help the weak writing by Asimov.
The book doesn't stand the test of time, and this performance won't either.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Langer MD
- 2024-09-15
Meh.. Passable
Of Isaac Asimov's 'Robot' and 'Foundation' novels, this is one of the weakest. The book follows Hari Seldon's struggle as a young mathematician refining his Psychohistory methods while avoiding being used by the Empire and other interested parties. The writing is capable - Asimov's awards for vocabulary/prose are well-earned - and the plot is satisfyingly twisty-turny.. but it includes an inordinate amount of sexual tension, knife fights (for some reason), and a "Legends of Earth" & "Legends of Robots" obsession that makes little sense for Seldon's mandate besides the shoehorned "twist".
As to presentation: Reader Scott Brick was cast perfectly for the project - capturing the arrogance of the Imperial and Intellectual elites that populate the novel beautifully. True, he reads too slowly (listen at 1.15X) and isn't very good at female character voices, but his diction, timbre, cadence, and tone are truly praiseworthy overall.
Altogether, 'Prelude To Foundation' is a forgettable contemplative SciFi story that doesn't add anything to the overall series. Asimov is capable of much better. This audiobook merits a somewhat disappointing 6 stars out of 10. It's not a terrible investment of time & money.. but feel free to keep browsing.
[NOTE: Asimov wanders into asides throughout the narrative. The discussion of hypothetical sexual mores in a sprawling galaxy is interesting but unnecessary, for example. Be prepared for some admittedly profound but totally irrelevant stream-of-consciousness thought experiments if you give the book a try]
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!