Forward the Foundation

By: Isaac Asimov

Narrated by: Larry McKeever

Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Here, from a grand master of science fiction, is the long-awaited final novel of the greatest science-fiction series ever told. Completed just before his death, Forward the Foundation is the crowning achievement of a great writer’s life, a stirring testament to the creative genius of Isaac Asimov.

As Hari Seldon struggles to perfect his revolutionary theory of psychohistory and ensure a place for humanity among the stars, the great Galactic Empire totters on the brink of apocalyptic collapse. Caught in the maelstrom are Seldon and all he holds dear, pawns in the struggle for dominance. Whoever can control Seldon will control psychohistory - and with it the future of the galaxy.

Among those seeking to turn psychohistory into the greatest weapon known to man are a populist political demagogue, the weak-willed Emperor Cleon I, and a ruthless militaristic general. In his last act of service to humankind, Hari Seldon must somehow save his life’s work from their grasp as he searches for its true heirs - a search that begins with his own granddaughter and the dream of a new Foundation.

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

©1993 Nightfall, Inc (P)2011 Random House Audio

Good and bad

The collection of stories hearkens to asimov's best. The reader is horrible. Truly a mix of great content and dismal performance.

Bad narration.

Not the best book in series in terms of the story, but if you want to read the whole series it is necessary. The narrator is absolutely terrible and completely takes away from overall book enjoyment. Needs to be re-recorded ASAP.

Narration was actually pretty lifelike

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Lots of complaints about the narration, but it actually sounded fairly close to a human narrator - in a few years once the technology advances we might not be able to tell the difference!

Magnificent Ending

I have read and re-read the original three Foundation books over some 40 years. Author Asimov captured my imagination in college and I have read nearly all of his works ever since. His works are very readable and are wonderful tales.

not enough to make it...

If you must have all the answers and obsessed with how the robot series connects... yet this is possibly the weakest offering from the writer I have encountered.

Solid conclusion to a very engaging series.

My first adult science fiction novels were the foundation trilogy and I feel as though this novel wrapped up the series for me. Several of the themes in this novel resonated deeply and made me think of many of the choices I have made in my life. I felt as though Scott Brick was a better narrator for the series than Larry Mckeever but I do not feel that hurt the novel for me at all.

Not totally convinced it was really Asimov ...

Started reading Asimov when I was a kid, back in the 1940s was always a big fan... maybe he was losing it a little when this was written, but seems like a shadow of much of his other work and doesn't add much of anything to the Foundation series ... wanna go back and read some of the earlier stuff ... 'course, could just be me, tho' :-) ... didn't really know this one actually was around

Robotic reader

I am working my way through Asimov's "Foundation" series. You would think that a robotic reader might be good for an Asimov novel, but not in this case. I recommend increasing the reading speed to improve the story delivery.

I tried, and tried...couldn't listen.

I wish I would have listened to a sample first. Scott Brick was excellent and I took that for granted. I honestly thought they were trying to be clever by starting the book out by using a robot. The narration is atrocious. I've tried on 3 occasions to give it one last chance. I failed; never lasting more than 3 minutes.

Worst narrator ever

Good book, awful narrator. Should be done over with a human reading not a monotone automaton.