Foundation and Earth

By: Isaac Asimov

Narrated by: Larry McKeever

Length: 18 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

The Foundation novels of Isaac Asimov are among the great masterworks of science fiction. An ingenious blend of nonstop action, daring ideas, and extensive world-building, they chronicle the struggle of a courageous group of men and women determined to shield enlightened humanity from a ceaseless threat of darkness and ultimate annihilation.

Golan Trevize, former councilman of the First Foundation, has chosen the future, and it is Gaia. A superorganism, Gaia is a holistic planet with a common consciousness so intensely united that every dewdrop, every pebble, every being, can speak for all - and feel for all. It is a realm in which privacy is not only undesirable, it is incomprehensible. But is it the right choice for the destiny of mankind? While Trevize feels it is, that is not enough. He must know.

Trevize believes the answer lies at the site of humanity’s roots: fabled Earth...if it still exists. For no one is sure where the planet of Gaia’s first settlers is to be found in the immense wilderness of the galaxy. Nor can anyone explain why no record of Earth has been preserved, no mention of it made anywhere in Gaia’s vast world-memory. It is an enigma Trevize is determined to resolve and a quest he is determined to undertake, at any cost.

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

©1986 Nightfall, Inc (P)2011 Random House Audio

Good but not as great as Foundation's Edge

Good continuation of Foundation's Edge, puts together the history of humanity and robots which this fits in nicely as a conclusion.

Great story, terrible narrator

After listening to the Foundation Trilogy and Foundation's Edge with the same narrator, to start listening to Foundation and Earth with this new narrator almost made me stop listening to the book. It picks up minutes after the previous one ends, it should have been the same narrator.

The story is great but he obviously didn't bother to listen to any of the previous stories to learn the pre-established pronunciations of names and places. He had a limited amount of voices and simple terms were so mispronounced that I had to replay them to understand what he said.

I have read these books many many times over the last 30 years and this was a bit of a disappointment to me to have the last book be essentially ruined by the narrator.

I still recommend listening/reading the book. This may only be my complaint and others may not be annoyed by the change.

will keep you glue to your headsets

great story, Mr Asimov had such imagination its a shame that he returned to Gaia

Great story bad reading.

The story is great, the reader should stick to assembly manuals. Halting and robotic imop.

Different than the other Foundation novels

Book 5/5 chronologically in The Foundation series, the end of the timeline that began on Trantor with Hari Seldin and the establishment of The Foundation on Terminus.

This book was written half a lifetime later by a much more mature, socially and environmentally conscious author, and is the perfect ending to the quixotic Seldin Plan.

Golan Travize seeks Earth, and all my the way discovers the destiny in store not only for humanity but for the entire biosphere of the Milky Way.

The Narrator Is Awful

The narrator is dry and robotic sounding. It’s like we’re getting the first reading… you know. Reading it without knowing what comes next. So, the dialog is often inflected incorrectly. There are portions where I had to go back over just to make sure I understood who was saying what.

Seriously. Just let Scott Brick do them all. His narration of the earlier books has been fine. And I’ve enjoyed his narration of the Jack Ryan novels. Perhaps I’m just familiar with him. But this dude. Horrible.

Didn't much care for his voice.

I much preferred the voice of the narrator of the original trilogy. The story however, was amazing.

suprise

A very good book . Asimove finished out the Foundation series very well . What an ending . This is a big surprise .

Foundation & Earth

Suggested alternate titles:
Foundation & Tedium. Plodding plot; too much pointless dialogue.
Foundation & Lolita. The subplot of Bliss and Pelorat creeped me out.
Foundation & Annie or Little Orphan Fallom.
The original Foundation books (Foundation, Foundation & Empire and Second Foundation) were masterpieces. Foundation's Edge was so-so.
Listen to (or read) this book only if you're curious about how the Foundation story ends (with a whimper). But be prepared to work to get through it.

Was a great series until the reader was changes

I had been enjoying the Foundation series while I drive around the country. I'm an OTR Trucker.
when the reader was switched, I lost interest. this has to be redone. the reader has no emotion, monotone, and the dialog is read word. for. word.
I tried but it was putting me to sleep while I drive which is dangerous. I listen to Audible every day while I drive. But I can't with this reader. series ruined.