• How Firm a Foundation

  • Safehold Series, Book 5
  • By: David Weber
  • Narrated by: Charles Keating
  • Length: 28 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,982 ratings)

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How Firm a Foundation  By  cover art

How Firm a Foundation

By: David Weber
Narrated by: Charles Keating
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What listeners say about How Firm a Foundation

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,204
  • 4 Stars
    567
  • 3 Stars
    164
  • 2 Stars
    33
  • 1 Stars
    14
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    855
  • 4 Stars
    462
  • 3 Stars
    245
  • 2 Stars
    121
  • 1 Stars
    100
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,244
  • 4 Stars
    413
  • 3 Stars
    107
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    8

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book, Not impressed with Narrator

The series and the book are great, but I'm going to have to give in Keating a 2 star rating for his performance - the previous narrators were MUCH better.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

like the story, not the reader

Would you consider the audio edition of How Firm a Foundation to be better than the print version?

I, have been hooked on the Safehold series sense the first book. It sometimes gets overly detailed, but that's what makes the stories so good. I also liked the reader in the first 4 books, but this reader is not very good. He sounds to old for the characters, and he reads too slow. I had to increase the read speed just to tolerate it.

How could the performance have been better?

If you had used the first reader or at the every least a younger one.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

David Weber has done it again!

This next installment in the Safehold series continues the well thought out universe that Weber has created. If you are thinking about enjoying an epic science fiction, this is a series you should listen to. If you enjoy the Horatio Hornblower series, but would love a sci-fi twist that also has a depth of character development that is superb, this is a series for you.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Book I like it

I like this book and I recommend it! I am now starting book 6 which I got from my library so I can't review it individually on Audible and I just started it but I warn you that the constant change of narrators is really painful especially in book 6. Make sure you read the reviews book 6.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good book, poor reader

Would you listen to How Firm a Foundation again? Why?

The (ongoing) story is interesting, albeit more of an alternate history or even fantasy-with-scifi-trappings than scifi.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters are engaging, the world well-defined, and the the antagonists interesting rather than just purely and universally punching bags.

How could the performance have been better?

The reader seems to have only 2 voices: querulous old man, and cranky old man. Every character--including the women--seems to sound pretty much exactly the same.

Any additional comments?

I wish the various publishers would make an effort to retain the same reader throughout a series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

great

love all the characters and technology mix and they way things are discovered and implemented

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Narrator needs a new line of work

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes its a great story

What other book might you compare How Firm a Foundation to and why?

1632, both have a modern or futuristic character that interacts with a more technological primitive society.

How could the performance have been better?

The Narrator needs to learn how to adjust his voice so you can differentiate between the characters. I had trouble even when a woman was supposedly speaking. The narrators infliction needs work. Sad happy and excited, just about al of the emotions sounded the same.

Was How Firm a Foundation worth the listening time?

Yes, the story was good enough to compensate for the horrible narrator.

Any additional comments?

Unless the story this narrator is reading is a book where only men speak and its in Britain think twice before you buy and listen to it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome continuation of a memorable story!

A story that draws you in. Encourages you to relate and join the struggles and triumphs. Highly recommended!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Story Tellers

Any additional comments?

I believe that story tellers HAS an effect on a book Especially series,and ones as healthy as this one. It somehow changes something.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good

Not my favorite performer. It's a voice I use to put myself to sleep rather than enjoy the story, but good none the less.

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