Second Foundation

Publisher's Summary

Isaac Asimov's Foundation novels are one of the great masterworks of science fiction. As unsurpassed blend of nonstop action, daring ideas, and extensive world-building, they chronicle the struggle of a courageous group of men and women dedicated to preserving humanity's light in a galaxy plunged into a nightmare of ignorance and violence thirty thousand years long.

After years of struggle, the Foundation lies in ruins, destroyed by the mutant mind power of the Mule. But it is rumored that there is a Second Foundation hidden somewhere at the end of the Galaxy, established to preserve the knowledge of mankind through the long centuries of barbarism. The Mule failed to find it the first timebut now he is certain he knows where it lies.

The fate of the Foundation rests on young Arcadia Darell, only 14 years old and burdened with a terrible secret. As its scientists gird for a final showdown with the Mule, the survivors of the First Foundation begin their desperate search. They too want the Second Foundation destroyed, before it destroys them.

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

©1991 Isaac Asimov (P)2010 Random House

Distractions

Great to re read this classic but I have to say that the background music and additional audio tracks are a great distraction. I have listened to hundreds of audio books...some good...some great in their presentation and reading. This is one of the most difficult to listen too and stay focussed on the story. Unfortunate since this is a timeless classic from Asimov.

16 of 21 people found this review helpful

epic classic sci fi wonderment

Where does Second Foundation rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Isaac Asimov's "Second Foundation", for the sci fi fan i am, floats near the top of my list for all audiobooks thus far, it is intriguing, intelligent, believable, spoke with excellence by Scott Brick and exceeded expectations.

What other book might you compare Second Foundation to and why?

Second Foundation, as all of Asimov's, in this collection, almost stands alone in this genre; but, if had to compare a book of such vast fictional intelligence i could easily put this in the same shelf as "star wars" and "star trek"...i only wish they would do a current day mini-series to show off the brilliance of the author.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Although lacking an enormous pool to choose from, Scott Brick, at this point, is....by far...my favorite! He is astronomically brilliant in his disposition of ALL characters, he is grammatically perfect in all facets of speech, punctuations, poetic pauses and character purpose and appeal. It is difficult to imagine any other doing a novel as well. I often filter for Scott Brick read books to find new! He is excellent!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

No idea what a "tag line" is!? :)

Any additional comments?

Sci fi fans are doing a disservice to themselves if they have not read this epic classic....I highly recommend the series!

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Perhaps the weakest entry in the trilogy

nonetheless, an intricate and interesting story. the performace amazing, as we've grown to expect from Scott Brick

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

disappointing narration

the entire trilogy, like most of his works, is an amazing story but the narration does not do it justice. it is worth reading this one.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Truly wonderful

This is an amazing story. The best one so far in the series. The plot is a little more complicated than in the previous ones, the characters and the events much more exciting.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Culmination point

This is third book of trilogy (Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation). Of course, it is culmination point and Issaac Asimov is a master of suspense and unbelievable twists. I loved this book in childhood and I still love it.

7 of 10 people found this review helpful

Classic, but flawed...part 3

Asimov's Foundation series, based on the ideas from the "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire," starts with a 12,000 year-old Galactic Empire. The great Hari Selden has mathematically proven that the Empire will soon fall and a 30-millennium Dark Age will follow, but Selden's Foundation can shorten that time by a factor of 30.

In Second Foundation, the Mule has conquered the original Foundation and much of the galaxy, but the secretive Second Foundation---oriented to mental science where the first Foundation is oriented to physical sciences---lurks out there and is interfering with the Mule's plans for a new empire. The Mule attempts to track down the Second Foundation. After the Mule's death, the original Foundation needs the Second Foundation's help in getting the Selden plan back on track.

The Foundation trilogy is a bit dry, and the characters are quite one-dimensional and cartoonish. It may be more enjoyable if you think of it as a history book from the distant future rather than an adventure story. The envisioned technology was typical for the 1940's (computing your course across the galaxy with a slide-rule), but seems rather quaint now. One other complaint: Asimov got pretty wordy in places, to the detriment of the story.

I like Scott Brick as a narrator and he does a pretty good job with this.

9 of 17 people found this review helpful

the series to end all series

There are something like 15 books involved in this series. Spanning decades of work and tens of thousand of years in the story. This series is fantastic.

SciFi classic

This series lays the FOUNDATION for almost all SciFi after it. Definitely read them all.

buy it

the narrator absolutely nails the reading providing just enough distinction between voices to make it easy to understand. as to the story, it's book 3 in the series and it's by Asimov. it's as close to perfection as sci fi gets.

Superb conclusion to trilogy

For me this trilogy peaked in the middle with 'Foundation and Empire', but this book is still great and well worth listening to if you have listened/read the others. The conclusion of this original Foundation trilogy is satisfactory, although it is clear that the story can continue and does in the form of the Extended Foundation series which are unfortunately not available on Audible and which do not seem to have been produced by Random House.

Excellently narrated by Scott Brick.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Classic Asimov

Very entertaining book. I didn't feel it was at the level of the other two in the trilogy, but makes for a nice conclusion. Also: although it's not possible to use today's expectations for decades old books, I'd note that the dialog of female roles is disappointing, and the voice of Scott Brick doesn't quite help (though he reads exactly at I'd expect from the writing). The story is all in all satisfying, and offers a couple of nice twists. Necessary if you like Asimov

Brilliant trilogy

I read this trilogy by Asimov as a teenager and 40 years on it is still one of my favourites.

Great book. Very good reader.

Fantastic series. I initially thought that most of the ideas would be outdated by now, but I was wrong. The story is kept on such a high level that it becomes timeless. Dealing with ideals, intrigue and also showing the mindset of its time. I was positively surprised to see a strong female character in one of the chapters (again considering time period when the books where written).

Excellent

Scott Brick is great and Asimov is a genius. Isaac teaches us how to create and write science fiction. Amazing!

A solid conclusion to the trilogy

This book brings the events and questions from the second book together in a neat ending, whilst still leaving the options open for the universe to be explored in other works (which they are).

Brick brings continuity to those exploring the entire trilogy on audio book and his performance is excellent as always. His pacing and tone makes the book easy to listen to and there is enough diversity in his voicing to understand where the conversation has shifted between characters and narrative.

A recommended listen and a solid close to the trilogy.

good read

pretty good book enjoyed it. gives lots to think about and I look forward to reading more in the extended universe

incredible end to a timeless trilogy

what a journey. full of twists and intrigue. keeps you constantly hooked and guides you masterfully. Don't hesitate and get it.

Another great sci fi classic,

it's a classic Asimov tale, if you're hoping it will be as good as the first and second foundation books you are in luck

Scott Brick is an excellent reader particularly suited to the grandiose style of Asimov's. His delivery is varied and interesting.

Loved it.

By the time you have travelled this far through the Foundation you have to see it through to Stars End. Great story, beautifully read and no production editing problems.