AudioBook: Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov
I just finished listening to Isaac Asimov’s Foundation and Empire and enjoyed it. Afterwards i find out that this is the 2nd book in a 15 book trilogy! I checked and my library does have the 3rd book and so have put that on reserve.
The book really is two stories (guess they were published in a Sci-Fi magazine prior to being published as a book), the first story deals with the fall of the Empire while the second deals with the fall of the Foundation. Strange that the book is titled in the reverse. Just to confuse things more, the first book of the trilogy is called “Foundation”. So, “Foundation and Empire” is two books but does not include the book “Foundation”. Strange thing is when I looked at Amazon it appears that the paperback version of the book is now out of print.
Kidding aside, the stories were good with just enough twist in the plot to keep you reading listening. I look forward to the next one!
And if you think that’s confusing, the third book is called Second Foundation. :-) The original trilogy is one of my all time favorite science fiction series. Great stuff.
And you’re right, they were originally stories written for sci-fi magazines in the 1940s. Later, in the 1980’s and 1990’s Asimov wrote some full length novels in the series as well, although those usually aren’t considered quite as good as the originals (although I still really enjoyed them). Then, after he died, some other authors wrote some posthumous novels that for the most part are pretty bad.
Anyway, if your library is missing any, I’m pretty sure I own them all, so you can borrow any you need from me if you want.
Comment by Pat — January 29, 2008 @ 10:05 am
Also, if you like listening to audio books, I actually have mp3s of the BBC radio dramas based on the original Foundation trilogy. It’s great stuff. Kind of like Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, in it’s production style, but without the wacky British humor of course. ;-)
Comment by Pat — January 29, 2008 @ 10:06 am