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Foundation’s Edge

Foundation, Book 6

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Foundation’s Edge

By: Isaac Asimov
Narrated by: William Hope
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About this listen

WINNER OF THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST ALL-TIME SERIES

The Foundation series is Isaac Asimov’s iconic masterpiece. Unfolding against the backdrop of a crumbling Galactic Empire, the story of Hari Seldon’s two Foundations is a lasting testament to an extraordinary imagination, one that shaped science fiction as we know it today.

After a long war which saw the First Foundation emerge victorious, the Second Foundation is now believed to be extinct, and all records of planet Earth’s existence have been erased.

No one suspects that the Second Foundation could still exist. None, except Council member Golan Trevize, who finds himself ordered to leave Terminus, accompanied by historian Janov Pelorat, in order to find it.

Yet this quest will lead an unsuspecting Golan further than he could have possibly imagined – closer than ever to Earth, where the fate of the whole galaxy awaits him.

©2021 Isaac Asimov (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited First Contact Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Exploration Space Opera Fiction Interstellar Robotics Star Wars

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Critic reviews

‘One of the most staggering achievements in modern SF’
The Times

‘Isaac Asimov was one of the great explainers of the age…It will never be known how many practicing scientists today, in how many countries, owe their initial inspiration to a book, article, or short story by Isaac Asimov’
Carl Sagan

‘Asimov displayed one of the most dynamic imaginations in science fiction’
Daily Telegraph

‘Asimov’s career was one of the most formidable in science fiction’
The Times
All stars
Most relevant
Bring back memories and also makes connections with othe Asimov books.
Now onto the last book in this series 😁

Brilliant

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The previous foundation trilogy expressed the first and second foundations largely are positive forces, physical science and innovation are champions, and benevolent psychohistorical manipulation is great. Though the scale is vast, the focus is on crossing the 1000 years of choas and getting to the other side, everything that helps toward this end is shown positively.

The focus is more a detective focus on how - how will it be revealed that macro sociopoliticoeconomic forces made the solution to a crisis inevitable, and the actions of individuals trivial. The mule introduces an interruption to the plan and the reveal of the nature of the second foundation.

I like that this book looks expands to the bigger picture and makes clear that 1000 years isn't the end, the long term future of humanity is at stake. It critically examines the long term direction each seperate strategy represents for the long term future of humanity:

******minor spoilers below******

The first foundation as physical power without an ability to escape inevitable sociological cycles, they do not have control over their own fate.

The second foundation bearing flaws sharply expressed in 'The end of eternity', though they have the power to escape the wheel and direct macro sociopoliticaleconomic forces, are still humans, and having power over your own fate does not mean it can be used wisely and beneficially. They would choose the safest path lowest risk path for humanity always, with implicit values in their prestine mathematical modelling, generating endless stagnation, and prevent humanity from facing real problems that necessitate real solution requiring fundamental change.

I thought in this and the next novel, the third path was not sufficiently investigated for flaws. Asimov likely felt the same way since I think he wrote himself into a corner and didn't finish the series (though these two books do come to a conclusion, it is a conclusion similar to that of the first trilogy, satisfying in its own right but indicating that a large development is on the horizon) - which is understandable since he was a sceptical man and would be unwilling to come to a definitive conclusion on the ideal future path for humanity. So in a way, these novels (this and the next one) are as conclusive as they could be - leaving us in a state of scientific experimentation where new emergent information may redirect events and change conclusions, with minds being open to change as new evidence emerges.

A conjunction and challenging of ideas expressed in the series and in other Isaac Asimiv works.

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the narrator was excellent at characterisation. easy to identify which character was speaking.
I love this book as it's Asimov's attempt at linking his works into his Asimoverse as we might say today.

excellent story well narrated.

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Great pace with many unexpected elements , right until the end. Will definitely be revisiting in the near future … and great to have advice on others in series , more to be done

Wonderful and interesting … a great continuation

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while a very good fit within the foundation series, this book specifically had the best pace, best narrative, best build up of characters and plot development. so far. thoroughly enjoyed this book!

excellent read, loved this book the most out of all the foundation series of books!

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