Forward the Foundation (Foundation Novels (Audio))

Rating:
Summary: Better of the two prequels
Review: This 3.5 star book picks up eight years after Prelude to Foundation, and explains the origins of the two Foundations against the backdrop of the collapsing Empire.

Hari Seldon, his family, friends and colleagues labor to operationalize psychohistory into a useful form, while garnering enough resources to launch the Foundation at Terminus and identifying the key skills necessary for the Second Foundation at Star's End.

Even though this explains how Seldon comes up with the Plan and sets up the Foundations, there are (deliberately) no spoilers to ruin the story of how the Plan unfolds in the central Foundation trilogy. As such, it is the natural complement to that series.

The plot is relatively static -- at least compared to the first prequel, Prelude to Foundation -- focusing on the development of the science of psychohistory. As such, it plays to Asimov's strengths which lie in the science not the fiction.

So while not essential, it is an enjoyable introduction to the trilogy, and a better place to start than Prelude. If necessary, read this and then the last 30 pages of Prelude to fill in a few minor puzzles.

Rating:
Summary: Asimov is excellent, as usual
Review: This book is, with out a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read. Asimov topped off his Foundation series with a true winner. Well written, entharlling, and FUN, this book showcases his talent and gives a good, final look at the life of Hari Seldon, the protagonist of "Prelude to Foundation" and a good look at the future history of the Empire's fall

Rating:
Summary: The Sequel to Prelude to Foundation
Review: This story is the continuation of Prelude and it fills the gap between Prelude and Foundation. It is a great piece of work--in fact one of Asimov's last before his death. This is one of those stories that sticks in your mind and stays there for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: The Sequel to Prelude to Foundation
Review: This story is the continuation of Prelude and it fills the gap between Prelude and Foundation. It is a great piece of work--in fact one of Asimov's last before his death. This is one of those stories that sticks in your mind and stays there for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent story with high quality reading
Review: When I read the original three foundation tales, quite frankly, I was not overwhelmed with the quality of the stories. However, there was one point of the tales that had me fascinated. That was of course the psychohistory of Hari Seldon. This book is a prequel to the first of the three originals, although there is some overlap. It is a description of the life of Hari as he begins the detailed development of psychohistory.
As he had promised years before, Asimov uses this book to tie together his robot books starring R. Daneel Olivaw with the foundation series. Daneel appears in the book as a major political figure, but it is Hari who is the dominant character. The story is set on the imperial capital of Trantor, and Seldon is both a mathematics professor and the first minister to Emperor Cleon. Other major characters are Hari's devoted wife Dors, his adopted son Rache and his mentally gifted granddaughter Wanda.
The story is captivating, but like all audio books, the enjoyment is largely dependent on the quality of the reading. David Dukes is excellent in reading the text, his inflection and changes of tone make it easy to follow the dialog. He is very consistent in using the same tones for each of the characters throughout the reading. I listened to most of the book while driving, and there was no time when I was confused as to which character was speaking.
This is one of the best books on tape that I have listened too. The book is one of Asimov's best novels and the reading is outstanding.