Audiobook Sample
Listen to the sample to experience the story.
Please wait while we verify your browser...
- Title: Foundation (Apple Series Tie-in Edition)
- Author: Isaac Asimov
- Narrator: Scott Brick
- Length: 08:37:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 20/04/2010
- Publisher: Random House (Audio)
- Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction & Literature, Classics, Space Opera
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
As I sit in my office surrounded by holographic book projections from my time at Tokyo University’s digital humanities lab, I find myself transported back to my first encounter with Asimov’s Foundation series – a battered paperback I discovered in a Kyoto used bookstore during my visiting professorship. Now, experiencing Scott Brick’s narration of this Apple Series Tie-in Edition, I’m struck by how the audio format breathes new life into Asimov’s 1942 masterpiece, making its prescient themes about the cyclical nature of civilizations feel urgently contemporary.
What fascinates me most about this audiobook experience is how Brick’s narration captures the mathematical precision of Asimov’s psychohistory concept while maintaining the human drama at its core. His voice carries the weight of galactic empires yet remains intimate enough for Seldon’s personal struggles. The crisp enunciation of scientific terminology reminds me of listening to Murakami’s surreal passages in Japanese – where the rhythm of speech carries meaning beyond the words themselves.
Through a cultural lens, this production highlights Foundation’s enduring relevance. Brick’s nuanced delivery makes palpable Asimov’s warning about knowledge preservation during societal collapse – a theme that resonated deeply during my research on medieval manuscript transmission. The narrator particularly shines in the Salvor Hardin sections, where his timing perfectly captures the character’s political acumen and dry wit.
The audio quality maintains Random House’s typically high standards, with excellent pacing that accommodates Asimov’s dense exposition without feeling rushed. This reminds me of my Comparative Media seminar at Berkeley, where we analyzed how different formats affect information absorption. The audiobook’s measured cadence allows complex concepts like the Seldon Plan to unfold naturally.
However, some listeners might find Brick’s approach too measured compared to more dramatic narrators. His restrained style serves the intellectual material well but occasionally undersells the story’s inherent tension. This contrasts with my experience of the Japanese audiobook of 1Q84, where the narrator’s emotional intensity transformed the listening experience.
When compared to other seminal sci-fi audiobooks, this production stands out for its faithful adherence to Asimov’s original text while incorporating subtle vocal distinctions between characters. Brick’s rendition lacks the theatricality of Frank Herbert’s Dune performances but compensates with intellectual clarity perfect for this material.
For potential listeners, I’d recommend this audiobook particularly to: philosophy students examining historical determinism, sci-fi enthusiasts exploring genre origins, and anyone fascinated by narrative intersections between science and sociology. The production makes Asimov’s visionary work accessible without diluting its complexity.
As the final credits rolled, I found myself reflecting on how this audiobook experience mirrors the Foundation’s own mission – preserving essential knowledge through changing media landscapes. Brick’s narration becomes a kind of vocal time capsule, ensuring Asimov’s ideas continue to inspire new generations.
With galactic literary appreciation,
Prof. Emily Chen
