The Foundation Trilogy (Adapted by BBC Radio) This book is a transcription of the radio broadcast

Asimov is one of the best authors I have ever read. Part of his brilliance is the complete degree with which he creates a very real world for the reader. But another crucial part is that the people you read about are real people. Sometimes sci-fi can do silly things, like "and then he pulled out his super-gun and blew up the evil space-ship." Asimov never settled for silly or second rate endings. The endings feel real--the sci-fi element just adds another dimension to the tale. This book can be kind of a slow starter--especially if you've read any of Asimov's Lije Baley novels--but the depth of this book is entirely worth it. It also has a bit of a lull in the middle for some readers. Keep going. It ties up so well at the end, that you wonder why you ever doubted Asimov. The trilogy is best read as a trilogy. The books are good individually, but amazing all together. I almost feel like the trilogy would have been better divided into two books instead of three... but I'm not the brilliant writer here. Reading the Foundation Trilogy is also great because much of today's science fiction takes it's cues from this earlier work. The galactic empire of Star Wars is perhaps a darker reflection of the galactic empire of the Foundation trilogy. Star Trek also takes a number of cues from this series. Yet one of the way it differs is that there are no extra terrestrials in the universe of Foundation. This makes it an unusually intimate exploration of humanity. (Much in the way Firefly has no aliens.) All in all, if you like Science Fiction, you will love this book. If you like books that make you think about things from a different perspective, you will like this book. If you like books with unexpected plot twists, you will love the ending of the trilogy. If you like books that explore human nature, you will like this book.

Purchased a used copy and am very pleased! I loaned my first hardbound Foundation trilogy to a friend decades ago, but he passed on without returning it, so I had to replace it. This volume does that and more; it's better than my original copy, since it includes two more great Asimov novels in addition to the Foundation trilogy -- and at a very reasonable price! Now I just need to read it all again. :-)

Isaac Asimov. The Foundation Trilogy. Everyman's Library. Those three ingredients are truly all that is necessary in this review. The contents of this volume and people's opinions concerning it are amply represented elsewhere and I will not labor unnecessarily over the Foundation trilogy. Many of us will call it a classic, some of us will not understand why others love it in quite the way that some of us do. The writing is crisp and sometimes sparse, frequently detailed, and always brimming with interesting ideas that not only make good science fiction subject matter, but are worth thinking about in our lives, our futures, and any abstract moments of free time we may have. The introduction by Dirda is not overly long, but it does provide some interesting information and context for the author and stories. The Everyman's Library chronology is useful as ever and if you are building your own home library with Everyman's editions or have at least a few Everyman's editions kicking around you will be familiar with them. More importantly the typeface used and the layout of the text itself is, as usual, top notch. Nice even ink exposure throughout. Finally, as with so many Everyman's editions this volume is case bound with cloth over the boards, has a half round spine, cream colored acid-free paper (that smells good), a ribbon, coordinated head and tail bands, and a sewn binding to ensure longevity. If you are pining for the Foundation Trilogy, this is the edition to purchase it in. If you would like to read it again, this is the edition for you. If your copies lack quality, are dying an acid death due to the ravages of time, or are simply unimpressive, than this is the edition for you.

This book is a great compilation book and fair price. One star off for Amazon because the book paper binding was damaged inside the packaging. Not worth returning, but it is unfortunately right on the book name of the binding so it looks bad on a bookshelf.

I love science fiction (SF) and know that the Foundation Trilogy is one of the best examples of well written SF (SIDE NOTE: While I never even touched it, my alma mater UMBC has one of the rough drafts in its special collections.) I fortunately chose it to introduce my teen son to SF and afterwards he agreed that it was a great read. My other recommended (both my opinion and ratings from groups ranking "top ten" [supposedly] "good" SF books and short story (probably the best format for SF) collections were not so well received, so I didn't win him over to being an SF-addict. Surprisingly, only one of the three public libraries (in different counties) that I go to has the trilogy on its shelves. NOTE: The TV series based upon the whole Foundation series (both the original trilogy and the decade-later Asimov approved follow-ups) shouldn't be used to gauge the original trilogy.

Very fancy

Only Asimov could create a literary career of novels in which nothing happens...people discuss something that is about to happen, or discuss something that just did happen...and the novels are still brilliant. Then throw in his future vision for concepts that have come to pass...and you get...genius.

I first read it when I was 20 and I was fascinated. Now at almost 50 I bought it for my son and instead read it again myself and what shall I say? I still love it. Sure, it is a bit dated. Also I remembered the Mule too well for any real tension to develop - but hey! Probably one of the best schi-fi books ever and well worth reading it even if you are not so much into sci-fi.

Cette œuvre mérite d'être un classique. C'est très bien écrit et cohérent. Les complots politiques narrés par Asimov me semblent parfois un peu simples. Il fait preuve de pas mal de candeur et de légèreté à cet égard. L'histoire devient un peu lassante à la longue. Enfin, je m'attarde sur les défauts mais l'œuvre est excellent, elle mérite ses 5 étoiles. Je préviens juste des "défauts" de l'oeuvre qui m'ont déplu parceque vous pourriez trouver cela rédhibitoire.

Exacto lo que quería

Ho acquistato questo prodotto perché già avevo la trilogia di Asimov in singoli paperback inglesi e volevo un’edizione che fosse esteticamente migliore. Sotto la copertina acchiappapolvere si nasconde un volume ben rifinito in tessuto rosso, col titolo stampato sul dorso. La carta, dal piacevole odore, è stampata - come riportato in fondo al volume - con carattere Bembo, in onore al nostro Pietro Bembo, primo utilizzatore. Davvero raffinata, l’edizione è rilegata a filo refe e ben resistente, si apre sempre in piano e è presente un segnalibro di stoffa. Naturalmente, la trilogia di Asimov è di alta qualità letteraria, ben godibile per sintesi e prosa asciutta nell’originale inglese.

This book is a transcripion of the radio novel!!!! I bought to give as a gift and I am ashamed !!!