Foundation and Earth

Written by Isaac Asimov

Narrated by Larry McKeever

The fifth novel in Isaac Asimov’s classic science-fiction masterpiece, the Foundation series

THE EPIC SAGA THAT INSPIRED THE APPLE TV+ SERIES FOUNDATION

Golan Trevize, former Councilman of the First Foundation, has chosen the future, and it is Gaia. A superorganism, Gaia is a holistic planet with a common consciousness so intensely united that every dewdrop, every pebble, every being, can speak for all—and feel for all. It is a realm in which privacy is not only undesirable, it is incomprehensible.

But is it the right choice for the destiny of mankind? While Trevize feels it is, that is not enough. He must know.

Trevize believes the answer lies at the site of humanity’s roots: fabled Earth . . . if it still exists. For no one is sure where the planet of Gaia’s first settlers is to be found in the immense wilderness of the Galaxy. Nor can anyone explain why no record of Earth has been preserved, no mention of it made anywhere in Gaia’s vast world-memory. It is an enigma Trevize is determined to resolve, and a quest he is determined to undertake, at any cost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: Oct 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9780307967756

Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov was a Russian‑born American writer and the author of nearly five hundred books. He is credited as one of the finest writers of science fiction in the twentieth century. Many, however, believe Asimov’s greatest talent was for, as he called it, “translating” science, making it understandable and interesting for the average reader.

Reviews for Foundation and Earth

[thebooksofwrath · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

All of the tension that was created in Foundation’s Edge falls flat on this take. Surely the worst of the Foundation novels thus far. Not the worst thing I’ve ever read, but I expected more from Asimov. I’m not sure what happened here. I think he should have stayed in bed.

[sgsmitty · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not too bad

If you liked the foundation novels then you have to read this one. Having said that I gave it three stars because it was a little too long I thought. Oddly enough I did like the hook at the end, but I guess we will never read more about that.....

[daniel_m_oz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The last in what can be seen as the "extended" 15 book Foundation Series. This 2nd sequel to the Foundation Trilogy concludes with the influences of Earth and robots as well as some surprises in regards psychohistory. Whilst many sequels can be disappointing, Asimov has doing well here to add positively to the overall Foundation story.

[endolith · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

• Oh man, Solaria is a Libertarian utopia. Or dystopia, depending on your viewpoint.
• Why in the world are Gaians modest? If they control the weather to be always pleasant, and are constantly sharing each other's thoughts, shouldn't they just run around naked? What's the point of clothes? They've all seen themselves naked before. Yet Bliss is the only demure one on a planet where everyone is topless? o_O
• The whole Gaia superorganism thing is super weak, if you ask me. The way they're written, they seem barely connected to each other, almost entirely individuals, and not even very powerful.

[john257hopper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was, chronologically, the last of Asimov's Foundation series. Golam Trevize and Janov Pelorat embark on a search for the legendary original home planet of humanity, which Trevize believes may be linked to the crucial decision he has made in Foundation's Edge that will profoundly affect the future of the galaxy. I love the quest nature of this novel which is probably my favourite Foundation novel in terms of a story. It also deals with profound issues such as personal freedom vs. collaborative action and behaviour , and the nature of myths and legends and their relationship with recorded history. A great end to the saga.

[seriousgrace · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The hunt is on for planet Earth. Former Councilman of the First Foundation Golan Revize sets out with historian Janov Pelorate and a woman named Bliss. It is centuries after the fall of the First Galactic Empire and the future of humankind lies in the ability to form a new empire. But where? Golan is convinced neither the First Foundation nor the Second are stable enough for success. Instead, he hangs his hope on using Gaia. Before that can happen he must find Earth, the planet that has been lost for thousands of years. It is not going to be easy. In some cultures of the galaxy, it is a superstition to utter the word, 'Earth." One must say 'the Oldest' instead.
Interestingly enough, even though Bliss is a friend and a helper, she is without paperwork, and she is not part of the travel log. As a result, problems regarding immigration arise. She is seen as "entertainment" for the two men who are the only ones accounted for on the spaceship.
Foundation and Earth is heavy with philosophical questions like, is a toe tapping in time to music part of the action, acting as an in-time accompanying drum beat or a response to the action of music being played?

[thanbini · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Possibly the most imaginative and best sci-fi book I've ever read. My friends know how much I've liked it because I've been talking their ears off about the book since I've been reading it. If I could rate it 6 out of 5 stars, I would. The story continues from where Foundation's Edge left off and ultimately ends in a fun maybe-twist. Maybe it was a twist, maybe it wasn't. If it was a movie, as it faded to black the sound would be "DUN DUN DUUUUUUUNNNN". I love this series.

[marthajeanne · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found the ending very contrived.

[ladypembroke · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had a little trouble getting into this book, but I really liked it in the end. Of course, some of my enthusiasm came from watching Asimov apply the planetary science of the time. He was off on a couple of things but pretty spot on with others. Amazing how our picture of the galaxy has changed in less than 30 years.

[johnfair_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In this book, dissatisfied with his decision, Trevise and Pelorat decide to continue their search through the varied worlds of the galaxy, this time joined by the Gaian Bliss. An encounter with an official on Comporallan leads to the party learing of the long forgotten Spacer worlds along with what claims to be the actual co-ordinates of three of these worlds. After a bit of jiggery pokery with his superb computer, Trevise manages to locate an area of space consistant with the Spacer worlds - systems not listed in the ship's maps taking us to the remnants of a Spacer world listed as Aurora in their ancient records but the planet is falling to pieces after being deserted by humanity. Solaria, their second stop, is in far better nick but is even more dangerous when they're located by the owner of the estate they had impinged on. Barely escaping from there with their lives they reach a third world denuded of much of it's atmosphere but home to an overly active form of moss where they find the co-ordinates of all the Spacer worlds which enables them to find the co-ordinates of Earth but there tehy find those tales of a radio-active planet are no exageration. On the large moon, they find the secret of why earth had been hidden and Trevise gets an answer as to why he made his choice.

In this book we meet R Daneel Olivaw from Asimov's earlier robot novels and I have to say that in this, he was pretty ineffective (though to be fair, he was senescing as well).

[konrad.katie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have been listening to the Foundation series audiobooks, read by Larry A. McKeever, over the past few months. Considering the first Foundation novel was written in 1957 - and this particular one 1986 - I can't help but feel humility curling about my bones as I attempt to formulate a conducive analysis of this series, let alone this book.

Foundation and Earth is unique in the series as it continues the adventures of the characters from the previous book - all other Foundation novels span hundreds of years and rarely focus too long on any one particular character, let alone for the span of TWO books. So the three heroes journey onward searching for Earth. Got that. You never really understand WHY, not in the clearest sense, until the last chapter. And then you are left with a tantalizing cliffhanger in the form of a meaningful glance.

Asimov's prose is clear, succinct and dry. No fluff or excess, you read only what is necessary, not a hair more. Although I appreciate Asimov's brevity, there was much that I could have enjoyed in the form of character development, background, and explanation of action. If it weren't for the naive and selfless scientist Pellorat, the reader would be completely in the dark about much of the plot development. le sigh. I regret books and stories that abuse character thus.

Wish I could have given this book a solid five. I enjoyed the progression of the plot but the characters felt two dimensional and the 'point' of the whole adventure seemed obtuse. Three stars, sadness. (But I am gleefully journeying on in the Foundation series - on to McKeever and the sixth book!)

[comfypants · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The characters are tiresome. It's repetitive, and slow to get around to anything interesting that wasn't already in the previous book. It's four or five times longer than it has any reason to be. Even so, it's a fast read, and makes for a satisfying conclusion to the series.

[iamandypieters · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is set nearly 500 years after the start of the Foundation era, and continues the adventures of councilman Golan Trevize and his friend Janov Pelorat. Pelorat, having become smitten with Bliss, decides to accompany Golan once more on his quest for Earth. Golan now feels more compelled than ever to find Earth. He wants justification for his decision to convert the galaxy to Gaiism, or, Galaxia as Bliss calls it. The three of them have to visit world after world, getting out of tight spots and following the barest of breadcrumbs to unravel the mystery of the location of planet Earth.

[enosis-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

With Foundation and Earth, Asimov concludes his Robots, Empire & Foundation novels by coming into full circle, taking us back to places where important events played out in earlier stories. Unfortunately, although the premise is interesting, the actual story and plot fail to deliver.

A man that, for some unknown reason, always makes the right judgement calls, intuitively, is called to make a choice on the fate of humanity and the galaxy. He does so, just because he's always right, and then decides to go on a hunt for earth because he knows (...) that this will help him reaffirm his original decision (why do that if he was right in the first place?).

In any case, regardless of that fallacy, the storytelling is very tiring and dull. The - uninteresting - characters engage into mundane conversations over-analyzing the same things, again and again. It gets better towards the end, but only ever so slightly.

Extremely disappointing :x

[shofichoudhury · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Visited so many planet in this book !! The most exciting book of foundation series :)

[ideleeneer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

finally our friends discover earth and will meet an old friend, R. Daneel Olivaw
The search also shows close spacer worlds, where each evolved independently of the others, and showing to which extremes this can go

[jbreedlove_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Started off and ended weak but it was a good romp in between. Planet to planet of different sorts. A core enjoyment of sci-fi fans.

[isabelx_21 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

'You stressed your desire to find Earth and insisted on its importance. I do not see that importance but you have the knack of being right so I/we/Gaia must accept what you say. If the mission is crucial to your decision concerning Gaia, it is of crucial importance to Gaia, and so Gaia must go with you, if only to try to protect you.'

This book picks up the story of Trevize and Pelorat's search for Earth immediately after the events of "Foundation's Edge", so I decided to read them one after the other. Galon Trevize reminds me of Nickie Haflinger in "Shockwave Rider", being extremely arrogant, convinced that he is always right, and prone to behaving as if he is constantly surrounded by fools (and even though he does have the knack of making correct decisions on insufficient data, Trevize is not always right).

The search for Earth led the crew of the Far Star to some of the Spacer worlds that readers of the Robot novels will recognise, and the revelation of who is ultimately responsible for the Seldon Plan led to a satisfactory conclusion.

At last, some science fiction with a proper ending!

[mohi_11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The second sequel to the Foundation trilogy. Having prevented war between the First and Second Foundations, the heroes quest to find the legendary birthplace of humanity; the mythical planet Earth. Works nicely as a trip through Asimov's earlier worlds seen thousands of years in the future.

[karlstar_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Written after the Foundation trilogy, it falls immediately after them in sequence.

[tadad_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As I said in Foundation's Edge, I don't think Asimov's Grand Unification of his various series was a great idea. This volume suffers doubly in that it leaves you hanging at the end. The story is that Asimov intended there to be one more book, but was never able to put it together.

[sgerbic · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Reviewed March 1998

This book starts exactly where "Foundation's Edge" leaves off. Bliss, Pelorat & Trevize leave Gaia to search for Earth. Trevize believes that he will find the answer to the decision he made choosing Galaxia over the Foundation. We travel though out the Universe visiting hostile worlds looking for any knowledge of Earth. Asimov's creativity when making these worlds is extremely interesting. He ties many of his other books into this story. Reading those first made this story much more interesting. They find Earth at the end, but the results are not what you thing. This book clearly is ended here and I am a bit surprised that Asimov writes a 7th book that really ends the series.

[jpsnow · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Asimov's final installment resolves the series partly, though not comfortably against my own preconceptions. We are of course left with a cliffhanger; I believe Asimov's estate recently released a next installment. This was not as interesting an ending now as swift a read as the predecessors but it is intriguing still.

[ensorceled_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Really part two of Foundation's Edge rather than a separate book. Only read if you read Foundation's Edge and liked it.

I thought some of the stylistic differences between the two books interesting. I also was a bit surprised that this was more "space opera" than the originals, complete with titillating scenes.

[aarondesk · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The quality of this book is far below that of other books in the foundation series. The book itself could have been condensed into 1/3 the size and the plot would not have suffered. The ending has much to be desired and invalidates much of the previous foundation books. Save yourself the time and don't read it.

[olyra_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

another excellant part of the series.

[ragwaine · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Hated the characters. Repetitous, boring, gratuitous science and sex.