Buy Now, Pay Later
As low as
$6
/ mo
Learn more
- – 4-month term
- – No impact on credit to apply
- – Instant approval decision
- – Secure and straightforward checkout
Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout.
Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Zip, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Free shipping on this product
30-day returns
Learn more
This item is eligible for return within 30 days of receipt
To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
Availability:
20 left in stock
Arrives
Oct 27 – Oct 31
Recently Viewed
Description
The first of two prequel novels in Isaac Asimov’s classic science-fiction masterpiece, the Foundation series THE EPIC SAGA THAT INSPIRED THE APPLE TV+ SERIES FOUNDATION It is the year 12,020 G.E. and Emperor Cleon I sits uneasily on the Imperial throne of Trantor. Here in the great multidomed capital of the Galactic Empire, forty billion people have created a civilization of unimaginable technological and cultural complexity. Yet Cleon knows there are those who would see him fall—those whom he would destroy if only he could read the future. Hari Seldon has come to Trantor to deliver his paper on psychohistory, his remarkable theory of prediction. Little does the young Outworld mathematician know that he has already sealed his fate and the fate of humanity. For Hari possesses the prophetic power that makes him the most wanted man in the Empire . . . the man who holds the key to the future—an apocalyptic power to be known forever after as the Foundation. Read more
Book 6 of 7 : Foundation
Listening Length : 14 hours and 55 minutes
Author : Isaac Asimov
Narrator : Scott Brick
Publication date : October 11, 2011
Language : English
Publisher : Random House Audio
Version : Unabridged
Program Type : Audiobook
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Oct 27 – Oct 31
Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
- Klarna Financing
- Affirm Pay in 4
- Affirm Financing
- Afterpay Financing
- Zip Pay in 4
- Financing through Apple Pay
- Financing through Google Pay
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Similar Products
$1/mo*
The Bad Guys in Open Wide and Say Arrrgh! (The Bad Guys #15)
$4/mo*
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II--Re-Evolution
$4/mo*
Christmas Present
$19.51
$1/mo*
Garland
$0.99
$6/mo*
Foundation and Earth
$26.15
$1/mo*
Impact: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival series (Cloverdale Book 1)
$5/mo*
The Human Factor
$20.65
Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Mass Market Paperback
An excellent collection of classic Asimov stories. This wonderful collection includes many classic intriguing stories by the author, with a timeless feel of one of the true masters of the literary arts. He takes a perspective on science fiction, which has stood the test of time. He nearly prophesied some of the technologies that he writes about in his stories. Robots and computers are a common theme in many of the stories, with some small details different than they are today, but due to his descriptive and captivating writing style these are rendered insignificantly trivial. The stories always manage to carry the attention of the reader while manipulating their imagination into a colorful web of words. A grandiose tapestry showcasing Asimov's mastery of storytelling. A must have collection of science fiction lovers. As far as delivery and arrival of the book. It arrived a day early in great condition. I highly recommend this for readers familiar with Isaac Asimov or those looking to discover something wonderful.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2015 by Dr. Fordeseven
Format: Mass Market Paperback
This novel has a subtle beginning. I would take a little to time reading the beginning to absorb Asimov's setting and style here. The science of psychohistory that laid out the Foundation had to start somewhere, and this is where it starts and with Hari Seldon. So there's a lot written of Seldon's early life and a lot about different sections of the Galactic Empire capital planet of Trantor. Seldon is not represented as some sort of superman, but if you've read other books in the Foundation series, as someone to admire, and is seen as a person outside of just psychohistory. Sort of like seeing the famous photograph of Albert Einstein riding a bicycle. And as others in the Empire see the potential power of psychohistory, even before Seldon does, thus begins the race to harness that power. The joy, and the point, in reading this novel is in the knowing the eventual power of psychohistory and thus how it develops. Seldon has to be persuaded to progress his theory of psychohistory by the other interesting characters in the novel. Can you imagine, early in the 20th century, having to go "come on Albert, will you at least *try* to develop the theory of General Relativity". There are two type of readers that would be potentially interested in reading this book for the first time: those that have read the traditional Foundation series and are wondering if they should continue here with this prequel, and those that haven't read the originals and are wondering if they should start here. For the former, sure with the understanding that Asimov's style will be different 40 years after he wrote the novellas of the original series, and for the former, no, I would start with Asimov's original Foundation trilogy. His original series is almost essential 40's/50's science fiction, and if one doesn't like that series, one is not going to care about the characters and events in Prelude To Foundation. From the Author's Note and adding Forward The Foundation which was written afterwards (I may have left out a book or two), there are 15 books (a quint-decology?) in Asimov's universe. They are: 1. The Complete Robot (includes every story of I, Robot) 2. The Caves of Steel 3. The Naked Sun 4. The Robots of Dawn 5. Robots and Empire 6. The Currents of Space 7. The Stars, Like Dust-- 8. Pebble in the Sky 9. Prelude to Foundation 10. Forward the Foundation 11. Foundation 12. Foundation and Empire 13. Second Foundation 14. Foundation's Edge 15. Foundation and Earth Books 1 to 5 are Asimov's Robot series, books 6-8 his Empire series, and books 9 to 15 his complete Foundation series. They were initially separate series, but he used books 5, 9, and 10 to encompass them all into one series.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2006 by Antinomian
Format: Kindle
Isaac Asimov’s “Prelude to Foundation”, the first prequel to the author’s classic “Foundation Trilogy”, is a modest but enjoyable science-fiction novel, showing the humble beginnings of Hari Seldon, the legendary scientist of the original trilogy. The novel will probably resonate more if you’re already familiar with the trilogy, as you’ll likely get more of a kick out of the young, slightly vain, slightly scatterbrained Seldon seen here if you’re well versed on his later accomplishments and eventual revered status. But there are some compelling ideas here for both Foundation newcomers and longtime fans of the original books, often presented in fun ways. In particular, the novel examines the idea of personal cluelessness about one’s genius, and how it sometimes takes others to fill a person in about one's own potential. Here, Hari is presented as someone who thinks he’s just a modest mathematician, with maybe a few creative ideas worthy of writing an esoteric paper on, but nothing more. But once Hari delivers his paper at a conference, the most powerful six or seven forces in the universal hierarchy immediately wrestle and compete with each other to grab up Hari and his ideas first, recognizing their potential to shape the future. And even then Hari is slow to say, “Hmmmm, maybe I’ve got something here.” “Prelude to Foundation” is pretty much a chase novel set in a fascinating, far flung future, with a nice level of attention given over to the ways people live and interact, and other humanitarian concerns. Dr.Asimov also uses “Prelude to Foundation” to tie some of his other famous books into the continuity of the Foundation books, specifically novels in his “Empire” and “Robot” series. At this point, that move neither overly complicates nor greatly improves the Foundation series, though it does add a bit of interesting texture, so it’ll be fascinating to see where things go in the other Foundation prequel/sequels. If you’re interested, here are the seven books in the Foundation series, presented in chronological order of the events they depict: “Prelude to Foundation” (the first prequel to the original trilogy), “Forward the Foundation” (second prequel to the original trilogy); “Foundation” (book one of the original trilogy); “Foundation and Empire” (book two of the original trilogy); “Second Foundation” (book three of the original trilogy); “Foundation’s Edge” (first sequel to the original trilogy); and “Foundation and Earth” (second and final sequel to the original trilogy). Finally, you should know that HBO is now developing the Foundation books as an ongoing television series, hence my renewed interest in the original trilogy (which I once read way back when) and the prequels/sequels (which are new to me). Personally, I think it’ll be fun to shoot through all seven books prior to the premiere of the show.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2015 by Joseph P. Menta, Jr.
Format: Kindle
If you read the other books in the series this answers a lot of questions. If possible read this first. It is enjoyable and satisfying to read this series.
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2025 by Jim
Asimov takes us back to the twilight of the Galactic Empire and on a tour of the Imperial capital planet of Trantor through the eyes of a young Hari Seldon, who has just given his first paper on psychohistory - a rudimentary principle that could possibly be used to predict future events on a large scale - at a mathematics conference. The emperor, Cleon I, having heard of Seldon's paper in passing, wonders if Seldon and his psychohistory could be used to predict a positive future for his time on the throne and has Seldon brought to him, only to be disappointed that Seldon's psychohistory is in it's infancy and isn't practical for what the emperor wants. However, the emperor's first advisor, Damerzel, thinks that Seldon might be a threat if capture by enemies of the throne and seeks to capture or at least contain Seldon. Newsman Chetter Hummin rescues Seldon from capture and through his guile and apparently endless contacts, keeps Hari one step ahead of the Emperor's grasp and at the same time tells him that the Empire is crumbling and that Seldon's psychohistory might be all that stands between total collapse. In his flight, Seldon will spend time in one of Trantor's university districts, living among the strange and backwards Mycoginians, touring the heat sinks of blue collar Dahl, and finally in the grasp of the throne's largest enemy on Trantor, the Wye district. Just one of Asimov's amazing abilities is to make a relatively mundane book by Foundation standards still seem like a grand adventure. What Prelude to Foundation lacked in galaxy-wide consequences, it made up for in detailed glimpses of the early life of Hari Seldon. While some critics have said Prelude was one prequel too many, I wish there had been time in Asimov's life for even more.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2011 by Steve King
Format: Mass Market Paperback
it is a good book for those who want to know more about this author and his stories
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2025 by Brian Salee
Format: Kindle
The ending was different than any of Asimov's novels. It just compels you to read the next book. Darn! I now have to buy another book.
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2025 by Jimbo
Format: Kindle
Asimov was one of my favorite authors when I was growing up so I'm not going to criticize him at this late date. Obviously, this book was written long after the foundation trilogy. It simply sets up Hari Seldon's initial progress toward developing psychohistory. He goes to Trantor to give a seminar on his idea of psychohistory which is merely a budding idea when he attracts the interest of various powerful people. He's required to hide out in various regions of the planet where he's introduced to very different cultures. With this exposure he figures out how to bring psychohistory to a reality. There you have it. I remember from many decades ago that the foundation trilogy starts with psychohistory being an already well established system of study so the purpose of this story is met.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2023 by William S. Morris