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[eBook] Foundation by Isaac Asimov (Book 1 of The Foundation Trilogy) $2.99 @ Amazon AU

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Kindle Daily Deal

If you know, you know.

For 3 bucks you can sample the first book in the Foundation Trilogy (although there are many sequels and prequels, this is the start of the main Trilogy).

WINNER OF THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST ALL-TIME SERIES

The Foundation series is Isaac Asimov’s iconic masterpiece. Unfolding against the backdrop of a crumbling Galactic Empire, the story of Hari Seldon’s two Foundations is a lasting testament to an extraordinary imagination, one that shaped science fiction as we know it today.

The Galactic Empire has prospered for twelve thousand years. Nobody suspects that the heart of the thriving Empire is rotten, until psychohistorian Hari Seldon uses his new science to foresee its terrible fate.

Exiled to the desolate planet Terminus, Seldon establishes a colony of the greatest minds in the Empire, a Foundation which holds the key to changing the fate of the galaxy.

However, the death throes of the Empire breed hostile new enemies, and the young Foundation’s fate will be threatened first.

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  • +4

    FYI the Kindle version of Book 2 is $9.99 and Book 3 is $17.99

  • +3

    Just watched the first season of the Apple Originals series Foundation, was pretty good too. Doesn't closely follow the storyline (according to my dad), but it was still very interesting.

    • +8

      Agree with your dad.
      If anyone new is picking up the book based on liking the show, they would be in for a surprise as to how different they are.

      • +1

        Different good or bad way?

        • I am biased. I read the books 20 Years ago and loved them then, so I would be the (profanity) who says 'book was better than the movie'.

          But in all fairness, if you treat the book and the show as two completely different things, you wont be disappointed by either.

          • @free hot drink: Agreed! In the words of GRRM:

            "How many children did Scarlett O'Hara have? Three, in the novel. One, in the movie. None, in real life: she was a fictional character, she never existed. The show is the show, the books are the books; two different tellings of the same story."

            It's sad the fans of ASOIAF didn't take that to heart, despite him saying it a million times, many of us ended up wanting an exact replica of the books in the shows, even though in the latter seasons there was no source material to rely on and changes were inevitable.

    • +4

      Yes very different from the book. Was a bit disappointed.
      Too much screen time for brother Day / Dawn / Dusk

      • +1

        In all fairness I'm yet to find an Asimov short story or novel turned into a TV series/film that's both true to the book and enjoyable. But hey, I even watched Bicentennial Man the other day again for kicks.

      • +6

        Trivia time!

        Cleon is an anagram of clone :-)

      • +4

        they were kind of my favourite part of the show if im being honest, i really liked the subtle differences in personalities

      • +3

        At the risk of being cast out for apostasy, I have concluded the Apple TV story is actually a better yarn. Closer to the book its based on than a terrible Amazon Prime treatment of a Tom Clancy novel, but still a quite different yarn to Asimov’s.

      • Only one emperor in the book.

    • +3

      No no no.

      The show was the worst piece of crap I've ever seen.

      The book is brilliant.

      • Haven't read the book, but I slept through most of the TV show. One or two of the later episodes managed to keep me awake but the rest of it was pretty crap.

  • +10

    Worth noting that the TV series tells the story (roughly) in Prelude to Foundation, not this book. From (long ago) memory Prelude to Foundation actually spoils a lot of the reveals in Foundation, so I'd go with publication order and not watch the TV show first personally.

    TL;DR Good place to start with the series; don't watch the TV show first.

    • +1

      Sigh. Too late for me.

      For what it's worth (with zero background to any Asimov work), I find the Apple Original to be a grand story reasonably well told. High production values.

      • +4

        If the TV show is what brought you to the Foundation series, then it's still done more good than harm :)

        • Okay, I can agree with that. Time to buy the book.

          How do you feel about the TV series?

          • @Member 0230: I haven't finished it. It's really well made, but the fact that everything these days has to be about class warfare kinda shits me. It's right for the times, but I'm more down for escapism these days.

    • Might be time to read the book then I guess, bought

  • +4

    must read for sci fi nerds

  • +3

    The second book is the best!
    Not sure how they would film the second book as most of what happen is in their heads.

  • One of, if not the best, book series in my opinion. Highly recommend.

  • +3

    Great book, terrible TV show. Stick to the books and you won't be disappointed.

  • I read this as Isaac Arthur and got very intrigued. Asimov is also great, though I already have this hah (and do recommend).

  • +1

    The show was fine but not great but I don't think you can actually make a good adaptation of anything Asimov. They're great books for sci fi nerds like me but the characters and plots are pretty thin, so an adaptation basically has to flesh it out a heap. Asimov was more about the ideas, which is great, just not suited to other media.

    • +1

      I'd love to see Caves of Steel as a movie, I think it'd be perfect.

  • +1

    same price in apple books too if anyone is interested.
    https://books.apple.com/au/book/foundation/id1354950336

    • Thanks for the heads up. Most of my ebook library is split between Amazon and Apple atm.

      To be frank, while a Kindle device has all sorts of real pros to it, the experience of using Apple Books (and maybe to a lesser extent Kindle app, I need to spend more time to decide) on iPad really is quite good.

      • +2

        while a Kindle device has all sorts of real pros to it, the experience of using Apple Books (and maybe to a lesser extent Kindle app, I need to spend more time to decide) on iPad really is quite good.

        same :-)

        For kindle at times they give audible narration at a discounted price with the eBook if you are wanting that.

      • the experience of using Apple Books […] on iPad really is quite good

        Interesting. What do you like about it? What does it have that Kindle doesn't?

        • +1

          I think this is a great (non-techy) summary of where each device shines https://ebookfriendly.com/amazon-kindle-vs-apple-ipad-readin…

          But I’m frankly surprised by how I don’t really mind an iPad even for reading regular novels vs say comic books or image rich textbooks. The UI is well thought through and super responsive (which, by nature, my e-ink based Paperwhite cannot match), gets out of the way at the right times and is generally a pleasure to use. Maybe the word I’m looking for is polish? Regardless, both are great.

  • +3
  • +5

    Just finished all the 7 books borrowed from the library, I have also bought now all 7 physical books from under $20 each from various places so that I can do a second read through.
    Do I like Foundation? The best read ever if you like scifi.

    TV show was originally a huge disappointment as it is not close to the books, what my conclusion is now that they are separate like the show for what it is.

    • +3

      I think this is possibly fairer than some comments "books are great, tv show is worst garbage ever".

  • +1

    The first book is one of my favourite's of all-time. The show is also great and I don't care that it doesn't follow the books to the letter. Same with the new Dune for that fact.

  • +1

    Thanks OP, enjoyed the show, can only expect more of the book

  • Thanks Op and everyone who recommends.

  • The stories are essentially the same. But the book concentrates on the story and doesn't really have a fixed protagonist (other than Hari and R.Daneel but they are not really in it a great deal). The tv show was a character driven story (which most tv/movies are). So they changed the story line to have some main characters that last through the entire series. I like what they did with the tv show to make it broader appeal. Foundation was always thought of as unconvertible to movie/tv.

    • Yes great in book form, but doesn’t work as a straight adaptation for TV because characters are not the focus.

  • I cannot believe my eyes that some book-seller is trying to sell used copies (not one but several) of the Foundation trilogy (old leatherbound) I have for USD $1000 on Amazon US. It's not like it is a first edition or anything. Besides you can buy a new leatherbound version now for less than $100.

    They must be fishing. But who knows? Have heard stranger stories of stuff people are willing to pay online. Some old book collector, one who collects Asimov works, or someone like that may bite.

  • Back to $9.99 now, have expired this deal.

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