Foundation Series (Bantam Doubleday Audio Cassette Version) – Isaac Asimov Free Audiobook

Written by Isaac Asimov
Read by David Dukes
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 128 Kbps
Abridged

I have to admit, I didn’t know who David Dukes was until I got hold of these audiobook tapes.

The seven books of the extended Foundation Saga (two prequels, the trilogy, two sequels) have been published as abridged readings by BDD Bantam Doubleday Audiobook Publishing between 1988 and 1994. Each book – except for Forward the Foundation – was abridged to two 90 minute tapes. Forward the Foundation was abridged as well but published on four tapes of 90 minutes each. While there are obviously some parts missing (for comparison: The 2004 unabridged reading of the Foundation novel by Scott Brick spans seven CDs with a total running time of 8 hours and 37 minutes compared to the 3 hour version discussed here), the story still is comprehensible and easy to follow. Dukes did a very nice job switching between different voices, and the partial use of background music sets a very nice atmosphere for the story.

The audiobooks were produced by David Rapkin Audio Productions in New York. All but one book were read by David Dukes: The Foundation novel in this series is read by Isaac Asimov himself, who did a nice job as well (I really like his voice), but in my opinion not as good as Dukes. Interestingly, this book was recorded first, and I have no information why Asimov did not read all the books himself or whose decision that was.

Prelude to Foundation
David Dukes
2 tapes (180 minutes) 1989
Forward the Foundation
David Dukes
4 tapes (360 minutes) 1993
Foundation Isaac Asimov 2 tapes (180 minutes) 1988
Foundation and Empire David Dukes 2 tapes (180 minutes) 1991
Second Foundation David Dukes 2 tapes (180 minutes) 1991
Foundations Edge David Dukes 2 tapes (180 minutes) 1992
Foundation and Earth David Dukes 2 tapes (180 minutes) 1994