Free: Isaac Asimov’s Epic Foundation Trilogy Dramatized in Classic Audio

Permit us to stay on our recent sci-fi tangent just a tad bit longer….

Between 1951 and 1953, Isaac Asimov published three books that formed the now legendary Foundation Trilogy. Many considered it a masterwork in science fiction, and that view became official doctrine in 1966 when the trilogy received a special Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series, notably beating out Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. (Don’t miss the vintage Tolkien documentary we featured yesterday.)

Eventually, the BBC decided to adapt Asimov’s trilogy to the radio, dramatizing the series in eight one-hour episodes that aired between May and June 1973. Years later, you can buy the radio drama on iTunes for $9.99. But we’re going to suggest that you pocket that hard-earned money and download the radio drama for free from the Internet Archive. Or the free Spotify version above. Feel free to access the media via these links: Free Stream – Free Zip File – Spotify.

You can stream the program in its entirety right above. Click the links below to stream the individual episodes. Or download the full program as a zip file (which otherwise appears in our collection of Free Audio Books). The Internet Archive gives you more download options here.

Part 1 |MP3| Part 2 |MP3| Part 3 |MP3| Part 4 |MP3| Part 5 |MP3| Part 6 |MP3| Part 7 |MP3| Part 8 |MP3|

More Free Sci-Fi & Fantasy:

Download the Complete Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis for Free

Aldous Huxley Reads Dramatized Version of Brave New World

Free Philip K. Dick: Download 11 Great Science Fiction Stories

Neil Gaiman’s Free Short Stories


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Comments (13)
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  • This adaptation is AMAZING.

  • Robin Öberg says:

    Yes, one of the best books ever. On audio book for my iPhone. Awesome. Thank you! :)

  • wm says:

    A Trillion Thank you :)

  • MW says:

    What a treat. Thanks.

  • Ind3xs says:

    Great!! All time classic!!

  • Ignacio says:

    Thanks!!! Great!! The best book ever

  • Natalia says:

    A BIG THANK YOU!! for this. I have spent a year reading just Assimov’s books, from the Robots series to the Fundations, now I just bought The End of Eternity. Love them!

  • Dave Howes says:

    I remember hearing this when it was first broadcast, Sunday nights on radio 4. Brilliant stuff :~)nn”Not many people know that” dept. – nThis broadcast was the direct inspiration for the now legendary Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, which was written as a spoof………

  • Israel Escultor del Viento says:

    will this be in spau00f1ish? anyone knows?

  • jock123 says:

    Why would the BBC adaptation be public domain? It’s programmes are copyright in the UK, which makes it pretty much copyright anywhere else, surely?
    If you know it’s for sale, why recommend stealing it?

  • David Cain says:

    Good question. Jock123!! I ask the same, with a little self-interest, as I directed it, created the electronic sounds and edited the whole thing. It is, of course, stealing and in my case, as I never get even one penny of royalties, it is stealing from me!!

  • Evandro Madeira says:

    Maybe someday it will be also recorded in Spanish, as well as in Portuguese.
    I truly adore reading Isaac Asimov’s books, and it’s so good to have the to listen to these recordings!…

  • Ramiro says:

    Alert Alert Alert, the mp3 files is no longer exits “Item not available”…. :( :( :(

    Sad but true!

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