The Foundation Trilogy (radio series)

The Foundation Trilogy
GenreRadio audiobook
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home stationBBC Radio 4
Hosted by
Directed byDavid Cain
Original release6 May (1973-05-06) –
24 June 1973 (1973-06-24)
No. of series1
No. of episodes8

The Foundation Trilogy is an eight hour-long episode radio series that was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 6 May and 24 June 1973. It is an adaptation of Isaac Asimov's The Foundation Trilogy. Patrick Tull presented the first four episodes while Mike Stott presented the last four. David Cain directed the series. The series was repeated in 1977 and 2002.

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byPresenterOriginal air date
1"Psychohistory and Encyclopedia"David CainPatrick Tull6 May 1973 (1973-05-06)
The opening episode begins on Trantor, capital of the Galactic Empire, with the meeting of Hari Seldon and Gaal Dornick, their trial, and their exile to Terminus. The action then jumps forward fifty years, to the first Seldon Crisis, where the repercussions of the recent independence of the Four Kingdoms of the Periphery are being felt on Terminus, and are handled by the first Mayor, Salvor Hardin.
2"The Mayors"David CainPatrick TullTBA
The scene moves forward a further twenty years, as Mayor Hardin faces down the domination of the nearby and most powerful of the Four Kingdoms, Anacreon, whose ruler intends to annex the Foundation by force.
3"The Merchant Princes"David CainPatrick TullTBA
A hundred and fifty years after the Foundation was established, the now powerful trading nation, guided by master trader Hober Mallow, faces its greatest threat to date.
4"The General"David CainPatrick TullTBA
Two hundred years after its creation, the Foundation battles Bel Riose, the last powerful General of the dying Galactic Empire.
5"The Mule"David CainMike ScottTBA
A further hundred years have passed, and the Foundation is challenged by an unexpected threat named The Mule.
6"Flight From The Mule"David CainMike ScottTBA
During the war against The Mule, with things going badly for the Foundation, some key figures under the leadership of the Foundation's greatest scientist, Ebling Mis, flee Terminus in search of the Second Foundation, to warn it of the danger from The Mule.
7"The Mule Finds"David CainMike ScottTBA
The Mule attempts to find and overthrow the Second Foundation.
8"Star's End"David CainMike Scott24 June 1973 (1973-06-24)
Sixty years later a teenage girl is at the centre of the Foundation's renewed search for the Second Foundation.

Cast

Changes from the novels

  • The conflict between The Foundation and Anacreon takes place 70 years into the Foundation era; in the novels it occurs in year 80 F.E.
  • A small segment entitled "Traders" in the first volume, Foundation, has been removed entirely
  • General editing of the timescale has been done throughout
  • A large, rather comedic, section about farming on Rossem has been added to "The Mule Finds"
  • The leaders of the Second Foundation are referred to as 'Guardian', rather than 'Speaker' as in the books.

References

  • Willis, Jesse (21 April 2011). "BBC Radio 3: Isaac Asimov's The Foundation Trilogy". SFF Audio. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  • "The Foundation Trilogy". SciFiMike. Retrieved 26 February 2024.