Sunday, March 21, 2010

The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov

The Robots of Dawn  (Robots 3) The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another case of murder for Detective Elijah Baley and his robot partner R. Daneel Olivaw to investigate, but what makes this case unusual is that the victim is an advanced robot who has been placed into a state of irreversible mental lock. The only person with sufficient skill in robotics to have done such a thing is the robot's designer Dr Fastolfe who happens to be Earth's only ally in a political schism between Earth and the Spacer worlds. Is this a plot to discredit the progressive faction or is something more complex afoot?

As with the previous books in the trilogy, this novel is concerned more with human relationships and motivations than the technology of the robots. The robot brains with their positronic desires form an analogue for understanding the workings of the human mind.

The concept of psychohistory - mathematically modeling the behaviour of large populations in order to predict the future - is introduced here too, touching on the concepts of determinism and free will. Are humans as predestined in their actions as the robots? What are the implications for relations between humans and robots, as more worlds are explored and colonised?

Fascinating concepts that are explored with Asimov's trademark insight. The longest of the robot novels, the most complex, and also the most satisfying in its conclusions. Excellent.

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