The Caves of Steel (Robot (Spectra Books)): 1 - Softcover

Issac Asimov

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0553293400 ISBN 13: 9780553293401

Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, 1999

Synopsis

A millennium into the future two advancements have altered the course of human history: the colonization of the galaxy and the creation of the positronic brain. Isaac Asimov's "Robot" novels chronicle the unlikely partnership between a New York City detective and a humanoid robot who must learn to work together. Like most people left behind on an over-populated Earth, New York City police detective Elijah Baley had little love for either the arrogant Spacers or their robotic companions. But when a prominent Spacer is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Baley is ordered to the Outer Worlds to help track down the killer. The relationship between Life and his Spacer superiors, who distrusted all Earthmen, was strained from the start. Then he learned that they had assigned him a partner: R. Daneel Olivaw. Worst of all was that the "R" stood for robot--and his positronic partner was made in the image and likeness of the murder victim!

About this title

Review:

‘One of the classic presentations of the womb-city, metropolis as mother, which has haunted imaginations ever since... The Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun are the best books Isaac Asimov ever wrote’
The Guardian

‘Isaac Asimov was one of the great explainers of the age...It will never be known how many practicing scientists today, in how many countries, owe their initial inspiration to a book, article, or short story by Isaac Asimov’
Carl Sagan

‘Asimov displayed one of the most dynamic imaginations in science fiction’
Daily Telegraph

‘Asimov’s career was one of the most formidable in science fiction’
The Times

From the Back Cover:

Detective Elijah Baley investigates the murder of an offworlder in Spacetown. In the opinion of the Spacers, the murder is tied up with recent attempts to sabotage the Spacer – sponsored project of converting Earth to an integrated human/robot society on the model of the Outer Worlds.

To search for a killer in the City's vast caves of steel, Elijah is assigned a Spacer partner named R.Daneel. That's Robot Daneel. And notwithstanding the celebrated Three Laws of Robotics, which should make such a murder impossible, R.Daneel is soon Elijah's prime suspect ...

This is the first of Isaac Asimov's robot novels.

THE THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS

· A robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm
· A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law
· A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law

About this edition

• Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0553293400
• ISBN 13: 9780553293401
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 288