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- ISBN: 978-0553293395
- Title: The Naked Sun
- Author: Asimov, Isaac
- Publisher: Bantam Spectra, New York
- Year: 1957
- Pages: 288
- Purchase Link
The second robot novel featuring plainclothes detective Elijah Baley and humaniform robot R. Daneel Olivaw, written by Isaac Asimov.
In the previous novel, The Caves of Steel, Elijah Baley averted a crisis on earth by resolving a Spacer murder. This has drawn the attention of the Spacer worlds, particularly the planet Solaria.
Solaria is the most roboticized of the Spacer worlds, with only a rigidly controlled human population of 20,000, and 10,000 robots assigned to each person. As a result of population distribution, humans are almost never within sight of each other, except where sexual reproduction is required. A pathology has evolved within the population, with an extreme aversion to interpersonal contact. Almost all interactions are performed via holographic viewing over long distances. Even children are raised by robots, and slowly weened off their desire to physically interact with one another.
Due to the large distances between lavish estates, and an army of robots protecting their masters, crime and murder are non-existent. Except in the case of Rikaine Delmarre, who was found murdered with no sign of a murder weapon and only his wife nearby.
Solaria’s lack of experience requires them to procure the services of detective Elijah Baley, a year after the Sarton murder case. The Spacer world Aurora demands that R. Daneel Olivaw to join him.
Together, they struggle to deal with the cultural differences that separate the planets, while unraveling a series of peculiar and conflicting facts regarding the case. A deeper plot against earth and the Spacer worlds is discovered, and Elijah Baley again discovers the weight of his responsibility.
The Naked Sun is a definite improvement over The Caves of Steel. The plot is a little thicker, the character interactions less grating, the personality conflicts a little deeper. It’s a worthwhile read.
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