The Naked Sun

Originally published: January 1957

Author: Isaac Asimov

Book 2 of 3: The Robots Series

Genres: Artificial Intelligence & Semantics, Classic American Fiction, Hard Science Fiction, Classic Science Fiction, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Mystery

This book is the second in the Robots Series and same as the first book it was first published as a series in “Astounding Science Fiction” from October to December 1956 and later published in the book form in 1957.

This book is a murder mystery and a science fiction combination with returning main characters from the previous book. The book focuses on the unusual traditions, customs, and culture of a new planet and it is not earth. But the population uses robots for everything as with many of the planets in this future of millennia ahead of our time.

You are going to find out about the first law of robotics by Asimov and what it can do to a robot. This book is a mixture of a lot of this author’s talents like the well-planned story, mystery, and world-building. Plus don’t forget his great ideas are always present on every page.

Don’t forget to read the first book “The Caves of Steel” before you read this book because they are directly connected and you may not get some stuff that is happening in this one.

This book has it all that you can expect from a science fiction book from the classic era with twists and surprises with cleverly invented technology that was impossible at the time but now feels real and in our grasp very soon.

It is one of the better stories and mysteries from this series that needed an open mind and out-of-the-box thinking to solve. A good read that makes you want to think of all the unusual stuff and cultural issues that this story has to offer. A must-read that may make you want to read all of Isaac Asimov’s books because his worlds and universes suck you in these books even they are just fictional and usually contain a lot of talking and drama.

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. On the beautiful Outer World planet of Solaria, a handful of human colonists lead a hermit-like existence, their every need attended to by their faithful robot servants. To this strange and provocative planet comes Detective Elijah Baley, sent from the streets of New York with his positronic partner, the robot R. Daneel Olivaw, to solve an incredible murder that has rocked Solaria to its foundations. The victim had been so reclusive that he appeared to his associates only through holographic projection. Yet someone had gotten close enough to bludgeon him to death while robots looked on. Now Baley and Olivaw are faced with two clear impossibilities: Either the Solarian was killed by one of his robots--unthinkable under the laws of Robotics--or he was killed by the woman who loved him so much that she never came into his presence!”

Rating: 95/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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The Caves of Steel

Originally published: 4, February 1954

Author: Isaac Asimov
Book 1 of 3: The Robots Series
 
Genres: Classic Science Fiction, Hard Science Fiction, Space Opera, Science Fiction
 
Once again an amazing book series by the visionary author Isaac Asimov. He wrote many books about robots and AI and I read them all. The robots in these books feel alive and real unlike mindless monsters in many other books and stories and that is what makes these books so different from the rest.
 
This book was first published in Galaxy Magazine as a serial from October to December of the year 1953. While reading books from this era you need to understand that these authors had no idea about mobiles and some other technologies that we use now, but still, they were able to create amazing futuristic worlds and universes with humanoid robots and spaceships to cross galaxies in a blink of an eye.

The name of this book is a reference to what the cities of the earth are supposed to feel and look like in the far future and it is not a bad concept. In the Foundation series, you are going to find this concept in one of the main planets also and it was kind of a way to connect the books. Indeed, both these universes are the same and everything that is happening is happening at different times in the same universe.   

 
The only problem when reading these old books is the treatment of women and kids but especially women are not acceptable in these times. It is not the fault of the writer because he wrote these books in those times when it was normal behavior and society was okay with it. The way to read these books is to understand this issue and don’t think much about it. Just pay attention to the main story and have fun.
 
This book is a murder mystery and a science fiction combination and you can actually find clues left by the author for you to find and solve the mystery with the characters. That was a good idea by the author unlike the authors who purposefully hide detail from the readers and that is a very cheap trick to create fake mystery.
 
You are really going to enjoy this book and the series and you’ll get to read about the integration of robotics’ three laws by Mr. Isaac Asimov in this book. Now, these laws are a part of real-life AI laws and you need to read about these laws before you start your journey into the AI world.
 
 
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!.”
 
 
Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
 
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I, Robot

Originally published: 2, December 1950

Author: Isaac Asimov

Genres: Classic Short Stories, Science Fiction Short Stories

This book is a bundle of short stories about robots and robotics. These stories were published originally in science fiction magazines from 1940 to 1950 and then compiled into this book. You are not going to feel anything is outdated in these stories as with what you expect from the legendary Isaac Asimov and his great ideas. Whenever robots like C3PO say “Thanks to the creator,” I imagine they are talking about the great Isaac Asimov.

A MUST-READ FOR ALL SCIENCE FICTION FANS.

He introduced the three main laws of robotics or AI. Now learning these Laws of Robotics are required for anyone working with robots or AI. His vision of AI and robots was not like other writers of his time. He predicted that these robots are not just some mindless machines but can actually think and feel. And that is what you are going to read in this book, the stories of different robots.

The stories are connected by one person and that is Susan Calvin, a robopsychologist (a person who studies robot minds) who tells the stories, a profession unheard of before this book.

Some stuff in this book kind of connects it with the Foundation Series and I loved it. Sometimes people talk about movies and don’t even know these movies are actually adaptations of some of the greatest writers known to us. The same goes for I, Robot. It was a beautiful movie and I recommend it to everyone who has not watched it yet. You’ll learn a lot about what and how Mr. Isaac Asimov thought about robots and AI.

This book is easy to read and I can say it is for all ages and education levels even though it is on the subject of AI and robotics. It makes you think and learn in a fun and enjoyable way.

It is very rare to see the main character who is a female if a book was written in the 1940s – 1950s. Yes, I read about females in old science fiction books but they are just females and do not actually do anything unlike this one, who is doing a lot of stuff and even helps a robot or two, instead of being a damsel in distress. That is why Mr. Isaac Asimov was ahead of his time, not just because of his ideas or predictions of the future; he was able to see women grow in society as equal to men also.

Synopsis:

“A must-read for science-fiction buffs and literature enjoyers alike.”—The Guardian

I, Robot, the first and most widely read book in Asimov’s Robot series, forever changed the world’s perception of artificial intelligence. Here are stories of robots gone mad, of mind-reading robots, and robots with a sense of humor. Of robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world—all told with the dramatic blend of science fact and science fiction that has become Asimov’s trademark.

The Three Laws of Robotics:

1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a

human being to come to harm.

2) A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

With these three, simple directives, Isaac Asimov formulated the laws governing robots’ behavior. In I, Robot, Asimov chronicles the development of the robot from its primitive origins in the present to its ultimate perfection in the not-so-distant future—a future in which humanity itself may be rendered obsolete.

“Tremendously exciting and entertaining . . . Asimov dramatizes an interesting question: How can we live with machines that, generation by generation, grow more intelligent than their creators and not eventually clash with our own invention?”—The Chicago Tribune”

A classic like this gets full points even it has any flaws but do not worry because no flaws in this book.

Rating: 100/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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