Caves of Steel

Isaac Asimov

"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 the orders given 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."

This novel is the unofficial sequel to the short stories in I, Robot. Lije Baley is a policeman in New York City a few hundred years from now. He is assigned to work on an unusual murder case. His partner is even more unusual.

R. Daneel Olivaw is a robot who looks like a human, the first of his type. People not in the know do not realize he is a robot instead of a person. Lije has prejudices against robots, yet is open minded enough to work with one when so assigned. Yet Daneel unnerves him. He can see his job being taken over by a robot like Daneel.

This excellent science fiction novel does not show its age. It refers to definite possibilites of the future, but doesn't refer to "huge computers", typewriters, or other technological anachronims that it could for its time. This is Asimov in top form. I'm glad I reread this book.

I, Robot
"Robot Dreams" Future on Ice
The Caves of Steel
The Naked Sun
Robots of Dawn
Robots and Empire