Isaac Asimov's Caliban

My Isaac Asimov kick starts to wind down with the first book of Allen's Caliban trilogy, a series that examines the Three Laws in a way Asimov himself hadn't done since Robots and Empire, and hadn't done with success since I, Robot. In addition, Allen creates a robot mystery better than any since The Naked Sun (possibly even The Caves of Steel). The planet of Inferno also manages to give us a good glimpse at both Spacer and Settler cultures; it's nice to see a bunch of Spacers who, while dependent on robots, aren't total nutjobs for once. Caliban himself is a compelling character, too, a type Asimov never did much with himself (aside from Andrew Martin, maybe)-- someone not quite a robot, not quite a human being.

We all knew who was probably innocent; add the complexity of everyone else being very suspect; and the true villain was not obvious until the middle of chapter 16. The story reads like a real Asimov detective thriller (only a hint of sex...and no one gets killed) and Allen deserves credit for inventing the gravitonic brain and explaining why the Spacer Worlds are doomed.

I found this to be very much in the Asimov style which I liked more when I was younger, but still appreciate. I enjoyed the undercurrent of the effect upon humans to have robots doing their bidding and looking out for the human's welfare. The story gives some perspective on the topic of AI that is different from what we normally see concerning the potential problems. I didn't think I'd want to follow up with the rest of the series on Caliban, but as I neared the end I found myself curious to see what happens in his future.

Allen's first Caliban novel does a wonderful job of continuing the work of the late Isaac Asimov. It takes a detailed look at the three laws, and their impacts on spacer society. Oh, and add a good old mystery to the mix, and you have yourself a good book.

But did Allen really have to use 'hell' and 'damn' in every other sentence?

I finally got around to reading this series, and, well, I can understand why several times I started to read, put the book away, and never came back. The three novels tell the story of how the planet Inferno is saved from its original, faulty terra-forming. Along the way new robots, with a modified set of 'Asimov' laws are created.

The story is competently written, but that is all. No spark of creativity, the characters are listless, going through the motions. The robots perhaps show more character than the humans? Or is that saying too much?

Ok, to read once, just to see what it is all about, but not on my 'must re-read list'.

Finally quit half into the book. I had been slogging through it but all the while feeling like I was just killing time so I decided to quit it. A few interesting ideas, but the writing is mediocre and the book as a whole seemed like a moral story- the lazy "Spacers" allowing their humanity to dissipate through dependence on robots...

This is a "robot mystery" in the style of Asimov, but actually written by Roger MacBride Allen. Wikipedia assures me that Asimov approved the outline for this book, as well as the other two by Roger:

"Shortly before his death in 1992, Asimov approved an outline for three novels (Caliban, Inferno, Utopia) by Roger MacBride Allen, set between Robots and Empire and the Empire series, telling the story of the terraforming of the Spacer world Inferno, and about the robot revolution started by creating a "No Law" Robot, and then New Law Robots."

Roger is an interesting author, and appears to have written quite a few books, with a strong tendency for basing them in other author's universes. Its interesting to meet an author who is so seemingly show more willing to base his work on that of others.

This book didn't strike me as well written as Asimov's, but that's a pretty high bar to meet. It should be noted that Amazon reviews disagree with me on this point. Its rendition is certainly competent though, and the story is a good one.

http://www.stillhq.com/book/Roger_MacBride_Allen/Caliban.html show less