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fbroom's review against another edition
4.0
It was entertaining and fun to read.
In terms of the story line, I was bored at times and I kind of figured out the plot from early on. 3/5
In terms of ideas I found the book to be brilliant. 5/5
Asimov classified humans into three categories:
(1) Those who are comfortable with their lives and don't see a reason to change anything even though it is clear that we do have issues/problems (people like Baley who were pretty content with living in the “Caves of Steel").
(2) Those who hold you back (The Medievalists). They know we have problems but their solutions involve just going back to the past (Asimov called them the “Romanticizers”.
As an example Jessie preferred the old emotional bible to the current modern one). Those people are usually destructive (modern life extremists, Creationists, anti GMO groups, anti-tech groups, etc).
(3) Those who are thinking of new ways to solve our problems although they might not know how to deliver those ideas. The Spacers in the book thought that introducing more robots that drive people out of their jobs, is a good enough clue to the Earth humans to think outside the box, obviously that didn’t work. The Spacers were also viewed as Superiors by the Earth humans.
Even on an individual level the message applies, don’t get comfortable in your life and always look for better alternatives that change your life for the better.
----------------Summary/Spoilers----------------------------------
It was set in the future, year 3000? Earth is over populated and the “City” was invented some time ago to help accommodate the growth. A way to live in an efficient and combat manner (“Caves of Steel"). Every resident has a unit. They all eat at the "Kitchens". Food is the same everywhere. Basically a practical and closed way of living. They didn’t have real air or real sunshine. The story is set in New York City. A murder takes place in Spacetown, a settlement where Spacers from the Outer Worlds live.
During the second century humans were able to develop efficient robots and also were able to colonize other planets and live there. They were called the Spacers. There were few mistakes in the process. For example since the medium is different on these planets, bacteria and viruses were not able to spread and so these humans eventually developed weaker immune systems.
Humans on Earth got so comfortable with their lives. The same routine every day, the same job, the same food, the same life basically. They never left the “City” and forgot what’s like to have air and sunshine. Most importantly they are out growing Earth but not realizing it. A large group of humans called the Medievalists want an end to Cities. They think that by going back to the “soil” all their problems would be solved although realistically that’s not possible anymore.
The Spacers on the other hand do have others struggles like how they are under populated. The Outer Worlds will eventually degenerate and decay and new colonies are much needed. The Spacers thought that introducing more robots to Earth will drive these humans to think more seriously and attempt colonizing more planets which hadn’t happened in a long time and this time also do it right and avoid the mistakes that happened the first time.
These Spacers moved back to Earth to settle in Spacetown (I don't know how that was possible if Earth humans hated them?). Humans though were so resistant and hated these Spacers and the robots. Although robots were first invented on Earth. Riots happened and a barrier was built around Spacetown where no Spacer is allowed outside in the City.
The murder of Dr. Sarton happened in Spacetown. Since there was so much tension between the Spacers and Humans. The City commissioner wanted to keep this investigation a secret. The case was assigned to Baley under the condition of having a robot partner from Spacetown. The story begins here with the investigation and goes till the end when you discover the murderer. During that journey the Spacers tell Baley about their true plans of solving both Earth and the Outer Worlds problems by colonizing new planets. Baley gets convinced and also some suspect from the Medievalist also gets convinced. The Spacers were happy about this unexpected progress and decided to work with the murderer to convince more people instead going public with the case.
Quotes:
“Man was born on Mother Earth, do you hear?
Earth’s the world that gave him birth, do you hear?
Spacer, get you off the face Of Mother Earth and into space.
Dirty Spacer, do you hear?”
"Baley felt about in his pocket for a stick of chewing gum. (In later years he abandoned that habit because Jessie said that with his long face and sad, brown eyes, it made him look like an old crow stuck with an unpleasant wad of grass it couldn’t swallow and wouldn’t spit out.)"
“First Law 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 by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law”
“Third Law, which states, ‘A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law"
“Your ancient America was discovered by ships fitted out with men from the prisons. Don’t you see that the City’s womb has failed the displaced man. He has nothing to lose and worlds to gain by leaving Earth.”
In terms of the story line, I was bored at times and I kind of figured out the plot from early on. 3/5
In terms of ideas I found the book to be brilliant. 5/5
Asimov classified humans into three categories:
(1) Those who are comfortable with their lives and don't see a reason to change anything even though it is clear that we do have issues/problems (people like Baley who were pretty content with living in the “Caves of Steel").
(2) Those who hold you back (The Medievalists). They know we have problems but their solutions involve just going back to the past (Asimov called them the “Romanticizers”.
As an example Jessie preferred the old emotional bible to the current modern one). Those people are usually destructive (modern life extremists, Creationists, anti GMO groups, anti-tech groups, etc).
(3) Those who are thinking of new ways to solve our problems although they might not know how to deliver those ideas. The Spacers in the book thought that introducing more robots that drive people out of their jobs, is a good enough clue to the Earth humans to think outside the box, obviously that didn’t work. The Spacers were also viewed as Superiors by the Earth humans.
Even on an individual level the message applies, don’t get comfortable in your life and always look for better alternatives that change your life for the better.
----------------Summary/Spoilers----------------------------------
It was set in the future, year 3000? Earth is over populated and the “City” was invented some time ago to help accommodate the growth. A way to live in an efficient and combat manner (“Caves of Steel"). Every resident has a unit. They all eat at the "Kitchens". Food is the same everywhere. Basically a practical and closed way of living. They didn’t have real air or real sunshine. The story is set in New York City. A murder takes place in Spacetown, a settlement where Spacers from the Outer Worlds live.
During the second century humans were able to develop efficient robots and also were able to colonize other planets and live there. They were called the Spacers. There were few mistakes in the process. For example since the medium is different on these planets, bacteria and viruses were not able to spread and so these humans eventually developed weaker immune systems.
Humans on Earth got so comfortable with their lives. The same routine every day, the same job, the same food, the same life basically. They never left the “City” and forgot what’s like to have air and sunshine. Most importantly they are out growing Earth but not realizing it. A large group of humans called the Medievalists want an end to Cities. They think that by going back to the “soil” all their problems would be solved although realistically that’s not possible anymore.
The Spacers on the other hand do have others struggles like how they are under populated. The Outer Worlds will eventually degenerate and decay and new colonies are much needed. The Spacers thought that introducing more robots to Earth will drive these humans to think more seriously and attempt colonizing more planets which hadn’t happened in a long time and this time also do it right and avoid the mistakes that happened the first time.
These Spacers moved back to Earth to settle in Spacetown (I don't know how that was possible if Earth humans hated them?). Humans though were so resistant and hated these Spacers and the robots. Although robots were first invented on Earth. Riots happened and a barrier was built around Spacetown where no Spacer is allowed outside in the City.
The murder of Dr. Sarton happened in Spacetown. Since there was so much tension between the Spacers and Humans. The City commissioner wanted to keep this investigation a secret. The case was assigned to Baley under the condition of having a robot partner from Spacetown. The story begins here with the investigation and goes till the end when you discover the murderer. During that journey the Spacers tell Baley about their true plans of solving both Earth and the Outer Worlds problems by colonizing new planets. Baley gets convinced and also some suspect from the Medievalist also gets convinced. The Spacers were happy about this unexpected progress and decided to work with the murderer to convince more people instead going public with the case.
Quotes:
“Man was born on Mother Earth, do you hear?
Earth’s the world that gave him birth, do you hear?
Spacer, get you off the face Of Mother Earth and into space.
Dirty Spacer, do you hear?”
"Baley felt about in his pocket for a stick of chewing gum. (In later years he abandoned that habit because Jessie said that with his long face and sad, brown eyes, it made him look like an old crow stuck with an unpleasant wad of grass it couldn’t swallow and wouldn’t spit out.)"
“First Law 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 by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law”
“Third Law, which states, ‘A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law"
“Your ancient America was discovered by ships fitted out with men from the prisons. Don’t you see that the City’s womb has failed the displaced man. He has nothing to lose and worlds to gain by leaving Earth.”
yungste's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
zfeig's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An amusing book riffing on 'I, Robot.' The main character is a bit of a misogynist dick-head in a way that is a little bit too par for the course in early sci-fi.
Still a quick read and I enjoyed it.
Still a quick read and I enjoyed it.
sarahrheawerner's review against another edition
5.0
I’d never read Isaac Asimov before (he’s the guy who wrote I, Robot and all sorts of other formative sci-fi), and I figured it was about time.
Written in 1954, The Caves of Steel is a sci-fi murder mystery that stars a cop and his robot partner. It sounds cheesy, but OMG SERIOUSLY it is amazing.
The twist is that robots are slowly replacing humans in the workforce, and if this cop wants to keep his job, he’ll have to solve the murder before his robot counterpart.
I expected this book to be dry and dull and dated, but it remains immensely readable, with natural language, masterful storytelling, and social messages that are still relevant today — if not more so.
It’s the mark of great sci-fi and I can’t wait to read more of Asimov’s books.
Hear more of my thoughts regarding this book in the Write Now podcast!
Written in 1954, The Caves of Steel is a sci-fi murder mystery that stars a cop and his robot partner. It sounds cheesy, but OMG SERIOUSLY it is amazing.
The twist is that robots are slowly replacing humans in the workforce, and if this cop wants to keep his job, he’ll have to solve the murder before his robot counterpart.
I expected this book to be dry and dull and dated, but it remains immensely readable, with natural language, masterful storytelling, and social messages that are still relevant today — if not more so.
It’s the mark of great sci-fi and I can’t wait to read more of Asimov’s books.
Hear more of my thoughts regarding this book in the Write Now podcast!
sisyphista's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ksharpey's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is a seminal science-fiction book. Asimov has captured the main challenges of our absorption and reliance of technology in our lives along with the tensions that creates with our historical beliefs of what life should be and its impact on our relationships. Somehow he's done this all 50 years ago, and predicted the issues of today. He weaves them into a human story with human focus. And by gum, the gumshoe detective element of it, only helps emphasise it more, sweetheart.
lazwright's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
countkarnstein's review against another edition
4.0
Finished my first Asimov novel. Not what I was expecting. This was a small scale feeling detective novel. Decent, and I liked the robot partner and stuff, but still was totally not what I anticipated. I’ll keep going to the next though.