The third in the "Robots" series, following "The Caves of Steel" and "The Naked Sun", R. Daneel Oliver and Bailey are reunited again to solve a possible "roboticide", or deactivation of a robot. Dr. Han Fastolfe is accused of deactivating one of his robots so competitors wouldn't get the secrets for creating that type of robot. Roboticide is viewed dimly on Aurora, and Bailey is called in to investigate.
Very quickly he realizes that more is at stake than a deactivated robot--a leader of an opposing political faction, Kelden Amadiro, is attempting to use the robot issue to get political advantage over Dr. Fastolfe. And Amadiro's faction is hostile to Earth, so there's a lot at stake.
After having sex with his old girlfriend Gladia, from The Naked Sun (who in turn was having sex with the deactivated robot), Bailey convinces the authorities that Amadiro was the one who deactivated the robot. The only problem was, it wasn't the authorities who deactivated the robot, it was another robot named Giskard who can read and manipulate minds.
Bailey confronts Giskard, who tells him he deactivated the robot to lure Bailey there so he could study humans. Giskard likes what he sees and gives humans two thumbs up.
The problem with this book is that Giskard's motives are farfetched--he risked Dr. Fastolfe's political ruin just to bring Bailey there from Earth? What if Bailey had failed to clear Dr. Fastolfe? Surely there must have been an easier way to meet Earthmen; Giskard could have manipulated Fastolfe into visiting Earth again and taking Giskard with him.
And the book ends with Giskard in charge, free to manipulate anyone's mind he likes. That's sort of a creepy ending, isn't it?
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| Plot Summary of Robots of Dawn |
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"Elijah Baley is called on to investigate a murder on a Spacer world--but the victim was only a robot! A special kind of robot, nonetheless, whose termination had implications that could shift the political balance of power on the planet. He only has a day or two to investigate before being kicked off the planet, and takes rash acts which could create diplomatic incidents. Helped by the everpresent R. Daneel Oliver robot, Baley tries to solve the mystery."
Steve, Resident Scholar
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"In a race to save his planet, Earth, Elijah Baley makes some startling discoveries. An affair is easier if she's from another planet; and sometimes robots can be thought of as a friend or lover."
Michael Conner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Robots of Dawn |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Spying & Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- finding a spy/saboteur
Robots, Computers, VR
Yes
Robot, PC, VR Plotlets:
- good robot(s)
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- scientist
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Forests
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a futuristic society
- unfriendly aliens
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
- a moderate amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- descript of kissing
- doing it with a robot/computer
How much dialogue?
- mostly dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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