The Robots of Dawn and Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov
"The Robots of Dawn" and "Robots and Empire" are interconnected science fiction novels by Isaac Asimov that delve into the complexities of human-robot interactions and the challenges of space colonization. In "The Robots of Dawn," Earth detective Elijah Baley is sent to the planet Aurora to investigate the "murder" of a humanform robot, which leads him to navigate a web of intrigue involving key characters like robotist Dr. Fastolfe and the telepathic robot Giskard Reventlov. Baley's success in solving the case has significant implications for Earth's future in space colonization and his own career.
Two centuries later, "Robots and Empire" continues the story with robots Daneel and Giskard, who, along with human Gladia Delmarre, confront geopolitical tensions between Earth settlers and the Aurorans. Delmarre's journey is critical as she learns to promote coexistence amid the conflict orchestrated by enemies of Earth colonization. The narrative escalates as the robots uncover a plot to attack Earth, leading to a race against time to prevent a nuclear disaster that could derail humanity's expansion into space. Together, these novels explore themes of loyalty, morality, and the evolution of society in the face of technological advancement.
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The Robots of Dawn and Robots and Empire
First published:The Robots of Dawn (1983) and Robots and Empire (1985)
Type of work: Novels
Type of plot: Science fiction—artificial intelligence
Time of work: 4724 and 4922
Locale: Aurora, Solaria, Baleyworld, and Earth
The Plot
Because of his earlier success in solving two murders involving Spacers (descendants of early Earthpeople who have colonized fifty other planets), the Earth police detective Elijah Baley is sent to the planet Aurora to solve the “murder” of a humanform robot. He goes to the city of Eos, where he works to free a robotist named Dr. Fastolfe, the most likely suspect, in The Robots of Dawn. Fastolfe is an acquaintance from Baley’s first case involving Spacers, described in the novel The Caves of Steel (1954). Baley also is reunited with Gladia Delmarre, whose innocence he had proved when he was called to the planet Solaria in The Naked Sun (1957). His success or failure will determine the future of his career and of Earth colonization of new worlds that Fastolfe and Baley separately are trying to secure. The case also reunites Baley with the humanform robot R. Daneel Olivaw, whom he had worked with in the two earlier cases. Baley also uses a more primitive looking robot named Giskard Reventlov.
Baley encounters many roadblocks but amasses enough information to resolve the issue of future space colonization in a way that is satisfactory for Fastolfe, himself, and Earth. Colonization is the only thing that interests the Aurorans, but Baley secretly solves the crime. The humanform robot was disabled by Giskard, who turns out to be a telepathic, mind-reading robot. He was able to influence the humans around him to bring Baley to Aurora. Giskard had a secret mission of evaluating whether to assist colonization by Earthpeople.
Robots and Empire takes place two hundred years after The Robots of Dawn. It deals primarily with the robots Daneel and Giskard and with the human Delmarre, who is now their owner. She is sad because Solaria, her home world, has been abandoned. Giskard finds it easy to nudge her to accompany Baley’s distant great-grandson, D. G. (Daneel Giskard) Baley, to find out what happened to the first two Settler ships that had set down on Solaria to salvage the robots left behind. She is instrumental in saving D. G. Baley’s life.
Delmarre had been encouraged to accompany Baley by her distant great-grandson, Levular Mandemus, supposedly so she can report on Baley’s activities to the Auroran president. Mandemus, however, works for Dr. Amadiro, who is Fastolfe’s enemy and wants to prevent Earthpeople from settling more worlds. This situation puts Delmarre between the Settlers and the Aurorans. After the events on Solaria, Baley takes her to Baleyworld, where she is treated as a heroine and discovers that she can move people toward coexistence.
In the meantime, Giskard and Daneel reason that the Aurorans, in the persons of Mandemus and Amadiro, are planning to attack the Settlers. Eventually, the robots realize that the Aurorans are sending humanform robots to attack Earth.
After reporting to the Auroran chairman, Delmarre goes to Earth, accompanied by Daneel and Giskard. On Earth, Daneel and Giskard figure out what Mandemus and Amadiro are planning and go to Three Mile Island to stop them. Mandemus succeeds in setting off a device that will increase the radioactivity of uranium stockpiles. Mandemus explains that he approves of the continued spread of Earthpeople throughout the universe and that the nuclear disaster he plans will force Earthpeople to leave and colonize other worlds. In addition, it will change the mystical role that Earth has assumed in the Settlers’ minds, which stifles their desire and ability to continue to colonize the farther reaches of space.
Bibliography
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