A human detective from over-crowded Earth, Elijah Baley, is called to the Spacer world Aurora to solve a bizarre case of roboticide — robot murder — with dire consequences for the whole human race if he fails.
What I liked
✅ a "whodunit" science fiction novel which will have you guessing until the end
✅ *extensive* world-building of a new culture, society, planet and new technology
✅ in typical Azimov fashion, the drama plays out in, and the story progresses through, the dialogue alone
✅ an unadorned and simply-told novel with surprising philosophical depth
✅ heart-warming moments between Baley and his robot sidekicks
What I didn't like
✖ at times, a little too dialogue heavy with too much telling rather than showing
✖ Asimov's Achilles' heel strikes again — mischaracterisation of female characters and their dynamics with male characters, especially in a romantic context
✖ the sex scenes are clunky, awkward and mechanically-written
✖ Auroran sexuality forces reader to suspend disbelief as it defies basic instincts of human nature
Rating
3.5/5 🌟
Genre: sci-fi, detective
Verdict: Recommended, but it is not one of Asimov's strongest novels