Books › Isaac Asimov's Caliban
Isaac Asimov's Caliban
320 pages
A cerebral, fast-paced sci-fi noir that turns a philosophical thought experiment into a gripping murder mystery.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a classic noir detective story, but one set against the gleaming, sterile backdrop of a futuristic society on the brink of collapse. The pace is brisk and propulsive, driven by a central murder mystery that forces you to constantly question the nature of morality, free will, and artificial intelligence. The mood is tense and cerebral, wrapped in a lingering paranoia where no one, human or machine, can be entirely trusted. The prose is clear and analytical, prioritizing logical deduction and intricate world-building over flowery language. It is a deeply satisfying experience for readers who love hard science fiction that doesn't sacrifice narrative momentum, offering a thrilling intellectual puzzle that honors its classic roots while forging its own suspenseful path.
- Mood
- tense
- cerebral
- paranoid
- atmospheric
- Tone
- analytical
- suspenseful
- philosophical
- urgent
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the burden of free will · artificial morality · societal decay · unintended consequences of technology
- The writing
- Clear, functional, and sharply focused on logical deduction and intricate world-building.
- The arc
- Begins with disorienting paranoia and builds through a tense, intellectual puzzle toward a high-stakes, philosophically satisfying climax.
- Who it's for
- Sci-fi traditionalists and mystery lovers who enjoy watching a complex, logical puzzle unravel in a futuristic setting.
Content notes
- murder
- violence
- existential dread
About the book
In a universe protected by the Three Laws of Robotics, humans are safe. The First Law states, A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.When an experiment with a new type of robot brain goes awry, the unthinkable happens. Caliban is created... A robot without guilt or conscience. A robot with no knowledge of or compassion for humanity. A robot without the Three Laws.Caliban is a searing examination of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, a challenge welcomed and sanctioned by Isaac Asimov, the late beloved genius of science fiction, and written with his cooperation by one of today's hottest talents, Roger MacBride Allen, author of Ambush at Corella, The Modular Man, and The Ring of Charon.
Description from Open Library.
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