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The Robot series begins with a collection of short stories written from the 1940s onwards. They revolve around the theme of the Three Laws of Robotics, which are as follows:
- A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
- A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
These stories, of uneven quality, lay the groundwork for the universe created by Asimov and pave the way for a series of futuristic detective novels featuring detective Elijah Baley and his robotic partner, R. Daneel Olivaw:
- The Caves of Steel (1953)
- The Naked Sun (1956)
- Robots of Dawn (1983)
- Robots and Empire (1985)
The last novels serve as a “bridge” between the Robot and Foundation series.
What I love about Asimov is his very detailed and coherent vision of the future. From one book to the next, we follow technological advancements as well as the evolving social customs … until its decline.
By the end of his life, he managed to connect all of his works into a unified whole, making it one of the most accomplished literary series.
What I like less: the characters. They lack charisma. They all seem to think and speak in the same way. This is even more noticeable in Foundation.
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I, Robot
Les Robots