Caliban [Paperback]

Isaac Asimov (Author), Roger Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

Before his death in 1992, Isaac Asimov conceived the next step in robot evolution: Caliban. In a universe protected by the Three Laws of Robotics, humans are safe. Robots are bound by law to care for and to obey them. But when an experiment with a new type of robot goes awry, Caliban is created. He is without guilt or conscience--and he has no knowledge of or compassion for humanity.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Allen ( Ring of Charon ), with the imprimatur of the late SF legend, offers here a reflection on what would happen if robots did not follow Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. Those Laws build into robots a code of behavior through which they cannot harm humans. Here, the world of Inferno has become so dependent on robotic servants that humans have lost even the motivation to save their planet from impending ecological collapse. When a leading robotics scientist is mysteriously attacked and her experimental, lawless robot Caliban is let loose on the planet, the sheltered world of the Infernals is destined never to be the same. Political intrigue, love triangles, some smart detective work and Caliban's search for a robotic identity beyond being a servant to humans keep the story always interesting as it wends its way to an exciting conclusion. Unfortunately, Allen misses many opportunities to delve into how robots, programmed not to harm humans, can allow the long-term safety of their masters to be put in jeopardy through robotic dependence.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The viability of the planet Inferno depends on the coexistence of two antagonistic human societies: the Spacers, who depend on robots for everything, and the Settlers, who eschew artificial intelligence. When authorities begin to suspect the existence of a rogue robot, created without the Three Laws that ensure subservience to humans, the delicate partnership begins to unravel. Based on a discussion with the late Asimov, Allen's ( Orphancy Creation , Baen Bks., dist by S. & S., 1988) latest work is a detective novel cum literary tribute that might have been written by the master himself. A good choice for large sf collections.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Ace Trade; Ace trade pbk. ed edition (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441090796
• ISBN-13: 978-0441090792
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,572,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gerat Book, Interesting Viewpoint., July 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Isaac Asimov's Caliban (Paperback)

Let me start by saying that I have read all of Asimov's Robot series and enjoyed them tremendously. To me, this book represents a major achievement in the understanding of robots in Asimov's Universe. I completely enjoyed this book from cover to cover, reading it in one night. But the most important part (I think), was how Caliban developed. Never before have we had a look into a robots mind like this, regardless of the Three Laws. The way Allen described the development of the robot was amazing. I hope to see more of his development in Inferno, which I will definitely purchase. In addition, I thank Mr. Allen for leaving Asimov's Universe intact, not changing any of his fundamentals (Except for the Three Laws obviously), and for helping to fill a blank in Asimov's future history between the Spacer and Settler era, and Trantor's rise.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read for Asimov Fans, September 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Isaac Asimov's Caliban (Paperback)

Allen does a wonderful job of expanding on Asimov's universe and upon ideas about robots and the Three Laws. Anyone who liked the Elijah Baley and R.Daneel Olivaw novels by Asimov should enjoy these very much. However it is a Spacer not an Earthman or Settler that is the main character behind the three books in this series. Like Baley he is a lawman and has to solve some interesting cases. The "No Law" Robot Caliban is in the background and is not really the central character, but does play a pivotal role in all three novels. It really gets into the relationship between the Spacer and Settler worlds as one civilization is in decline and the other just blooming. The other thing is that he presents a pretty good mystery into the science fiction realm and does it about a well as Asimov did. This is not an easy task. Allen has got me hooked now. I'll be looking for his other works including his Corellian Trilogy in the Star Wars universe. He definitely has talent.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars General comments, February 5, 2000

By 

Bhakti (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caliban (Paperback)

This was my first time reading a sci fi book..i wasn't really looking forward to it, for fear of high-tech robotic jargon....but did i get proved wrong! i read this book cover to cover in a day, and it was great! i never knew that sci-fi books cover so many other aspects of society like political corruption, moral dilemmas, philosophy, and so much more. it was a great book....it raised an interesting question about if we have robots whose primary goal is to keep humans from being injured..what about pursuing things that could be perilous? since life is about taking chances, in this society it would not be possible to pursue something 'risky' because a robot's natural instinct would be to protect the human being. all it all, it was a great book, that stimulated my mind in all directions...i think i will try out this whole sci-fi deal now!