Isaac Asimov's Inferno (Caliban Trilogy) [Paperback]

Roger E. Allen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Caliban Trilogy | Publication Date: March 1, 1998

In a Universe protected by the Three Laws of Robotics, humans are safe... When a key politician is murdered, suspicion falls on Caliban...the only robot without guilt or conscience, with no need to obey or respect humanity...a robot without the Three Laws. But the stakes go deeper than one man's life. Caliban is challenging long-held ideas of a robot's place in society. Will he lead his New Law robots in a rebellion that threatens all of humanity?


* Second in a powerful trilogy that examines Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics--a challenge welcomed and sanctioned by Isaac Asimov, and written with his cooperation
* Roger MacBride Allen is the New York Times bestselling author of The Modular Man and The Ring of Charon
* Cover art by Ralph McQuarrie, the conceptual artist for the Star Wars films
* Also available: Caliban and Caliban: Utopia

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Allen continues the exploration of the ramifications of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics begun in Caliban. This time, he deals with murder on the planet Inferno, a theoretical milieu of the Earth Settlers and the Spacers from the independent colonies, which he drew from Asimov's robot novels and expanded upon in Caliban. This novel involves a good theoretical puzzle that will keep readers turning pages but still emerges as mostly a homage to the departed sf master. Allen has emerged during the last 10 years as a versatile and imaginative writer in his own right, and it's hard not to prefer seeing him sail under his own colors, however much he (and we) may justly admire the late Asimov. Roland Green --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Ace (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441005144
• ISBN-13: 978-0441005147
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,122,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inferno, March 14, 2000

By 

Jason Jobe - See all my reviews

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

This book reads like a middle ground book, which it is. It is the connector between Cailban and Utopia. It's a good book and expands a little more on the Spacer/Settler interaction on the planet Inferno through the vehicle of Chanto Grieg's murder. Lot's of interesting touches like the forced conscription of robotic labor that help define the society and dress the stage for Utopia. A very good book if not as good as the first.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Classic 'Who-Done-It' Murder Mystery, August 26, 1999

By A Customer

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

This middle book of the Caliban series was a classic 'Who-Done-It' murder mystery along the lines of 'Caves of Steel'. Elijah Bailey could've been in there instead of Alvar Kresh. This book served more as a segway between Caliban and Utopia. It essentially moved Kresh into the Governorship of Inferno and that's about it. Its not the strongest book I've ever read. Although I'd suggest reading all three, if you had to skip any book in the series, it would be this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Weakest of the trilogy, June 1, 2003

By A Customer

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

'Caliban', the first in this trilogy, is a good book and well worth seeking out, so is the third one, 'Utopia'. This is easily the least of the three. Although Allen tries to expand his examination of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics by introducing New Law robots the concept is not done with any verve, pace or excitement. As noted by another reviewer it has an Agatha Christie feel to it but without the charm or style of her mysteries. It's not even a particularly interesting puzzle. There's nothing in this middle book that can't easily be caught up with in the third. And the concept of Three Law/No Law and New Law is better examined there as well. You really don't need to spend the time on this one.