Customer Reviews

Isaac Asimov's Robots in Time: Book 1: Predator (Bk. 1)

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I aquired this book along with about 16 Isaac Asimov classics (Foundation series, Caves of Steel, etc). I plan on reading the Foundation/Robot series chronologically from the beginning. If you are a die-hard fan like me, you will find this book/series unbearable. The book is written for a young reader according to the author. This is seen through the repetition of every single 3 law conflict over and over throughout the novel. Every situation is explained in detail with reason why Robot X can or can't do because of Law X. For a new reader that isn't familiar with Asimov this book would probably be very informative. If you are interested in Time travel, buy The End of Eternity by Asimov. If you want to read up on the 3 Laws, buy "I Robot". If you want a combination of both for a younger reader, buy this book.

I read about half the book before calling it quits for good. I love the real Issaac Asimov stories, but this is not even a respectable imitator (if there are any at all).
First, we are expected to buy the idea of time travel into the past--a logical impossibility that has occasionally been gotten away with when there was great action or character development to compensate. Halfway through, I realized that this book would have neither of these. Instead, two of the main characters, an outdoorsman and paleantologist inexplicably bicker with each other about nothing at all, from the moment they meet.
Wu's hidden agenda seems to be to advocate environmentalism, a religion the daily tabloids and ivory tower politician/pseudo-scientists are doing enough to disseminate on their own.
This is not even good for children, as it is poorly written, is philosophically flawed, and is uselessly descriptive (e.g., the main female character is described as 'pretty'...so what?).
Fortunately, I've yet to read over half of the REAL Asimov stories, so I have something to look forward to.