Customer Reviews

Robots and Aliens, Vol. 1 (Isaac Asimov's Robot City : Robots and Aliens, Bks. 1-2)

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this really captures the feeling of asimov's laws of robotics and provides an interesting glimpse of what happens when aliens are entered into the equation. Bravo, Leigh!

If you are expecting a new book based round the 3 laws of robotics, by hte great writer Isaac Asimov, whoops. Each book has a different writer, Stephen Leigh the first, and COrdell Scotten Book 2.
A man who has forgotten his name, a city that changes itself to fit the occupants, a robot form shifting robot. A tower that holds the keys to Perihelion, which is a stop in a galaxy wide warp point instantaneous transport system. This will certainly stretch your imagination.
Book One starts off OK, but by book 3 you're getting bored and confused. It never seems to be going anywhere or to get tehre. I have all 6 books in hte series, but have never botehred to read past book 4.
It's a shame that he has allowed this.
The parallel series which is just called RObot City was better, but that was also published some time ago, and I never found beyond book 3 of 6.

I read all 6 of these books, in fact I read the previous series 'Robot City' as well. The experience was like watching a season of a TV series. Some good scenes, some great ideas and concepts, some that don't go anywhere, some parts that are repetitious, boring and frustrating. The idea I was left with at the end of it all: "this shows the effects of creativity gone amuck." Dr. Avery and his wife are both robotic geniuses and they just can't help creating brilliant inventions. These inventions take over entire planets, creating Insta-Cities that no one lives in and swarms of robotic servants yearning for humans to serve. I am kind of reminded of the 'crafty' folk I know who make hundreds of afghans, tea-cozies and other chachkas that no one really uses or wants.

Several times I became sick of this series and just wished it was over. But in 'Humanity" the final book in the series, I was pleased to see some character development in Dr. Avery and his wife. A sort of family reconciliation took place. I also enjoyed the interaction of the 'learning' robots as they held deep philosophical discussions about humanity and their own place. The inner life of these highly intelligent robots was the thing about the series that most reminded me of Asimov's Daneel and Giskard.

stephen leigh's contribution to the asimovian Robot City is splendid--convincing aliens, lots of thoughtful interaction and robots who respect the Three Laws of Robotics. Not to be missed.