Isaac Asimov's Caliban by Roger MacBride Allen, Roger MacBride Allen

From the Publisher

In a universe protected by the Three Laws of Robotics, humans are safe.

The First Law states,

A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

When an experiment with a new type of robot brain goes awry, the unthinkable happens. Caliban is created... A robot without guilt or conscience. A robot with no knowledge of or compassion for humanity. A robot without the Three Laws.

Caliban is a searing examination of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, a challenge welcomed and sanctioned by Isaac Asimov, the late beloved genius of science fiction, and written with his cooperation by one of today's hottest talents, Roger MacBride Allen, New York Times bestselling author of Ambush at Corella, The Modular Man, and The Ring of Charon.

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. (Mar.)

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.

BookList

This pastiche takes place in Asimov's universe some time after that of his famous robot detective story, "The Naked Sun". In it, Spacers and Earth Settlers have to abandon their antipathies for each other to save a planet from ecological disaster. Meanwhile, a robot created without Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics built into it is running around loose after killing its creator. Allen, the major contributor here, has produced an excellent mystery very much in the Asimovian style, i.e., a bit slow-paced for some tastes but intelligently building on Asimov's premises. The only problem with the book is that since Asimov launched his robotics, the silicon chip may have made the positronic brain no longer a credible future technology. Asimov's legions and Allen's own respectable following may quibble but still will be delighted to find this book on library shelves.

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