The Caves of Steel

By: Isaac Asimov

Narrated by: William Hope

Isaac Asimov’s Robot series – from the iconic collection I, Robot to four classic novels – contains some of the most influential works in the history of science fiction. Establishing and testing the Three Laws of Robotics, they continue to shape the understanding and design of artificial intelligence to this day.

In the vast, domed cities of Earth, artificial intelligence is strictly controlled; in the distant Outer Worlds, colonists and robots live side by side.

A Spacer ambassador is found dead and detective Elijah Baley is assigned to find the killer. But with relations between the two cultures in the balance, the Spacers insist that he work with a partner of their choosing – a robot partner, R. Daneel Olivaw.

Baley has never seen a robot like Daneel before – almost indistinguishable from a human – and soon, though the Three Laws of Robotics should render the crime impossible, Baley’s partner becomes his prime suspect.

©1954 Isaac Asimov (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

An absolute classic, written by a visionary.

Asimov melds science fiction with detective fiction, setting a precedent for the genre. Set in a future Earth where humans live in vast, enclosed cities to conserve energy, the story introduces us to Elijah Baley, a New York City police detective, and his partner R. Daneel Olivaw, a highly sophisticated robot. Together, they navigate a deeply divided society to solve a murder that threatens the fragile coexistence of humans and robots. Asimov crafts a compelling narrative that explores themes of prejudice, fear of the unknown, and the potential for technology to both divide and unite. Through masterful storytelling, he questions the essence of humanity and our relationship with technology, making "The Caves of Steel" not only a pioneering work of science fiction but also a timeless reflection on society.