William K. (TPB) reviewed on 12/2/2012 + 47 more book reviews

Gripping thriller from 1953. Sci-fi/mystery hybrids usually don't work for this reader and the author notes the problems of such in his 1983 intro. The story was suggested by editor Horace Gold who said:"How about an overpopulated world in which robots are taking over human jobs?...Put a murder in such a world and have a detective solve it with a robot partner. If the detective doesn,t solve it,the robot will replace him." The mystery isn't anything special but the context in which it is set is what makes it work. A chilling picture of life on an overpopulated earth in which millions are crowded into giant enclosed buildings, people are "classified" or "declassified" according to perceived value and everything is rationed including privacy, personal space and the time alloted to use it. Then there are robots and spacers to boot. TPB

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