Marie L. (fencerchica) reviewed on 6/28/2010 + 47 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Once some brisk expository introduction of his future societies is taken care of, Asimov's novel feels far more like a "normal" detective novel than like a science fiction one. However, this goes to show just how seamlessly and persuasively he folds in the sci-fi elements of the worlds he creates, because the science fiction aspect is definitely not simply decorative. The robotic and human characters are engaging and full of life, and the gradual unraveling of the mystery (as well as the exploration of the society of the planet Aurora) is very engrossing.

But for me the big weakness of the novel is the way that Elijah Baley's leaps of intuition are so vast and confident that they nearly have the feel of deus ex machina artificiality. The reader does come to understand how Elijah put the pieces together thus and so, but the dots being connected are so few and far between (unlike the workmanlike exposition of say, Conan Doyle) that it still feels more than a little strained.

The final key to the mystery, although it's extraordinarily intriguing in its implications, is popped out rather abruptly and awkwardly, and not much explored to make sense of it (at least this will come, however, in the sequel).

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details