I must have read it several times before but didn’t remember the plot at all. Lije Bailey is called on to solve a crime with the help of robots.

The point made that robots are built in human form because that is a very versatile one and can adapt to using tools that already exist for humans. E.g. don’t have a robot tractor and a robot hedge clipper and a robot milking machine - have a single humanoid robot that can do all those things.

All through the book there are occasions where Elijah rushes to judgment about how the murder happens only to find himself deflated when it’s demonstrated to him that e.g. robots could never behave in such and such a way. You sort of root for him while despairing that he’ll ever sort it out, although you know that in the end he will. It’s going to be interesting to see how he solves it and (presumably) surprises Daneel who otherwise seems a lot more sensible and perceptive than Elijah (later: yes, that’s what happened).

There's a fair amount of casual sexism in the book: “women are women” says Elijah to Daneel when he’s trying to explain why Jesse would like to think of herself being associated with a wicked character although she herself is law-abiding. So it feels quite dated from that point of view.

Very enjoyable read.

Completed : 04-Nov-2019