My apologies for the long delay in posting a review of The Robots of Dawn. It took me a while to locate a copy in a nearby library, and then I just got busy with life. Asimov's third Robot novel is also a big longer than the previous two. The most notable difference, though, is that it was written nearly 30 years after The Caves of Steel. Asimov's skill as a writer certainly improved in three decades; the reduced number of utterances of 'Jehosaphat!' was a welcome change. The passage of time also provided Asimov with a plot device that would have been unthinkable in the '50's: sex.
Where The Naked Sun touched lightly on the issues of sex and reproduction, they play a central role in the plot of this novel. The frankness of the discussion was surprising to me on re-read, as I likely read this book first in my early to mid-teens. Nothing inappropriate occurs and I'm no prude, but the contrast with the previous novel was striking. I do like that sex is a driving factor in the actions of the characters in this novel; it's certainly true in life, and there's no reason to exclude it from science fiction. [Ursula Le Guin certainly understands this. Read the stories in The Birthday of the World.]
Gladia Delmarre makes a return appearance in the role of minor antagonist, but with far greater importance to the overall plot. He also introduces a new female character and gives her a more substantial role and both she and Gladia greater character development. Still, Asimov's work still tilts heavily to male roles. You'd think he could have at least introduced on female robot.
SPOILER ALERT!! SKIP THE NEXT PARAGRAPH IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK AND DO NOT WISH THE ENDING REVEALED!!
I found the deus ex machina resolution to Jander's death a bit unsatisfying, but I'm struggling to identify why. It certainly fits with components of other Foundation universe writings (see, for example, part 2 of my review of The Caves of Steel). Maybe I have a simplistic view of story-telling, or don't like to be surprised or shown to be incapable of solving the 'mystery' before I reach the end of the book. I'm curious to hear what other readers thought of the ending. I also think that the denouement of the political struggle between Fastolfe and Amadiro was far too pat. This was a matter of galactic importance and Amadiro yields after a few difficult minutes with the Chairman and 'the Earthman?' Where'd his backbone go all of a sudden?
The next novel, Robots and Empire, is the last to take place in the near-future, if I remember correctly, before we jump ahead to the era of the Galatic Empire. I have a feeling that I may be unhappy with the degree to which this book will explain and tidy-up what comes in the novels that follow, because it was written after the main Foundation novels. Still, the experiment must go on!
