From the Bookshelf of Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy…

The Caves of Steel (Robot, #1)

Isaac Asimov

Start date: April 1, 2017

Finish date: April 27, 2017

Discussion: Book Discussions

Discussion leader: Silvana

Why we're reading this: Group Classic SF Discussion April, 2017
#94 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://ww …more
[close] Group Classic SF Discussion April, 2017
#94 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/1390858...
#56 on Locus Magazines Best SciFi novels of the 20th century http://www.locusmag.com/2012/AllCentu...

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What Members Thought

Jun 05, 2008 Michael rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009, science-fiction, audio-book, obscure-references-book-group, favorites, re-read, read-in-2021, summer-reading-2021

Updated 2021 Re-Read Review:

In many ways, Issac Asimov is my sci-fi comfort food -- when it feels like the world is going crazy around me, it's nice to visit one of my first entry points to the genre and "discover" new things about my old favorites.

In anticipation of the upcoming Foundation, tv series, I've re-read a couple of entries there. But it was while re-reading Prelude to Foundation that I was reminded that it's been a decade or so since I read the Lije Bailey novels. So, I immediately j ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Sep 14, 2013 Jim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1audio, 2fiction, scifi

This was fun. I haven't read it in decades & never listened to it before. It was well suited to an audio book & the reader was good.

It was a good murder mystery, although the guilty party was telegraphed early. Just the details were missing. Still, the book wasn't primarily about that, but a look at the human condition in a crowded future. That was interesting, although harmed by out dated technology & I wish he'd steered clear of numbers. The world retreated to urban 'caves of steel' in the fac ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

Nov 29, 2008 Netanella rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: robots, science-fiction, author-isaac-asimov

The Caves of Steel refers to the giant, self-contained mega-Cities of the future, where people's rank allow them more luxuries, such as private dining and showers - usually people eat at large dining halls that can hold 1000's, with meat only once a week, perhaps. Into this overpopulated world is introduced a robot of human appearance, whom, many suspect, will take their jobs from them and declassify them to the yeast farms. Add on top of that a murdery mystery, and you have a great, classic SF ...more

2 likes · Like · see review