This is a "robot mystery" in the style of Asimov, but actually written by Roger MacBride Allen. Wikipedia assures me that Asimov approved the outline for this book, as well as the other two by Roger:

"Shortly before his death in 1992, Asimov approved an outline for three novels (Caliban, Inferno, Utopia) by Roger MacBride Allen, set between Robots and Empire and the Empire series, telling the story of the terraforming of the Spacer world Inferno, and about the robot revolution started by creating a "No Law" Robot, and then New Law Robots."

Roger is an interesting author, and appears to have written quite a few books, with a strong tendency for basing them in other author's universes. Its interesting to meet an author who is so seemingly willing to base his work on that of others.

This book didn't strike me as well written as Asimov's, but that's a pretty high bar to meet. It should be noted that Amazon reviews disagree with me on this point. Its rendition is certainly competent though, and the story is a good one.

http://www.stillhq.com/book/Roger_Mac... ( )

Not too bad, fairly light weight reading. But certainly not up to Asimov's standard.

My Isaac Asimov kick starts to wind down with the first book of Allen's Caliban trilogy, a series that examines the Three Laws in a way Asimov himself hadn't done since Robots and Empire, and hadn't done with success since I, Robot. In addition, Allen creates a robot mystery better than any since The Naked Sun (possibly even The Caves of Steel). The planet of Inferno also manages to give us a good glimpse at both Spacer and Settler cultures; it's nice to see a bunch of Spacers who, while dependent on robots, aren't total nutjobs for once. Caliban himself is a compelling character, too, a type Asimov never did much with himself (aside from Andrew Martin, maybe)-- someone not quite a robot, not quite a human being.

http://www.scifi-review.net/isaac-asi... ( )

Allen's first Caliban novel does a wonderful job of continuing the work of the late Isaac Asimov. It takes a detailed look at the three laws, and their impacts on spacer society. Oh, and add a good old mystery to the mix, and you have yourself a good book.

But did Allen really have to use 'hell' and 'damn' in every other sentence? ( )