Tag: dailyprompt-1902

The Naked Sun by Issac Asimov

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What book could you read over and over again?

Set on a planet where the inhabitants hardly see one another except holographically, where babies are ‘made’ by being grown in tanks. A human, detective Elijah Bailey is bought to the planet to investigate a murder.

Baileys home on Earth is a crowded underground mega city where humanity is living cheek by jowel. Spacers (other world  citizens) have little to do with Earth, thinking the beginning world of humanity is beneath them. Bailey had previously worked with a Spacer called Daneeil Olivaw. (the Caves of Steel, also by Asimov) Bailey did not realise that Olivaw was a robot and so could work with a human. After they successfully solved a murder on earth Bailey is promoted and bought in on this investigation with Olivaw as backup.

I first read the Naked Sun as a teenager, I still have the copy, and every so often reread it. The science fiction is interesting, it examines the way humanity has diversified, how robots are integrated into society, the completely opposite lifestyle of Spacers and how detective Bailey has to try and live on the surface of a planet after an entire life in subterranean crowds.

Asimov book is dated, but insightful, it’s sometimes melodramatic but enjoyable. It’s not just a “shoot em up” cowboy or cops and robbers story in space.

Asimov wrote many robot books, came up with the three laws of robotics which with a bit of thought I could probably quote.

His book “I robot” was the basis for the film of the same name starring Will Smith. Other films have been based on his books.

I think it was written in the 1950s? So expect the Naked Sun to be a little old fashioned, but maybe give it a read?

The Plague Dogs

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What book could you read over and over again?

The Plague Dogs is a book by Richard Adams, who also wrote Watership Down.

The book tells the story of Rauf and Snitter, two dogs that are being horribly experimented on at a scientific research center in Cumbria, England. After some time going through dangerous experiments the two dogs manage to escape. They run off into the countryside but are soon pursued by the workers from the centre, police and farmers who have been told that the dogs are infected with Plague.

The story follows their escape and how the story is told in the local paper. On their journey they meet a fox called the Tod. He helps them understand how to evade hounds that are chasing him.

In the end their success or failure, and life or death for the dogs depends on possible skills they learnt back at the research centre.

I don’t remember the story in full as its been a few years since I read it. But when I did it was overnight, from cover to cover. If I can find it or get another copy I will definitely read it again. The atmosphere of the landscape is so well told. If you don’t mind being upset by the details of the experiments and want to read an interesting story please read it.