WhoDunnits: A Mystery Book Group – “Caves of Steel” by Isaac Asimov (JCCL)

This month, WhoDunnits will be reading Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov

Originally published in serial form in 1954, Caves of Steel is a Mystery/Sci-Fi hybrid set in a world 3,000 years in the future, when Earth is so overpopulated that humans have evolved into two classes– the Spacers who have colonized the outer worlds and become a scientifically and medically advanced class of elites served by personal robots, and the Earthmen who have remained behind, concentrated into massive enclosed and crowded cities. Tensions between the two groups grow as Spacers encourage robot expansion into the cities, and they come to a head when a Spacer is murdered. New York City policeman Elijah Baley (an Earthman) is assigned to the case but is forced to partner with a Spacer who is also a robot.

In Caves of Steel, Asimov creates a fascinating study of a society in which humans and robots interact and compete, and an engaging whodunnit.

WhoDunnits is a discussion group devoted to mysteries of all kinds and meets the first Tuesday of every month.