[Read 10/2007] Science Fiction. 1957

The Naked Sun is the sequel to The Caves of Steel, and is the 2nd book in Asimov’s Robot series. Elijah Baley (an Earth detective) is called upon to investigate a murder on the planet Solaria. It seems a prominent scientist has been murdered, and the scientist’s wife is the prime suspect. However, she is claiming that she is innocent. Baley is partnered with the robot R. Daneel Olivaw (who hides the fact that he is a robot from the Solarians).

On Solaria robots outnumber humans something like 20,000 to 1. There are only about 20,000 humans on Solaria and they abhor any kind of personal contact. Each Solarian lives on his/her own private estate and only has contact with other humans via “viewing” (advanced holographics). Earth is just the opposite, with billions of humans living underground in interconnected cities. Earth humans don’t like the outside, and panic when they see “the naked sun”.

The police investigator (the only policeman on Solaria) is subsequently murdered and attempts are made on Elijah’s life as he gets closer to solving the crime.

Classic Asimov sf!