“Humanity Whether in the form of Earth People or Spacers Must Podcast”
Join us as we continue to wind our way through Robots and Empire, the final book in Asimov’s Robot series, even if you count collections of short stories.
In this episode, we discuss chapters 3 through 6. “The Crisis,” “Another Descendent,” “The Abandoned World,” and “The Crew.”
In these chapters, the Great and Glorious Az establishes Robots and Empire as an important bridge between the Robot Stories, the Galactic Empire Novels, and the Foundation Saga; it’s both a prelude and a coda.
Elijah Baley isn’t in this novel except in flashbacks, but his presence looms large. Daneel and Giskard try to deduce what Elijah’s nemesis, Amadiro might try in the aftermath of Fastolfe’s death. As they do, they’re forced to ponder the Three Laws of Robotics, which seem to be impeding their efforts. Together, these discussions wrap up the Robot Stories.
Meanwhile, these two robots are pondering Elijah’s ability to predict, in broad brushstrokes, the future that has unfolded over the past two centuries, including an oncoming crisis. Giskard, in particular, is trying to deduce the “Laws of Humanics” that Elijah must have understood to see so clearly. In this, of course, we see the seeds of the Foundation.
How do the Galactic Empire Novels figure into all of this? For that, you’ll have to stay tuned.
Comics, The Universe and Everything 