The Naked Sun

The second of Asimov's Robot novels, The Naked Sun again features Earth detective Elijah Baley and the Auroran “Spacer” robot R Daneel Olivaw. This time the pair are investigating a murder on the Spacer world of Solaria, where a Dr Delmarre has been bludgeoned to death. His wife seems to be the only suspect, but Solaria is unlike any other human world and things are not what they seem.

This classic science fiction novel starts slowly but Asimov writes like it's Agatha Christie in space, a mystery that the dogged detective has to solve, even when he's told to go home. The world of Solaria is a strange creation, a vision of humanity reduced to beings that merely exist, without the joy of interpersonal contact, which they view as abhorrent. Robots outnumber humans by hundreds to one and the people live isolated existences on vast estates. It's a bleak vision of one type of human future.

Baley and Olivaw interview their suspects, gaining insights into Solaria's psychology and trying to find motive and opportunity. The end is a bit Columbo, but the coda, where Baley has an epiphany and realises that Earth's people must free themselves from their domed cities (or Caves of Steel), is quite uplifting.

A classic of the genre and a key piece in Asimov's “future history” (which also includes his Empire and Foundation novels), this is a great read.