Robot and Empire (Part 1, Part 2)

Author: Isaac Asimov (USA) / Han Sheng Magazine
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The stories take place on Aurora, Solaria, Bellerophon, and Earth. The fully robot-dependent Solaria is now deserted, with only robots left behind. Where did the Solarians go? Earth's colonization movement is thriving, and the growth of Earth and its galactic colonizers has caused panic in the Outside World. The leaders of the Outside World, the Aurora people, feel the situation is urgent. To maintain the dominance of the Outside World, strong measures must be taken to curb the continued expansion of Earth and its colonies into the galaxy. Robots Daniel and Giskard remember the warning of Earth's colonial forefather, Elijah Baley: If a world does not expand and pursue progress, it will decline. To save Earth and its colonizers, and humanity, to encourage Earthlings and the Outside World to expand outward and establish a new galactic empire, Daniel and Giskard take it upon themselves to shoulder this responsibility. However, the "Three Laws of Robotics" bind their hands. Do they strictly adhere to the "Three Laws of Robotics," watching as Earth faces destruction, or do they break the laws and destroy themselves? Humanoid robots from Aurora are sent to Earth in batches, and the destruction on Earth is already set in motion.