Robots and Empire (Volume 1 and 2) -- Asimov's Robot Series

Author: Isaac Asimov
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 Worlds. The leaders of the Outside Worlds, the Aurorans, feel the situation is urgent. To maintain the dominance of the Outside Worlds, they must take strong measures 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 expansion and the pursuit of progress are not made, the world will decline. To save Earth and its colonizers, to save humanity, and to encourage Earthlings and Outside Worlders 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 Earth face destruction, or do they break the laws to destroy themselves? Humanoid robots from Aurora are sent to Earth in batches, and the destruction on Earth is already set in motion.