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58 pages 1 hour read

The Caves of Steel

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1953

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Background

Authorial Context: Isaac Asimov and The Three Laws of Robotics

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) was a prolific science fiction writer who significantly impacted 20th-century literature. He wrote over 500 books and many stories and essays across different genres, including science fiction, mystery, fantasy, children’s books, popular science, history, and religion. Asimov was a multiple award-winning author, receiving accolades such as the Hugo and Nebula prizes for science fiction writing.

Asimov was born in Russia in 1920 and moved to Brooklyn as a child. He loved learning and taught himself to read at five years old. He graduated high school at 15 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia University. Asimov received his doctorate and worked as a biochemistry professor at Boston University.

Asimov had a passion for writing for the general audience. He wrote many sci-fi works, including I, Robot and the Foundation series, which explore the relationship between humans and robots and the fall of the Galactic Empire. Asimov is credited with coining the term “robotics,” and many of his works have been adapted into films.

The Three Laws of Robotics are part of Asimov’s enduring legacy in the science fiction genre. These rules govern robots’ behavior toward humans with the primary goal being that robots must help but never harm humans.

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