Following his landmark story collection I, Robot, Isaac Asimov continued exploring the relationship of humans and robots in a series of intriguing and influential science fiction mystery novels starring detective Elijah Baley and his near-human partner R. Daneel Olivaw.

On Aurora, the first and greatest of the Spacer planets, Elijah Baley and R. Daneel Olivaw investigate yet another seemingly impossible crime in their third outing—this time, a roboticide. Someone has destroyed the positronic mind of R. Jander Panell, a humanoid twin to Daneel. His creator, roboticist Han Fastolfe, denies all involvement, as does Gladia Delmarre, the robot's owner—and lover. Working at the center of Spacer civilization, Baley and Daneel realize that their decisions will have profound consequences not only on relations between Earth and the Outer Worlds, but on humanity's place in the galaxy.