• The Naked Sun

  • The Robot Series, Book 2
  • By: Isaac Asimov
  • Narrated by: William Dufris
  • Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,798 ratings)

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The Naked Sun  By  cover art

The Naked Sun

By: Isaac Asimov
Narrated by: William Dufris
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Publisher's summary

A millennium into the future, two advancements have altered the course of human history: the colonization of the Galaxy and the creation of the positronic brain. On the beautiful Outer World planet of Solaria, a handful of human colonists lead a hermit-like existence, their every need attended to by their faithful robot servants. To this strange and provocative planet comes Detective Elijah Baley, sent from the streets of New York with his positronic partner, the robot R. Daneel Olivaw, to solve an incredible murder that has rocked Solaria to its foundations. The victim had been so reclusive that he appeared to his associates only through holographic projection. Yet someone had gotten close enough to bludgeon him to death while robots looked on. Now Baley and Olivaw are faced with two clear impossibilities: Either the Solarian was killed by one of his robots - unthinkable under the laws of Robotics - or he was killed by the woman who loved him so much that she never came into his presence!

©1957 Isaac Asimov (P)2014 Random House Audio

What listeners say about The Naked Sun

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A little more Robotic Depth, but...

If you could sum up The Naked Sun in three words, what would they be?

Impossible connections robots

What did you like best about this story?

The newish angle on the same old robot role. I say newish, as he's playing on an old story in his collection: I, Robot.

How could the performance have been better?

Dufris in this collection reads women as morons who are constantly weepy, whiny, irrational upset or angry. I can't say about other collections. It's eye rolling worthy. Otherwise, he's quite good. Different voices, etc.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

God no.

Any additional comments?

Asimov is a true legend, but it's sad to see how he writes women most times. This is no exception. Even a prominent Roboticist is irrational, quick to temper. Women are told to "quite down" and talked to like children. I know the argument is, it was his time, but that's BS. He could envision a society living across the galaxy in wildly revolutionary types of cultures, but no women NOT ready to fly off the handle at the slightest provocation. Oh yea, and he can't NOT mention breast size when describing characters.
Of course the "Spacers" have no concept of nudity, and of COURSE it's only the woman character who shows up unclothed...more than once even.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

It's very engaging and entertaining. Asimov is really brilliant. He's prophetic and the best of sci-fi.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Dated but still Fun

Just enjoyed listening to Asimov’s sci-fi world knowing too that he ties this into his Foundation world too.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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a classic robot novel

loved this story. Asimov was the best at this genre. it has been a long time since I first read this book, and revisiting it as an audiobook was perfect. Excellent performance of this classic book. very much enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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BLUE PRINT FOR THE TRANS-HUMANIST NEW WORLD ORDER

One of the "Robot Series" is a 1957 science fiction book by Isaac Asimov. It is a blue-print adopted by the New World Order (World Economic Forum "great reset") as the concept of "trans-humanism". Humans, who are disdained, (as filthy creatures), live in crowded underground cities on Earth. The "elite" create space travel and migrate to live on vast, opulent, isolated estates, each served by a legion of interconnected robots, on extra-planetary colonies. Virtual-reality "viewers" are ubiquitous for the "spacer" colonists so as to avoid physical contact with living creatures. This series of books is a model for the coming virtual reality "Meta-verse" of Facebook.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Good Science Fiction

Loved the book, the series is a must read. Some of the language and ideas are old fashioned, but that makes the books amazing.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A bit dated but a good mystery

Like the first book, there are clear indications that this was written in the 50’s, especially in Asimov’s depiction of women. There are also continual references to “man” instead of humanity. But all that aside, we have a good mystery story, this time taking place on one of the “spacer” planets instead of Earth. The mystery was pretty well done, and the story moved along well. Asimov doesn’t spend time on the characters’ sinner thoughts and feelings, though, instead just focusing on the meat of the story. So there’s not a lot of depth to the book. And I wouldn’t liked more of Daneel in this one! He had a much smaller, though pivotal, role.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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jehosaphat, thoroughly enjoyed

good story. good narration. this series was a good place to start a long appreciation for Asimov.

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Another inventive mystery in Asimov's Robot Series

Asimov has enthralled readers once again in this second book of the series. In Caves of Steel he introduced us to Elijah Baley and he continues his adventures here. With a great new world and a compelling mystery, this is a must read for classic science fiction fans! Five stars!

“AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY”

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robot's can't live with them, nor can you live wit

Man does it to him self , sometimes one will break free from those bonds of indenturement.

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