Review: If you like Asimov, you'll like this
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 25, 2011
Set on Io, arguably the most dangerous of Jupiter's moons, this hard SF novelette reminded me very much of the late, great Isaac Asimov's work. It is a mixture of well-researched science, robots and politics with a very clever technological twist and a good dose of humanity. Mind you, it is now some years since Dr Asimov passed on and our knowledge of robots, computers and the like have come a long way. Jansen has done her homework. The setting and the tech are convincing and the political situation is all too plausible.The story is written from the point of view of Daniel, half human half robot, and the female boss of the company which created him. Eilinn is a tough, hard nosed woman with a softer side. I particularly liked the way Jansen described the internal wars between Daniel's robot and human sides. Whether there is any significance in her choice of Daniel as her hero's name I don't know. But I, like many Asimov fans, remember Daneel.This novelette is the forerunner to a novel. I shall look forward to reading it.