Isaac Asimov's Inferno
Allen continues the exploration of the ramifications of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics begun inCaliban. This time, he deals with murder on the planet Inferno, a theoretical milieu of the Earth Settlers and the Spacers from the independent colonies, which he drew from Asimov's robot novels and expanded upon inCaliban. This novel involves a good theoretical puzzle that will keep readers turning pages but still emerges as mostly a homage to the departed sf master. Allen has emerged during the last 10 years as a versatile and imaginative writer in his own right, and it's hard not to prefer seeing him sail under his own colors, however much he (and we) may justly admire the late Asimov.Roland Green