Robots and Empire
by Isaac Asimov
Robots and Empire (1985) bridges the Robot and Empire/Foundation series. Set 200 years after Baley's death, R. Daneel and R. Giskard develop the Zeroth Law of Robotics while preventing Earth's deliberate contamination with radiation, setting the stage for the Galactic Empire.
Published
1985
Pages
383
Pub. Order
#12
Chron. Order
#5
Reader Stats
3.98/5
Goodreads Rating
25,000+
Goodreads Reviews
Synopsis
Set approximately 200 years after The Robots of Dawn, Elijah Baley has died of old age but his legacy lives on. R. Daneel Olivaw and his partner R. Giskard Reventlov discover a plot by Spacer extremists to contaminate Earth's crust with radiation, making the planet uninhabitable over generations.
Giskard, who has developed telepathic abilities, formulates the 'Zeroth Law of Robotics': a robot may not harm humanity, or through inaction allow humanity to come to harm. This law supersedes all three original Laws. Giskard allows Earth to be slowly irradiated — reasoning that this will force Earthpeople to colonize the galaxy, ensuring humanity's long-term survival. The paradox destroys Giskard, but he transfers his telepathic abilities to Daneel before dying.
Key Themes
Key Characters
R. Daneel Olivaw
Now 200 years old, begins his millennia-long mission
Historical Context & Writing Background
Written to explicitly bridge the gap between the Robot and Foundation series. Published in 1985 by Doubleday), the Zeroth Law concept became central to Asimov's later vision and has been widely discussed in AI ethics scholarship.
Critical Reception
Praised for its philosophical depth and for successfully connecting Asimov's separate series. According to the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, the Zeroth Law is considered one of Asimov's most important ethical contributions to science fiction, influencing contemporary debates about AI alignment.
Connection to Asimov's Universe
The most critical bridge novel in Asimov's universe. The Zeroth Law motivates everything Daneel does for the next 20,000 years — creating Gaia, guiding Hari Seldon, and shaping the Foundation saga. Earth's radioactivity, established here, is referenced in 'Pebble in the Sky' and 'Foundation and Earth.'
Read more on WikipediaNotable Quotes
“A robot may not harm humanity, or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.”
What Critics & Experts Say
“I needed a bridge between the Robot and Foundation series. That bridge was the Zeroth Law — the idea that robots could decide to protect all of humanity, not just individual humans.”
“The Zeroth Law of Robotics anticipates the central challenge of modern AI alignment research: how do you program a powerful agent to act in the interest of humanity as a whole?”
Frequently Asked Questions About Robots and Empire
What is the Zeroth Law of Robotics?
The Zeroth Law states: 'A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.' It supersedes all three original Laws by prioritizing the survival of humanity as a species over any individual human. Giskard formulates it in this novel, and Daneel uses it to guide his actions for the next 20,000 years.