The Naked Sun
by Isaac Asimov
The Naked Sun (1957) sends Baley and Daneel to Solaria, where the murder mystery explores a society of extreme isolation — each human lives on a vast estate with hundreds of robots, never meeting anyone in person, making the concept of physical murder seemingly impossible.
Published
1957
Pages
187
Pub. Order
#10
Chron. Order
#3
Synopsis
Elijah Baley must leave Earth for the first time to investigate a murder on Solaria, a Spacer world where humans live in total isolation on vast estates, served by thousands of robots. Physical contact — even being in the same room — is considered taboo. Murder should be impossible on such a world.
Working with R. Daneel Olivaw via remote viewing, Baley must overcome his own severe agoraphobia while solving the case and understanding a society diametrically opposed to everything he knows.
Key Themes
Key Characters
R. Daneel Olivaw
Robot detective partnering again with Baley
Historical Context & Writing Background
Published in 1957, The Naked Sun explores ideas about surveillance, isolation, and telepresence that were decades ahead of their time. Solaria's 'viewing' technology — remote holographic communication instead of personal meeting — eerily predicts modern video calling culture.
Critical Reception
Regarded as one of the best Robot novels. Critics praise its tight mystery plot and prescient social commentary about technology-enabled isolation. The contrast between Earth's overcrowding and Solaria's emptiness provides rich thematic material.
Connection to Asimov's Universe
Solaria returns as a key location in 'Foundation and Earth,' where Trevize discovers its descendants have evolved into something post-human. The Solarian culture of isolation and robot dependence serves as a warning about humanity's possible future.
Read more on WikipediaNotable Quotes
“The Solarians were the sickest people in the galaxy. They had robots for everything — including the things that make you human.”
Frequently Asked Questions About The Naked Sun
What makes Solaria unique in Asimov's universe?
Solaria is a Spacer world where only 20,000 humans live on an entire planet, each on a vast estate with thousands of robots. Physical contact is taboo — all interaction happens via holographic 'viewing.' This extreme isolation makes the concept of physical murder seemingly impossible, creating the novel's central mystery.