Which Issac Asimov novel should I start?

[cak3]

In honor of Asimov's birthday, I'm going to start reading some of his works! Though I dont know where to start. I've read the Last Question and loved it if its any help. Also loved the I, Robot movie. Recommend away!

[HarryT]

I'd suggest "The Caves of Steel". It's available as an eBook.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'd suggest "The Caves of Steel". It's available as an eBook.

+1
Apache

[cak3]

Caves of Steel it is! Thanks guys.

[tecweston]

Originally Posted by cak3

Also loved the I, Robot movie. Recommend away!

Ew, why?

Well, I'd recommend "I, Robot" the book. It's actually a collection of short stories around a central theme: Asimov creates a set of moral rules for robots to follow and then bases the stories around loopholes in those rules, when things go wrong because of situations where either the robots can't follow the rules or they put people in danger by following them too closely.

[HarryT]

If you're going to read the robot stories it roils make sense to get "The Complete Robot", which has all of them.

[J. Strnad]

I'd definitely go with his short stories, as his writing is much more idea-based than character-based, and I need good, well-developed characters to hang with for a novel. The robot stories are a great starting point!

[tecweston]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you're going to read the robot stories it roils make sense to get "The Complete Robot", which has all of them.

Nice! I didn't know this existed.

[HarryT]

I still think, though, that "The Caves of Steel" is Asimov's best novel, although he's probably best known for the "Foundation" series.

[RDaneel54]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I still think, though, that "The Caves of Steel" is Asimov's best novel, although he's probably best known for the "Foundation" series.

I'm with you on that Harry. I really like the first two robot novels, the other one being The Naked Sun.

[dgillette.rm]

Is The Complete Robot available as an ebook? I have the pbook, but would like an ebook.

[AndrewH]

I liked the robot novels, but the Foundation series appealed to my imagination more when I was a teenager.

I need to re-read Asimov.

[tecweston]

Originally Posted by dgillette.rm

Is The Complete Robot available as an ebook? I have the pbook, but would like an ebook.

Not officially, but I did find an epub of it via Google. I would post a link but I'm not really sure of the copyright status of the book.

[fjtorres]

For all that I love the Robot novels, if you only want one Asimov novel, I'm rather partial to THE END OF ETERNITY.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...NFCGZNT5PXHQ5D

It is an oft-neglected companion to the entire Robots/Galactic Empire/Foundation timeline.

Review
Praise for The End of Eternity:

“His most effective piece of work. Asimov’s exemplary clarity in plotting is precisely suited to the material at hand. Asimov’s engagement with the present is clearer here than in his other works, as is his engagement with the human.”
--Locus

“By literary standards, this tale of time travel from the 95th century is generally rated Asimov’s best.”
--Entertainment Weekly

“Asimov’s flirtation with the tropes employed by A. E. van Vogt and Charles Harness is startling for an author deemed ultra-rational and scientific.… The effects of this influential, seminal book echo to the present, in the works of such writers as Greg Egan, John Varley, Kage Baker, and Greg Bear.”
--SciFi.com

Product Description
One of Isaac Asimov’s SF masterpieces, this stand-alone novel is a monument of the flowering of SF in the twentieth century. It is widely regarded as Asimov’s single best SF novel.

Or, for a standalone, THE GODS THEMSELVES. (no ebook, though.)
For all his humans-only stories, Asimov's first all-out attempt at aliens was pretty darn good.

[pwalker8]

Asimov's Black Widowier's club books (a series of short stories) is quite good if you like mysteries. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be available in ebook format right now.