History Literature / TheRobotsOfDawn

* FreeLoveFuture: Aurora is a completely sexually open society, so much so that (according to Gladia and Gremionus at least), sex is a boring transaction with no emotional component. Dr. Fastolfe insists that Gladia exaggerates (as she originally came from a SexIsEvil society), and that in reality sex is not taken ''that'' lightly. He, himself, is considered somewhat weird for being exclusive while married. On the other hand his 'current wife' is completely invisible throughout the crisis as he sees no reason to inflict his troubles on her - which pretty much shows how shallow marital commitment is on Aurora. The fact that his refusal to have sex with his own daughter after raising her himself is seen as weird even by the doctor is another hint that things are a little...off...on Aurora.

* CanonWelding: This book marks the beginning of Asimov welding the Robot stories with his ''Literature/{{Foundation}}'' series. Numerous references are made to developing the science of "psychohistory" and humanity creating a future "Galactic Empire." Also, for anyone in doubt as to whether the Lije Baily/R. Daneel Olivaw books have any connection to his other robot stories, references are made to [[Literature/IRobot Susan Calvin]] (in particular the short story "Liar"), as well as "Literature/TheBicentennialMan".

* CanonWelding: This book marks the beginning of Asimov welding the Robot stories with his ''Literature/{{Foundation}}'' series. Numerous references are made to developing the science of "psychohistory" and humanity creating a future "Galactic Empire." Also, for anyone in doubt as to whether the Lije Baily/R. Daneel Olivaw books have any connection to his other robot stories, references are made to [[Literature/IRobot Susan Calvin]] (in particular the short story "Liar"), as well as "Literature/BicentennialMan".

* AlwaysMurder: With the twist this time that the victim is a humanoid robot, like Daneel. The trope is subverted a bit: Lije Baley assumes that nothing but murder would be sufficient reason to allow himself, an Earthman, onto a Spacer world. While he might be willing to see this "roboticide" as a murder, due to his experiences with Daneel, for the Spacers it is nothing but destruction of property; a civil court matter that cannot lead to serious punishment. This is especially true in this case where the only suspect is the robot's designer, builder, and owner. He is unlikely to be punished ''at all'', as people don't tend to get prosecuted for damaging ''their own'' property. However, there ''is'' a major political scandal being built around the incident, and that is what warrants calling in an investigator. Dr. Fastolfe goes to special effort to get Baley, who impressed him with his handling of the cases in the first two novels. [[spoiler: Without Giskard's manipulations, however, Baley may never have been called in at all.]]

* SequelGap: Published 26 years after ''The Naked Sun''.

Sequel to ''Literature/TheNakedSun'' and ''Literature/TheCavesOfSteel''. ''The Robots of Dawn'' features a slightly softer brand of science fiction than the previous two books in the series. It also introduces the character of R. Giskard Reventlov, who would go on to star in ''Literature/RobotsAndEmpire'', the sequel to the Robot Trilogy and [[CanonWelding bridging novel]] between that series and chronologically later parts of Asimov's greater canon.

* RoboticSpouse: Examined. Gladia comes to think of Jander as her husband but keeps it secret. Despite Aurora's sexual liberalism, robots are looked at as purely tools, and an emotionally intimate relationship with one is strange enough that Gladia fears being stigmatized for it. It doesn't help that the Auroran legal definition of marriage is based on the desire of the two spouses to have children, and Jander isn't nearly ''that'' advanced. Every Auroran who is told about how Gladia felt towards Jander finds the idea ridiculous.

** Baley also discusses the trope with Fastolfe. Though he was told before he came to Aurora that human and robot society there was completely integrated, Baley points out many obvious instances of Aurorans treating robots like, well, robots; including forbidding them from entering "personals" [[note]]Restrooms[[/note]] and every Auroran building having built-in niches for robots to stand in while not being used instead of having them sit and participate in conversations with their human masters. [[spoiler: He comes to believe that Aurorans would be no more ready to accept completely humaniform robots than any other human society, despite their protests to the contrary.]]

* SexBot: Unlike the RoboticSpouse trope, no Auroran ever raises an eyebrow upon learning Gladia used Jander as one. Despite all the robots on Aurora being obviously robotic it's apparently common enough to be readily accepted. Vasilia even states outright that no normal Auroran woman would have hesitated before having sex with such a human-like robot given the opportunity.

Sequel to ''Literature/TheNakedSun'' and ''Literature/TheCavesOfSteel''. ''The Robots of Dawn'' features a slightly [[MohsScaleOfSciFiHardness softer]] brand of science fiction than the previous two books in the series. It also introduces the character of R. Giskard Reventlov, who would go on to star in ''Literature/RobotsAndEmpire'', the sequel to the Robot Trilogy and [[CanonWelding bridging novel]] between that series and chronologically later parts of Asimov's greater canon.

* PsychicPowers: A legend about a psychic robot is mentioned by Fastolfe as an example of a robot becoming inoperative due to brain lock when it realized it could not continue to exist without harming a human, in violation of the laws of robotics. [[spoiler: The final plot twist is that Giskard is both the real killer and a psychic robot. He puts a lock on Lije's mind, preventing Lije from ever revealing Giskard's powers, even accidentally.]] This is also what makes this book softer on the MohsScaleOfSciFiHardness than its predecessors.

!!Tropes Include:

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* ArmorPiercingQuestion: "How is it that [[spoiler: Dr. Amadiro knew that Jander was Gladia’s husband]]?"

* SabotageToDiscredit: Basically, that's the main accusation against Fastolfe, supposedly because he disapproved of certain plans for robots like Jander. He doesn't help his case by confirming at every opportunity that he's the only roboticist in existence skilled enough to have performed this type of sabotage.

* {{Irony}}: Vasilia accuses her father of being a monster who will do anything to advance his studies of the human brain. [[spoiler:Her boss, Amadiro, has her full loyalty despite all the measures - including subjecting the agoraphobic Baley to a storm - he is willing to take in order to have the opportunity to study Jander's and Daneel's brains. At the same time her beloved and praised Giskard arranged the entire chain of events in order to study Baley's brain.]]

* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: The Earthpeople use names for the noise of the Cities like "Busy Buzz of Brotherhood" and "Hum of Humanity". Naturally, Baley misses it.

* YourCheatingHeart: Implied between Gladia and Lije, in the hyperwave drama that portrayed the murder case on Solaria. [[spoiler: On Arurora they do have a brief but loving affair, though Lije is still married to Jessie. In the end they both agree there can be no truly happy outcome for them as Baley and especially Gladia will have to sacrifice too much to be together.]]