by Isaac Asimov
First published 1985
Pedestrians rise up against the forces that confine them to walkways in a world transformed by technology. Robert grapples with questions of identity and purpose as an artificial being navigating human society. Richard Clayton embarks on an unusual journey that defies conventional understanding of flight and movement. The Gostak encounters the mysterious Doshes in a tale that challenges perception and meaning. Through pilgrimage and rebellion, characters confront the boundaries between human and machine, familiar and strange. These interconnected stories explore how individuals adapt when society's rules no longer make sense. Each protagonist faces moments where old certainties crumble and new possibilities emerge. The emotional weight centers on what it means to be truly alive in a universe where the line between organic and artificial continues to blur.
Genres: short-stories, science-fiction, literary-fiction, fantasy
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, man-vs-society
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
256 pages · Paperback · TSR: Distributed by Random House