Isaac Asimov and the Caves of Steel

Published:
August 8, 2023 Updated: March 27, 2025

Not long ago, Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, was eventually adapted into a TV show for Apple TV+ after its rights were acquired from previous development attempts, which included a brief stint where Roland Emmerich was selected to direct the film. Concerns arose at the time regarding Emmerich’s ability to deliver a quality adaptation, given his recent film 2012 (at the time) had received mixed reviews. In hindsight, Foundation’s delay in development turned out to be a positive outcome, with Apple acquiring the rights in 2020 for its Apple TV+ streaming service.

It’s exciting to see how Foundation has been adapted for TV, and with Apple’s investment, it does open up the possibility of other Asimov classics like Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun making their way to the screen. The Robot Series, with its intriguing blend of mystery, human-robot interaction, and societal commentary, would make for compelling adaptations. Given the success of Foundation, it’s definitely possible that we could see these works get the same treatment, especially with the growing trend of adapting classic sci-fi for streaming platforms. The idea of a TV adaptation of Asimov’s vision for robotics and the complex relationships between humans and robots could be a great fit for modern audiences.

I’ve watched a handful of episodes of the Foundation TV series and have enjoyed it so far. Initially, the casting made me pause for a bit, especially with two characters¹ who were originally male in the book. Additionally, the introduction of the Galactic Emperor², who wasn’t part of the first book, raised some concerns, but it feels like the addition was a welcome change as I watched the series, so neither of these issues has been a problem.

With Foundation in capable hands, it raises the question of whether Apple might consider adapting more of Asimov’s works, such as The Caves of Steel.

The Caves of Steel

The Caves of Steel serves as the inaugural installment in a series chronicling the endeavors of Elijah Bailey, an undercover investigator hailing from Earth. His partner, R. Daneel Olivaw, accompanies him on a journey marked by an intricate murder case set against a future Earth, positioned three millennia ahead, where the populace resides in subterranean cities due to overpopulation. This narrative landscape unfolds with the backdrop of established interplanetary travel and human colonization of 50 distant worlds, creating a division between Earth-based humans and affluent Spacer inhabitants.

The Spacers lead lavish lives, benefitting from robot labor and restrictions on population growth. As a result of their wealth, the Spacers have taken a position of superiority over the Earth-based humans. Conversely, the Earth inhabitants are wary of robots and navigate life within enclosed and undeground cities. The plot unfurls with the murder of a Spacer Ambassador on Earth, prompting the chief of police to assign Elijah to the case, assigning Daneel as his partner.

What adds a captivating dimension to this pairing is the fact that Daneel is a humanoid robot, visually indistinguishable from a regular human. This dynamic introduces an intriguing complexity to the narrative, especially considering humanity’s prevailing anti-robot sentiments. As Elijah and Daneel investigate the murder of the ambassador, they reveal layers of intricacies in a detective tale woven with science fiction nuances. This series encompasses four full-length novels and a short story that continue the partnership between Elijah and Daneel as they explore other cases together.

Background on The Caves of Steel

Asimov is most commonly known for his other works, such as the Foundation series, his series of stories about robots, and the introduction of the “Three Laws of Robotics.” I feel as though The Caves of Steel are a lesser known series given that there considerable interest in adapting it in any form - although the BBC apparently adapted The Caves of Steel as part of an anthology series in the 1960s starring Peter Cushing³ as Elijah Bailey⁴.

The interesting thing about Caves of Steel is the nature of its origin as a science fiction mystery story was a deviation from Asimov’s typical style. The tale’s inception can be traced back to a challenge issued by his editor at Astounding Science Fiction, John W. Campbell. Campbell claimed that a science fiction mystery story would falter due to technology acting as a deus ex machina instead of allowing the detective’s deduction skills to shine. Isaac Asimov took this challenge to heart and went on to not only meet but exceed expectations. The result was a well-crafted series of stories with intriguing characters, enigmatic plotlines, and even socio-cultural commentary on various topics - from robots’ roles in human society to overpopulation, agoraphobia, and the human condition itself. The Caves of Steel presents an engaging narrative replete with thought-provoking themes.

Possibilities

When reading Caves of Steel for the first time I was immediately reminded of Hideo Kojima’s games Snatcher and Policenauts, which I had played a few months prior. These titles, inspired by Blade Runner and Lethal Weapon, presented intriguing futuristic stories involving investigators unraveling mysteries.

Snatcher is set in a post-biological warfare mid-21st century, with Snatchers — humanoid robots posing as humans - and Junkers - the individuals tasked with hunting down the Snatchers - echoing Blade Runner’s themes.

Policenauts, while sharing aesthetics with Lethal Weapon⁵, ventures further into sci-fi and cyberpunk, offering a complex narrative surrounding a missing persons case within a space-colony that eventually leads to a larger conspiracy.

These games, although inspired, craft unique explorations of a futuristic Earth through science fiction and compelling storytelling.

The Robot Series⁶ — particularly the portion centered around Caves of Steel — follows Elijah Bailey, a human investigator from Earth, and his humanoid robot partner, R. Daneel Olivaw, as they unravel complex mysteries tied to robots and societal issues. The series, with its rich themes and futuristic detective elements, feels like a natural fit for adaptation into either a game or TV series. I can’t help but imagine how such a project could intersect with the work of Hideo Kojima.

Kojima’s early titles like Policenauts and Snatcher are deeply rooted in detective fiction and futuristic settings, much like Asimov’s work. However, Kojima’s career has taken a different turn in recent years. After his highly publicized departure from Konami — which included the controversies surrounding Metal Gear Solid V and the canceled Silent Hills — Kojima has focused primarily on Death Stranding. With a sequel in development and the original Death Stranding now available on multiple platforms (including iOS/macOS and Xbox Series X), Kojima continues to push the boundaries of interactive storytelling in gaming, all while crafting his distinct narrative style.

While a Caves of Steel game from Kojima would seem like a perfect fit, especially given his experience with Metal Gear, I sense that his time at Konami, along with the weight of his legacy from Metal Gear, might make him hesitant to revisit a similar type of project. Furthermore, Kojima’s focus is clearly on his current projects. His team is working on an untitled Death Stranding film in partnership with Hammerstone Studios and A24, and they’re also developing a new action-espionage game called PHYSINT in collaboration with Sony Interactive Entertainment. PHYSINT is a next-generation, interactive action-espionage game blending cinematic elements with gameplay, marking Kojima’s third original IP.

Additionally, Kojima is working on a horror game called OD with Xbox Game Studios, which is likely tied to the cancelled Silent Hill project he was supposed to develop. OD also features Jordan Peele as a writer, adding another layer of intrigue to its potential.

With so much on his plate, it seems Kojima’s creative vision is currently centered on these projects, and an Asimov-inspired game, while fascinating, doesn’t seem to be in the cards for now.