THE CAVES OF STEEL

Cover illustration for Isaac Asimov

Dec 09, 2024

Two men stand on an escalator that ascends through a vast industrialized space. Yellow girders cross behind them and another escalator crowded with people—and a shiny silver robot the crowd shies away from—can be seen below in the background. One man poses casually in a slick overcoat with red trim. His thumb tucked is into his belt and tobacco pipe is threaded between his fingers. The other man has chiseled features and spiky hair. He wears a colorful blue jacket with his sleeve rolled up to expose his forearm. A compartment swung open exposes mechanized parts, revealing that he's a robot. Political graffiti on the metal surfaces reads "DIRTY SPACERS: GET OUT!" AND "ROBOTS OUT!" — THE CAVES OF STEEL (1986), Acrylic - 18" x 30"

The composition of this painting is dictated by the "caves" metaphor running through the narrative and reflected in the title. The figures of Baley and Daneel are surrounded by the vast metal "cave" of an Earthly city.

Color study for THE CAVES OF STEEL showing two rough color renderings of the cover layout. Notes on the same page and mixed with brush strokes of various shades of blue, brown and gray. — Color study for THE CAVES OF STEEL

The political tension which provides a nervous undercurrent to the narrative is indicated in the stickers and posters stuck on the escalators—a part of city life since Pompeii and visible, of course, in any contemporary metropolis today.

Preliminary concept for THE CAVES OF STEEL featuring two men taking cover behind a pillar in a vast industrial space. Baley holds up a pistol as he glances sideways. Daneel opens his jacket to reveal his midsection which is made of mechanical parts. — Alternative preliminary concept for THE CAVES OF STEEL

The problem here was how to reveal Daneel as a robot when he is described as looking exactly like a human being! Fortunately there are a couple of scenes in the book where Daneel "opens up"–literally–and reveals his inner makeup to Bailey.

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