Arthur Doyles Influence

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is one of the pioneers of the English detective fiction and he created a new trend in detective fiction through his Sherlock Holmes stories. He is the inspirational force behind many modern sleuths, who still show the traces of Sherlock Holmes, the first scientific detective of the world. Many writers of the later centuries were greatly influenced by Doyle. Isaac Asimov, the popular American mastermind, is one of those writers, who were attracted by Doyle. Though he once told that he was not a true enthusiast of Holmes, there are many examples in his Baley novels to show the influence of Holmes. Asimov travels in the same path created by Doyle.
Keywords: Arthur Conan Doyle, Isaac Asimov, Sherlock Holmes’s Influence, Social …show more content…
He imagines that the future world will be filled by robots for doing all sorts of works. He expects that utilization of human resources will be limited by the existence of robots and it may lead to unemployment problems. Asimov, though attempts to present a mystery, never fails in his social concern. He is aware of the fact that the future earth will suffocate with over population and the essentials like water and food will be served in ration. There will not be any food option for the future generation to satisfy their palate. Asimov also expects that there will be a rebellion against robots and the human workers will exhibit hatred against the robots. This situation portrayed in The Caves of Steel is Asimov’s recollection of the social scenario after Industrial Revolution. In the Victorian England, post Industrial Revolution was full of commotion. There was deep hatred against the machines as they created unemployment in larger level. This proves that though Asimov lived in the twentieth century and dealt with remote future in his novels, he was interested in Victorian …show more content…
Though he deals with mystery, he never talks about women beaters, child abusers, rapists, etc. He does not follow the aggressive and ruthless style of American hardboiled detective fiction, though it was a popular trend of twentieth century. His sleuth, Elijah Baley, is like a Victorian detective, who exactly follows the line of ‘observation, analysis and deduction’ method of Sherlock Holmes. Gavin Brend glorifies Sherlock Holmes, "If ever a man was immortal, that man was Sherlock Holmes" (178). Asimov never wanted Baley to be a typical hardboiled detective, who is always revolver ready, adopts any method to beat down his enemies and unscrupulously beds with any woman, who is willing to bed with him. Though Asimov makes Baley involve with Gladia Delmarre, his client, his involvement is not the careless and loveless approach of the hardboiled school of American tradition. His pity for Gladia results in his love for her. Though Baley is deeply disturbed by his extramarital relationship, he is ultimately helpless to break his relationship with