Since Isaac Asimov's death in 1992, other authors have continued several of his series, with publishers often featuring the Asimov name as prominently as those of the actual writers.

Unfortunately, while Dr. Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics are a touchstone of science fiction, not even they can save a sub-par robot mystery. That's the case with Mark W. Tiedemann's Mirage. Tiedemann has the unenviable task of attempting to walk in a Master's footsteps, and stumbles several times along the way.

At this point in Asimov's future history, the issue of whether to accept robots into society has divided society into two camps. After a catastrophic robot rampage, the Earthers ban use of robot labor, but the Spacers continue to make robots part of their daily lives.

Unless special agent Mia Daventri and positronic expert-turned-ambassador Ariel Burgess (a character from the Isaac Asimov's Robot City series) can piece together the conspiracy behind the attack, Earth will continue its ban on robots and be doomed to backwater status in the galaxy.

Who was involved? Did the Spacers sabotage their own negotiations?

Much of Mirage deals with Earth's primitive and irrational fear of robots in everyday life. But while the novel occasionally has compelling dramatic twists, Tiedemann's version of Asimov's world seems outdated.

While retro style can be a refreshing change sometimes, most science fiction should change with the times. Surely Asimov would've approved a more updated version of his world than the one Tiedemann has created.

All Tiedemann had to do is look at society's current obsession with the latest techno gadgets, Internet programs and anything downloadable, and he'd see how far Mirage pushes the bounds of plausibility.

In today's world, most people love technology -- the newer the better. But in Tiedemann's world, the Earthers fear anything robotic, even if it greatly enhances their life.

In today's world, this view seems positively quaint.

Even the heroic robot Bogard -- a stealthy, strong character that comes as close to free thinking as possible under the Three Laws -- feels dated. Except for moments when he networks into a matrix, Bogard seems to be from a pre-Internet future that, while cutting-edge in Asimov's day, doesn't seem realistic anymore.

As for the famous Three Laws, they don't help the story as much as you might expect.

Asimov's introduction of the Laws of Robotics was a groundbreaking combination of science and sociological realism. He was the first to apply realistic political ramifications and philosophical issues that will accompany the interdependence of logical robots with the often illogical human race.

While groundbreaking at the time, the Three Laws are decades old, but Tiedemann still spends pages breaking down their meanings ad nauseam. It feels like hero worship, especially when Tiedemann's interest in these laws takes precedence over character and narrative.

Mirage has its moments -- there are some nice inventions and the political intrigue has the paranoid claustrophobia of an Oliver Stone movie. But the writing is longwinded, and the characters seem interchangeable and wooden.

Tiedemann is a young writer, and given his efforts to step right into the Master's shoes, deserves credit for effort. He has done no disservice to Asimov's world, and is reverent to the point of worship.

That may be the problem.

Mirage is a lukewarm potboiler at best, published more to capitalize on the Asimov name then for any narrative purpose. It won't kill you to read it, but there are better and more original titles out there.