One of numerous early science fiction novels that extrapolated from current problems in the field of artificial intelligence, Unwise Child is about a cybernetics project that has developed a potentially troubling new invention, and must be moved off the Earth of the twenty-first century before that invention can fall into the wrong hands. Artificial intelligence has retained its importance both as a topic for fiction and for general interest, now that computer technology is a flagship industry of the world economy. Garrett has made some guesses about the perils and rewards of working with a robot intellect, and compares it to the system it is designed to augment — the human mind.

A detective as well as a science fiction novel, Unwise Child also deals with the universal problem of crime. A string of crimes begins in New York City and extends to the fancifullynamed planet...