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From the Back Cover
Isaac Asimov ushered in the Robot Age with these stories. Far removed from the metal monsters of pulp sf, his positronic robots gave him the scope to examine the minefield of human psychology by exploring the possibilities of artificial intelligence.
When Earth is ruled by master-machines, when robots often seem more human than mankind, the Three Laws of Robotics ensure that humans remain superior and the robots are kept in their rightful place. But an insane telepathic robot results from a production error; a robot assembled in space logically deduces its superiority to non-rational humanity; and when machines serve mankind rather than individual humans, the machine's idea of what is good for society may itself contravene the sacred Three Laws.
These timeless stories from the Grand Master of science fiction provide a fascinating insight into how robot and humans might coexist. Asimov's questioning of definitions of humanity and human behaviour continues to capture the imagination in these brilliantly inventive and thought-provoking tales.
'Asimov displayed one of the most dynamic imaginations in science fiction'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still good after all these years,
By
This review is from: I, Robot (Paperback)
This book is THE robot classic. With that though come lots of problems for the contemporary reader. Pretty well every robot in science fiction is somehow related to this book - either by being just like Asimov's robots (Star Treks's "Data" was openly acknowledged to be an Asimov robot) or by being deliberately unlike them. It is impossible to underestimate the importance of this novel - it created a precedent that could either be used or abused by subsequent writers. Having said all that what is it like reading this ground breaking novel today 40 years later? OK the style may be very 50's, the techno babble may no longer be credible but the stories are still good. Having set up the famous "3 laws of Robotics", Asimov then goes on to create a series of puzzles - each one is a mystery that can only be solved by understanding the rules he has created. The stories have the same appeal as whodunnits except the question is sometimes howdunnit, whydunnit, where or when dunnit. In general each of his stories poses the question " Considering the rules under which robots have to work how is it possible that ....?" Finding the answer is the fun. It is a testament to Asimov that although the sci-fi, social, and stylistic elements of this book may now seem outdated, the stories are so good they still provide enjoyable reading. Those seeking nano technology, alternative universes, worm holes etc may be dissapointed but those seeking a series of intriguing mysteries only solvable through logic will get a real kick out of this. Additionally, if you found Data's difficulties in coming to terms with the human view of the universe intriguing and entertaining, you will find lots to enjoy here.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Sci-Fi from the "pulp fiction" era--groundbreaking,
By
This review is from: I, Robot (Paperback)
This is groundbreaking science fiction, introducing a concept or philosophy that spread past the work of Asimov and penetrated the consciousness of the genre in general. The short stories in "I, Robot" introduce the idea of the non-Frankensteinian robot, one who cannot harm his creator by virtue of the Three Laws of Robotics:1 - A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. We almost take these laws for granted, but their structure is brilliant, and they give rise to some great robot science fiction from the hand of one of sci-fi's most beloved authors. Sad to say, despite creating a brilliant character in Susan Calvin, the iron-minded scientist who is central to the invention of the robot, Asimov's characters are typically cartoonish and cliche. Worse yet, he breaks the law of fiction whereby he uses the slang of the Fifties, thus dating the book immeasurably. If you grew up in the Fifties, reading this is a breath of nostalgia--not the best thing for futuristic fiction. If you are a Generation X'er, the style has the campiness of a comic book. Which is not helpful to the smart plots of the stories. I have to say that "I, Robot" was one of my adolescent favorites and I still enjoy the stories. "Robbie" pits the big metal beast, beloved by a child, against the fears of the adults. Perfect showcase for the Laws. And the ideas in "Liar"--a mind-reading robot, are the nucleus for later novels by Asimov. These are worth reading, even though sadly dated. Contents: Robbie I have to say that "I, Robot" was one of my adolescent favorites and I still enjoy the stories. "Robbie" pits the big metal beast, beloved by a child, against the fears of the adults. Perfect showcase for the Laws. And the ideas in
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic,
By A Customer
This review is from: I, Robot (Paperback)
Assimov's classic and masterful collection of short stories really needs no introduction. If you haven't read it or heard of it I urge you to buy it immediately especially if you're a fan of proper science fiction. Anyone with a logical and open minded dispostion with an interest in science, even cursory, will find this book enthralling. Many of the stories involve some problem that needs to be solved through logic, but psycology (both human and robot) also plays a large part. Don't expect the robots in this novel to be walking tin cans. Many of them display more human traits than their human researchers and their personalities are intricately complex and often play centre stage in the stories with the humans playing a second best. If ever their was a book to change your way of how you look at computer intelligence, then it's probably this one.
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