(photo by Carl V.)
I, Robot ~Isaac Asimov
–1956, Signet (originally published 1950, Gnome Press)
–192 pages
REVIEW SUMMARY: A collection of nine short stories written by Isaac Asimov between 1940 and 1950, gathered together with a framing story, that tells of the failures, triumphs, and terrors of man’s future existence with intelligent robotic life forms.
MY RATING: 4/5 stars
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: In an interview upon the eve of her retirement from U.S. Robot and Mechanical Men, Inc, Dr. Susan Calvin, robopsychologist, reviews successes and failures from the early days of robot use up through the novel’s current time, where robots are an integral part of the fabric of our existence. Man’s fear and loathing of intelligent machines is an ever present theme leading to a few very suspenseful tales.
MY REVIEW:
PROS:
–Differences between the nine stories keeps things interesting.
–Humor interjected with the characters of Powell and Donovan
–Framing story is interesting and gives cohesion to the collection.
–A couple of page-turning, suspenseful tales carry the book.
–The 3 laws explored in a variety of interesting ways.
CONS:
–Fans of the film might be disappointed, the story is nothing like the movie that bears its name.
–A few of the nine stories are weak.
–The collection misses ending on a real strong note as the final story’s very interesting message is diminished by the story’s structure.
–Dr. Susan Calvin is not the most warm and cuddly character.
BOTTOM LINE: A seminal science fiction classic worth taking a look at.
In the early 1940’s, Isaac Asimov introduced the Three Laws of Robotics and with them influenced science fiction for the decades that have followed. These three laws are :
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Between 1940 and 1950, Asimov wrote a number of stories that addressed, in one way or another, the logic and potential loopholes to these laws. I, Robot is a collection of nine of these stories, pulled together in the form of a novel by a framing story involving the retirement of Dr. Susan Calvin, Earth’s first robot psychologist (robopsychologist). Dr. Calvin is being interviewed by a reporter who works to coax out of her some of the more interesting adventures that mankind had over the course of time from the beginnning of U.S. Robotic and Mechanical Men, Inc to the present time (early to mid 21st century in this case). The nine tales that follow contain stories in which Dr. Calvin was personally involved as well as several that see the reader following Michael Donovan and Greg Powell, two crotchety men whose banter reminded me of episodes of The Odd Couple and the Grumpy Old Men films. These two reminded me of the two guys in the AAA Ace Decontamination Agency who feature in several short stories by Robert Sheckley.
The stories vary in mood and tone. The opening story, “Robbie”, is an extremely accessible story about a young girl whose robot nursemaid is her very best playmate. When her mother becomes concerned about the time she spends with Robbie, measures are taken that do not have the results her parents hope for. For anyone whose childhood involves a beloved pet or imaginary friend, this is a story that will ring true. I would describe it as a science fiction version of a Norman Rockwell-ish story about growing up.
The characters of Donovan and Powell appear in the stories, “Runaround”, “Reason”, “Catch that Rabbit” and “Escape!”. The two are engineers sent on various missions to test new robots, a job that, without fail, involves them getting into one scrape or another as they moan and lament the fact that they seem to be cursed with every mission they are assigned. Some of my very favorite stories in I, Robot involve these two. Asimov does an admirable job of injecting humor into his stories with these two characters without resorting to slapstick. At the same time these are also some of the most suspenseful stories, involving the kind of incidents that seem to prove that man’s fears of robots are not unfounded in the least. “Reason” is especially terrifying in that respect.
The stories “Liar”, “Little Lost Robot”, and “Evidence” are stories more closely involving Dr. Susan Calvin and all three are standouts in the collection. “Liar” is the most interesting and intense of the collection, in my opinion. It involves a robot who can read minds and the unfortunate consequences of how that knowledge affects the functioning of the three laws.
“Evidence” is a terrific ‘can you tell who is or who is not a robot’ story and would have actually been a stronger finish to the collection. “Evidence” and the “The Evitable Conflict” both feature the character Stephen Byerley. “The Evitable Conflict” has a great “machines have taken over the world” paranoia to it that is dampened by the way that the story is structured. Asimov took a little too much time belaboring the way that the world government had set itself up. It is a good story, but could have been a great one.
I, Robot then is not a Will Smith-esque, run and gun action adventure novel. Instead it is a series of vignettes in the lives of a handful of people intimately involved in the business of integrating robotics into the workforce. Contrary to what those sentences may indicate, however, it is by no means dry or dull. While not every story is a genre-changer, there are several top notch stories in here and the overall collection is one that I would recommend.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am especially fond of stories written in the early part of the 20th century up through the 1950’s. Being able to step back and see my present and the future through the eyes of the men and women who lived and wrote during this time period is a distinct pleasure. So often these stories fill me with a sense of wonder. I am not versed in scientific history to the point of knowing just when writers and/or the common man knew with certainty that there weren’t civilizations awaiting our discover on Mars or Venus. Regardless of when that occurred, the stories written during this time frame often contain that feeling of belief and hope, that sense of “What if?” and “Could it be?”. Over the course of the past few years I have read stories by Asimov that I did not care for and have swung to the other end of the pendulum by experiencing and falling hard for the Foundation Trilogy. While I, Robot does not equal Foundation in my
personal estimation, it does occupy a space very close to that end of the spectrum. It may be an unfair comparison, but since Foundation was my first positive Asimov experience it will forever be the measuring stick by which I judge the rest of his work.
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The book you see pictured was a gift from my friend Jeff. He picked it up not for the story itself, but because he knows that I like to collect these kind of classic illustrated covers (This one by Robert Schultz, I believe). It is in fragile shape and he encouraged me to not consider it as a reading copy. Yesterday morning dawned and I had the day off work and in looking at this book I decided that it was how I wanted to spend my day. And so I very gently and gingerly read this fragile 1956 copy of I, Robot. Sure, I could have picked up a more sturdy copy from the library that I would not have had to be so gentle with, but I really liked the idea that this was a book that most likely someone, or several someones, had read before and it is quite possible, given the book’s condition, that this would be its ‘last hurrah’ in regards to fulfilling its original purpose: to tell a story to a willing reader. From now on this book will be appreciated for its artistic merit as part of my collection. Call me sentimental if you will, but I cherish the fact that I was able to give this book one final read.
The movie is nothing like the book because the movie was originally written to be movie called HARDWIRED about rebellious robots. The studio decided that Asimov’s I, ROBOT had some nice cache so they forced the three laws stuff into the script and we got I, ROBOT, the movie.
My nephew is currently reading “Foundation” and “I, Robot,” and he is very anxious that I do the same. Heh. Thanks for the review, I see a Powell’s trip on the horizon.
JP: I have to admit that I enjoy the film, but I had absolutely no attachment to or knowledge of the book. I did read online that Harlin Ellison did a screenplay years ago that was much more faithful and very well received but it was deemed to technologically advanced for the film technology of the time. I’d like to see that version as well. After reading the book, though, I was surprised by how many small, barely noticeable nods there were to the the book. Not enough to appease purist fans I’m sure (and I’m not knocking purists, I am one with my favorites as well).
Stacey: That is great that he is wanting to share that reading experience with you. It is fun to be reading something around the same time that someone else is. Book conversation is some of the most satisfying there is.
I read the book years ago and thought it was great. The movie isn’t the same, but I didn’t really expect it to me. I’d say it was fine for what it was though I would have appreciated a more thoughtful approach.
I’m totally in love with that cover! It’s so classic pulp sci-fi. I have a copy of Orson Scott Card’s Hot Sleep (which is no longer available as that title) with an equally as cool cover. It’s got a bare breasted red headed girl being grabbed by an alien. I’ll have to email it to you one of these days. OSC hated the cover and made them pull it :p As for I, Robot…I really didn’t like it :/ I read it in college and I just wasn’t nuts about it and everyone thinks I’m crazy for saying that! I think it’s the reason why I haven’t tried the Foundation series yet. But I will!
Chris: Yes, you’ve got to show me that cover. I was actually over your way today and saw where you had said you had to read it in high school and didn’t like it. Or I saw it on one of my comments. Somewhere anyway. I wouldn’t let that stop you from reading Foundation. And you aren’t crazy, Jeff will most likely comment on this one at some point and he wasn’t impressed either if I remember correctly.
SQT: It would be interesting to see a version that incorporated more ideas from the book, and yet I did enjoy it for what it was.
I just love that cover. I have to say though I listened to this book on audio during last year’s Scifi Experience and I wasn’t that crazy about it. I would give it 3/5 stars myself. I’m glad you dug it though Carl. I would also add that I enjoyed The Foundation series a lot more than the I,Robot stories but again not as much as Carl did last year.
I’m becoming an Asimov junkie!!!
sometimes I think it’s strange that I have no interest at all for reading sci fi and yet I do love sci fi movies (really like I Robot btw) Even when Trek (originals) first had their books out I tried them and nada.. just not into them even when there are character I love! I think the closest I ever came to reading sci fi and liking it would be the Pern books which are considered sci fi/ fantasy because they came to pern in ships (the dawn sisters) and the threads that fall from “another planet”..
Great book and a very nice review. The cover graphic you have is really awesome. Love the old-time pulpy covers!
I really liked the book tho it was a bit dated by time I got around to reading it. The movie? Not so much. It was OK for an action sci-fi but we’ve seen a million of those and it had so tenuous a connection to the book that it just made me mad. Quite obviously a ploy to cash in on a classic. Had it not been called “I, Robot” I think I might have liked it more.
Now a Harlin Ellison screenplay? That could be amazing! Why must Hollywood continue to make skiffy when there is so much quality stuff to be made? Of course I ask that question after hearing about how they’re going to ruin Foundation next….
Dave: I think it helped me that I had not read the book before seeing I, Robot. That being said, I’m pre-destined to be disgusted with Foundation because I love the series so much. And sadly they are starting out so poorly that there isn’t even any hope right now that they might get it right.
Deslily: I think that is true of all of us, there are just things we aren’t necessarily attracted to. Doesn’t always make sense, but then it doesn’t necessarily have to.
I love your story about giving the book its final read!
Asimov still just scares me…I worry way too much that I just won’t “get” him.
Debi: I’m not sure how much, if any, trouble you would have ‘getting’ these stories. I do very much think you would enjoy the first story, Robbie, simply because you are a mother and because you were a kid once. If you can track the book down at the library just to read that story alone I think it would be worth it. You might be able to find it online as well, although I tried and have had no luck.
To me you don’t have to understand the ‘science fiction science’ to get to the meat of these stories. Robbie and Liar! are both ones that do not really have much if any ‘science’ in them at all, they are more about what is happening to the characters in each story.
I love that you found a vintage cover to use as your image for this one. I confess that I’ve only seen the movie, and haven’t read the book yet, or any Asimov really. And I call myself a fan of scifi! Eesh! It’s embarrassing.
Anyone up for a Classic Scifi Reading Challenge?
Elizabeth: I am, classic sci fi reading is almost all I’m doing right now. And that is actually my actual book that I photographed for the picture for this post. I love it!!!
Well I’m glad that you took my recommendation and enjoyed it! I was curious what you would think about this one, especially in comparison to the movie. I am personally a fan of both the book and the movie, because I think the movie took the best of the concepts from the book and adapted them to what worked best on a movie screen. (And it doesn’t hurt that I love Will Smith).
Susan Calvin is my favorite character, because I love her attitude. In another one of Asimov’s short stories (not in I, Robot), she is called out of retirement to help solve a mystery about a female robot. Yes, a female robot. One that was given intuition. And Calvin, being the genius that she is, does solve it almost immediately, but being the crusty old soul that she is, she lets the “young pups” figure it out on their own. When she reveals knowing the story all along, they ask her how she knew, and her icy response is “Feminine intuition, boys.” Teehee.
What I love best about Asimov’s writing is that even though he is not the best at writing character-driven stories, his ideas stick with you. And I think he’s the master of the short story format.
Thanks for sharing your review!
You are right, his stories aren’t character driven and yet he still writes characters that I am interested in and have fun spending time with as the plot moves forward, even if it is just for a brief period of time.
I’ll be reading more of the robot stories soon, I suspect. I enjoyed these ones so much that I want to check out the others. I want to pick up a copy of Robot Dreams both for the stories and for Ralph McQuarrie’s illustrations.
I LOVE THE COVER!!!
ah… sometimes i just i could go back into a retro-limbo… a timeless space. like buck rogers in the opening sequence of his show, just floating in this in-between place. and then, all around me would be the worlds of these wonderful old school covers… 😀
like many of us i’ve been meaning to read this for a long time but i’ve never actually known what this is about. this review is very helpful in giving me an idea of what to look forward to – thanks!
I read this book for Scifi English class, and really enjoyed it (although I, Robot didn’t nearly hold my attention like Ender’s Game did – but it is unfair to compare them) This is really my first good reading into the scifi-relm of literature, and I’m really enjoying it 😀
I was wondering if you knew any websites that involve a reading challege or something else to that effect. I’m doing a project for my class regarding I, Robot fans’ ideas and thoughts for the next sequal novel, if there was to be another. What do you think? Is there any ideas that have not already been covered in the I, Robot series?
Yes, comparing Ender’s Game and I, Robot probably isn’t fair, but I’m glad you enjoyed them both. I have not read any of the other robot collections or novels by Asimov. I plan on picking up Robot Dreams at some point, which is a collection that includes many of the I, Robot stories and other of his robot short stories. Because of this I have no idea if there are any ideas that weren’t explored in Asimov’s complete robot series. I’m sure he could not have anticipated everything, but who knows.
As far as reading challenges, I assume you are talking about science fiction? Right now the only ones I know about are the 42 Challenge:
http://42sciencefictionchallenge.blogspot.com/
and the Its the End of the World Challenge:
http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2009/03/its-end-of-world-ii-challenge-sign-up.html
Hope this helps.
I too found the movie to be much more enjoyable. It was easier for me to get into one central story rather than 9 similar ones closely related. Watching the movie before the book probably didn’t help matters much either. I did find, however, the book and the movie were more alike than most people give them credit.
I just learned about this book and its author… is he the reason why the Honda robot is named Asimov?
Mark David: That would be it! These are some great short stories, and I love his original Foundation trilogy as well: Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation.
I too love the cover art on those 50s Sci Fi books. I’ve got an old copy of The Solor Invasion with cover art by Frazetta. I’m guessing the art on your copy of I Robot depicts Speedy carrying Powell to safety on the planet Mercury.
That’s Dr. Susan CALVIN, not Dr. Susan “Carver.”
Don: Thanks for pointing that out. I have no idea why I typed it ‘Carver’ when I wrote the review, but obviously once it stuck in my brain I kept at it. I’ve went and changed everything. It is odd how the mind works. I reread this recently and still didn’t catch the mistake. 🙂