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wandering_not_lost's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
I've never read any Asimov before, and this was a quick and enjoyable intro that's inspired me to read the other Robots books.
I was kind of pleasantly surprised with how interesting the stories were, considering how well-known the Robotic Laws now are and how much other robot meta has happened since. Though the stories a lot focus on philosophical issues that are generated by the Laws or are about the place of artificial intelligence in society, they felt familiar but never stale or predictable. I think some of the stories feel a little fantastical (where I wasn't entirely convinced that everything followed from the worldbuolding), but they move quickly and are enjoyable.
I also couldn't unsee the sexist undertones that I know are just par for the course in anything this old. There's a dearth of women side characters and where they show up they are just someone's wife or daughter, often fickle, manipulative, cruel, overly emotional, and at the mercy of their husband's or father's decisions. The main character of Dr. Calvin is an exception, but she is largely depicted as unfeminine and cold, with a diversion into her being humiliated the one time she takes a feminine role. So, never fun to see, but not generally egregious enough to really dent my enjoyment.
I was kind of pleasantly surprised with how interesting the stories were, considering how well-known the Robotic Laws now are and how much other robot meta has happened since. Though the stories a lot focus on philosophical issues that are generated by the Laws or are about the place of artificial intelligence in society, they felt familiar but never stale or predictable. I think some of the stories feel a little fantastical (where I wasn't entirely convinced that everything followed from the worldbuolding), but they move quickly and are enjoyable.
I also couldn't unsee the sexist undertones that I know are just par for the course in anything this old. There's a dearth of women side characters and where they show up they are just someone's wife or daughter, often fickle, manipulative, cruel, overly emotional, and at the mercy of their husband's or father's decisions. The main character of Dr. Calvin is an exception, but she is largely depicted as unfeminine and cold, with a diversion into her being humiliated the one time she takes a feminine role. So, never fun to see, but not generally egregious enough to really dent my enjoyment.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism
sams_tower's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I, Robot has been on my bucket list for a while now and finally got round to reading it. It was different to what I expected, very dialogue-heavy and the language is definitely outdated (as expected for a book from the mid 1900s). Sadly, I had very little connection with the characters but the topics explored did feed the imagination, trying to problem solve what’s gone wrong with the robots in each chapter. I’m glad to have read it, but probably won’t explore the other titles in the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
dandaloriian's review
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Sexism, Misogyny, and Racism
civail's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism and Sexism
Repeated and frequent use of ableist slurshieldbearer's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Definitely enjoyed this more than Pebble in the Sky. Loses points for flubbing the doctor's characterization during the Herbie incident- justice for herbie!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Sexism
Minor: Death and Medical content
mar's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
god i love robots
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism and Sexism
lanternhillbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism
jackfoxora's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism
scruffie's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Nice one. Though it felt slow-paced overall to me, each story in it individually felt middle-paced. I can see several ways in which this book has influenced modern sci-fi I grew up to love, so I couldn't give it less than 4 stars, for sure. However, beware that there is sexism and in general sexist tropes in it—perhaps not as much as I've seen in other books written in the same time period, but still.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
mikki_9's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Meh. I don't seem to care much for Isaac Asimov's writing. It was more interesting than Foundation, but still plenty of weird/problematic things.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Colonisation, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Slavery
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