Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
great exploration of a possible future and really interesting what people from 50 years ago predicted the future to be, loved the emotional aspects as well (robbie, herbie)
adventurous
reflective
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:
No
I liked all the short stories and the solutions that are presented for the problems that the characters face.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I, Robot is a science fiction novel by the American writer Isaac Asimov, published in 1950. It is a compilation of nine loosely linked short stories, with a framing story to tie them together. Ray Bradbury was also to follow this technique a year later with “The Illustrated Man” in 1951, using mostly stories which had appeared in niche magazines. Isaac Asimov’s stories in I, Robot had all originally appeared in the American magazines “Astounding Science Fiction” and “Super Science Stories” between 1940 and 1950, before he then reassembled them, writing connecting passages, to present this first collection of robot stories. The word “robot” had first been introduced to the public by the Czech writer Karel Čapek, in his 1920 play “R.U.R.” (Rossum’s Universal Robots).
The frame story of I, Robot features Dr. Susan Calvin, the chief “robopsychologist” at ���U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Incorporated”, who are the major manufacturer of robots. It is the 21st century, and Dr. Susan Calvin is now in her 70s, and reminiscing about her experiences for an interview about her life’s work. The narrator is the young reporter who listens and prompts, as Dr. Calvin tells each story. The stories are presented roughly in chronological order, with brief linking comments by her and the interviewer. They are chiefly concerned with various types of atypical and aberrant behaviour of robots, where Dr. Calvin and others use “robopsychology” to work out what is happening in their “positronic brain”.
The idea of a “positronic brain” is an invention by Isaac Asimov himself. It functions as a central processing unit (CPU) for robots, and in some unspecified way, provides them with a form of consciousness recognisable to humans.
The frame story of I, Robot features Dr. Susan Calvin, the chief “robopsychologist” at ���U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Incorporated”, who are the major manufacturer of robots. It is the 21st century, and Dr. Susan Calvin is now in her 70s, and reminiscing about her experiences for an interview about her life’s work. The narrator is the young reporter who listens and prompts, as Dr. Calvin tells each story. The stories are presented roughly in chronological order, with brief linking comments by her and the interviewer. They are chiefly concerned with various types of atypical and aberrant behaviour of robots, where Dr. Calvin and others use “robopsychology” to work out what is happening in their “positronic brain”.
The idea of a “positronic brain” is an invention by Isaac Asimov himself. It functions as a central processing unit (CPU) for robots, and in some unspecified way, provides them with a form of consciousness recognisable to humans.
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The last 25% were more interesting to me, otherwise it was a bit let down. It is not bad. I was expecting more ethical or philosophical take on the subject but it was more "how robots can create loopholes with this one rule". Some of the more scifi elements were a bit odd like "mind reading" and it never got explained but that kind of tech would have been absolutely abused by humans, even without the robots.
Also it was never talked about how humans could modify the first rule (like in one of the stories) so what stops robots doing it themselves? (The lawyer/politician for example since the rules seemed to be proof its/their nature, and that robot was sophisticated and theoretically would have help from the "mentor" to do it.) Also, it could have raised the question if the robots could live without the rules or if they want to even take those away. If free will is possible for them etc and do they want it even.
I appreciate the fact that this was first published in 1950 so in that context it is fine, but after Asimov's Foundation I expected something more of this and that's on me.
Also it was never talked about how humans could modify the first rule (like in one of the stories) so what stops robots doing it themselves? (The lawyer/politician for example since the rules seemed to be proof its/their nature, and that robot was sophisticated and theoretically would have help from the "mentor" to do it.) Also, it could have raised the question if the robots could live without the rules or if they want to even take those away. If free will is possible for them etc and do they want it even.
I appreciate the fact that this was first published in 1950 so in that context it is fine, but after Asimov's Foundation I expected something more of this and that's on me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.8/5
Enjoyable short stories, with interesting premises and philosophical questions, each one getting better as the book progressed.
Feels like a very interesting basis for a sci Fi setting, but being only short stories isn't enough to fully get immersed in it.
Enjoyable short stories, with interesting premises and philosophical questions, each one getting better as the book progressed.
Feels like a very interesting basis for a sci Fi setting, but being only short stories isn't enough to fully get immersed in it.
This book was a great world-building book. I liked the separate stories that were all related to tell the rise and use of robots in the "future" (I put that in quotations because this future does not seem so distant now). Witty and interesting characters, this novel was a great start to the series and makes me want to continue.