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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked this book, but more because of its position in literature than because of the actual book. The characters didn't really speak to me, but it was amazing to read the first time the word 'robot' got mentioned, and how Capek envisioned this. It got all the classics of a robot tale: robot uprising, love interests, men who want money, women who want freedom for the robots. The end wasn't as dark as I'm used to with robot stories, and I actually like that: it's good to know that the very first robots didn't end in a disaster. To quote Jurassic Park: life always finds a way.
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
It's interesting how this book is still relevant today. Makes you really think.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
reviews.metaphorosis.com
3 stars
Helena, daughter of an industrialist, meets Harry, the manager of Rossum's Unversal Robots (which might better be translated as Rezin's Universal Robots). He tells her all the secrets of robot production, and they grow close. Eventually, the robot situation turns sour.
I think I first heard of RUR from Isaac Asimov's story notes in The Early Asimov. I thought it of historical interest, but for some reason never bothered to try to find the play itself in school libraries. Several decades, I've finally made up for it.
I found the play much more successful than I expected. The characterization is shallow, the attitudes dated, and the motivations extremely thin. But the tone of the piece is largely light, and it's easy reading. None of the ideas it raises are new to today's SF readers, but they remain intriguing. Čapek explores themes from economics to hubris to love, and while he drops many aspects unexamined, the play is still a quick, thoughtful spin through some of the key points.
All in all, a surprisingly fun read, and worth checking out for its historical value.
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
tense
fast-paced