John Sladek (1937–2000)

Before Bender “Bending Bot” Rodriquez there was Tik-Tok—a sophisticated robot who went on a murderous and violent crime spree that no one believed and went on to be the first nominated robot Vice-President.

The story of Tik-Tok is an amusing one. Throughout the book, his story interchanges between his past and the colourful people he is passed onto service for and his present, which usually involves him plotting his next crime or his next step in bringing equality to all robot in America.

A satirical comedy, Tik-Toks journey is an exploration of America which still feels relevant on a political level today. In fact it is the political satire which holds up the strongest with more relevance than ever in what often feels like an increasingly corrupt system no matter which way you turn.

Whilst the rest of the social satire doesn’t hold up as well as it did half a century ago, Tik-Tok’s exploits are amusing and it’s easy to find yourself rooting for him even as he heinously experiments with crimes such as arson, fraud, hijacking, jewel heists, violent chess games and more often than not—varied forms of murder.

What elevates Tik-Tok’s story is that is never explicit what his motivations are and when exactly he broke his “Asimov circuits” which previously prevented him commiting these acts—most of which no one believes because it is unheard of for a robot to do such things, leading to the framing of an unfortunate soul instead. Is Tik-Tok doing this because he wants to feel “real”? Or perhaps to further his cause for bringing rights to robots having rescued so many from dereliction. Or perhaps it’s just because he can. Whatever Tik-Tok’s motivations, it’s hard not to root for him no matter how low he stoops simply because he is somehow fundamentally likeable, whilst those around him seem to deserve it.

As a piece of social satire, some of its power has of course diminished in time, but this is still an entertaining read with some thought provoking moments. Sladek is clearly using it as platform for some deeper social beliefs, but at its heart has also created one of the finest anti-heroes in literature.… (mais)

"Un robot no dañará a un ser humano, ni por inacción permitirá que un ser humano sufra daño". Esa es la célebre Primera Ley de la Robótica de Asimov. Y en pleno siglo XXI, todos los robots domésticos están programados según esa Ley.
Pero algo salió terriblemente mal con los "circuitos Asimov" de Tik-Tok, y se propone herir a tantas personas como sea posible, preferiblemente fatalmente, mientras mantiene el exterior de un artista afable y un sincero activista por los derechos de los robots. Entonces, como cualquier ladrón y asesino que se precie, ingresa a la política y se convierte en el primer robot candidato a vicepresidente de los Estados Unidos.
Tik-Tok sigue su progreso maníaco desde sus humildes comienzos hasta la cima del montón, o casi. Porque en su astucia tortuosa, había un elemento que Tik-Tok había olvidado...… (mais)