I, Robot (1950)

This classical series of short stories needs to be appreciated in context. The earliest stories were written in the 1940s, when Asimov was very, very young. His ideas about robots and their relationship to humans shaped the thinking of his generation - and generations to follow.
For the most part, each story presents a predicament having to do with the Three Laws of Robotics: A robot musn't harm a human or allow a human to be harmed; must obey humans; and they must protect their own existence. These laws come into conflict with one another, especially as the robots become smarter and more powerful than their human overlords.The stories build on one another, strung together by an interview with the "famous" robopsychologist, Susan Calvin. Several other characters reappear in related stories. The final story, "The Inevitable Conflict" is a disappointing, political argument.
Although a prolific writer with endless knowledge and brilliant ideas, Asimov's writing style is not particularly artistic.
Recommended for any serious science fiction fan. The reading level is suitable to 7th graders with very strong reading skills. ( )

Before going into this book of short stories I happened to see a reviewing stating that the stories in this collection don't work together. One doesn't play off the other. There's no connection between them, and because they're short there is no time for the reader to feel emotion - regardless of what form that emotion takes on.

This isn't true. Susan Calvin is the link between each story. As if the man interviewing her. Each story plays perfectly off the other. So much so that you will not get the full experience of the collection if you read them out of order.

This is the first collection in a very large series.

This collection serves to introduce you - primarily - to the three laws of robotics. You also see how robot-phobia blossomed. How it forced the makers of the robots to improvise and adapt. You learn how, through robots, we were able to travel into the stars. To reach new heights. It's an excellent collection and the perfect way in which to launch the series.

My favorite of the bunch was LIAR. The law of robotics and the difficulties developed from them for robot and human alike is on full display. It's really very powerful.

My second favorite was ROBBIE. Here you see the potential for human/robot relations but how robot-phobia ruins any chance of it blossoming into something real. It's an excellent glimpse into how humans fear what they don't understand ( )

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A prolific writer of more than 500 books, Isaac Asimov was undoubtedly a master of science fiction. His Robot series continues to be as relevant today as it was when the first books were published over 70 years ago.

I, Robot, the first in the series (by chronological narrative) is a collection of 9 short stories published between 1940 and 1950 in the American science function magazines Super Science Stories and Astounding Science Fiction. The novel is a fixup of these short stories, framed from the perspective of Dr. Susan Calvin, Chief Robopsychologist of U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men.

I, Robot introduced Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics: a set of rules that dictate what a robot can do and how it must behave. The Three Laws heavily influenced robotics in science function and popular culture, with Asimov believing they helped to foster stories of “lovable” Robots, often citing Star Wars as an example.

The short stories in I, Robot can be read separately, but the central theme examines how robots might behave when the Three Laws are modified, ambiguously interpreted, or a contradiction occurs. Have you ever wondered how a robot might behave if it was ordered to “get lost” and obeys it literally? (I hadn’t either, but I think about it a lot now). Situations like these make for fascinating logic puzzles that can be solved by understanding robopsychology and the Three Laws. In the case of the Little Lost Robot, Asimov’s characters must use increasingly sophisticated (and dangerous) experiments to locate Nestor, the all-too-literal robot with a modified First Law, who is hiding in a room with 62 other identical robots.

As humanity struggles with ethics and morality in the age of Artificial Intelligence, ever-listening voice assistants and driverless vehicles, the lessons in I, Robot are more relevant than ever. It is a must-read for fans of science fiction and those curious about the challenges we might face as we entrust more responsibility to artificial intelligence.

Do not let the visually stunning, but otherwise flawed 2004 Hollywood action film of the same name dissuade you from reading the novel — they share little other than a basis in the Three Laws. ( )

A classic in science-fiction literature. Loved it! ( )