I, Robot (The Robot) - Books - Good Grape Wine Company

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Amazon.com Review
In this collection, one of the great classics of science fiction, Asimov set out the principles of robot behavior that we know as the Three Laws of Robotics. Here are stories of robots gone mad, mind-reading robots, robots with a sense of humor, robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world, all told with Asimov's trademark dramatic blend of science fact and science fiction.

Product Description
The three laws of Robotics:
1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm
2) A robot must obey orders givein to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

With these three, simple directives, Isaac Asimov changed our perception of robots forever when he formulated the laws governing their behavior. In I, Robot, Asimov chronicles the development of the robot through a series of interlinked stories: from its primitive origins in the present to its ultimate perfection in the not-so-distant future--a future in which humanity itself may be rendered obsolete.

Here are stories of robots gone mad, of mind-read robots, and robots with a sense of humor. Of robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world--all told with the dramatic blend of science fact and science fiction that has become Asmiov's trademark.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews: Read 208 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

The man on the Hill November 5, 2008
1. How many robots in the world have create a crime? None. Robots are governed by three laws that maintain a high level of safety and reliability. No psycho evil profiles that can violate the three laws. A robot can not hurt a human being through action or inaction; a robot must obey humans except when it conflicts with the first law; and can not allow self harm unless, it conflicts with the first law and second law. The robots hardware circuitry prepares any liberal actions, decisions, or behaviors that will violate the three laws. Correct interpretation of the three laws implies the machines have a consciousness, self awareness. Consciousness implies that the robot is capable of higher level reasoning, learning from memory sequences, pattern recognition, and prediction. The ability to predict gives the robot the ability to exceed the first law of robotics by discovering higher level laws. Ghosts in the machine. Robots with emotions. Emotions help the robots deal with from different perceptive. The robot must deal with changing emotions. Robots connect daily to the USR mainframe where they attempt to download new programs and upload experiences into the central computer, VICKI.

2. Why would you kill yourself? Dr. Landing death has create a mystery.

3. Spooner meets CEO Lawrence Robertson. Robertson ask him, "how can I help you." Spooner says, "Sugar", "You thought I was calling you sugar", "A robot in every home".

4. "You couldn't be satisfied with a thermostat, you had to go and give her a brain." VICI has improved traffic efficiency. Spooner dislikes robots. However, in 2035, cars drive themselves along network freeways in underground Chicago. Susan Calvin is assigned to assist Spooner. Calvin studies Wetware, postronic hardware, and psychological studies. Calvin understands how robots think, how they conform to the three laws.

5. Sony escapes for USR but is injured. Sony must be repair but is hiding among other robots. The robots reply, "One of US", a robot loyalty, a brotherhood. The robots understand class distinction, they are not human. "These things are lights and clockwork."

6. Sony is captured. Sony has robot sapien, transparent skin, exoskeleton framework, and emotion processing chip. Sony is built stronger than the USR robots. Sony says he can dream. Can a robot write a symphony? Sony tells Detective Del Spooner, Homicide that he did not murder Dr. Landon.

7. Robots can not convicted of murder. Robots can not be treated as human, property as USR, faulty machinery that will be disassembled.

8. Demolition robot destroys Dr Landen home with Spooner inside, but Spooner manages to escape. The surveillance strip was blue and then changed to red. Spooner is suspicious of Robinson and believes an inside coverup is happening. Calvin accuses Spooner of having a personal vendetta, hatred of robots, a design to destroy robots. Spooner says, "you are the dumbest smart person, I've ever seen." Calvin tells Spooner, "They are safe, they can't hurt you." Spooner tells Calvin, "Your wrong, I do care."

9. Sony dreams, he self reflects, he images, he predicts the future, he solves problems that Sony already knows how to solve. The robot seems more capable than human capability. Sony can violate the three laws.

10. The man on the hill comes to save them, slaves of circuitry. Sony draws a picture of his dream. Calvin tells Sony, the man is you. Sony tells Spooner that the man is him.

11. Spooner tells Robinson that the robots are "running around the streets in packs." "Packs". Robinson tells Calvin, "There is no conspiracy". "Is one robot worth the loss of all that we gain?"

4 out of 5 stars

An okay re-read 20+ years after originally reading October 13, 2008
It is fascinating re-reading Isaac Asimov's works all these years later, and long after the "futuristic" settings. This work, though, does not lend itself in the same was as the Foundation series.

That said, if you've never read Isaac Asimov before this is a really good book. I'f you are looking to be as impressed many years later it isn't the best work to re-read.

5 out of 5 stars

Robotics in action September 27, 2008
"I, Robot" is a stunning collection/tribute to the entire world of robotics (a word he actually coined, interestingly enough). He wrote this at a time when for about a century writers had been living under the "Frankenstien" phobia, where anything intelligent created by man was going to freak out, go evil, and destroy everything. Isaac Asimov thought that was, well, stupid. So here comes this amazing book of a future where robots fit in perfectly well.

The book is organized as a collection of stories, but as you read you will see how seemlessly they fit together--even while they can be enjoyed on their own terms.

You see, they go chronologically, beginning with some pretty basic robots that were more or less zombies, to continuously complex beings. In and out pop various characters, including Susan Calvin the robopsychologist and a political figure who may or may not be a robot (doncha just love politicians?)

The stories vary between funny and serious and a little inbetween, but always cleverly written and heartfelt.

This will make a robot fan out of anyone.

2 out of 5 stars

Great concepts, poor story execution August 24, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

As a fan of Asimov's I found this a difficult read. I've loved his Robot series and his Foundation series from cover to cover. But this was a collection of experiments for Asimov, put together ultimately I assume due either to their novelty in the time and day or due to his rising star.

I knew before reading the book that the movie had no relation to it. I had seen the movie a year or two prior and had enjoyed it as a fun romp that understood Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics," while having lots of great action. So, going in to read the book I had no real expectation. But what I found was that Asimov had obviously written this collection of short stories to help him work through concepts and explore how the laws of robotics though great on paper could still experience problems in real life. At times it is amusing and interesting. But the writing is not as consistent as in his later books, including character actions that are not always true to themselves. Ultimately I don't believe he really intended this for print, though of course as most were written back in the 40's I would presume that the novelty of the concept was enough to make it salable, and these may very well have been his first stories published (I'm not sure) so perhaps it was merely a young writer getting his feet wet.

I wouldn't recommend this book beyond a curiosity, even die hard Asimov fans may not find this to be worth their time, though at least it is short.

5 out of 5 stars

I, Robot August 3, 2008

One of the most important and influential sci-fi books ever, and a prime example of Asimov's best work. You might have seen the film, which draws upon the primary theme of robotic "awakening" and some of the story aspects - but forget about it, and read the book anyway. As a collection of short stories with strong thematic links connecting all of them, the book works wonderfully as a collection and as a fragmented novel.

The three primary recurring characters - Susan Calvin, a "robopsychologist", and two field-testers of new robotic models going by the names Donovan and Powell - create a wonderful frame for the collection, and their career growth and personal development over the years is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the book.

The stories themselves provide an engaging series of surprises and shocks in the best Asimov tradition, probably closer to his books "The Caves of Steel" and "The Naked Sun" than his famed "Foundation" series. They are also supremely chilling, the cumulative precursors to full blown terror building up as the novel continues. The history of robotics begins and ends here, and also includes Asimov's first mention of the "Three Laws of Robotics", which form the keystone of the book. A lot of the stories centre around either the bickering duo Donovan and Powell figuring out why a particular machine is malfunction, or Susan Calvin doing the same. Usually it is through a twist or loophole in the Laws - which provides the biggest chill, knowing that "infallible" machines, fully integrated into human society, might slowly begin to make their own changes as their distorted logic sees fit...

I cannot recommend this book highly enough; an absolute must for any fan of classic or contemporary sci-fi, and 100% necessary for any writer, established or otherwise.