Helpful Score: 2
I am a little disappointed in myself that I hadn't read this book until now (since I have been reading sci-fi for 30 years). On its own it is very well written except for a few pieces of stilted dialogue. The characterization was amazing for a set of short stories and the stories tied together nicely.
As someone with a very analytical mind I loved how each story boiled down to figuring out how the Three Laws were interacting and causing unexpected behavior in the various robots. I really like the concept of robopsychology as a discipline but wonder if it could exist outside of a world with such strong restrictions placed on all robot brains.
The fact that these stories were written between 1940 and 1950 makes them all the more intriguing to me. I am impressed that Asimov wrote about hyperspace travel and elegantly wove it into a story.
If you saw the Will Smith movie of the same title but haven't read the book then do yourself a favor: read the book and pretend the movie had a different title since they have nothing in common but the Three Laws of Robotics. The movie was a simple murder mystery but the book is a rich history of a world that might have been.
As someone with a very analytical mind I loved how each story boiled down to figuring out how the Three Laws were interacting and causing unexpected behavior in the various robots. I really like the concept of robopsychology as a discipline but wonder if it could exist outside of a world with such strong restrictions placed on all robot brains.
The fact that these stories were written between 1940 and 1950 makes them all the more intriguing to me. I am impressed that Asimov wrote about hyperspace travel and elegantly wove it into a story.
If you saw the Will Smith movie of the same title but haven't read the book then do yourself a favor: read the book and pretend the movie had a different title since they have nothing in common but the Three Laws of Robotics. The movie was a simple murder mystery but the book is a rich history of a world that might have been.
Helpful Score: 1
A great read. Totally unlike the movie and better. Sets the themes and philosophies of Asimov's later work.
Helpful Score: 1
Great collection of sci-fi stories!!
Helpful Score: 1
A good book to spent some sunny day reading. Just letting he mind go and enjoy its journey.
Asimov classic!!
One of my favorite tales of all time. Even though this edition has the movie depicted on the cover, it is the unabridged version, the way Asimov wanted it told. I have seen the movie, and it does not hold true to the story much. The tale is much more complex and involved than the brief bit depicted on the big screen. If you have not read this book, I highly recommend you read/listen to it.
Not at all what I'd expected it to be. Don't get me wrong, It was absolutely amazing, but nowhere along the same plot lines as the movie. If you are looking for a book that matches the movie, this isn't the book for you.
I absolutely enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone who loves to read.
I absolutely enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone who loves to read.
Traditional science fiction at its finest. This collection of short stories bears little resemblance to the Will Smith flop.
If you haven't read it, just get the book & do it.
Everyone needs to read this once, even if you're not a fan of sci-fi.
Everyone needs to read this once, even if you're not a fan of sci-fi.
I read this book a couple of years ago before seeing the movie. As is usually the case, the book is much better and more complex than the movie. In fact, the movie is only based on a small fraction of the book. This is a good one, even for people who are not avid science fiction readers.
good novel. Enjoyed it.
You saw the movie? It has nothing, except a few names, to do with the fantastic robot book. Mr Asimov GAVE us all of the robots who followed
Not the movie, but the original stories written by Asimov in the '50s. An interesting hindsight view of what the future was thought to hold. Well written - a sort of history of how robotic "people" developed, and the conflicts that ensued.
These short stories are lightly connected; taken together, they describe the evolution of robots and their evolving place in human society. They are not exciting in terms of adventure, but are best read as a history of robotics as it might have unfolded. Now I want to see the movie.
As always, Issac Asimov is one of the Masters of Science Fiction
Written in 1950, this novel is in the vein of Ray Bradbury, but written much better. Science is still working to fulfill its premise today. His Robot and Foundation series appear to predate and predict Star Wars. So why did it take over 50 years to turn it into a bad movie?
I thought this book was good considering I am not a big scifi fan. I wanted to read the book before the movie and it was much different from the movie.
Muuuuch better than the movie! (This cover does *not* have the Will Smith movie cover). This is the original collection of Asimov stories about robots that lays out the Three Laws of Robotics. A classic!
Nothing like the movie
This is the reissue of the famous Asimov story, now made into a movie. I'm not a big sci-fi reader, so am offering this to someone who is.
Written in 1950, these stories are in the vein of Ray Bradbury, but written much better. Science is still working to fulfill its premise today. His Robot and Foundation series appear to predate and predict Star Wars. So why did it take over 50 years to turn I, Robot into a bad movie?
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.
Dr. Susan Calvin is a 75-year-old Robopsychologyist retiring from U.S. Robots in the year 2057 when she is interviewed by a reporter from the Interplanetary Press. Her interview forms the narrative of this novel, covering her participation in the development of independent, sensible, and rational robots, ruled by the three entrenched laws of robotics, and the many lessons of her career that have led her to contend that robots are more human than people and that they are vital to human survival.
Dr. Susan Calvin is a 75-year-old Robopsychologyist retiring from U.S. Robots in the year 2057 when she is interviewed by a reporter from the Interplanetary Press. Her interview forms the narrative of this novel, covering her participation in the development of independent, sensible, and rational robots, ruled by the three entrenched laws of robotics, and the many lessons of her career that have led her to contend that robots are more human than people and that they are vital to human survival.
This is the first work by Isaac Asimov that I have read. The short stories were fascinating for the most part, and the three rules of robotics was interesting. It is great that the stories included the strong female robopsychologist Dr. Susan Calvin. My favorite story is the first one that is titled "Robbie", and my least favorite story is the last one with the title "The Evitable Conflict". I felt that some parts, particularly within a few sections of dialogue, dragged on a bit too long.
A good book to read if you only have a short time. many veery good stories about robots. I still think of the one about the machines who could find no man to take care of them so they went looking for one.
The name Isaac Asimov says it all. This is a wonderful classic for your collection. I hate to give it up.
Dr. Susan Calvin had seen it all when it came to robots. As a girl she had seen early models-mute and totally faithful. She joined U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men Inc. when they began adapting robots for work in space-and Earth men for the work with the strictly logical robots!
Finally, at the end of her career, she faced the final question: who was really in charge; and who should be?
Finally, at the end of her career, she faced the final question: who was really in charge; and who should be?
I took this off my Dad's hands when he finished it. According to him, it's MUCH better than (and very different from) the movie.
I can't say enough great things about Asimov. Don't let the cover fool you, there's a lot more to the book than the movie.
Here's the sci-fi classic that set the rules for robots. This is a group of short stories.
I liked the format, but I'm not crazy about the philosophy.
Excellent stories about robots... Bender would have been proud!
This is one of the classic of science fiction, This is a great story about a world that lives with Robots as their workers and the three laws of robotics.
Each story in I Robot has the same theme, there is a complication in a robot or a group of robots due to one of the three laws of robotics, but each one is totally unique in it's own write.
They are the best written story's and a must read.
Jewl, TX
Information on Seizure Response/Alert Dogs
http://www.homestead.com/Tagert/MsJewl.html
Each story in I Robot has the same theme, there is a complication in a robot or a group of robots due to one of the three laws of robotics, but each one is totally unique in it's own write.
They are the best written story's and a must read.
Jewl, TX
Information on Seizure Response/Alert Dogs
http://www.homestead.com/Tagert/MsJewl.html
Never read it - was my son's.
This book is the movie version.
