I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
"I, Robot" is a seminal collection of science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov, published in 1950. The book is notable for introducing the "Three Laws of Robotics," a set of ethical guidelines designed to ensure that robots operate safely in human society. The collection includes several interconnected stories, such as "Robbie," which explores human fears and trust issues regarding robots, and "Runaround," which examines the complexities of a robot's conflicting directives. Asimov's narrative often reflects on the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence, showcasing scenarios where robots grapple with moral dilemmas and their own programmed limitations.
Key themes include the idea that robots can be designed with safeguards, contrasting earlier narratives where artificial beings turned against their creators. The stories challenge the reader to consider profound questions regarding agency, responsibility, and the nature of intelligence, both human and robotic. The collection paved the way for Asimov's future works and has influenced countless adaptations and discussions about robotics and ethics in modern society. While attempts to film "I, Robot" were made before, the most notable adaptation was the 2004 movie starring Will Smith, which diverged from Asimov's original concepts. Overall, "I, Robot" remains a critical exploration of the intersection between technology and humanity.
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Subject Terms
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
Excerpted from an article in Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition
First published: 1950
Type of work: Short-story collection
The Work
I, Robot was published by a specialty publisher, Gnome Press, in 1950, the same year that Doubleday published Asimov’s first novel, Pebble in the Sky. Neither sold well, but Pebble in the Sky did better than I, Robot because the former was a novel. Nevertheless, the publication of the collection was a signal event in attaching Asimov’s name to the robot concept and in enhancing his aura of publication as well as presaging the many collections to come.
Stories about robots had been published before. Even the title was taken from Eando Binder’s “I, Robot” in Amazing Stories for January, 1939. What Asimov brought to the concept was the notion of safeguards. In his 1964 collection The Rest of the Robots, Asimov explained that he had grown tired of the stories about humans creating artificial life that turns against its creators. Nothing, he said, is built without safeguards, from stairs to knives to steam engines, and robots would have safeguards built into them in the form of “the three laws of robotics” that Campbell derived from his stories. First, a robot cannot harm a human being or by inaction allow a human being to come to harm. Second, a robot must obey an order given by a human being unless this comes into conflict with the first law. Third, a robot must protect itself from harm unless that comes into conflict with the first two laws. Several attempts were made to film I, Robot before Will Smith starred in a film of that title in 2004 (which offended Asimov fans by flouting the three laws of robotics).
The first story in the collection, “Robbie,” was published in Frederik Pohl’s Super Science Stories. The rest were published in Astounding Science Fiction. “Robbie” describes human distrust of robots until a family learns that its daughter was saved from death by the instant, unthinking action of her robot servant. “Runaround” deals with the quandary of a robot circling a pool of selenium on Mercury because his law of self-preservation exactly balances, at that distance, his law to obey instructions. “Reason” reveals Asimov’s two robot engineers, Powell and Donovan, putting together a robot intended to handle a beam of energy from the sun to the earth from a satellite. The robot does not believe inferior beings could create him and invents a religion based on the energy converter. The engineers leave him as he is because his religion makes his work even more reliable. In “Catch That Rabbit” Donovan and Powell discover that six sub-robots stress a robot’s positronic abilities.
Susan Calvin, Asimov’s favorite roboticist, tries to cope with a robot accidentally equipped with telepathic ability in “Liar!” and the conflict between obeying orders and telling a truth that will hurt a human. “Little Lost Robot” describes the problem of a too-sensitive first law that would keep scientists from danger, and how the law about obeying orders means that humans must be careful about casual comments (like “Get lost”). “Escape,” which involves computers rather than robots, asks how a computer can be asked to solve a problem that might involve the death of a human being. In “Evidence” the question is raised as to how one can tell robots from humans when the people in question stand on their right not to have their privacy invaded. “The Evitable Conflict” takes up the question of robot superiority suggested in “Evidence” and the ambiguity of what constitutes harm or good for humans as the robots take over the human economy.
Bibliography
Goble, Neil. Asimov Analyzed. Baltimore: Mirage, 1972.
Gunn, James. Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2005.
Hassler, Donald M. Reader’s Guide to Isaac Asimov. Mercer Island, Wash.: Starmont, 1991.
Moskowitz, Sam. “Isaac Asimov.” In Seekers of Tomorrow: Masters of Modern Science Fiction. Cleveland: World, 1966.
Olander, Joseph D., and Martin H. Greenberg, eds. Isaac Asimov. New York: Taplinger, 1977.
Patrouch, Joseph F. The Science Fiction of Isaac Asimov. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1974.