The classic collection of robot stories from the master of the genre. One of the Voyager Classics collection, now I, Robot is a major Fox movie starring Will Smith. In these stories Isaac Asimov creates the Three Laws of Robotics and ushers in the Robot Age. When Earth is ruled by master-machines, when robots often seem more human than mankind, the Three Laws ensure that humans remain superior and the robots are kept in their rightful place. But an insane telepathic robot results from a production error; a robot assembled in space logically deduces its superiority to non-rational humanity; and when machines serve mankind rather than individual humans, the machine's idea of what is good for society may itself contravene the sacred Three Laws! Amazing and timeless robot stories from the greatest science fiction writer of all time.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From Amazon
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.
--This text refers to the
Mass Market Paperback
edition.
About the Author
Isaac Asimov was the author of nearly five hundred books. He wrote crime and nonfiction as well as SF. He died in 1992, aged 72 years.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
With all due respect to Michael Ellis's review warning people that the book in not like the movie, a noble gesture, no doubt meant to be helpful, and that they will be disappointed if they buy the book thinking that they will be similar, he has it exactly backwards.
The book was published in 1950, so the movie is not like the book. The movie states that it is "suggested by Isaac Asimov's book" and has some similarities. To learn more about this outstanding book of short stories, see a good Isaac Asimov oriented web site at http://www.asimovonline.com/.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Schtinky
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Re-reading "I, Robot" before the movie comes out was a good idea, I'm glad I did. For me, reading Asimov if often a fond trip down memory lane.
But if you have never read Asimov or looking for somewhere to start, I would highly recommend "I, Robot" as a first glimpse into Asimov's world(s). Here is a wonderful and timeless collection of nine short stories that all center around a central theme; The Three Laws Of Robotics.
The three laws are: 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 given 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.
These laws are the central theme to each individual story, and connecting them is a running "Runaround", "Reason", and "Catch That Rabbit". Always under the direst of circumstances, they must figure out the malfunction of the robot before something terrible happens. Very entertaining stories.
Some of the other stories are about Dr. Calvin's personal experiences, such as "Liar" and "Little Lost Robot", but all fall back onto the laws as their basic theme, and whether or not humans will ever accept robots among them.
Once finished with "I, Robot", I very highly recommend the "Foundation" series, one of my favorite Asimov themes, along with the Robot Trilogy and another favorite, "Nightfall". Asimov has the gift of creating lively, likeable characters with a technical backdrop to his all-to-human stories, and always infuses a bit of humor into them.
Truly one of the great masters of Sci-Fi, Asimov is a must-read in my opinion, and "I, Robot" is a wonderful starting point.
Enjoy!
By Mark Wakely
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Isaac Asimov was, of course, a mover and shaker not just in the field of science fiction, but as a science educator for the masses. His prodigious output of books and articles was one of the seven wonders of the modern world, yet it's a relatively small number of short stories and novels for which (I predict) he'll be remembered. Stories like "Nightfall," "Bicentennial Man," and of course his robot stories with their "three laws" will still be read and appreciated for years to come. By showing us how the three laws worked (or sometimes didn't) in these stories, he created a practical foundation for the future of robotics, and Carl Capek aside (who wrote one of the first robot stories, RUR, in 1921) Asimov is considered by many as the father of modern robotics. The Japanese in particular seem fascinated with robots and their potential, so it shouldn't be surprising that Honda named their sophisticated humanoid robot Asimo in his honor.
These stories do show the era in which they were written by the language, but the innovative theories behind them and the "why didn't I think of that?" reaction from readers remain.
-Mark Wakely, author of An Audience for Einstein
These stories do show the era in which they were written by the language, but the innovative theories behind them and the "why didn't I think of that?" reaction from readers remain.
-Mark Wakely, author of An Audience for Einstein
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 301 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
What's that I smell? It's the garbage that is I, Robot.
OK, for the life of me, I cannot understand how Asimov has come to be revered as a great of science fiction. Read more
Published on July 19 2004 by "jgk64"
2.0 out of 5 stars
NOT a novel
This is a collection of Asimov short stories written over the ten year period between 1940 & 1950, and then collected together, abridged, and given a thin narrative to tie them... Read more
Published on July 17 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not Supposed to be the movie
The stories in this novel are incredible!! The reviews that try to compare it to the movie must be missing the fact that the movie was created 50 years after the book. Read more
Published on July 16 2004
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Like the Movie
I, Robot is an interesting look at the philosphy and psychology of robots, but it is not really a novel. Read more
Published on July 15 2004 by Michael J. Ellis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic sci-fi by the master...
There are some gaps in my classic sci-fi background, and I filled one of them in today. I finished I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. Read more
Published on July 14 2004 by Thomas Duff
4.0 out of 5 stars
Robot Review
I,Robot by Isaac Asimov is the first book in the Robot Series.
I have found that this book is almost always labeled as a collection of short stories about robots. Read more
Published on July 13 2004 by Jacob Gest
3.0 out of 5 stars
A quick fun read
First off, allow me to issue three caveats. Written over 50 years ago, I, Robot is somewhat dated at times with its archaic technological references. Read more
Published on July 13 2004 by Chris Salzer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read it before you see the movie
I, Robot is actually a group on nine short stories that describe the early history of robots, as developed by the great Isaac Asimov via the guise of an interview with Dr. Read more
Published on July 12 2004 by PGMS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent and fascinating book!
But, then again, how could it not be considering it was written by a genius such as Isaac Asimov (who once confessed he was capable of writing TWO books at the same time!). Read more
Published on July 12 2004 by Kevin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Asimov the philosophical predecessor to the Unabomber?
I am struck that Asimov comes to the exact same point as does Ted Kazinski in his Unabomber's Manifesto. Asimov just says it in a more entertaining way.
Published on July 10 2004 by B. Tuttle
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
