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The Humanoid Touch
 
 
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The Humanoid Touch (Mass Market Paperback)

by Jack Williamson (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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2 new from CDN$ 48.82 5 used from CDN$ 4.29

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4.0 out of 5 stars Slightly Untouched, Mar 15 2004
By jrmspnc (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
Jack Williamson deserves to be remembered among the all-time science fiction greats. With The Humanoid Touch, he revives the humanoids - robots whose Prime Directive is to protect Man from harm. The Humanoids debuted in "With Folded Hands" in the late 1940s (which I've read) and in the novel The Humanoids (which I've not). In The Humanoid Touch, a last bastion of humanity tries to hide from or fight against the inevitable humanoid advance.

Williamson's humanoids are provocative in every sense. What happens when robots become too perfect, no matter how "benevolent" their intentions? There is a latent horror throughout the book as the characters realize the humanoids are near. Williamson succeeds in creating the aura of fear that Saberhagen hints at with his Berserkers, or Star Trek with the Borg. Williamson's humanoids, however, are far more terrifying than either - who would have thought the words "At your service" could induce such spine-tingling horror?

The human characters more or less get in the way of the true protagonists, and here is where Williamson's skills perhaps aren't quite up to snuff. The interaction and personal relationships between characters is not much more advanced than in his 1930s pulp sci-fi Legion series (a nevertheless fine read). And the ending doesn't sit right; it's on the one hand too pat, and on the other too troubling - I can't say more without divulging spoilers.

All in all, however, this one ranks as a must read by all science fiction fans. The humanoids are among sci-fi's greatest creations, easily the equal of Dune's Fremen or Asimov's psychohistory. If you thought the Borg were creepy, you haven't seen anything until you've seen the humanoids.

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