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I, Robot

I, Robot

List Price: $7.99
Your Price: $7.19
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Classic is always a Classic
Review: It's truely amazing how Asimov put together a world in the future that discribes a history on the evolution of robots. His ability to give such robots "life" is unmatched and will probably remain so.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Overrated
Review: This book was highly overrated. When Asimov finally got to the good stuff I was in the final chapter or 2. You can tell that this book was written long ago with it's description of large and geared robots and the un-robot/AI way in which they interact with humans. As I mentioned the best short stories in this collection occur at the end when Asimov experiments with the idea of Robots secretly controlling society. Read this book only if you want to say you have read it, otherwise move on.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Substance over style.
Review: This is one of the foundational works of science fiction and a must-read, to be sure. My only problem with Asimov's work is that his prose-style is so dry, it doesn't pull you along. I've heard that, because Asimov was so prolific, he only did one rewrite from his first draft...it shows.

By the way, his humorous debunking of Descartes doesn't really hold up. The robots are relying on logic AND sense perception to come to their conclusions.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best in Show
Review: This is the most phenomenal sci-fi book I have ever read. I am a great fan of logic and Asimov does not disappoint. He expands the realms of thinking but stays within his own three laws of robotics, to create the greatest collection of stories ever written.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fresh, clear, fun.
Review: It is interesting how the great science fiction writers help mold the future even as they write about it. In, I, Robot, Assimov gives us a collection of interesting tales about humanoid robots in the future. Robots that look like people, are mobile, and perform a variety of jobs. Today, we still don't have robots of this level, but many people seem to be working towards it.

What would we do, what should we do, if such robots are ever created? Unlike many writers, Assimov sees the great potentinal for mankind, if these robots are created. Robots, like anything else, are tools. If you properly design them, we don't need to fear the future, we can look forward to it with great glee. So, as compared to movies like the "Terminator", I, Robot is really a very nice, optomistic view of the future.

Still, there are problems. In particular, I, Robot, talks about the three laws of robotics. Robots shall not harm humans. Robots shall obey humans, unless it harms them. Robots shall protect themselves from harm, unless it harms humans or means disobeying them.

From these three simple rules, Assimov has created quite a few beautiful, and compelling, stories. Each story is first a work of logic as Assimov explores the limits of logic with each tale. Each story is, in their own way, a bit of a detective story too. The reader has a chance to solve each mystery, if he or she takes the time to think, which is the best reason to read them.

Assimov never takes the easy way out. Every story here is easy to read, clear, and very fun. I, Robot, is the same quality as the first three Foundation Stories. Eventually, unfortunately, Assimov combined these two story lines. If you read I, Robot here, in its "pure" form, you will be amazed by this book's strength. It is as good as science fiction writing can be. Enjoy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I, Robot
Review: This was a wonderful book that explored the possible outcome of the world if our exploration of science and robots persists as wondefully as it has.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Laws of Robotics in Asimov's earliest robot stories
Review: If you've read a lot of Asimov's science fiction involving robots, you know about the Three Laws of Robotics. The three laws were one of Asimov's lasting contributions to science fiction lore: to negate the "Frankenstein Complex" or the creation destroying the creator, Asimov created laws that were hardwired into the positronic robot brain (I guess now we'd say they were in firmware) Without the laws in firmware, you just couldn't build a positronic brain. Kind of like trying to build a PC without a chipset and CPU.

These short stories, originally written for 50's pulp sci-fi mags were the basis for the Laws that later were central to many of Asimov's other science fiction works. Some of the most famous works were the Robot novels starting with Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun and Robots of Dawn.

Asimov introduces us to Susan Calvin, one of his most interesting characters and even humanizes the iron lady of robotics in "Liar!", one of the best stories in the book. Just how far must the First Law go? (no robot can harm a human or through inaction, allow a human to come to harm) Liar is an interesting exploration of the little white lie.

This was the book that hooked me on science fiction when I was growing up, and it is a true classic. It's a good book to read before plunging into the robot novels and Foundation.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The original is still the best
Review: What can really be said about Dr. Asimov? Any person who can write such gripping SF, as well as mysteries, non-fiction, and textbooks, is to be acknowledged as a true master, as was Isaac Asimov. This collection of his first robot stories, which paved the way for the Robot series, are essential to anyone intending to read that series. Each story is a small mystery unto itself, with the humans tasked with characterizing the errant bahavior(s) of certain robots, which may or may not be obeying Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics (Robotics, by the way, being a term coined BY Asimov himself), delving into the very nature of Robots to determine the errors. Thus is the reader educated on the foundation of Robotics in Asimov's Universe. Each story is very clever, and showcased Asimov's wit and talent in the genre. It is really tough to find good competition for a work of this caliber.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: More than short stories, an essay
Review: An essay on human psychology facing new technologies. Asimav wrote these short stories many decades ago but it has lost none of its pertinence and modernity.

If real humanoid intelligent robot servants were for sale, would you want one in your home? Probably not, contends Asimov. Fear of the unknown, specially if it takes a humanoid form will "freak" us into seeing these as potential competitors. But, would that fear be legitimate? Asimov imagine a world were robotics breaktrough allows the fabrication of "positronic brain" in wich three fundamental laws can be imprinted.

The first and most fundamental one is:"A robot cannot harm a human or stay passive while a human is in danger". The second law is "A robot must obey all orders coming from a human unless it conflicts with the first law". The third law is "A robot will protects its own existence unless this conflicts with one of the first two laws".

Seems airtight? Asimov spent the rest of is life showing how things could still go wrong...

This first group of short stories are worth reading if only because it is a classical milestone in the 20th century history of sci-fi. But these are also smartly writen, fun, very credible and stimulating. Any serious sci-fi reader cannot pretend knowledge of the genre without having read it. For beginners, it is a great way to get acquainted with sci-fi.A must!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Buy the paperback
Review: Please do not be fooled by this book's being a hardback. If you think you will be buying an upgraded edition, you will be disappointed. It has a low-quality binding that is basically the same as a paperback but with a rigid cover.

As for content, it is the foundation for a lot of science fiction. The writing may seem dated, but this is an old book. The most important aspect of this book is the development of the laws governing robots. I think it is interesting for historical perspective.


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