I, Robot is a collection of short stories by Isaac Asimov written in the 40s and published as a collection in 1950. These are all stories related to the concept of robotics, and in particular highly advanced and intelligent robots. While the short stories as originally written had no single-story thread, these stories did all exist in a common universe and on occasion characters from one story will show up in one of the other stories, such as robopsychologist Susan Calvin or other less important characters like Powell or Donovan. Moreover, in order to tie them all together when they were published as a collection, Asimov created a frame story that explained all of these stories as memories of Susan Calvin that are being related to an interviewer. Thus, through Susan Calvin's memories we can review the entire history of robotics in Isaac Asimov's universe. This essay will examine I, Robot, analyzing its plot, characters and overall theme.
General Overview
The word robot had been used long before the 1940s, having been used by Karel Capek in his play R.U.R. (Kinyon 384). However, Asimov didn't read the terms "positronic" to describe the robot brain and robotics to describe the field. Asimov based the positron and brain concept on the discovery of particles known as positrons just prior to his writing. Of course, positrons have nothing to do with robotics or electronics, but it was a handy term for Asimov to use. Since then it is been used by a number of other science fiction writers. For instance, in the television show Star Trek the Next Generation, Data's android brain is said to be "positronic" in nature (Short 209). Asimov is perhaps best well-known (both in and out of science fiction circles) for his creation of what he termed The Three Laws of Robotics. Asimov had originally created these three laws in a robot the story he wrote entitled Liar. This short story is actually the fifth story presented in I, Robot.
Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics are the central thread binding the rest of his robot stories together (Anderson 478). The central point of these laws was to ensure that intelligent robots possessing consciousness (that we now are for to as AI) would be unable to kill people. These laws are listed below:
“A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.”
While a cursory glance at these laws may make them seem airtight and reliable, in the stories that Asimov presents us with this is not always the case. Many of Asimov's robotics stories revolved around robots who develop problems because of the sometimes conflicting nature of these laws or because human beings are inept and fallible and are sometimes unclear in their instructions or commands. Asimov does not introduce robot revolutions to his universe. Instead, in these stories, Asimov presents a future in which highly intelligent robots exist side-by-side with ordinary human beings. At the same time Asimov doesn't write utopian stories in which humanity (once it has robots at its beck and call) will enjoy an idyllic and problem free existence. Thus, these sentient robots could be as useful as cars, or they could be just as frustrating or even dangerous.
Asimov himself was the author of almost 500 books. Many of them were science-fiction, but many others were in other genres or nonfiction works. Asimov's science fiction writing is seen as revolutionary because of his ability to convey and popularize science for the average reader. Critics view it as one of the foundations for the development of realism in science fiction literature. His stories in I, Robot are particularly notable because Asimov points out the many benefits of technological advancement. This was an extremely unusual position in the science fiction of the time, which almost invariably portrayed science and technology in a negative light and is a threat to human beings (Freedman 130).
Major Plot Points
In her role as presenter of the nine stories contained in I, Robot, Dr. Calvin examines the robot filled society around her and considers both the benefits of robots and some of the problems that society has faced by creating them. At the very beginning of the book, we are presented with Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, which as mentioned before provide the fundamental rules for any interaction between robots and humans. These laws are in the background of all the stories. For instance, in the first story of the collection, entitled "Robbie," the robot in question is rather simplistic and nonspeaking. It was created to serve as a nursemaid for small child named Gloria who is very fond of Robbie and likes being around him. Even though Gloria's mother is distrustful of Robbie, her father believes that the robot is not only useful but also safe. Near the end of the story, Robbie actually saves Gloria's life because of the requirements of Asimov's Three Laws (Asimov 24).
In another story entitled "Runaround" a robot named Speedy is equipped with a brand-new "positronic" brain and flown to the planet Mercury. Speedy's job there is to search for minerals and mine them. However, at one point Speedy gets contaminated and starts acting in a strange way, such as spouting lines from Gilbert and Sullivan. Two robot repairman named Gregory Powell and Mike Donovan are then forced to deal with the problem caused by a seemingly drunk robot (Asimov 25). We see in "Reason" a robot named Cutie that is operating a solar power station. This robot becomes overly introspective and begins questioning the meaning of its existence. Powell and Donovan both appear in the story as well, where they attempt to convince the robot that they as mere humans had created him. However, Cutie views this as ridiculous, since he cannot believe that inferior human beings could possibly be responsible for his existence (Asimov 65).
The short story "Liar" has the remarkable robot Herbie, who has telepathic abilities. This capability on the part of the robot is presented as a potential threat human control of society and of the robots in particular. The aforementioned Dr. Calvin becomes concerned that robots like Herbie might begin acting on their own and escaping human control (Asimov 110). This theme of independent thinking and action in robots is continued in the story "Little Lost Robot." The story focuses on a particular robot that, while unable to directly harm a human being, was able to allow that human being to come to harm. This seemingly contradicted one of the three laws (Asimov 140). In the story "Escape," an artificial robotic brain has been created that resides in a single room, rather than being housed in a humanoid body). This brain begins to demonstrate a distinct personality and emotions, and begins causing trouble because of this. For instance, as it works on the issue of hyperspace interstellar travel, it concludes that human beings would have to be put in a state of suspended animation, which would in turn cause death, which violates one of three laws (Asimov 151).
In the story "Evidence" a politician named Byerley is running for office but is badly injured in an accident. He decides that the only way to continue running for office is to temporarily replace himself with a robot until he recovers. The robotic version of Byerley proceeds with the campaign and ultimately wins. After this, robotic Byerley also runs for the presidency. However, his opponent suspects what he is and accuses him of actually being a robot rather than a human being. In order to prove that he is a human being rather than a robot, Byerley attacks his opponent. This seems on the surface to prove that he is human because robots cannot violate the three laws and harm a human being (Asimov 192).
Later in a follow-up story, Byerley is running the galactic Federation with the assistance of four robots, but doing so very poorly. President Byerley disturbed by the fact that the robots are making mistakes in regard to economic productivity. He is confused, because he cannot understand how these intelligent, sophisticated and presumably infallible machines can be committing such serious errors. Dr. Calvin determines that it is being caused by their expanded interpretation of one of the laws (Asimov 204).
Principal Themes
In most short story compilations, it can be difficult to determine if there is a principal theme or themes running through the stories. However, in I, Robot, all of the stories relate to Asimov's fascination with humanity's interaction with an ever more technologically advanced world, particularly one in which intelligent robots exist. As a literary technique, Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics are designed to focus on the necessity of moral and ethical choices when it comes to sophisticated technology. At the same time, Asimov presents such technology as providing significant benefits to humanity when used properly. Still, Asimov suggests that we be careful not to allow our technology to get out of control and to act independently. Other themes in the stories include the need to preserve humanities freedoms in a controlled and high-tech environment and a consideration of the pros and cons of a Protestant work ethic as represented in the day-to-day "lives" of some of these robots.
In conclusion, Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics provide an underpinning of morality and realism to his otherwise fantastical stories. He is certainly to be praised for the manner in which he artfully linked together nine independent short stories into a kill him coherent whole. Furthermore, I, Robot represents an entirely different take on the subject of science and technology. Unlike most science-fiction of the time, these stories do not make science itself a threat, merely the occasional misuses of it. In addition to this, Asimov was a master of weaving a story that combines both science fiction and mystery. Many of his best science fiction stories are also detective stories. His portrayals of robots in this work is still acknowledged as revolutionary for its time.
Works Cited
Anderson, Susan Leigh. "Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics" and Machine Metaethics." AI & Society 22.4 (2008): 477-93.
Asimov, Isaac. I, Robot. New York: Bantam Books, 2004. Print.
Freedman, Carl. "Remembering the Future: Science and Positivism from Isaac Asimov to Gregory Benford." Extrapolation (pre-2012) 39.2 (1998): 128-38.
Kinyon, K. (1999). “The Phenomenology of Robots: Confrontations with Death in Karel Čapek's R. U.R.” Science Fiction Studies, 26(3), 379-400.
Short, Sue. “The Measure of a Man?: Asimov's Bicentennial Man, Star Trek's Data, and being Human.” Extrapolation (pre-2012) 44.2 (2003): 209.
