I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

1. I, Robotby Isaac Asimov Making Connections

2. I, Robot “Introduction” Introduces frame story of the novel – connective tissue Originally just separately published short stories Asimov cobbled them together – 1950 • Uses structure of reporter interviewing Dr. Susan Calvin (b. 1982) of U.S. Robots • The “human interest” of robots • Calvin has seen the whole development & history of robots • Frame story ties individual stories together, fills gaps, sets up next story • Issue: quote, p. xiv

3. “Robbie” (Ch. 1)—Summary • Robbie—nursemaid robot, made & sold 1996 • Gloria—his kid; only child of George & Mrs. Weston • Robbie’s appearance: • Head—parallelepiped (=having six faces/sides) with rounded edges • Torso—larger parallelepiped on “short, flexible stalk;” body emits ticking sound; 70-degree skin • Thin metal film over red glowing eyes; no speech • Robbie referred to as having feelings and emotions: “hurt at the unjust accusation” (4); “not to be won over so easily” (4); “Hard-hearted Robbie” (4); “source of uneasiness to Robbie” (6); “impulse to sneak away” (6); “with a disconsolate step” (7)

4. “Robbie” (Ch. 1) • Novum: a nursemaid robot, circa 1996, named Robbie; his task is to protect and play with Gloria; he cannot speak; he has human-like feelings, programmed to be social • Relationship: Children are innocent, unbiased; strong bond between robot & child; see robot as person, not machine. Adults, great suspicion & distrust of the robots—“no soul,” “no one knows what it may be thinking,” “something might go wrong” (9). • What humans learn about robotics: First Law of Robotics—robots programmed with inability to harm a human (9); robots can be self-aware (“Talking Robot” in museum, p. 22); robots can save lives (25-7) • What reader learns about humans: Humans distrustful of machines, even when machines more reliable than humans, and even when distrust illogical. Humans will hurt other humans because of distrust of robots. Humans bonds run deep. Human fears “stupid” (28). • How it connects to the rest of the book: Meet teenaged Susan Calvin in museum (21-2); early robots could not speak; robots with emotions(?); robots only used on Earth for science; extraterrestrial market developed