Book: I, Robot

I, Robot
Issac Asimov

This compilation of short stories is still as viable today as it was when originally written in the 1940's and 50's. The short stories revolving around the three laws of robotics, which many science fiction writers refer to when dealing with robotics as a subject, leads the way to many of Asimov's other Robot stories.

The establishing of the 3 Laws and how they can be circumvented by circumstances develops the evolution of the robot from simple automaton to humanoid companion.

Developments in this compilation ripple throughout all of Asimov's later Robot stories and other science fiction stories. They are applied and referred to in film (Alien) and televison (Star Trek: The Next Generation) to this day including the film (I, Robot) starring Will Smith which is more a stop-gap explanation of the space between the short stories and the next novel, which is the actual beginning to the Robot Series as a novel grouping.

Asimov presented his stories to his audience that neither went over the head of readers nor insulted their intelligence. It is solidly written with emotional context as well as being technical savvy. The technology was already in place to the characters, so explanations assume that basic knowledge of operation of technology was a normal occurance, the reader is invited to assume it works without the burden of why and how.

Solidly written and pertinent, even today, this book should be in every avid science fiction reader's library.