Reviews for The complete robot

The average rating for The complete robot based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-03-07 00:00:00 Robert Rob If a topic is so comprehensive, each short story, as in this case, has the potential for a whole Netflix, amazon prime or facebook watch series with a movie and video game. Now the topic of robot rights and ethic will become a real subject to deal with, probably beginning in the most enthusiastic countries in this field, such as Japan and Korea. Yes, other countries build nice robots too, but they have mentalities and beliefs that don´t integrate living things in their mental superstructure. So the first few cases, when a perfect, conscious AI gets transformed into a robot body, maybe the beginning of a whole new societal structure. Many questions will arise. When and how to give them human general rights, voting rights, the right to reproduce. How to deal with humans who still want to work, even if it is not necessary anymore? If it is more expensive for each company and the state to let a slow and error-prone human do the job. What if humans and robots fall in love and want to have kids that are hybrids or cyborgs? With these descendants, the same series of questions as with the robots occurs again. If cold, artificial structures get rights, depending on their intelligence and sentience, what should be done with all the tortured and enslaved animals? That domestic cattle isn´t happy lies on the hand, but what if cats and dogs get technology to express their opinions and have nothing more to say than: "We had to do what you wanted and got Stockholm syndrome or simulated joy cause we had no other option. Free us, we want to build our own state." There are so many options on the table, because each culture, depending on its development level, will deal with it in another way. One always interesting question is: Will they become evil by themselves as we did? As soon as they realize that manipulation and the will and ability to hurt and kill others brings power, will they go our way? I believe yes, cause each intelligent species soon recognized the evolutionary advantage of being a villain. And a mind needs certain freedoms to function so that it can´t be created with so many restrictions to avoid this classic dilemma. But hey, we are potential monsters too, so what else should we expect from the life that we create. Tropes show how literature is made and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:

Review # 2 was written on 2018-04-09 00:00:00 Charles Casey Undoubtedly, Asimov's Robot stories set the standard for science fiction short stories around the literary world. His Three laws of Robotics are celebrated and debated even decades after its inception and his Robot stories are still described as visionary. This anthology collects almost every Robot short stories written by Asimov in his lifetime. Only six Robot short stories are left out, and 31 of his coolest and sharpest stories can be found in this collection, organized by Asimov himself to give the best flow possible. The beauty of Asimov's tales is the verity of themes and unique problems he incorporated in his stories. His Robot stories are not mere tidbits, but it's a warning for humanity to be careful with its invention, yet reminding us that the answers can only be found with the help of science. These stories play with our logic, questions morality, and showcases the unpredictable nature of the undefined. It's tough to pick favorites when it comes to these stories. After much deliberation, these are my top five. Runaround (1941-42): Runaround is the spectacular story which explicitly introduced the three laws of Robotics, the recurring element which became the cornerstone of Robot stories. The story features Asimov's recurring characters, Powell and Donovon who are working on Planet Mercury when a Robot starts acting weird. The smartness of this problem presented by Asimov in the tale and the final solution is why I love this story. Reason (1941): Another Powell and Donovon story, set on a space station. This story follows a Robot who does not believe he was created by humans because the Robots are much superior to its creator. This spectacular premise and excellent execution make it one helluva story. Galley Slave (1957): I love courtroom dramas! This one features a case where a human accuses Robot of wrongdoing. Also features brilliant Susan Calvin, another Asimov's recurring character. Mirror Image (1972): This story reunites the reader with Daniel R and officer Elijah Baley from Robot novels. It tells the tale of a fascinating crime involving plagiarism, reputation, robots, and the three damned laws of robotics. Get ready to brainstorm! The Bicentennial Man (1976): Asimov calls The Bicentennial Man as his best Robot story, and he is not wrong on that matter. The scope and the themes featured in this story is vast and fascinating. The beauty of the story is its beating heart and the emotions it carries. The story tells the story of Andrew, a unique robot, and his life through generations. My selections here are entirely subjective, as my love for pure logic precedes emotional and pulpy robot stories. A must-read collection if you are a Sci-Fi fan!