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Catch That Rabbit
"Catch that Rabbit" is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov that was first published in the February 1944 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the collections I, Robot (1950) and The Complete Robot (1982).
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First published February 1, 1944
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About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,474 books27.4k followersWorks of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles,
The Foundation Trilogy
(1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 28, 2025
Rinse and repeat.
Powell and Donovan are two scientists on a planetary mining station, supervising the newly developed robots as they gather their daily quota of ore. At first glance everything seems to be working perfectly well, but under specific conditions the robots go completely haywire, with no reasonable explanation behind it. What on Earth is going wrong?
This was not bad, per se. A moderately short sci-fi story, with a moderately interesting ending.
Here's the thing: this is the third "Powell and Donovan" story I've read, in a row, and it just starts to get old. The two grumpy and usually obnoxious characters are hardly endearing, and their names just feel like name tags to me, you could call them "Smith and Vince" and I couldn't care less because they are barely defined and just don't stand on their own as MCs.
As far as I can see, Asimov's strength seems to be story rather than character development, frequently using the same characters, a different robot, and a new set of circumstances. Which isn't bad, per se; the 3 Laws are his babies and he excels at playing with them, but it can get old too. And after three similar "Powell and Donovan" stories in a row, it starts to feel like playing cards. You can shuffle all you want, and get a new hand each time, but you are always playing poker.
Btw I suck at poker I can't bluff.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1942] [19p] [Sci-Fi] [1.5] [Not Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
★★★★★ Liar!
★★★☆☆ Robot # 0.1 - I, Robot <--
-----------------------------------------------
Enjuague y repita.
Powell y Donovan son dos científicos en una estación minera planetaria, supervisando los recientemente nuevos desarrollados robots mientras recolectan su cuota diaria de minerales. A primera vista todo parece funcionar perfectamente, pero en determinadas condiciones los robots se vuelven completamente erráticos, sin ninguna explicación razonable detrás. ¿Qué diablos les está pasando?
Esto no estuvo mal, en principio. Una historia de ciencia ficción medianamente corta, con un final medianamente interesante.
Esta es la cuestión: esta es la tercera historia consecutiva de "Powell y Donovan" que leo, y empieza a desgastarse. Los dos personajes gruñones y generalmente desagradables no son entrañables, y sus apelativos bien parecen etiquetas de nombre, podrían llamarse "Smith y Vince" y no podría importarme menos porque apenas si están definidos y simplemente no se sostienen por sí solos como personajes principales.
Hasta donde puedo ver, el punto fuerte de Asimov parece ser la historia más que el desarrollo de personajes, utilizando frecuentemente los mismos protagonistas, con un robot diferente y un nuevo conjunto de circunstancias. Lo cual no está mal, per se; las 3 Leyes son sus bebés y es sobresaliente jugando con ellas, pero también puede desgastarse. Y después de tres historias similares de "Powell y Donovan" seguidas una tras otra, empieza a parecer como jugar a las cartas. Podés barajar todo lo que quieras y obtener una nueva mano cada vez, pero siempre estás jugando al póquer.
Por cierto apesto en el póquer no sé mentir.
* No animals were harmed in the making of this story.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1942] [19p] [Ciencia Ficción] [1.5] [No Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
Powell and Donovan are two scientists on a planetary mining station, supervising the newly developed robots as they gather their daily quota of ore. At first glance everything seems to be working perfectly well, but under specific conditions the robots go completely haywire, with no reasonable explanation behind it. What on Earth is going wrong?
This was not bad, per se. A moderately short sci-fi story, with a moderately interesting ending.
Here's the thing: this is the third "Powell and Donovan" story I've read, in a row, and it just starts to get old. The two grumpy and usually obnoxious characters are hardly endearing, and their names just feel like name tags to me, you could call them "Smith and Vince" and I couldn't care less because they are barely defined and just don't stand on their own as MCs.
As far as I can see, Asimov's strength seems to be story rather than character development, frequently using the same characters, a different robot, and a new set of circumstances. Which isn't bad, per se; the 3 Laws are his babies and he excels at playing with them, but it can get old too. And after three similar "Powell and Donovan" stories in a row, it starts to feel like playing cards. You can shuffle all you want, and get a new hand each time, but you are always playing poker.
Btw I suck at poker I can't bluff.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1942] [19p] [Sci-Fi] [1.5] [Not Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
★★★★★ Liar!
★★★☆☆ Robot # 0.1 - I, Robot <--
-----------------------------------------------
Enjuague y repita.
Powell y Donovan son dos científicos en una estación minera planetaria, supervisando los recientemente nuevos desarrollados robots mientras recolectan su cuota diaria de minerales. A primera vista todo parece funcionar perfectamente, pero en determinadas condiciones los robots se vuelven completamente erráticos, sin ninguna explicación razonable detrás. ¿Qué diablos les está pasando?
Esto no estuvo mal, en principio. Una historia de ciencia ficción medianamente corta, con un final medianamente interesante.
Esta es la cuestión: esta es la tercera historia consecutiva de "Powell y Donovan" que leo, y empieza a desgastarse. Los dos personajes gruñones y generalmente desagradables no son entrañables, y sus apelativos bien parecen etiquetas de nombre, podrían llamarse "Smith y Vince" y no podría importarme menos porque apenas si están definidos y simplemente no se sostienen por sí solos como personajes principales.
Hasta donde puedo ver, el punto fuerte de Asimov parece ser la historia más que el desarrollo de personajes, utilizando frecuentemente los mismos protagonistas, con un robot diferente y un nuevo conjunto de circunstancias. Lo cual no está mal, per se; las 3 Leyes son sus bebés y es sobresaliente jugando con ellas, pero también puede desgastarse. Y después de tres historias similares de "Powell y Donovan" seguidas una tras otra, empieza a parecer como jugar a las cartas. Podés barajar todo lo que quieras y obtener una nueva mano cada vez, pero siempre estás jugando al póquer.
Por cierto apesto en el póquer no sé mentir.
* No animals were harmed in the making of this story.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1942] [19p] [Ciencia Ficción] [1.5] [No Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
June 4, 2019
Not as good as the previous powell and donovan stories. The premise is interesting, but there's a lot less back and forth while they think about a solution. The ending is rather unsatisfying and a little abrupt. Oh well.
November 2, 2021
Collected in I, Robot and The Complete Robot this story can be read here. This might be a robot story with our favorite duo, Donovan and Powell, but Asimov manages to blend in a subversive message about the evils of large corporations such that at the end of the story, the robot story is not what stays with us as we contemplate how capitalism is only good for some people.
The unwritten motto of United States Robot and Mechanical Men Corp. was well-known: "No employee makes the same mistake twice. He is fired the first time."
The sad part is despite all the griping, we find out why Donovon is doing this, he must be a Frank Zappa fan.
"Your job," said Powell, evenly, "for the last five years has been to test new robots under actual working conditions for United States Robots. Because you and I have been so injudicious as to display proficiency at the task, we've been rewarded with the dirtiest jobs. That," he jabbed holes in the air with his finger in Donovan's direction, "is your work. You've been griping about it, from personal memory, since about five minutes after United States Robots signed you up. Why don't you resign?"
"Well, I'll tell you." Donovan rolled onto his stomach, and took a firm grip on his wild, red hair to hold his head up. "There's a certain principle involved. After all, as a trouble shooter, I've played a part in the development of new robots. There's the principle of aiding scientific advance. But don't get me wrong. It's not the principle that keeps me going; it's the money they pay us. Greg!'
We feel you, Donovan. Many of us have worked for shitty bosses / companies, can relate.
The unwritten motto of United States Robot and Mechanical Men Corp. was well-known: "No employee makes the same mistake twice. He is fired the first time."
The sad part is despite all the griping, we find out why Donovon is doing this, he must be a Frank Zappa fan.
"Your job," said Powell, evenly, "for the last five years has been to test new robots under actual working conditions for United States Robots. Because you and I have been so injudicious as to display proficiency at the task, we've been rewarded with the dirtiest jobs. That," he jabbed holes in the air with his finger in Donovan's direction, "is your work. You've been griping about it, from personal memory, since about five minutes after United States Robots signed you up. Why don't you resign?"
"Well, I'll tell you." Donovan rolled onto his stomach, and took a firm grip on his wild, red hair to hold his head up. "There's a certain principle involved. After all, as a trouble shooter, I've played a part in the development of new robots. There's the principle of aiding scientific advance. But don't get me wrong. It's not the principle that keeps me going; it's the money they pay us. Greg!'
We feel you, Donovan. Many of us have worked for shitty bosses / companies, can relate.
July 13, 2018
The majority of student's employs within the field of Computer Science & Engineering recognize or at least have heard of the term "Heisenbug", if not, then I suggest you google it before reading this story.
Asimov, introduces this term in a very intersting manner with the robot "Dave", and his subordinate set of robots. The idea of a robot that doesn't know what's happening with its own system might seem like a big deal in a robot, but if you look at our computers today, there are plenty of issues that the computers themselves can not diagnose, thus the need for specialists.
I do have to say that I would have probably taken a different path in dealing with this issue, through what is known as "Logs", it's quite surprising that the two engineers never even bothered to mention them, but then again, that would probably make for a pretty boring story.
Asimov, introduces this term in a very intersting manner with the robot "Dave", and his subordinate set of robots. The idea of a robot that doesn't know what's happening with its own system might seem like a big deal in a robot, but if you look at our computers today, there are plenty of issues that the computers themselves can not diagnose, thus the need for specialists.
I do have to say that I would have probably taken a different path in dealing with this issue, through what is known as "Logs", it's quite surprising that the two engineers never even bothered to mention them, but then again, that would probably make for a pretty boring story.
August 20, 2024
You can find this in
I, Robot
and
The Complete Robot
.
A lot better than the last one. Powell and Donovan are back, this time they're testing a new mining robot, on an asteroid, that has six robots slaved to it like fingers of a hand. Everything works great while they're observing the robot, but as soon as they leave it to get on with things on its own no mining gets done, and they have 10 days to sort it out before they get the sack.
And now i'm off straight into the next robot story, Liar! : finally into the Susan Calvin stuff.
A lot better than the last one. Powell and Donovan are back, this time they're testing a new mining robot, on an asteroid, that has six robots slaved to it like fingers of a hand. Everything works great while they're observing the robot, but as soon as they leave it to get on with things on its own no mining gets done, and they have 10 days to sort it out before they get the sack.
And now i'm off straight into the next robot story, Liar! : finally into the Susan Calvin stuff.
May 28, 2019
I actually like this one more than Robbie or Reason. I am comparing them because they are part of the same I, Robot family from 1950 publication. I like this one more because it shows the capability of humans in terms of creation and faults. we see just like how we believe (as per most religions) that we are like the creator, we too create things in our image and just like us, our creations can be faulty. This is just a simple tale that allows us to see the point behind being prudent and of course, always curious. definitely should read this if you are a sci-fi fan
October 20, 2024
3.75
The fifth story in I, Robot.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch...
I always found this story a little boring. Not sure why. Nothing really new to offer. Covers similar ground as others.
The fifth story in I, Robot.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch...
I always found this story a little boring. Not sure why. Nothing really new to offer. Covers similar ground as others.
April 18, 2018
A tale about robots that fail to follow orders imposed by humans when they are not being watched. What is the reason for such action?
April 14, 2024
I love Powell's solutions to all the crazy things that happen with the robots (and Donovan's just kind of along for the ride). Read this in the I, Robot collection.
April 27, 2025
3 ⭐
Catch That Rabbit is one of the less interesting stories, but it's still good.
Catch That Rabbit is one of the less interesting stories, but it's still good.
August 24, 2017
This one creeped me out a smidge - a robot (and his "fingers") that can randomly do whatever they want unless a human is sensed? chills
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews