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Foundation / I, Robot
I, Robot is a collection of nine science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov. The stories originally appeared in the American magazines Super Science Stories and Astounding Science Fiction between 1940 and 1950 and were then compiled into a book for stand-alone publication by Gnome Press in 1950, in an initial edition of 5,000 copies. The stories are woven together by a framing narrative in which the fictional Dr. Susan Calvin tells each story to a reporter (who serves as the narrator) in the 21st century. Although the stories can be read separately, they share a theme of the interaction of humans, robots, and morality, and when combined they tell a larger story of Asimov's fictional history of robotics.
Foundation was originally a series of eight short stories published in Astounding Magazine between May 1942 and January 1950. According to Asimov, the premise was based on ideas set forth in Edward Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, and was invented spontaneously on his way to meet with editor John W. Campbell, with whom he developed the concepts of the collapse of the Galactic Empire, the civilization-preserving Foundations, and psychohistory.[1] Asimov wrote these early stories in his West Philadelphia apartment when he worked at the Philadelphia Naval Yard.
Foundation was originally a series of eight short stories published in Astounding Magazine between May 1942 and January 1950. According to Asimov, the premise was based on ideas set forth in Edward Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, and was invented spontaneously on his way to meet with editor John W. Campbell, with whom he developed the concepts of the collapse of the Galactic Empire, the civilization-preserving Foundations, and psychohistory.[1] Asimov wrote these early stories in his West Philadelphia apartment when he worked at the Philadelphia Naval Yard.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
298 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1984
4 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,486 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 5, 2020
A book of short stories about Robots that ends up being decidedly against robots. The three robot rules seem to cover everything, but of course these tales show just how problematic even those rules can be. Asimov is a master, and there is a reason his books still work today.
August 28, 2017
I very much enjoyed reading Asimov's short stories! A friend of mine adores Asimov's work primarily because he tells robot narratives that don't center around robot revolutions, like so many modern robot stories do. I agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly - it was really refreshing to see other aspects of robots explored!
It's hard to choose which of the stories was my favorite. I loved how heartfelt "Robbie" was, "Reason" was an interesting exploration of the concept of existence, "Little Lost Robot" was genuinely intense and exciting, and I had a blast reading "Evidence".
I do have to say that while I like Dr. Calvin as a character, her interactions with her exclusively-male coworkers and superiors was a little grating at times. I realize that the stories are a product of their time, and it's likely that Dr. Calvin was seen as a revolutionary woman when the stories were published. I just would have appreciated it if her coworkers had taken it for granted that Calvin knew what she was talking about. So often she gets challenged or brushed off when she has a theory or an answer to a problem they're facing.
Overall, a great read! I'll definitely be revisiting it.
It's hard to choose which of the stories was my favorite. I loved how heartfelt "Robbie" was, "Reason" was an interesting exploration of the concept of existence, "Little Lost Robot" was genuinely intense and exciting, and I had a blast reading "Evidence".
I do have to say that while I like Dr. Calvin as a character, her interactions with her exclusively-male coworkers and superiors was a little grating at times. I realize that the stories are a product of their time, and it's likely that Dr. Calvin was seen as a revolutionary woman when the stories were published. I just would have appreciated it if her coworkers had taken it for granted that Calvin knew what she was talking about. So often she gets challenged or brushed off when she has a theory or an answer to a problem they're facing.
Overall, a great read! I'll definitely be revisiting it.
June 5, 2018
It was clear while reading why these works are still considered essential reading for those interested in science fiction. His developmental approach to the metaphor of humanity is at once cynical of the present while ringing with a sense of hope for what could come next. The language may seem dated in places but the content breaks through clearly.
February 21, 2017
The Foundation series is only for those with the patience to finish things out. I, Robot, on the other hand, is a literary classic that asks -- and answers -- "What is it to be human?"
September 3, 2019
A must read for robotics. I listened to the audio book. Enjoyable and creative. Makes you think about the potential for human robot interaction.
March 28, 2014
The first was my favorite.
May 1, 2016
The prolific Physics, Philosophy & SciFi author that defined the robot code of conduct still adhered to in current robot fiction.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews