من، روبات

by Eando Binder, سعید سیمرغ (Translator)

"I, Robot" is a science fiction short story by Eando Binder (nom de plume for Earl and Otto Binder), part of a series about a robot named Adam Link, a fictional robot, made in the likeness of a man, who becomes self-aware, and the protagonist of several science fiction short stories. It was published in the January 1939 issue of Amazing Stories, well before the related and better-known book I, Robot (1950), a collection of short stories, by Isaac Asimov.

Isaac Asimov was heavily influenced by the Binder short story. In his introduction to the story in Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories (1979), Asimov wrote:

"It certainly caught my attention. Two months after I read it, I began 'Robbie', about a sympathetic robot, and that was the start of my positronic robot series. Eleven years later, when nine of my robot stories were collected into a book, the publisher named the collection I, Robot over my objections. My book is now the more famous, but Otto's story was there first."

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories

14 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1939

About the author

A pseudonym used by brothers
Earl Andrew Binder and Otto Oscar Binder

Reviews

[Simona B · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Then I found the book, Frankenstein, lying on the desk whose drawers had been emptied. Dr. Link's private desk. He had kept the book from me. Why? I read it now, in a half-hour, by my page-at-a-time scanning. And then I understood!
But it is the most stupid premise ever made: that a created man must turn against his creator, against humanity, lacking a soul. The book is all wrong.
Or is it?”

These are the only truly hair-raising lines of the short story, which is, as you can gather, a sort of retelling of Frankenstein and is most known, today, for being a source of inspiration for Isaac Asimov when he started writing his superb robot stories. Binder's I, Robot is full of technical details but also, very melodramatic, and I can see why that Asimov, mentioning the two short stories that first put the idea of writing about robots (or rather the need to do so), admitted to preferring Helen O'Loy over this (as stated in The Story Behind the Robot Novels, a short essay which has been used as introduction in editions of both The Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun). It was an interesting read nonetheless.

[Jackie Wu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang i lowkey teared up reading this in Operating Systems. Great robot take on Frankenstein

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read from: AMAZING STORIES JANUARY 1939
An impressive emotional story.
I'd like to take a moment and appreciate Mary Shelley who was the inspiration to all man-written-robotic-stories.
I am blessed (and sad).
R.I.P. Mary Shelley
R.I.P. Earl and Otto Binder

[Lisa Reads & Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this out of curiosity given that Binder was one of the first to write about a sympathetic robot, and that his story influenced Isaac Asimov. Asimov wrote:
"It certainly caught my attention. Two months after I read it, I began 'Robbie', about a sympathetic robot, and that was the start of my positronic robot series. Eleven years later, when nine of my robot stories were collected into a book, the publisher named the collection I, Robot over my objections. My book is now the more famous, but Otto's story was there first."

As a story, it was okay. I read Asimov immediately after and agree that Asimov's is much better.
.

[Glen Engel-Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic that mirrors another classic. The story of a created man, this one mechanical rather than flesh and blood, but for all intents and purposes, a similar beginning to that classic work by Mary Shelley. And, like Frankenstein, Binder underscores how misunderstood such a creature would be. It’s a marvel of simplicity and economy, doing in a short story what Shelley took 200 pages to do, but Binder gets away with it because of our familiarity with her work. Even though the science, and possibly even the reaction of people, is outdated, the story still has at its core a deep meaning of what it might mean to have created an artificial intelligence.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 to 4 stars.

I read this short story while doing research on I, Robot by Asimov. Asimov was very inspired by this short story and I believe started writing his robot stories shortly thereafter. Apparently he wasn’t very happy that his publisher named his collection of short stories after this short story. It felt very Frankensteinien to me, just without the robot turning on its master. I’m glad I read it, but I don’t think it’s essential reading. Also, the dog.

[Dee · Rating 1 out of 5]

In case you’d forgotten the dead dogs in Frankenstein, here’s your reminder. Thankfully, Otto Binder (of brothers Earl-And-Otto) went on to create Krypto the Superdog.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is remarkably interesting.

I stumbled across this gem because it shares its title with a famous collection of stories by Isaac Asimov (I, Robot). This story is in fact a very early robot story that inspired Asimov to write about robots.

The plot is pretty interesting, as it turns the old Frankenstein theme around that was super popular in the early 20th century and which had many 'mechanical beings' act as evil monsters.

It features an important climax which I will explain in my review below, as it might be decisive in whether someone decides to read this.

This story is told from the perspective of Adam, a robot created by a scientist that is only referred to as Dr Link by Adam. Adam's body is fully assembled right from the start, but his early days have him discover the world much like a toddler with Dr Link teaching him to walk and speak. After a few months, Adam is developed much in the way of an adult human with the humanistic education of Dr Link's homeschooling. Just before Dr Link is about to introduce his greatest invention to the public, he dies in a tragic accident that has the humans around Dr Link's estate assume that Adam killed his creator.

They hunt Adam through the woods and don't listen to him when he tries to explain himself. Adam doesn't understand this world he suddenly finds himself in, a world that is so different to what Dr Link told him about life.

Going back in a circle and finding refuge in Dr Link's mansion, he finds the book "Frankenstein", well hidden in a drawer, so Adam wouldn't find it while Dr Link was alive, and he begins to understand why people seem to fear him wherever he goes.

He contemplates the decision to become the monster people see in him and defend himself against his hunters, but he understands that this would cause the death of several humans. He deems his cause not worthy this sacrifice and writes down his 'confession' (this short story) before he switches himself off, ending his 'life'.

Quite an excellent sci fi piece from the 1930s.
5 stars!

[Debo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for my class on anthropomorphic machines and robots in the arts around the turn of the century and was pleasantly surprised. I’m pretty sure Sci-Fi isn’t the genre for me, nonetheless reading this short story form Adam Link’s perspective was interesting. Empathetic robots really weren’t the norm in the years prior, so having a story that shifts the perception of robots by using the metaphor of Adam’s bond with the dog Terry is pretty dang cool.

[Mauro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo breve racconto sui robot è citato da Isaac Asimov insieme a Helen O’Loy di Lester del Rey come uno di quelli che lo avevano impressionato favorevolmente prima di cominciare la sua prolifica letteratura sul tema. E’ molto piacevole e veloce da leggere, ma porta con sé delle riflessioni sul robot come essere pensante, l’intelligenza artificiale e in qualche modo una ‘coscienza’ artificiale e consapevolezza di sé. Una sorpresa trovare una visione così moderna in un testo del 1938.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story about the first sentient robot and his Frankenstein's monster end. Apparently this was the first story that dealt with robots in a sympathetic way. It had a great influence on later writers including Asimov, whose publishers insisted on using the title for his collection of robot stories. Listened to as an offering on Audible Channels.

[Ketutar Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So very, very sad. :´(
I can't believe people would be so hysterical, though. Also, I'm pretty sure Terry was a terrier.

[Nikhil Narvekar · Rating 2 out of 5]

asimov did it much better

[Rafael Duarte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirado em Frankenstein, foi o conto que inspirou Asimov a criar seus robôs com cérebro positrônico. O conto é bom e crítico do comportamento humano, cheio de preconceitos.

[Beatriz Mangualde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Procurei a história de Otto Binder, antes de ler o "Eu, Robô" de Isaac Asimov, por conta do comentário que Asimov fez anos depois da publicação de seu famoso livro (déc. 50).
Diz basicamente que o seu "Eu, Robô" se tornou mais famoso, mas que não existiria se não fosse a história escrita por Otto em 1939.
Inclusive o próprio título "I, Robot", de Asimov, foi uma escolha da editora, a qual ele se opôs, sem sucesso. Hoje poucos conhecem as origens da famosa história de Asimov.
Vale a leitura rápida e inspiradora.

[Eggp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor orphaned robot
just tried to go for a walk
now he's all alone.