I, Robot (the book) is an early masterpiece of science fiction. Along with Nightfall and the Foundation trilogy, this compilation is essential for any reader of Asimov. Starring Susan Calvin, the General Robotics corporation, and of course Robbie, all of Asimov's robot stories derive from here.

Don't judge this edition of the book by its cover (although I much prefer that of my decades-old copy); upon reading you will understand why a Hollywood producer would pay millions of dollars for the right to graft its title and a couple of its basic concepts onto a random action flick that otherwise has nothing to do with I, Robot.

If you have any interest whatsoever in robots, this is a must read for you. The three laws that Asimov creates to govern robot behavior seem so simple, but Asimov exposes and analyzes every possible loophole in them. Usually each story focuses on some way that a robot malfunctions or apparently breaks one of the three laws. Liar! and Little Lost Robot stick out as the best stories from this collection; both are very suspenseful and shocking at the end. These stories are a great introduction to Isaac Asmiov's work. After reading these, I was hooked and have since read about 15 books by Asimov. He was truly a brilliant man.

This story is the basis for the movie of the same name. It is good to remember that robots are man-made machines and have no human attributes or emotions; no feelings or pain (Does it hurt to die?), no love for another robot or human being. No pain, no gain, no smiles or grins from ear to ear, no crying or frowns to compound an impossible situation. The movie was a bit much and never in a million years would you find a Chicago that sparse of beings and things.

In the futuristic world of 2035 Chicago, there were very few humans anywhere. When I was there, the streets were teaming with people from all walks of life and hurrying as if their very lives depended on getting there first. This is a sterile place full of interactive robots, inside and out. Some of the blue-eyed Sonny robots had started to malfunction after the doctor is found dead on Daley Plaza. It was put forth that Sonny was a "mistake" as the doc had programmed him to dream and to obey his wishes. You do what someone asks you if you love them. I loved the cat.

Chicago had never looked more beautiful, clean, no clutter, no rubbish. We all have a purpose for being where we are at any particular time or place. Sonny had performed the thing he was made for. "Now I have fulfilled my purpose, I don't know what to do." That's what it feels like to be free. Why's that? The killer robots with red light attempted a Revolution, but the good guys aided by Sonny'who couldn't die technically as he had never been alive, put Vicci out of commission and its undeniable logic is transformed and diminished until virtually dead. The homicide detective ate a whole sweet potato pie before he pursued and tackled a robot thought to be stealing a purse in the downtown Loop area, but it was all a misunderstanding.

This was documented history and some excessive violence like in the tunnel with the auto accident. The human cop had artificial arm, hand, and internal organs. Someday this world may exist, but it won't be in our lifetime.

Robots are fun to play with, but they can't ever take over the earth in any form or fashion. Some men are robots of a sort as they show no emotion. Some women have been under the knife so many times, they look like robots. Nobody is perfect. Nor is a robot. Robots are like computers. They do as they are programmed and nothing else. They are only as good as the person operating them. It would be fun to see a real robot, I think.

Isaac Asimov was, of course, a mover and shaker not just in the field of science fiction, but as a science educator for the masses. His prodigious output of books and articles was one of the seven wonders of the modern world, yet it's a relatively small number of short stories and novels for which (I predict) he'll be remembered. Stories like "Nightfall," "Bicentennial Man," and of course his robot stories with their "three laws" will still be read and appreciated for years to come. By showing us how the three laws worked (or sometimes didn't) in these stories, he created a practical foundation for the future of robotics, and Carl Capek aside (who wrote one of the first robot stories, RUR, in 1921) Asimov is considered by many as the father of modern robotics. The Japanese in particular seem fascinated with robots and their potential, so it shouldn't be surprising that Honda named their sophisticated humanoid robot Asimo in his honor.

These stories do show the era in which they were written by the language, but the innovative theories behind them and the "why didn't I think of that?" reaction from readers remain.

-Mark Wakely, author of An Audience for Einstein

I, Robot is a collection of short stories introducing readers to Asimov's universe where the positronic brain has allowed the creation of functional robots. The first story starts in the 90's and the rest takes the reader through the next century. Each story revolves around some type of Robot dilemma usually involving conflicts regarding around their ethical codes otherwise known as the three laws of robotics.

I highly recommending reading this first before jumping into Asimov's fantastic robot series. It's a fine example of Asimov's unique style that can only be summarizes as "intellect over action". He writes fiction with a certain penache for logic and although not for everyone, I personally really enjoy his work. There is a reason why he is considered the best science fiction writer of all time by many.

Bottom Line: Start here.