462. I, Robot

I, Robot
Isaac Asimov
1950
Around 250 pages

I was just discussing the Robot Laws with my brother, who works in machine learning. According to Mike, who is the patron saint of Hot Takes, this story is fantasy/magic as there is no way that artificial intelligence would ever play out the way it does in Asimov's world. Believing robots would be capable of understanding harm to the extent that they would have some kind of Boy Scout pledge associated with protecting humans is apparently comforting nonsense and we are all doomed. Mike is always ready to lend a hand, should you need somebody to help push you off the ledge. 

So this isn't a novel so much as a collection of short stories/essays that are framed as Dr. Calvin's reminiscences as a robopsychologist at U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men Inc. The stories aren't concerned about killer robots or pre-canceled Will Smith, and takes a more thoughtful approach to the technology than we usually get. He didn't give them the Forbidden Planet treatment (even if there is a robot named Robbie), which is a pretty interesting perspective coming from 1950.

But I'm not a big sci fi person, with some notable exceptions, and I always found Asimov to be a little dry.  

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Asimov described Carl Sagan as one of only two people he ever met whose intellect surpassed his own. Seems like a modest man.

Asimov was a claustrophile, so he actually enjoyed being in enclosed spaces.

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