Book Review: The Complete Robot

A collection of all the robot stories by Isaac Asimov, The Complete Robot includes the stories found in I, Robot as well as in other works. (Also included are stories not found anywhere else.) The collection was refreshing and entertaining, and each short story worked individually because of the strong ideas portrayed within each one. Some of my favorites were "Robbie," "Sally," and "Light Verse." Included in the end is Bicentennial Man, a quick-read version of The Positronic Man, though not as skillfully written. The beginning stories can be read in no particular order, though the last several are about Susan Calvin and should be read in order for the full effect. Overall: excellent!

Book Review: The Positronic Man

This book by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg is actually what the movie Bicentennial Man was based off of. (However, the movie takes it in a different direction.) The Positronic Man is the story of a robot named Andrew who embarks on a 200-year quest to "become human." Throughout his two hundred years, he discovers what it means to be human and aspires to become one himself.

Book Review: I, Robot

If you’ve seen the movie, then I should tell you that it’s nothing at all like the book. (Honestly, I’m not exactly sure where the movie directors got the plot for their movie… there are perhaps two very minor incidents in the book that are similar, and that’s all.) However, the format of the book I,Robot is actually a series of short stories all happening to the same group of people, and which are quite thought-provoking. Isaac Asimov’s books are usually just a little out of my depth, but I always enjoy them nevertheless. If you like good, logical thinking and problem solving, you’ll probably like this book.