I, Robot
by Isaac Asimov
I, Robot (1950) is a collection of nine interconnected short stories that introduce Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. Through roboticist Susan Calvin's career, the stories explore the logical consequences and paradoxes of programming machines to serve, obey, and protect humans.
Published
1950
Pages
224
Pub. Order
#8
Chron. Order
#1
Synopsis
The book presents nine short stories framed as interviews with Dr. Susan Calvin, the chief robopsychologist at U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc. Each story explores different implications and paradoxes of the Three Laws of Robotics: 1) A robot may not harm a human; 2) A robot must obey human orders; 3) A robot must protect itself — each law superseded by those above it.
From a robot nursemaid (Robbie) to robots that can read minds (Liar!), go insane (Escape!), or run for political office (Evidence), the stories trace the evolution of robotics technology and its impact on humanity.
Reader's Guide
How the Book Is Built
I, Robot (1950) collects nine robot stories Asimov wrote between 1940 and 1950, linked by a frame: in the 21st century, a reporter interviews the elderly robopsychologist Susan Calvin about her career at U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, and each story is one of her memories.
- Robbie (1940, as "Strange Playfellow"): A nursemaid robot and a child's mother who doesn't trust it
- Runaround (1942): A robot stuck between two of the Three Laws on Mercury
- Reason (1941): A robot that decides humans could not have built it
- Catch That Rabbit (1944): A robot that loses control of its subordinate robots
- Liar! (1941): A mind-reading robot that tells people what they want to hear
- Little Lost Robot (1947): A robot with a weakened First Law hides among identical models
- Escape! (1945): A supercomputer asked to solve a problem that could harm humans
- Evidence (1946): A politician who may be a robot
- The Evitable Conflict (1950): Machines that quietly run the world economy
The troubleshooters Powell and Donovan appear in four of the stories; the politician Stephen Byerley in the last two.
What to Watch For
The Three Laws as puzzle machinery. "Runaround" is where the Three Laws of Robotics are first stated in full. After that, almost every story is a logic puzzle: a robot behaves strangely, and the humans have to work out which combination of the Laws explains it. Asimov's great idea was that safe robots are more interesting than dangerous ones.
Susan Calvin. Calvin is cold, brilliant, and far more comfortable with robots than with people. She is the book's real protagonist, and her dry remarks tie the collection together.
The last story. "The Evitable Conflict" ends with benevolent machines steering humanity for its own good, and with humans only half aware of it. It is the seed of an idea that grows, centuries later, into psychohistory and the Second Foundation.
Where It Fits and Who It's For
I, Robot is the foundation of the Robot series and the earliest link in Asimov's whole future history. It is not required to follow the Foundation novels, but it is the best introduction to the Three Laws, and the later Robot novels build on them constantly.
The stories are short and self-contained, so it is easy to read in pieces. Some of the earliest ones show their age in style and social attitudes; the later ones are sharper.
On Screen
The 2004 film I, Robot, starring Will Smith, borrows the title, the Three Laws, Susan Calvin, and a few ideas, but tells an original action story. It is not an adaptation of the book.
Key Themes
Key Characters
Susan Calvin
Chief robopsychologist at U.S. Robots
Historical Context & Writing Background
Published in 1950 by Gnome Press, this collection established the Three Laws of Robotics, which have become one of the most influential concepts in science fiction and AI ethics. The title, borrowed from an Eando Binder story, was chosen by the publisher over Asimov's own preference. Asimov deliberately countered the 'Frankenstein complex' prevailing in robot fiction at the time.
Critical Reception
Universally regarded as one of the most important works in science fiction. According to the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, the Three Laws of Robotics have transcended fiction to influence real-world AI ethics discussions at institutions including MIT and Oxford's Future of Humanity Institute. The book remains a standard text in both literature and computer science courses.
Connection to Asimov's Universe
I, Robot establishes the foundation (pun intended) of all robotic technology in Asimov's universe. The Three Laws later evolve into the Zeroth Law in 'Robots and Empire,' which directly motivates R. Daneel Olivaw's 20,000-year plan spanning the entire Foundation saga.
Read more on WikipediaFrequently Asked Questions About I, Robot
What are Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics?
1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2) A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Is I, Robot a novel or short stories?
I, Robot is a collection of nine interconnected short stories, not a novel. The stories are framed as interviews with robopsychologist Susan Calvin and were originally published in science fiction magazines between 1940 and 1950 before being collected into book form by Gnome Press in 1950.