I, Robot: 200 Word Reviews #3

Isaac Asimov is a sci-fi writer that crafts a story so clever, so unpredictable, that I finish it without realising I barely even know what the characters look like.

I, Robot is a collection of short stories set along the timeline of robot development, from their inception to complete integration with human society. These short stories are linked by a meta-story conversation between a reporter and Susan Calvin, an aged robotpsychologist, who was present and involved in the robot industry from its inception.

This is peak Asimov. The way he applies the Three Laws of Robotics to different scenarios creates a set of fascinating plotlines that keep you guessing until the end, when it all suddenly make sense. The command and understanding he has over the laws and how they are applied is science-fiction at its finest.

However, Asimov is not a character writer, and this work one of ideas, not character introspection or development. As in, not a single character goes through a character arch where they change or grow in some way.

Regardless, I, Robot is a masterpiece of pure science fiction that has left me eager to read more, but I won’t remember the characters for long.