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Martin's Reviews > I, Robot
I, Robot (Adam Link, #0.1)
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This story is remarkably interesting.
I stumbled across this gem because it shares its title with a famous collection of stories by Isaac Asimov (I, Robot). This story is in fact a very early robot story that inspired Asimov to write about robots.
The plot is pretty interesting, as it turns the old Frankenstein theme around that was super popular in the early 20th century and which had many 'mechanical beings' act as evil monsters.
It features an important climax which I will explain in my review below, as it might be decisive in whether someone decides to read this.
This story is told from the perspective of Adam, a robot created by a scientist that is only referred to as Dr Link by Adam. Adam's body is fully assembled right from the start, but his early days have him discover the world much like a toddler with Dr Link teaching him to walk and speak. After a few months, Adam is developed much in the way of an adult human with the humanistic education of Dr Link's homeschooling. Just before Dr Link is about to introduce his greatest invention to the public, he dies in a tragic accident that has the humans around Dr Link's estate assume that Adam killed his creator.
They hunt Adam through the woods and don't listen to him when he tries to explain himself. Adam doesn't understand this world he suddenly finds himself in, a world that is so different to what Dr Link told him about life.
Going back in a circle and finding refuge in Dr Link's mansion, he finds the book "Frankenstein", well hidden in a drawer, so Adam wouldn't find it while Dr Link was alive, and he begins to understand why people seem to fear him wherever he goes.
He contemplates the decision to become the monster people see in him and defend himself against his hunters, but he understands that this would cause the death of several humans. He deems his cause not worthy this sacrifice and writes down his 'confession' (this short story) before he switches himself off, ending his 'life'.
Quite an excellent sci fi piece from the 1930s.
5 stars!
I stumbled across this gem because it shares its title with a famous collection of stories by Isaac Asimov (I, Robot). This story is in fact a very early robot story that inspired Asimov to write about robots.
The plot is pretty interesting, as it turns the old Frankenstein theme around that was super popular in the early 20th century and which had many 'mechanical beings' act as evil monsters.
It features an important climax which I will explain in my review below, as it might be decisive in whether someone decides to read this.
This story is told from the perspective of Adam, a robot created by a scientist that is only referred to as Dr Link by Adam. Adam's body is fully assembled right from the start, but his early days have him discover the world much like a toddler with Dr Link teaching him to walk and speak. After a few months, Adam is developed much in the way of an adult human with the humanistic education of Dr Link's homeschooling. Just before Dr Link is about to introduce his greatest invention to the public, he dies in a tragic accident that has the humans around Dr Link's estate assume that Adam killed his creator.
They hunt Adam through the woods and don't listen to him when he tries to explain himself. Adam doesn't understand this world he suddenly finds himself in, a world that is so different to what Dr Link told him about life.
Going back in a circle and finding refuge in Dr Link's mansion, he finds the book "Frankenstein", well hidden in a drawer, so Adam wouldn't find it while Dr Link was alive, and he begins to understand why people seem to fear him wherever he goes.
He contemplates the decision to become the monster people see in him and defend himself against his hunters, but he understands that this would cause the death of several humans. He deems his cause not worthy this sacrifice and writes down his 'confession' (this short story) before he switches himself off, ending his 'life'.
Quite an excellent sci fi piece from the 1930s.
5 stars!
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