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Isaac Asimov. His Life and an Intro. to the Short Story “Robbie”. Isaac Asimov. One of the most prolific writers of all time Wrote/edited over 500 books 90,000 personal correspondances Published in all ten categories of the Dewey Decimal System. Writer Extraordinaire.
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Isaac Asimov His Life and an Intro. to the Short Story “Robbie”
Isaac Asimov One of the most prolific writers of all time Wrote/edited over 500 books 90,000 personal correspondances Published in all ten categories of the Dewey Decimal System Writer Extraordinaire
Part of the Big Three • Master of Sci Fi • Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and Asimov are called the “Big Three” of science fiction writing masters Master of Sci Fi
Popular Writing Foundation Series Robot Series Galactic Empire Series Best Known Writing
Three Laws of Robotics • A ROBOT MAY NOT INJURE A HUMAN BEING, OR, THROUGH INACTION, ALLOW A HUMAN BEING TO COME TO HARM • A ROBOT MUST OBEY ORDERS GIVEN IT BY HUMAN BEINGS EXCEPT WHERE SUCH ORDERS CONFLICT WITH THE FIRST LAW • A ROBOT MUST PROTECT ITS OWN EXISTENCE AS LONG AS SUCH PROTECTION DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH THE FIRST OR THE SECOND LAW Lasting Legacy
Term: Robot Asimov coined the term “robotics” in his 1941 story “Liar!” He didn’t know it was an original term, but he has since continued to be credited with it. Lasting Legacy
In his honor: • Asteroid 5020 • Crater on Mars • Elementary school in Brooklyn • Isaac Asimov literary award Lasting Legacy
Writing “Robbie” was Asimov’s first robot story He began writing it in 1939 Published in 1940 A revised version was printed in his book I, Robot in 1950 Robbie
Ideas • Asimov writes about the unwarranted technophobia people exhibit toward robots. • A common theme was the “Frankenstein Complex”=robot turns on its creator • Asimov’s writing typically employed robots coming to the aid of humanity, rather than destroying it Robbie