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The Complete Robot
The Complete Robot
The Complete Robot
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The Complete Robot (1982) is a collection of 31 of the 37 science fiction short stories about robots by American writer Isaac Asimov, written between 1939 and 1977.[2] Most of the stories had been previously collected in the books I, Robot and The Rest of the Robots, while four had previously been uncollected and the rest had been scattered across five other anthologies. They share a theme of the interaction of humans, robots and morality, and put together tell a larger story of Asimov's fictional history of robotics. The stories are grouped into categories.

Key Information

Contents

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Stories not involving the Three Laws of Robotics

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Stories that are about Asimov's positronic robots that do not obey the Three Laws of Robotics are:

  • "Let's Get Together" robots are used as parts of a bomb that will explode when they get together.
  • In "Someday" there are non-positronic computers which tell stories and do not obey the Three Laws.
  • In "Sally" there are positronic brain cars who can damage men or disobey without problems. No other kinds of robots are seen, and there is no mention of the Three Laws.
  • In ". . . That Thou Art Mindful of Him" robots are created with a very flexible Three Laws management, and these create little, simplified robots with no laws that actually act against the Three Laws of Robotics.

Robot stories not included

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This collection includes most of Asimov's robot short stories. Missing ones were either written after its publication, or formed the text connecting the stories in I, Robot.

The six Asimov robot short stories not included in this book are:

References

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The Complete Robot

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The Complete Robot is a edited and written by , published in 1982 by Doubleday, compiling 31 of his short stories and novelettes featuring positronic s, originally written between 1940 and 1976. The collection serves as a comprehensive gathering of Asimov's robot fiction up to that period, excluding only six stories from his broader oeuvre, and is structured around thematic essays by the author that group the tales into categories such as non-human, immobile, metallic, humanoid, thinking, free, and turning point robots. Central to the anthology are Asimov's foundational , first introduced in his 1942 story "Runaround" and reiterated across the volume, which posit that robots must prioritize human safety, obey orders, and protect their own existence without conflicting with the prior laws. Key narratives include early works like "Robbie" (1940), depicting a child's bond with a robotic nanny, and later pieces such as "" (1976), exploring a robot's quest for humanity, alongside iconic tales involving characters like robopsychologist and field testers Gregory Powell and . The book opens with Asimov's introductory essay and closes with reflective notes, framing the stories as milestones in the development of robot-human interactions in . Published amid Asimov's late-career resurgence in popularity, The Complete Robot consolidates material from prior volumes like I, Robot (1950) and The Rest of the Robots (1964), adding 14 previously uncollected stories, and has been reprinted in various editions, including a 1993 HarperCollins paperback. Its enduring influence lies in popularizing ethical dilemmas in artificial intelligence, influencing subsequent science fiction and robotics discourse.

Background

Asimov's Robot Fiction Overview

Isaac Asimov began writing robot-themed short stories in the early , with his first such tale, "Robbie" (originally titled "Strange Playfellow"), appearing in the 1940 issue of Super Science Stories. This story introduced a sympathetic companion, marking the start of Asimov's extensive exploration of human-robot interactions in . Over the next decade, Asimov developed this subgenre, drawing on emerging scientific concepts like positrons to craft narratives about intelligent machines. A pivotal milestone came in 1942 with the publication of "Runaround" in the March issue of Astounding , where Asimov first explicitly articulated the as fundamental programming principles for robots. These laws—prioritizing human safety, obedience, and self-preservation—became a cornerstone of his fictional universe, influencing subsequent stories and broader discussions in . The concept of the , a fictional analog to the human mind powered by positron-based pathways, first appeared in Asimov's story "Reason" and served as a recurring technological motif across his robot fiction, enabling complex behaviors and ethical quandaries. Asimov's early robot stories were compiled in major collections that highlighted their thematic depth. I, Robot (1950, Gnome Press) gathered nine interconnected tales, framed by interviews with robopsychologist , emphasizing logical dilemmas arising from the Three Laws and the evolving role of robots in society. This was followed by The Rest of the Robots (1964, Doubleday), which included eight short stories—such as "Robot AL-76 Goes Astray" and "Victory Unintentional"—alongside the novels and , expanding on robot integration into human worlds. Asimov continued producing robot stories sporadically from the 1940s through the early 1980s, with key publications including "Liar!" (1941), "" (1947), and "" (1976), totaling over 30 short works by 1982 that collectively traced advancements in robotic intelligence and societal impact.

Development of the Collection

In 1982, compiled The Complete Robot to consolidate his 31 positronic short stories into a single volume, motivated by his publisher Doubleday's suggestion to address the scattered nature of these works across seven prior collections and to meet growing reader interest in a comprehensive after over four decades of publications. This effort aimed to provide a definitive overview of his fiction, highlighting its unexpected longevity and cultural impact. The editorial process emphasized stories written before 1982 that were not already anthologized in key prior volumes like I, Robot (1950) or The Rest of the Robots (1964), with Asimov personally selecting inclusions based on their quality, thematic representation, and alignment with positronic robot concepts. He accompanied each story with brief annotations offering insights into their creation, context, and evolution within his oeuvre. Certain stories were excluded to maintain focus and avoid redundancy; for instance, those deemed less central, like "Victory Unintentional" (1942), which featured non-positronic robots and did not align with the core Three Laws framework. These decisions ensured the anthology's coherence as a "complete" representation of his primary without overlapping extensively with narratives. The stories are arranged chronologically by original publication date, beginning with "Strange Playfellow" (1940) and concluding with "" (1976), to illustrate the progressive development of Asimov's concepts from early explorations to more nuanced ethical dilemmas. In the foreword, Asimov reflects on the growth of his robot fiction from initial tropes of menace and to sophisticated industrial and ethical portrayals, crediting the —first articulated in "Runaround" (1942)—as a pivotal innovation that influenced both his narratives and broader discussions on . He notes the genre's maturation into a cornerstone of , underscoring his role in coining "" and inspiring real-world applications.

Publication History

Initial Release and Editions

The Complete Robot was first published in the United States by Doubleday on April 9, 1982, as a edition containing 31 robot stories spanning xiv + 557 pages, with the 0-385-17724-0. The initial retail price was set at $19.95 USD. The cover art for this edition featured an of a metallic by Kiyoshi Kanai. In the , Granada Publishing released the book in October 1982, also as a 557-page under 0-246-11923-3. This variant employed different typography and design elements compared to the edition, though specific cover artist credits for the initial printing remain unverified in bibliographic records. The core content of the 31 stories remained stable across these initial editions, with Asimov contributing a new to introduce the collection. Minor editorial adjustments were applied for terminological consistency, such as standardizing references to "positronic" brains, to align with the author's established fiction universe. International translations appeared shortly thereafter. These early editions established the book's accessibility in key markets, with variations in titles reflecting linguistic adaptations.

Reprints and Availability

Following its initial 1982 publication, The Complete Robot saw several reprints to meet ongoing demand in various markets. A notable UK paperback edition was released by Voyager (an imprint of HarperCollins) in 1995, featuring 688 pages and ISBN 0-586-05724-2, targeted at European readers. Similarly, a US paperback edition appeared under Bantam Spectra in 1995 (4th printing, ISBN 0-553-56997-X), maintaining the core content while broadening accessibility through mass-market formatting. Digital editions expanded the book's reach in the . A Kindle version was published by on September 14, 2023 (ISBN 978-0-00-739750-1), offering searchable text and a hyperlinked as standard features for e-readers. Partial previews are available on , digitized as early as January 20, 2010, allowing users to sample select stories and the introduction. Physical copies became out-of-print in the , shifting availability to the , where used editions average $10–50 USD on platforms like as of 2025. The 2004 film , loosely inspired by Asimov's robot tales, indirectly heightened interest in his collections, contributing to sustained demand for reprints and digital formats. As of 2025, the full e-book is priced at $9.99 USD on Amazon, ensuring ongoing accessibility for new readers.

Contents

Included Stories

The collection The Complete Robot comprises 31 short stories spanning Isaac Asimov's robot fiction, all originally published between 1940 and 1977, with lengths ranging from approximately 5,000 words in "Risk" to 20,000 words in "The Bicentennial Man"; all pieces are short stories or novelettes, with no longer novellas included. The stories total around 150,000 words, emphasizing concise explorations of robotic themes. They are organized thematically rather than strictly chronologically in the book, grouped by robot types (such as non-human, immobile, metallic, and humanoid) and key characters (like field testers Powell and Donovan or psychologist Susan Calvin), interspersed with Asimov's essays that introduce each section. Each story is prefaced by a headnote from Asimov recounting anecdotes about its writing and original publication, providing context without revealing plots. This structure serves as a comprehensive reference to Asimov's positronic robot tales, divided here by era for clarity: five pre-Three Laws stories (written and published 1940–1942, predating the formal introduction of the Three Laws of Robotics in "Runaround"), 14 core Three Laws stories (1942–1958, centering on the Laws as a framework), and 12 later stories (1967–1977, expanding beyond early constraints).

Pre-Three Laws Stories (1940–1942)

These early works explore robots without the guiding Three Laws, often featuring humorous or adventurous scenarios in nascent robotic societies.
Story TitleOriginal Publication
Robbie (as "Strange Playfellow")Super Science Stories, September 1940
ReasonAstounding Science Fiction, April 1941
Liar!Astounding Science Fiction, May 1941
Robot AL-76 Goes AstrayAmazing Stories, February 1942
Victory UnintentionalSuper Science Stories, August 1942

Core Three Laws Stories (1942–1958)

These tales revolve around the Three Laws of Robotics—prioritizing human safety, obedience, and self-preservation—as ethical cornerstones, often through problem-solving narratives involving U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc.
Story TitleOriginal Publication
RunaroundAstounding Science Fiction, March 1942
Catch That RabbitAstounding Science Fiction, February 1944
Escape! (as "Paradoxical Escape")Astounding Science Fiction, August 1945
Astounding Science Fiction, September 1946
Astounding Science Fiction, March 1947
Astounding Science Fiction, June 1950
Satisfaction GuaranteedAmazing Stories, April 1951
SallyFantastic, May–June 1953
Astounding Science Fiction, January 1955
Fantastic Universe, October 1956
SomedayInfinity Science Fiction, October 1956
Let's Get TogetherAstounding Science Fiction, January 1957
Astounding Science Fiction, December 1957
LennySuper Science Fiction, August 1958
The stories are presented chronologically within their thematic groups in the book, allowing readers to trace the development of Asimov's robot universe through publication history.

Later Stories (1967–1977)

These later works build on the Three Laws framework, often exploring advanced societal impacts, ethical expansions, and robot evolution in more complex scenarios.
Story TitleOriginal Publication
SegregationistAnalog Science Fiction/Science Fact, April 1967
Feminine IntuitionThe Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May 1969
Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, March 1972
Light VerseThe Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, December 1973
--That Thou Art Mindful of Him!The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May 1974
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, November 1974
A Boy's Best FriendAnalog Science Fiction/Science Fact, March 1975
Point of ViewThe Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March 1975
The Tercentenary IncidentThe Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July 1976
Stellar #2, 1976
Think!Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, April/May 1977
True LoveAnalog Science Fiction/Science Fact, March 1977

Excluded Stories

The Complete Robot omits 6 of Isaac Asimov's 37 short stories featuring robots written before its 1982 publication, focusing on those centered on positronic brains and the while excluding narratives with non-positronic robots, connecting vignettes from prior collections, or those more integrated into broader universes like the Foundation series without direct robot focus. Key exclusions from pre-1982 publications include "Mother Earth" (Astounding Science Fiction, May 1949), a tale of human-spacer conflict involving ordinary (non-positronic) robots, omitted to preserve the anthology's cohesion around the Three Laws universe. Other omissions are minor pieces like the narrative bridges in (1950) that are not standalone stories. Post-1982 works, such as "Robot Dreams" (1986) from the anthology of the same name, were naturally absent due to the collection's cutoff date, as were later Susan Calvin tales like "Robot Visions" (1988). In the foreword, Asimov notes that these exclusions prevent overlap with fixed collections like and ensure the anthology represents the evolution of his robot fiction without duplicating material. Overall, the volume encompasses roughly 84% of Asimov's short stories up to 1982 (31 of 37), prioritizing seminal Three Laws narratives over exhaustive inclusion.

Themes and Analysis

Evolution of Robotics Concepts

In the early phase of Isaac Asimov's robot fiction, spanning the late to , depictions of emphasized mechanical functionality without formalized ethical constraints, often rooted in human fears reminiscent of the . Stories like "Robbie," originally published in 1940, portrayed as simple, non-sentient machines capable of companionship, such as a robotic forming bonds with a , yet evoking parental anxieties about replacing roles. This era highlighted initial societal apprehensions toward , focusing on emotional and relational dynamics rather than advanced cognition. The introduction of the in 1942 marked a pivotal shift, establishing a foundational ethical framework for behavior across subsequent narratives. Formulated in the story "Runaround," the laws prioritize: , prohibiting harm to humans or allowing harm through inaction; the Second Law, mandating obedience to human orders unless conflicting with the First; and the Third Law, ensuring absent conflicts with the prior laws. These principles, embedded in positronic brains—a fictional neural analog enabling complex decision-making—frequently generated logical paradoxes, as explored in tales like "Liar!" (, with laws implied pre-formally), where a telepathic 's adherence leads to unintended emotional distress. Positronic brains, first conceptualized around , served as the technological enabler, simulating human-like reasoning while enforcing these safeguards. By the , Asimov's narratives expanded concepts toward broader societal integration, portraying robots as integral to human economies and explorations while challenging prejudices. In stories such as (1950), advanced machines subtly manage global systems under the Three Laws, demonstrating harmonious coexistence and questioning human resistance to automation. This mid-period reflected growing optimism about technology's role in mitigating inefficiencies, with robots aiding interstellar efforts and exposing biases against non-human intelligence. In the later evolution from the to , depictions progressed to human-like robots that blurred distinctions between machine and sentient being, probing themes of identity and . "The Bicentennial Man" (1976) exemplifies this, chronicling a robot's quest for legal through gradual enhancements, ultimately achieving biological humanity and confronting mortality. Such stories elevated positronic brains to support evolving , shifting focus from mere utility to existential parity. Overall, Asimov's arc in these tales transitioned from Frankensteinian fears of mechanical threats to visions of optimistic AI futures, with positronic brains facilitating ethical and integrative advancements that redefined human-robot relations.

Critical Reception and Legacy

Upon its release in 1982, The Complete Robot received generally positive reviews for compiling Asimov's robot stories into a comprehensive volume, though some critics noted its redundancy for readers familiar with earlier collections like I, Robot (1950) and The Rest of the Robots (1964). The Kirkus Reviews noted that the best of the stories have weathered pretty well, while the newer stories tend to be weaker if more thoughtful. This assessment highlighted the collection's value as a single-volume resource tracing the development of Asimov's positronic robots. Academic analyses have positioned The Complete Robot as a cornerstone of Asimov's oeuvre, serving as a "definitive primer" on his themes. James Gunn's 1982 study, : The Foundations of Science Fiction, discusses Asimov's exploration of human-robot interactions and technological ethics in his robot fiction, emphasizing its structural organization into sections that evolve from early positronic models to advanced ones. The work is also cited in authoritative references such as John Clute and Peter Nicholls's (1993), which notes it as the key anthology gathering Asimov's 31 robot stories from to 1976. The collection's legacy extends to influencing discussions on AI ethics, with Asimov's —featured prominently in the stories—referenced in 1990s robotics literature as a foundational framework for machine behavior and safety. For instance, scholarly papers from the era debated the practicality of implementing Asimov-inspired laws in real-world systems, underscoring the stories' prescience in anticipating challenges. In post-2000 critiques, The Complete Robot has been lauded for its foresight in AI narratives, though some modern analyses critique the dated gender portrayals in the stories, such as the limited roles for female characters. Recent 2025 retrospectives, amid debates on generative AI, highlight the collection's relevance to contemporary concerns like autonomous systems and ethical programming, with outlets like arguing that Asimov's tales reveal ongoing tensions in human-AI coexistence. While the book itself garnered no direct awards, its contributions bolstered Asimov's reputation, culminating in his receipt of the SFWA Grand Master Award in 1987.

References

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