I, Robot - A sub-plot

As I said in my previous blog entries, this book is built up by several different plots, and as far as I've understood, they will kind of merge together into one common conclusion. For this reason, it has been hard to pick one sub-plot to actually write about. I have though, decided to write about a little detail that is kind of subtle during the whole book.

As far as I've understood, there's split opinions in the society about the robots. Some people think they're great, some people think they're a horrible invention, and some people doesn't really care. In the first chapter, Gloria's mother, Grace, really hates the robots. I believe it is to contain some kind of reputation she has. Mostly because of this quote:

"Oh, it's been building up and building up. I've tried to close my eyes to it, but I'm not going to any more. Most villagers consider Robbie dangerous" - page 11

Graces husband replies back, thinking about how Gloria would feel, and also in a way that shows that he doesn't really mind the robots.

As well in the second and third chapter, about Donovan and Powell at a mining facility on Mercury, there's a similar scenario. While Donovan cares about his robot, Speedy, who mysteriously disappeared after sending it out to gather some kind of mineral necessary for their survival, Powell is more neutral to the situation. At least that's how I've understood it.

I think the whole book is a metaphor. Or at least that is has a message to tell. I think you could compare the book, and the whole robot thing, with todays society. It's rather easy, just think about it, swap the robots for technology, or even narrower, computers. It makes sense now, doesn't it? Well, maybe not todays technology and society, because it feels like most of the people nowadays have accepted that the world is changing. Although, a few years back (it doesn't have to be many) I know there was people that totally ignored new technology. Just as in the book. Note that the book was written in 1954, so the influence of technology could have been even bigger.

I, Robot - Describe the environment

At first glance, you could think this book is a book about the future. And even when you've read the introduction of the book, you would probably still believe that it takes place in the future. This is because the book is a collection of shorter stories about what happened with the world until it became what you read about in the introduction (year 2057). The first plot, about Gloria who chooses a robot instead of real friends, takes place in 1998. The second plot, about two men in a mining-facility on the planet Mercury, takes place in 2015. I guess you could say that the book takes place in some kind of parallel universe, similar to ours (the author names cities that exist in this world) where the world uses robots as an aid in the everyday life, whether it's as a housekeeper or if it's used for gathering minerals on Mercury.

Even though the author doesn't explain the environment as throughly, you get the feeling of that the world is dull and boring. That there's not much happiness around. If this is caused by the robots taking over, I can't answer.

"And it's even worse these days when it comes to robots. New York has just passed an ordinance keeping all robots off the streets between sunset and sunrise. " - page 11.

And to explain how Isaac Asimov quickly describes the environment (in a good way), here's a quote.

"'This must be an unusual area,' he said. 'The general albedo of Mercury is low and most of the soil is gray pumice. Something like the Moon, you know. Beautiful, isn't it?'" - page 40.

I, Robot - Describe the main character(s)

When I got to the first chapter of the book, I didn't understand what was going on until I had read a couple of pages. This because the characters in the introduction of the book wasn't the same as in the first chapter.

As the first chapter starts, you're introduced to Gloria. A young girl, who prefers her robot (take note that this book takes place in the future) before real people as friends.

Her best friend - the robot, called Robbie, is described as bulky, but as well doing everything he can to make Gloria happy, because that is what the robot does.

The author doesn't really describe how Gloria looks, but rather focus on how she is, and what's happening. As far as I've understood it, Gloria doesn't show her unhappiness (she is clearly without a lot of friends) to anyone, but on the way she acts, you can almost tell. She doesn't want to be alone, and therefore she has Robbie, who does anything Gloria asks for.

"Gloria shrieked in dismay. 'Wait, Robbie! That wasn't fair, Robbie! You promised you wouldn't run until I found you!'"

After this, Robbie starts running in slow-motion so Gloria can catch him.