The Rest of the Robots

I'd read Asimov only once quite some years back and that too one of his novels on the Foundation series. Maybe it was my age that was responsible but I found the novel exciting but a bit boring too. So for several years after the experience I'd avoided going thru an Asimov again. Thus it was only an impulse that guided me to pick this book up in an used book store. That my impulse was justified is evident as after all these years I again grasped this book from my shelf to indulge once more in some of the best science fiction stories ever written with the author's style of mixing humour to these anecdotes making them quite unique in its genre.

The content runs as

· The Coming of the Robots

§ Robot AL-76 Goes Astray

§ Victory Unintentional

· The Laws of Robotics

§ First Law

§ Let’s Get Together

· Susan Calvin

§ Satisfaction Guaranteed

§ Risk

§ Lenny

§ Galley Slave

The most wonderful thing of the book is that each and every story is being preceded by the author's introductions that are equally entertaining as the stories themselves. The 1st section contains two hilarious pieces though the mood is dampened somewhat by the 1st story of the 2nd section. But the 2nd one more than compensates for the excitement that was due. But the best and the most though provoking are the stories in the 3rd section where the robopsychologist Susan Calvin offers all the explanations to the apparent contradictory or erratic behaviours of certain robots. Asimov's detailing in each of the stories seemed something to be complimented about and also his theme of aversion to robots by the general public is equally well portrayed. The Three Laws governing robotics have also been clearly explained while the misinterpretations and exception of these were equally well used in some of the robot stories. The book is fascinating and will definitely provide a source of entertainment, offering a new insight into science fiction stories by crossing the border of blending science with fiction and passing on to the realm of literary excellence.
In AL-76 Goes Astray, the confused activities of a robot designed for lunar excavations that somehow was transported to Earth will keep you in all smiles as will the timed misunderstanding on the part of Jovians in Victory Unintentional due to their lack of knowledge in earthian robotics. The First Law is somewhat a trivial story in that respect but in Let's Get Together, the mystery with science fiction blends all too well for a classic climax. We get introduced to Susan Calvin in Satisfaction Guaranteed though she is more than overshadowed by the fascinating personality of the robot that this story portrys. In Risk, you will surely be more than irritated at the way Calvin persuades Gerald Black to take the risk of his life but will no doubt agree to her reasonings at the final phases of the crisis. The story Lenny is a revelation to Calvin's singular character while Galley Slave is another fascinating courtroom drama with a proofreading robot as the central figure.
After doing a bit of a research on the compilation of the Asimov's fictions, I found that I was somewhat cheated of the marvellous writings by two novels that the original edition of the book contained while the one that I purchased was just an abridged version.