Science Fiction Aficionados discussion

Welcome to May and our Robots series read !
It has been so long since I read these, I am sper curious if my memory holds up!

Who is joining in?

I've read the initial duo of books, but am looking forward to reading folks' thoughts on them! this series read may inspire me to continue on, and read the follow-ups and the prequels.

I am in and love with Robots :)

https://youtu.be/fn3KWM1kuAw

I have read the series before and looking forward to the reread.

I hope it is not premature stating this: “I Robot” the novel has very little to do with the “iRobot” the movie. Only thing in common are Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics.

Has one ever noticed that:
The Movie “Alien” the robot was the bad robot. “Aliens” the sequel the robot was the Good Robot.

The movie “Terminator” the robot was the bad robot. “Terminator 2” the robot was the good robot.

The movie “2001 Space Odyssey” HAL was the bad robot. “2010” HAL was a good robot after all, bad old humans.

I am sure the computer industry so badly wanted to change the robot image.

Isaac Asimov’s robots almost always in displayed in a good light.

“I for one, welcome our robot overlords” a quote by Richie Branson.

Mickey wrote: "I am in and love with Robots :)

https://youtu.be/fn3KWM1kuAw

I have read the series before and looking forward to the reread.

I hope it is not premature stating this: iRobot the novel has very l..."

I wanted to love this and send the link to my son, but learned that you should only watch if you are not a musician or a dancer...(view spoiler)[because the feet don't actually land on the beats (hide spoiler)]

Karin wrote: "Mickey wrote: "I am in and love with Robots :)

https://youtu.be/fn3KWM1kuAw

I have read the series before and looking forward to the reread.

I hope it is not premature stating this: iRobot the n..."

Lol, yea, I noticed. I am not a musician, however decades ago, I did take some ballroom dance lessons for about three years. Now in my old age I walk like a duck.

Still I am impressed how the robot industry is moving along.

Maggie wrote: "Welcome to May and our Robots series read !
It has been so long since I read these, I am sper curious if my memory holds up!

Who is joining in?"

Oh Wait, are we starting with “Caves of Steel” or “I Robot”?

I will certainly be reading along with the group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_8Pm...

I am still waiting for my Cherry 2000 and a piña colada.
Cherry 2000 was on tv last night ScreenPix channel.

I will be rereading. It has been ages since reading it the first time. AGES ago.

No spoilers here I believe.

Caves of Steel: it was a reread for me and I found it enjoyable as the first time. I will say I enjoy the short stories about Asimov’s robot books more than the novels, they tend to be a singular story that gets to the point. Almost every story is about how many ways can one apply Asimov’s Three Laws of robotics into a storyline. I find amazing at how many stories that one can apply the 3 laws and it seems to be many, many enjoyable stories.

I remember that I read these a very long time ago, and was hoping it would ring a bell for me, but not so far! I am enjoying it however, and I am sure it will kick in soon....lol

I really enjoyed it. It must be 30 years since I last read it, and It was as good as I remembered. Looking forward to the rest.
Glad I voted for the "Robots".

I just started this last night. While I don't love it so far, I do like it better than I, Robot. However, as an adult I am not much of a classic scifi fan. The time for me to have read this was when I was when I was 10-16.

Karin wrote: " I just started this last night. While I don't love it so far, I do like it better than I, Robot. However, as an adult I am not much of a classic scifi fan. The time for me to have read this was when I was when I was 10-16"

That’s it! That is why I must like Asimov’s novels!

I am in my 60’s and retired, “I got a Babies brain and an Old mans heart” I must have been around 18 when first read Caves of Steel. I enjoyed listening to Alice Cooper when I was in High School.

Then again are all science fiction fans children at heart?
Is that a child as your Avatar?
Mine is a puppy :)

May I suggest The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer for something more modern.

I enjoyed the book. I've only read a few Asimov books, but so far they've all been decent or better.

It was more of a mystery than a sci-fi, though the parts that I enjoyed the most were the parts that delved into Spacer/Earth relations and the sociopolitical background.

A couple nitpicky questions:
In Chapter 13, it says "Certain questions battered at his [Baley's] conscious mind, but he would not listen, he felt he could not."

What is this referring to? Some aspects of the mystery Baley pieced together and revealed in the last chapter?

In Chapter 14: "R. Daneel could know only what the Spacers knew; no more."

Why is this? It bothers me a bit, actually. Why wouldn't Spacers know in a fair bit of detail about Earth? Frankly it's baffling that Daneel speaks perfect English but can't parse certain expressions.

Chapter 13 -- It's foreshadowing that he had learned some Significant Clues.

Asimov’s best book is probably THE GODS THEMSELVES but if you like mysteries and sci fi the three books with Baley and Olivaw are great.

I found The End of Eternity better than The Gods Themselves. But I haven't read much of his work.

Mickey wrote: "Karin wrote: " I just started this last night. While I don't love it so far, I do like it better than I, Robot. However, as an adult I am not much of a classic scifi fan. The time for me to have re..."

That is me in my avatar, long ago and far away (I don't live where I lived when that photo was taken). It was meant to be temporary but there was a glitch somewhere and I foolishly removed my regular avatar. It will take some doing to find it again and restore it someday.

But, sure, there are some days when I just call myself immature/childlike due to some of my reading tastes (but we are all immature in one way or another, IMO).

I am about 75 or 80 percent done and definitely like this better than I, Robot. That said, I have a hard time with the old-school ideas of future scifi. This is why I can't watch Classic Trek movies where the computer monitors are pre-flat screen, etc. The positronic brain has me rolling my eyes, but otherwise the story is good overall, albeit really sexist. Not one woman scientist, and of course they existed when this was written. Also, the way he writes about Jessie isn't terrible, but not that impressive, either.

Karin wrote: "That is me in my avatar, long ago and far away (I don't live where I lived when that photo was taken). It was meant to be temporary but there was a glitch somewhere and I foolishly removed my regular avatar. It will take some doing to find it again and restore it someday."

I plan on keeping my avatar. Mickey is the name of my little Yorkie pictured. I never use my actual name on social networks. I find it humorous on how many email scams in my little dogs name.

Karin wrote: "I am about 75 or 80 percent done and definitely like this better than I, Robot. That said, I have a hard time with the old-school ideas of future scifi. This is why I can't watch Classic Trek movie..."

I do not mind the older books, I always take into account of the society the book was written in. Mark Twain will definitely offend those living in the modern age. I do enjoy some older science fiction books that push the norms of the times example: Stranger in a Strange Land is a book that was only recently published the way it was originally written.

Caves of Steel social background did have a 1950’s feel to it. The next book in Asimov’s robot series will have a different feel to it - If my memory still holds. I will be reading the Naked Sun again next month.

MadProfessah wrote: "Asimov’s best book is probably THE GODS THEMSELVES ..."

Oh hell yes! Great book. 😃

Karin wrote: "I am about 75 or 80 percent done and definitely like this better than I, Robot. That said, I have a hard time with the old-school ideas of future scifi. This is why I can't watch Classic Trek movie..."

Wasn't "I, Robot" by Eando Binder? I am presuming here you are contrasting the various approaches to similar material. Curious to know what you deem to be classic science fiction.

I, Robot was by Isaac Asimov

C. John wrote: "Wasn't "I, Robot" by Eando Binder? I am presuming here you are contrasting the various approaches to similar material...."

Isaac Asimov talks about this in the introduction of the next book The Naked Sun (well, the version I have).

The answer is Yes, Eando Binder had a story before Asimov named I Robot. Asimov’s publisher did not care and named Asimov’s book “I Robot” anyways.

As for the second part of your question: Any book older than I am is a classic :)

Mickey wrote: "C. John wrote: "Wasn't "I, Robot" by Eando Binder? I am presuming here you are contrasting the various approaches to similar material...."

Isaac Asimov talks about this in the introduction of the ..."

Okay, sure--but of course the publishers are usually the ones who choose titles for books, and I haven't read the other I, Robot so had never heard of it.

I have no idea how old you are, so can't comment on your definition of a classic.

My middle daughter says that the everything began at her arrival as an infant and all of our memories are artificial and all ruins, etc. are artificially aged. But of course she's wrong--that happened when I arrived ;).

Karin wrote: "I have no idea how old you are, so can't comment on your definition of a classic."

I am in my early 60’s, not yet on social security. I retired early at 53 years old, I got my 30 years and out with a tiny pension and health benefits. I do have a Masters Degree in Science.

In many ways, I feel like I was born old and, unlike Benjamin Buttons, I kept getting older as the years went by.

In many ways, I feel like I was born old

Same. And then I went straight into senility in my teenage years. Have never looked back since!

mark wrote: "In many ways, I feel like I was born old

Same. And then I went straight into senility in my teenage years. Have never looked back since!"

I completely understand.

Karin wrote: "Mickey wrote: "C. John wrote: "Wasn't "I, Robot" by Eando Binder? I am presuming here you are contrasting the various approaches to similar material...."

Isaac Asimov talks about this in the intro..."

Four the record I hit 66 this year, though my youngest daughter is only 11. I married a younger woman. I guess for me classic refers to anything up to the 70s, maybe the 80s, definitely nothing from 2000 on. Too recent.

@Ryan I like THE END OF ETERNITY as well but felt it’s a bit too cerebral .

Had a number of reactions to rereading this. Perhaps the strongest, which I have not seen mentioned was his presentation and conception of an over-crowded world. At the time of story (thousand years in the future!?) there are 8 billion people on Earth in large cities (caves of steel), think he said 10 million in the NYC complex.
In 1950 there were 2.5 billion people, today there are 8 billion. NYC has over 8 million today (20 million if include suburbs), and is far from the largest.

He wrote an interesting mystery, and the story has aged "okay". But the lack of social evolution and the surrounding societal and over-population environment in general not so much.

You've got to be joking!

SF is possible futures, not futurism.

So no AC Clarke for you. Or Brunner, Silverberg, Pohl, Anderson.

The list of 50s and 60s SCIENCE FICTION (note the fiction bit) goes on. Classic storytellers all, but if life is not mirroring their posits 50 years later you don't want to read them?

Read a few thrillers, not reflecting reality, crime novels, ditto.

Robert wrote: "Had a number of reactions to rereading this. Perhaps the strongest, which I have not seen mentioned was his presentation and conception of an over-crowded world. At the time of story (thousand year..."

I was also thinking about Asimov’s world building to be very interesting. However, as for population growth, Asimov’s world had birth control that would have made such population growth projections difficult to project into the the future.

Asimov’s world kept reminding me of another book, Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet. Eaarth by Bill Mckibbin is a book about global warming. He felt frustrated that people would not change and the planet earth would continue to get worse. McKibbin believes that the earth could be like living on Mars where humans would be living in Domes on Earth. The atmosphere would be unbreathable and toxic.

Asimov’s earth was toxic outside the Domes (Caves of Steel). One of the reasons that no one would enter the space ports to commit the crime. Another example of Isaac Asimov’s brilliant insight of his vision of the way things are going from the 1950’s.

I remember reading somewhere that the human race on Earth could have a clean breathable air, could be sustainable, everyone one on Earth could have a modern and equal lifestyle, if Earth’s human population was under one billion people. That reminded me of the Asimov’s fifty spacer worlds.

Mickey wrote: "Karin wrote: "I have no idea how old you are, so can't comment on your definition of a classic."

I am in my early 60’s, not yet on social security. I retired early at 53 years old, I got my 30 yea..."

Okay, that makes sense then. I am in a classic book group that defines them as 50 years or older except for young adult novels, but some of the members are in their 40s and younger (but some are over 60).

But for Scifi to me it's 1960s and earlier, but some of the ones from the 1970s are old to me as well. I don't do well with scifi based on outdated technology most of the time. The positronic brain is rather clever, though, given how things are being done now with electrons, etc, in the digital world, but they add programming via tape, which of course we all have to overlook.

I wonder how our current scifi will look in 60-70 years.

i finished this the other day, and didnt remember a bit of it! Maybe I was too young, because now I find it kind of thought provoking. Glad I did read this...as it really is probably the first time!

Maggie wrote: "i finished this the other day, and didnt remember a bit of it! Maybe I was too young, because now I find it kind of thought provoking. Glad I did read this...as it really is probably the first time!"

YES!
It’s official, we are the “old geezers science fiction club”. If you are like me, did you freak out when you first received your first invitation to join AARP? I did i repeatedly said NO! NO! I am not that old! and ripped up that letter, threw it it on the ground and stomped on it :)

Now we are at the age of acceptance?

These days nothing is thought provoking to me. I am in acceptance of everything. Inner Peace… is when I do not remember the past. I now live day by day without making any plans.

Mickey wrote: "Maggie wrote: "i finished this the other day, and didnt remember a bit of it! Maybe I was too young, because now I find it kind of thought provoking. Glad I did read this...as it really is probably..."

My husband has been getting these for a few years now.

Karin wrote: "I wonder how our current scifi will look in 60-70 years..."

I suspect it will be something like from this book that I thoroughly enjoyed Rainbows End.

Fandom won’t have changed. Just what fans are fighting about. We had Michelin’s in the forties, SF vs. Sci-Fi in the seventies etc etc etc.

That should have read Michelism.

C. John wrote: "Fandom won’t have changed. Just what fans are fighting about. We had Michelin’s in the forties, SF vs. Sci-Fi in the seventies etc etc etc."

Lost me on that one about the forties.
I do remember some discussion about the later, and it’s neither, it is SyFy! Not that I care either way.

Nope, the correct term is SF.

Ed wrote: "Nope, the correct term is SF."

I use SF, Sci-Fi and Stf interchangeably. All the same to me. Admittedly I use Sci-Fi (or sci-fi) more than the others.

Mickey wrote: "C. John wrote: "Fandom won’t have changed. Just what fans are fighting about. We had Michelin’s in the forties, SF vs. Sci-Fi in the seventies etc etc etc."

Lost me on that one about the forties.
..."

Michelism is named for a sci-fi fan and writer Jon B. Michel. He, and his friends (the only name I recall is Frederick Pohl) wanted the science fiction community to embrace Communism. Not sure is the group including Michel and Pohl was The Futurians, or if that group was a bit later in SF history.

Mickey wrote: "Maggie wrote: "i finished this the other day, and didnt remember a bit of it! Maybe I was too young, because now I find it kind of thought provoking. Glad I did read this...as it really is probably..."

I haven't received said invitation. Maybe living in Canada has something to do with that. We get to age here on our own terms. Anyway as I always say "growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional".

I am hoping some crackpot scientists comes up with a cure for aging. Then again someone told me “you read too much science fiction, way way too much science fiction “. I found myself speechless.

Slightly related, I read so much SF I often feel that I am living in the wrong era. "Why can't I have been born in the future, with interstellar colonization, a cure for aging/mind uploads, etc?" I'm still in my 30s though.