jimmybrewster's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
etopiei's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
I really enjoyed Asimov's stories about robots. His stories are visionary and it's amazing seeing the dates they were written and how prescient he was. I loved the stories, and particularly found the bicentennial man to be especially moving.
nicolabevilacqua92's review against another edition
5.0
Il libro sembra strutturato apposta per partire piano e sbocciare con calma. Nelle prime storie Asimov presenta un'idea primitiva, come fosse ancora un recondito pensiero in un angolo del cervello, poi passa ad elaborarla sempre più nel profondo attraverso la voce dei propri personaggi più famosi, con una saga di Susan Calvin che è letteralmente da brividi. Ma nulla di tutto questo può reggere il confronto con l'ultimo racconto: il furbacchione piazza alla fine "L'uomo bicentenario", un capolavoro straziante che è la summa del suo pensiero, come fosse l'Opera Magna, la ciliegina sulla torta di una vita passata a scrivere di Robot, ma a studiare gli esseri umani. Chapeau Isaac.
eva_hihi_'s review against another edition
It's really long
I got it from my library and had to return it before I could finish it. And it also just didn't fit my reading mood atm but I'll pick it up again in the future!!
I got it from my library and had to return it before I could finish it. And it also just didn't fit my reading mood atm but I'll pick it up again in the future!!
droggelbecher42's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
eb00kie's review against another edition
4.0
I hadn’t read Asimov in ages when I picked out this book. I finally have a flat of my own (for a certain value of ‘own’ under UK housing rules) and shelves empty of good books, and I found I yearned for a copy of Asimov’s work the same way people yearn to fill their rooms with photographs and memories.
Last Sunday ago, and I went to the bookstore the same way people once went to church: found this and browsing through it found ‘Mirror Image’, a short story in the Caverns of Steel universe. It felt like a little present; I never knew it existed. It got kept me engaged enough to get my mind off life the universe and everything, and for that I am grateful.
Asked why I love Asimov’s work and hold it among my favourites, there are usually two answers:
- I read it as a child, when it was one of the few fiction authors available around the house
- Asimov uses science fiction to tell human stories, instead of doing science fiction stories, as the best authors do, he projects new ideas pulled from the back of our subconscious, and brings them to the fore
The robot series is not my favourite*, but using the robot as an archetype, it can for better or worse, with a lot of tolerance and humor, present human puzzles and human answers.
Now I have a third reason: it pulled me back when I was drowning. Very emotional, very subjective — alas, after two years, it hit me, too.
*Those are Nemesis and the Foundation series
Last Sunday ago, and I went to the bookstore the same way people once went to church: found this and browsing through it found ‘Mirror Image’, a short story in the Caverns of Steel universe. It felt like a little present; I never knew it existed. It got kept me engaged enough to get my mind off life the universe and everything, and for that I am grateful.
Asked why I love Asimov’s work and hold it among my favourites, there are usually two answers:
- I read it as a child, when it was one of the few fiction authors available around the house
- Asimov uses science fiction to tell human stories, instead of doing science fiction stories, as the best authors do, he projects new ideas pulled from the back of our subconscious, and brings them to the fore
The robot series is not my favourite*, but using the robot as an archetype, it can for better or worse, with a lot of tolerance and humor, present human puzzles and human answers.
Now I have a third reason: it pulled me back when I was drowning. Very emotional, very subjective — alas, after two years, it hit me, too.
*Those are Nemesis and the Foundation series
songboats's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.75
corymojojojo's review against another edition
5.0
Asimov absolutely won me over with this collection. I enjoyed the Foundation trilogy well enough, but his Robot stories are just consistently fantastic, so much so that I’ve finally been convinced to read every other Robot/Foundation books he wrote. This collection is thick, including every Robot story he wrote up until it’s publication, and somehow all 682 pages simply flew by. Out of all 32 stories, only one of them left me feeling a bit bored, the other 31 were either genius, clever, heartwarming, or just plain cool. The Bicentennial Man is his crown jewel of the collection and I can see why he considers it his best story. That being said, I think my favorites were the stories with greater focus on his Three Laws of Robotics and how those laws create some intriguing scenarios requiring logic and deduction to solve in satisfying ways. I enjoyed the first half or so of the collection, but in my opinion the strongest stories are the ones featuring Powell & Donovan and Susan Calvin. I’m honestly surprised that more of their stories haven’t been adapted, the P&D ones especially would be entertaining to watch.
lapingveno's review against another edition
5.0
Anyone who has even the faintest appreciation for science fiction or robot stories does him/herself a disservice to not read this book.