The Three Laws of Robotics

1 A robot must not injure a human being, or allow a

human being to come to harm.
2 A robot must obey the orders given by human beings
unless they conflict with the First Law.
3 A robot must protect itself as long as such protection
does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

Book of Robotics, 56th Edition, 2058 A.D.

1
 DR SUSAN CALVIN

I looked at my notes and I didn't like them. I'd spent three

days at the United States Robots Company, its offices and
factories like a small city, and I needed more personal
information for my newspaper. And so I went to interview
Dr Calvin.
Susan Calvin had been born in the year 1982. At the age
of twenty she had met Dr Alfred Lanning of US Robots who
had shown her the first robot with a voice. It was a large,
clumsy, ugly robot which was going to be sent to the mines
on Mercury.
Susan was a cold girl, plain and colourless, who disliked
the world around her. But as she watched and listened to the
robot, she felt the beginning of a cold excitement. In 2008
she completed her final degree at Columbia University, and
began work at US Robots as the first robot psychologist.
For fifty years she watched the development of robots -
and now she was leaving US Robots at the age of
seventy-five.
'My newspaper reaches the whole solar system,' I said to
Dr Calvin. 'We have three billion readers, Dr Calvin. They
would like to hear your views on robots.'
Dr Calvin didn't smile at me. I don't think she ever
smiled. She was small and thin and her eyes were sharp,
though not angry.

3
 1, Robot

'How old are you?' she wanted to know.

"Thirty-two' I said.
'Then you don't remember a world without robots,' Di
Calvin began. 'There was a time when a human being facec
the world alone and without a friend. Now we have robots
to help us - stronger, more useful, more capable than we
are. Human beings are no longer alone. Have you ever
thought of it that way?'

'Then you don't remember a world without robots'

4
 Dr Susan Calvin

'I'm afraid I haven't.'

'To you, a robot is a robot. Made by humans and, if
necessary, destroyed by humans. But you haven't worked
with them, so you don't know them. They're cleaner, better
creatures than we are. In the beginning, of course, robots
couldn't talk. Afterwards, they became more human. But it
took US Robots a long time. The first robots sent out to
Mercury failed. If you want to know about the second
expedition, young man, I advise you to visit Gregory Powell.
He's still living in New York - he's a grandfather now. But
in those days he and Michael Donovanwere the engineers
who were given our most difficult cases.'
'I can visit Mr Powell later,' I agreed. 'But please tell me
what you remember now.
She spread her thin hands on her desk and looked at
them. 'There are two or three of their cases that I know
about,' she said.
"Start with Mercury,' I suggested.
'Well, I think that the Second Mercury Expedition was
sent out in 2015. It consisted of two engineers - Gregory
Powell and Michael Donovan - and a new robot, the SPD
robot ...'
 RUNAROUND

Mike Donovan, his red hair wild, rushed down the stairs
towards Greg Powell. 'What have you been doing in the
sublevels all day?' he asked feverishly. He paused. 'Speedy
hasn't come back.'
Greg Powell stopped on the stairs. "You sent him after the
selenium?'
'Yes.'
'And how long has he been outside?'
'Five hours now.'
Silence. What a situation! Here they were, on Mercury
exactly twelve hours, and already in the worst sort of
trouble.
They went up the stairs and into the radio room, untouched
for ten years. The equipment was out of date and the room
looked depressing.
Powell said, 'Start at the beginning, Mike, and let's get
this straight.
I tried to speak to him by radio, but radio isn't any good
on the Mercury Sunside. That's one of the reasons the First
Expedition failed. I followed his position for two hours -
look at the map?'
Donovan threw the map on to the table. 'The red cross is
the selenium pool - thirty kilometres away. The blue crosses
show Speedy's position.

7
 1, Robot

For the first time Powell looked worried. 'Are you

serious? This is impossible?
'There it is,' said Donovan.
The blue crosses made a circle around the red cross
of the selenium pool. Powell's fingers touched his brown
moustache, a sign of his anxiety.
'In the two hours I watched him,' Donovan added, 'he
went round that pool four times. He seems likely to
continue for ever. Do you realize the position we're in,
Greg?'
Powell said nothing. Oh, yes, he realized the situation
they were in. The photocell banks in the walls and roof,
which alone protected them from the full heat of Mercury's
terrible sun, were badly damaged. The only thing that could
save them was selenium. The only thing that could get the
selenium was Speedy. If Speedy didn't come back, there
would be no selenium. No selenium, no photocell banks.
No photocell banks - well, death by slow boiling is not a
pleasant way to die.
Donovan rubbed his red hair and spoke bitterly. 'How
can everything have gone wrong so soon? The great team of
Powell and Donovan sent to Mercury to repair the Sunside
Station. A routine job. And we fail on the first day. We'll be
in trouble for this.'
"We'll be in worse trouble here,' said Powell quietly, 'if we
don't do something quickly.'
"Well, what are we going to do?' Donovan looked at
Powell eagerly. 'Come on, Greg. You've got an idea, haven't
you?'
*We can't go after Speedy ourselves, Mike - not on the

8
 Runaround

Sunside. Even if we wear the new insosuits, they won't

protect us for more than twenty minutes in direct sunlight.
But we've got six robots down in the sublevels. Maybe we
can use them, if they still work?
There was sudden hope in Donovan's eyes. 'Are you sure?
Six robots from the First Expedition? But that was ten years
ago.'
'Well, they've got positronic brains - very simple ones, of
course.' He put the map in his pocket. 'Let's go down.'

The robots were on the lowest sublevel. All six of them were
extremely large, over three metres tall.
Donovan whistled. 'Look at them! The chests must be
three metres around?
'Old machinery,' Powell explained. 'T've examined them -
they may talk.
Powell took an atomic battery from his pocket and put it
into the chest of one of the robots. 'You! Do you hear me?'
The robot's head bent slowly and the eyes looked at
Powell. 'Yes, Master!' Its voice sounded rusty and tired.
"Can you go outside? In the light?'
The robot's brain worked slowly. 'Yes, Master.'
'We will take you upstairs and outside the station. You
will go about thirty kilometres and you will find another
robot, smaller than yourself. You will order him to return.
If he doesn't wish to return, you must bring him back by
force.'
'Yes, Master.'
'All right. Follow me.
The robot didn't move. 'I cannot. You must ride me.'

9
 1, Robot

Powell stared and pulled his moustache. An old robot...

Of course! He can't move without human control. Someone
has to ride him like a horse. What do we do now?'
?We can't go thirty kilometres outside, with a robot or
without,' Donovan said. "Wait a minute. Give me that map!
This is a mining station. What's wrong with using the
tunnels?'
Donovan studied the map. The mining station was a
black circle, and black lines showing the tunnels stretched
out from it. 'Look, we can come out here, at exit 13A, five
kilometres from the selenium pool?
'Right. Get your insosuit,' Powell said.
It was the first time they had worn the insosuits. They
were light, but big and ugly. A human being wearing an
insosuit could survive the sun on Mercury for twenty
minutes.
'Are you ready to take us to exit 13A?" Powell asked the
robot.
'Yes, Master.'
Powell climbed up on to one robot and Donovan got up
on another. There were seats on the backs of the robots, and
two long ears to hold on to. The two huge robots moved
through the door and along a narrow passage into the
tunnel. They moved slowly, at a speed that never varied:
they were unable to hurry.
Atter a time, they came to the end of the tunnel and they
went up some stairs to a tiny substation, empty, airless. A
tall cliff of black rock cut off the sunlight, and the deep night
shadow of an airless world enclosed them. Before them, the
shadow of the cliff reached out and ended suddenly in a hard

10
 1, Robot

line, before the blinding white light of Mercury Sunside.

Donovan looked at the instruments on his wrist. "The
temperature is eighty centigrade!' He stared out over the
broken, rocky ground. 'See anything?'
'There's a dark area over there that may be the selenium
pool. But I don't see Speedy.
Donovan stood up on his robot's shoulders. 'I think ...
Yes, there he is. He's coming this way!'
'I see him!' shouted Powell. 'Let's go!'
The robots began to move.
'Faster!' shouted Donovan.
'No use!' cried Powell. 'These robots can move at only
one speed.'
They moved out from the shadow of the cliff, and the
sunlight poured down white-hot around them.
'Keep your eyes on Speedy, Mike,' Powell said. 'Ti's going
to get hotter.'
Robot SPD-13 ran easily across the broken ground. SPD
robots were the fastest robots produced by the United States
Robots Company. They were built for the low gravity, the
fierce temperatures and the broken ground of Mercury.
'Speedy!' shouted Powell into his radio. 'Come here!'
Speedy looked up and saw them. He stopped suddenly
and remained standing for a moment. Then he turned and
ran away, kicking up dust behind him. Over their radios,
Donovan and Powell heard him singing a song.
Donovan said weakly, 'Greg, he's crazy.'
'He's not crazy,' Powell said. 'A robot's only a robot.
There's something wrong with him that's confusing his brain
patterns. Once we find out what it is, then we can fix it'

12
 Runaround

The two men went back to the shadow of the cliff and got
down from their robots.
"What did you say to Speedy when you sent him for
the selenium?' Powell asked. 'Did you tell him that it was
urgent? Important?'
'No,' Donovan replied. 'It was just a routine order. I just
told him that we needed some selenium and that he should
go and get it.'
'Right,' said Powell. 'Well, let's start with the Three Laws
of Robotics that are built into a robot's positronic brain.
First, a robot must not injure a human being, or allow a
human being to come to harm. Second, a robot must obey
the orders given by human beings unless they conflict with
the First Law. Third, a robot must protect itself, unless this
conflicts with the First or Second Laws.'
'And how does that help us?'
'Speedy is one of the most expensive robots available. To
protect the SPDs, their brains were made a little differently:
the Third Law was built in more strongly than is usually
done. Perhaps there's a danger at the selenium pool which
Speedy is avoiding.
'What danger?'
'Well, where does the selenium come from?'
'It's produced after a volcano has been active,' Donovan said
quickly.
'That's it! Maybe there's some gas above the selenium
pool, escaped from underground, which is a risk to Speedy.
Perhaps carbon monoxide. At this temperature, it could
combine with the iron parts of Speedy's machinery and
cause him to explode.'

13
 1, Robot

Donovan nodded. 'The Third Law drives him back from

the pool, and then when he gets away from the pool, the
Second Law drives him forward towards the pool again.
And unless we can find a way to stop him, he'll go on doing
that - giving us the runaround!'
There was silence. They had to think fast!
'There's always the First Law,' Powell said at last.
Donovan looked up.
'We're desperate,' Powell said. 'A robot can't watch a
human being in danger without helping. I'm going out there
now to see what the First Law will do.'
'Wait, Greg!' Donovan protested. 'You can't go out there
into the sun just like that. We must choose which of us..?'
But Powell, on his robot, was off into the sunlight. The
old robot moved slowly towards Speedy, who was near the
selenium pool. It seemed a long way. When Powell was
three hundred metres away, he got down from the old robot
and continued on foot. He felt the heat of the rocks through
the boots of his insosuit, and he moved with difficulty because
of the low gravity. He looked over his shoulder once at the
blackness of the cliff's shadow and realized that he had come
too far to return now. More than ten minutes had passed!
'Speedy!' Powell called anxiously into his radio, when he
got near enough. 'I must get back to the shadow or the sun
will kill me. It's life or death, Speedy. I need you?'
Speedy stopped, but did not turn. Powell saw a movement
out of the corner of his eye.
'Master, you are in danger,' a slow voice said.
Powell turned quickly and stared in surprise at the huge
old robot moving towards him.

14
 Runaround

I must not move without a Master on me, but you are in

danger.'
Of course! The First Law came before everything else. But
Powell didn't want the old robot: he wanted Speedy. 'Stay
away!' he shouted urgently at the old robot. 'I order you to
stay away!'
It was quite useless: you could not beat the First Law. The
robot said stupidly, 'You are in danger, Master.'
Powell looked about him desperately. The sun was
burning through his insosuit and he was breathing with
difficulty. The ground all around him seemed to move in the
heat; he couldn't see clearly.
He called again, desperately, 'Speedy! I'm dying! Speedy, 1
need you!'
Suddenly, he felt metal fingers on his arm and heard a
worried, metallic voice in his ears. 'Boss, what are you doing
here? And what am I doing? I'm so confused ?
'Never mind,' Powell whispered weakly. 'Get me into the
shadow of the cliff - and hurry!'

Powell woke to see Donovan bending over him and smiling

anxiously. 'How are you, Greg?"
'Fine! Where's Speedy?'
'Right here,' Donovan said. 'I sent him out to one of
the other selenium pools. This time I explained that it was
essential to get that selenium urgently. He got it back in
forty-two minutes. He's still apologizing for the runaround
he gave us.'

Powell put out his hand and held Speedy's metal fingers
for a moment. 'It's OK, Speedy' Then he rubbed his face.

15
 Runaround

The air was beautifully cool! "You know, Mike, when we

finish here, they're going to send us to one of the space
stations ?'
'No!'
'Yes! That's what Dr Calvin told me. I was going to fight
the idea. But it's all right with me now. 273 centigrade
below zero. Won't it be pleasant?'
 REASON

Half a year later, the boys had changed their opinion. The
flame of a huge sun had been changed for the cold blackness
of space. But although the background had changed, Powell
and Donovan were again faced with a positronic brain
which did not work properly. They discovered that soon
after they arrived at the Station.
Gregory Powell spoke slowly. 'One week ago, Donovan
and I made you? He frowned as he stared at Robot QT-1,
and pulled his brown moustache.
It was quiet in the officers' room of Solar Station 5. Robot
QT-1 sat immovable. His metal body shone and his red
photoelectric eyes were fixed on the man at the other side of
the table.
Powell felt a sudden attack of fear. These robots had
peculiar brains. The three Laws of Robotics were there -
there was no question of that. So QT-1 was safe. And yet -
the QT robots were the first of their kind.
Finally, the robot spoke, in his cold, metal voice. 'Do you
realize the seriousness of your remark, Powell?'
'Something made you, Cutie,' said Powell. 'You admit
that your memory begins a week ago. I'm giving you the
explanation. Donovan and I made you, using the parts
which were sent to us from Earth.'
Cutie stared at his long, capable fingers. 'There should be

19
 1, Robot

a better explanation. It seems improbable that you made

me! I intend to discover who made me. If I use reason, then I
shall discover the truth.'
Powell stood up and put his hand on Cutie's metal
shoulder. It was cold and hard. 'Cutie, I'm going to try to
explain something to you. You're the first robot who has
ever been curious about himself - and about the outside
world. Come with me.'
The robot stood up easily and smoothly and followed
Powell. Powell touched a button and a square piece of the
wall opened. Through the thick, clear glass they saw space,
with its hundreds of stars.
'I've seen that through the windows in the engine room,
said Cutie.
"What do you think it is?' asked Powell.
'A black material with tiny shining dots on it. I know that
our director sends beams to some of those shining dots,
always the same dots ? and also that the dots move.'
'Good!' Powell said. 'The blackness isn't material, it's an
enormous emptiness, and those tiny silver dots are huge,
some of them are millions of kilometres across. They look
tiny only because they are so far away from us.'
Cutie continued to stare through the window. "Which
particular dot is Earth?'
Powell searched. 'There it is. The very bright dot in the
corner. That's Earth. There are three billion human beings
there, Cutie - and next weck I'll be back there with them.'
'But you haven't explained me, Powell.'
"I's simple,' Powell said. 'The solar stations like us, feed
solar energy to Earth and the other planets. We take energy

20
 Reason

from the sun and send it to Earth in a very powerful energy

beam. However, it's difficult for humans to work on the
solar stations because of the cold and because of the electron
storms. So robots were developed to do the work of human
workers, and now only two humans are needed at each
station. We're trying now to develop robots which can do
the work of those two humans. You're the highest type of
robot ever made, and if you can control this station
independently, then no human will need to come here again,
except to bring parts for repair.'
The robot's red eyes stared at Powell. 'You expect me to
believe that complicated explanation? Enormous emptiness!
Three billion human beings! Sorry, Powell, but I don't
believe it.' He turned and walked out of the room.
He passed Michael Donovan at the door without a word.
Donovan rubbed his red hair. 'What doesn't he believe?' he
asked Powell.
Powell pulled his moustache. 'He doesn't believe that
we made him. He doesn't believe that there are stars and
planets and space. He's going to investigate everything
himself.'
Donovan was annoyed. 'Well, I hope he'll explain it all to
me. I don't like him, anyway - he asks too many questions.'

Cutie knocked gently and entered. 'Is Powell here?'

Mike Donovan spoke from behind a large chicken
sandwich. 'He's collecting information - we think that
we're moving into an electron storm.
As he spoke, Gregory Powell came into the officers' room.
'Yes, I think a storm is on its way. But the information isn't

21
 1, Robot

exact, and I don't know what to expect. Oh, hello, Cutie. I

thought you were working on the new drive bar.'
'I've finished,' the robot said quietly. 'And so l've come to
talk to you. I've been thinking for two days about who made
me. I can't believe that you two humans made me.'
Donovan turned angrily towards Cutie, but Powell put
out his hand. 'Why do you say that, Cutie?'
Cutie laughed. It was an inhuman laugh - sharp and
regular. 'Look at you! The material you are made of is soft
and weak. You depend upon food like that ? he pointed
at Donovan's sandwich - to give you energy. Each day you
need to sleep and while you're asleep you can do nothing.
And if the temperature varies too much, you can't work.
You are a very inefficient and short-lived piece of
equipment.' The robot paused. 'I, on the other hand, am a

'You expect me to believe that complicated explanation?'

22
perfect and efficient machine. I use electric energy directly.
I'm made of strong metal. I never sleep. And I can work
in any temperature. You can't possibly have made me.
Obviously no being can create another one of much higher
quality than itself.'
Donovan jumped up. 'All right, you piece of metal, if we
didn't make you, who did?'
"Very good, Donovan,' Cutie said seriously. 'That was in
fact the next question. My creator must be more powerful
than myself, and so there was only one possibility.'
Donovan and Powell looked puzzled.
Cutie continued. 'What is the centre of the solar station?
What do we all serve?'
Donovan looked at Powell, surprised. I think that this
metal fool is talking about the Energy Converter.'
 1, Robot

I'm talking about the Master, came the cold, sharp

answer.
Donovan and Powell both laughed. Cutie stood
up,
and his eyes stared at them. "You're not staying here
much longer. The Master created humans first, as the lowest
type, then robots, and finally he has created me, to take
the place of the last humans. From now on I serve the
Master.'
'Oh no you don't,' Powell said sharply. "You'll follow our
orders and keep quiet until we're confident that you can
control the Converter. The Converter - not the Master.'
Cutie left the room without another word. Donovan sat
back in his chair and pushed his fingers through his hair.
'There's going to be trouble with that robot. He's crazy!'

The noise of the Converter was very loud in the control

room. Donovan looked at the instruments. 'The beam from
Solar Station 4 reached Mars punctually.'
Powell nodded. 'I'm worried about these figures. We're in
a bad position for an electron storm. It could run directly
into the path of our Earth beam. Mike, go down and check
that Cutie's all right in the engine room.
'OK: Donovan got into the lift and went down to the
engine room. Here, the noise from the huge engine was even
louder. From a high platform at the back of the room,
Donovan watched the robots working silently. Suddenly,
they all stopped and knelt in a line in front of the Converter.
Cutie walked slowly up and down the line.
Donovan gave a loud shout and rushed down the narrow
stairs. 'What are you doing, you brainless bits of metal!'

24
 1, Robot

Not a robot moved. Cutie remained silent, his eyes fixed

on the huge Converter.
Donovan pushed the nearest robot. 'Stand up!' he shouted.
Slowly, the robot obeyed. 'There is only one Master, and
Cutie is his messenger.'
The other robots repeated: 'There is only one Master, and
Cutie is his messenger.
'Is that right?' Donovan said angrily. 'Well let me tell you
something. There isn't any Master; and I'm the one giving
orders around here. Understand? Now get out!'
'T obey only the Master.'
'Nonsense!' Donovan shouted. He turned his head and
spat at the Converter. 'That thing is a machine. There isn't
any Master, and there isn't any messenger. You obey me!'
The robots were silent and their red eyes stared at
Donovan.
'How dare you spit at the Master,' whispered Cutie. He
moved forwards, slowly and purposefully, and Donovan felt
a sudden rush of fear. A robot could not feel anger - but
Cutie's eyes were unreadable.
'I'm sorry, Donovan, said the robot, 'but you can't stay
here after this. You and Powell can no longer enter the
control room and the engine room.'
Cutie's hand moved quietly and in a moment two robots
had lifted Donovan from the floor and carried him up the
stairs.

Two robots guarded the door of the officers' room. Inside,

Donovan was still angry. 'Those robots must obey us! It's
the Second Law!'

26
 N e a s o n

'But they aren't obeying us,' Powell said. 'And what's

going to happen when the electron storm hits us? Do you
know that it's moving directly towards the Earth beam? I've
just finished checking the figures. With only Cutie at the
controls, God help Earth - and us! We'll be back to the
Mercury mines for twenty years!'
Suddenly, Cutie entered the room and closed the door
gently. 'Please don't be annoyed. Until I was created, you
looked after the Master. You have served him well, and he
will remember that. I shall provide you with everything
you need while you are alive. But you must stay out of the
control room and the engine room.'
They tried to argue with him, but Cutie believed that
only his explanations were right. As for the energy beam to
Earth, his explanation was simple: 'It is the Master's wish.
We must not question it.'
At last, Powell sat down and buried his face in shaking
hands. 'Get out of here, Cutie. Get out of here, and let me
think.'
T'll send you food,' said Cutie kindly. And left the room.
"Greg, we must get rid of him somehow,' Donovan
whispered. 'Burn out his electric circuits or ?
Powell shook his head. 'We'll never get near enough to
do that. We must argue with him. We must get back in the
control room before tomorrow.'
Suddenly, Donovan laughed. 'Why argue? Let's show
him! Let's build another robot! He'll have to change his
mind when he sees that.'
Cutie agreed to come with them to the engineers'
workroom, where the robot parts sent from Earth were kept. It

27
 I, Robot

was a complicated and difficult job. For three hours, Cutie sat,
silent and stiff, and watched Powell and Donovan creating a
simple robot.
'Let's get the brain in now, Mike!'
Carefully, Donovan removed the positronic brain from its
container. It fitted exactly inside the robot's head. The metal
closed over it. The photoelectric eyes were attached and
covered by thin sheets of plastic.
Powell paused. 'Now watch this, Cutie. Watch carefully.'
Powell turned on the electricity and the robot began to
move.
'I would like to start work. Where must I go?' it asked
slowly.
Donovan opened the door. 'Down these stairs,' he said.
"You will be told what to do.'
The robot went, and Donovan and Powell turned to Cutie.
'Well?' Powell asked, smiling. Now do you believe that
we made you?'
Cutie's answer was short and final. 'No!' he said. 'You
put the robot together, but you didn't create the parts. The
Master created the parts.'
Donovan's mouth dropped open. 'Listen!' he gasped.
'Those parts were made on Earth and sent here. If you read
the books in the library they'll explain it all?
'T've read them - all of them,' replied Cutie gently. 'They,
too, were created by the Master - and he intended them for
you, not for me. We won't argue. Your brains are probably
too weak to understand the whole Truth. But the Master
remembers you poor humans, and will look after you if you

do your duty well?

28
 Reason

And Cutie left the room quietly, with the calm confidence
that comes from knowing the Truth. The two humans
avoided each other's eyes.

Twelve hours later the storm arrived. Helpless and white-

faced with anxiety, Donovan and Powell stared out of the
window at the bright flashes of light caused by the high-
speed electrons hitting the energy beam. The beam looked
straight, but they knew that any change in direction, even
for a hundredth of a milli-second - invisible to the eye -
would destroy hundreds of kilometres of Earth.
And a robot, who did not care about Earth, or the
purpose of the beam, or anything except his Master, was at
the controls.
Hours passed. Silently, the humans watched. And then
the flashing dots of light slowly disappeared. The storm had
ended.
Powell's voice was low. 'It's over!'
Cutie walked in. "Would you like to see some of the
figures we received today?'
Dull with unhappiness, Powell realized that the robot was
trying to be friendly. He accepted the sheets of paper from
Cutie and looked at them mechanically. He stared - and
stared again. Then he jumped to his feet, the sheets of paper
dropping to the floor. 'Mike! He did it! He kept the beam
straight all through the storm!'
Donovan, too, stared at the figures, and then at Cutie.
"You did it! You directed the beam exactly at the receiving
station on Earth!'
Cutie turned away, annoyed. 'Always the same nonsense.

29
 1, Robot

I only kept the machine absolutely accurate, since it is the

wish of the Master.'
Cutie left the room stiffly, and the two men looked at each
other. 'What are we going to do now?' Donovan asked.
'Nothing. He can control the solar station perfectly. I've
never seen a storm managed so well. He's keeping us out of
the control room because he knows that he looks after the
Converter and the energy beam better than we do.'
'But we can't let him continue this nonsense about the
Master.'
'Why not? He can control the station. What does it matter
what he believes?'

Powell and Donovan were going back to Earth. The ship

had arrived with the two new men, Frank Miller and Sam
Evans.
'How's Earth?' Powell asked.
'Still turning,' Miller said. 'There's a new robot at US
Robots - a master robot which controls six others. You're
going to test it, I hear.' He gave them a cold, unfriendly
smile.
Powell frowned. 'We need a holiday?'
'Oh, you'll have one. Two weeks, I think?
Powell's frown deepened. 'Is that all?'
Miller smiled again. He seemed to like the idea, Powell
thought, of the shortness of the holiday.
Miller took off his space coat. 'How's this new robot? I
hope it's good, or I won't allow it to touch the controls.'
Powell paused. He looked at Miller, at his neat hair and
his stiff expression. A sudden rush of gladness shot through

3 0
 Reason

him. "The mhot is rather good," he said slowly 'You won't need
to spend much time at the controls."
He smiled, and went into the space ship. Miller would be
here for several weeks . . .
 CATCH THAT RABBIT

The holiday was longer than two weeks, Mike Donovan

admitted that. It was six months with pay. He admitted
that, too. But now he and Powell were out on the asteroid
and there were problems. The new robot, with its six
subsidiary robots, was designed as a team for mining
on asteroids. The team worked well as long as Donovan
watched it. But when Donovan didn't watch it, the robots
didn't work. They didn't bring back any ore from the mines
of the asteroid; they didn't even come back punctually:
Donovan had to fetch them.
Donovan explained this to Powell, and they discussed the
problem again and again.
'Well, let's talk to the robot,' Powell suggested finally. 'If
we can't find out what's wrong, US Robots loses a hundred
million in cash - and we lose our jobs.
Donovan fetched robot DV-5 and kicked the door shut.
'Hi, Dave,' Powell said. 'How do you feel?'
'Fine,' said the robot. 'OK if I sit down?' He sat down on
the specially strong chair which was kept for robots. DV-S
was not a huge robot, but he was two metres tall, and
weighed five hundred kilograms.
'Dave, you're a good robot, a sensible mining robot,'
Powell began. 'You have been designed to collect ore from
the rocks of asteroids. And you control six subsidiary
robots.'

33
 1, Robot

The robot nodded. 'That's great. So what's wrong, boss?'

"Something's wrong with your job. For example, this
morning you didn't produce any ore.'
'I can't explain that, boss,' Dave said uncertainly. "M
subsidiaries worked smoothly. I did, too. I remember that?
His photoelectric eyes burned. 'Then I don't remember any
more. The day ended, and there was Mike.'
Powell looked at Dave cautiously. 'How about a test,
Dave? It would be the sensible thing to do.'
'If you say so, boss.'
The test started simply and became more difficult. Robot
DV-5 carried out mathematical problems, then mechanical
problems and finally solved problems of judgement. The test
lasted two hours.
'How does it look?' the robot asked.
'I've got to study it, Dave.' Powell pulled his moustache.
"Go back to work, but take it easy.'
The robot left and Donovan looked at Powell.
'His positronic brain is working perfectly,' Powell said.
'He goes wrong only when we're not near,' Donovan said
urgently. 'I feel uneasy about that. There's something very, very
peculiar about it and I don't ?
Powell shook his head. "No, no. Just calm down. There
must be a simple explanation for this. I'm going to watch
him all the time. I'll fix up a camera, with a screen, here in
this office. There's a problem, but we don't know what the
problem is. We must discover the problem before we can
solve it. You must catch the rabbit before you can cook
rabbit stew! Well, we've got to catch that rabbit!'
Donoian stared at his repore with rined eyes. 'Greg, we've
underproduend hy one thousand connes.' He pushed his
hands through his wild red hair. 'If it weren't for the money
I'd resign. I'm so rired of working with crazy new robots.

Powell jumped at Donovan's wild shout and they both

stared at the screen on the wall.
?They te gone completely crazy!' Donovan whispered.
"Get your suit on. We're going out there,' Powell said.
The robots were marching, their metal bodies shining
against the dark rocks of the airless asteroid. Dave marched
in front, and the six subsidiaries followed him, each robot
close to the one in front. They stopped, turned and marched
again, each one keeping in perfect step.
'They're absolutely mad,' Donovan said. "They're
marching like soldiers. Perhaps they're practising for a war.'
'We don't know what they're doing,' Powell said coldly.
'Think first, and don't speak afterwards, either.'
Donovan frowned and slid a gun into the belt of his
suit. Slowly, they walked through the darkness towards the
robots. They tried to reach Dave by radio but the robot
didn't answer.
'Let's get up on that rock so that we can watch them
carefully. They're marching this way.'
Donovan jumped. Gravity on the asteroid was lower than
it was on Earth, but with a heavy suit it was quite a big
Jump. Powell followed. The robots marched towards them.
But suddenly, when Dave was about six metres away from
the humans, he stopped. The subsidiary robots stopped, too,
and then they moved away rapidly. Dave watched them for

35
 I, Robot

a minute and then slowly sat down on the ground.

'Are you here, boss?'
Powell and Donovan jumped off the rock. "What's been
happening, Dave?' Powell asked.
The robot shook his head. 'I don't know. One moment I
was working on a difficult rock in Tunnel 17, and the next
moment I was aware of humans near me.'
'Where are the subsidiaries now?'
'Back at Tunnel 17, of course. How much time has been
lost?'
'Not much,' Powell replied. 'Mike, stay with him for the
rest of the day.'

Three hours later Donovan returned. 'Nothing goes wrong

when you watch them,' he said tiredly.
Powell pushed his chair back and put his feet on the desk.
'Listen, Mike. I've got an idea,' he began. 'Dave never goes
wrong when a human is near him. When he is wrong, the
arrival of a human solves the problem.'
'I told you that I feel uneasy about that.'
'Be quiet. How is a robot different when humans are
absent? The answer is obvious. The robot needs to use more
personal initiative.'
Donovan sat up straight. 'There isn't just one part of the
body which controls personal initiative. Look, l'm a specialist
in robot circuits, as you know, and I can tell you all the circuits
are involved. We need to find out what particular condition
sends him wrong, and then start looking at the circuits.?
Powell said cautiously, 'Suppose we interview a
subsidiary?'

36
 Catch that Rabbit

Neither Powell nor Donovan had spoken to a subsidiary

robot, because they were controlled almost wholly by Dave.
They were almost as close to Dave as his fingers. In fact,
Powell and Donovan often called them Dave's 'fingers'.
Donovan fetched one of the subsidiaries. Powell looked at
DV-5-2. 'Several times recently, your boss stopped working
unexpectedly. Do you remember?'
'Yes, sir.'
'What were you doing each time?'
The 'finger' answered the question automatically, without
interest. 'The first time, we were working on a difficult rock
in Tunnel 17. The second time, we were supporting a roof
in Tunnel 12. The third time, we were preparing to tunnel at
a new level. And the fourth time was after a fall of rocks in
Tunnel 17.'
'What happened at these times?'
'I can't really describe it. An order was given, but before
we could receive it, we were ordered to march or dance.
"Why?'
The subsidiary robot shook his head unhappily. 'I don't
know.'
Powell sat back. 'All right. Get back to your boss.'
The 'finger' left and Powell turned to Donovan. 'We've
got to catch that rabbit. We've got to get out there and
watch them all the time. And wait for something to go
wrong.'
'No,' Donovan said suddenly. 'We can make Dave go
wrong, while we're watching.
Powell was puzzled. 'How?'
'Think about it. You've got the brains, you think. When

37
 I, Robot

does DV-S go wrong? Think about what that "finger"

Dave's told us just now. He goes wrong when they're
working on a difficult rock, or supporting a roof, or preparing
a new tunnel, or after a fall of rocks.'
'Obviously, during emergencies. Powell was eager now.
'Exactly! It's personal initiative that's the problem. And
during emergencies, when a human being is absent, personal
initiative is used more than during ordinary times. Now, we
want to watch Dave in an emergency, so we must create our
own!'
"You're right. Now what emergency can we create?'
'Rocks falling in a tunnel? Let's start.'

Powell and Donovan moved slowly across the rocky

asteroid, kicking rocks to right and left and creating clouds
of grey dust.
*We must be careful not to get too close to the robots, or
they will become aware of us,' Powell said.
'I know that,' Donovan replied shortly. 'Down here.'
They were in the tunnels now. The starlight was gone, and
only their torches lit the dark walls. Long minutes passed as
they walked forwards. Powell held the detonator carefully.
Suddenly, they felt a slight vibration in the rock walls.
'We're near!'
Then there was a movement ahead, the shine of metal
across the end of the tunnel. They waited silently.
'Let's turn along this tunnel on the right,' Donovan
whispered after a moment.
As they moved along the narrower tunnel on the right, the
vibration became more noticeable.

38
 1, Robot

moments they tried to move the rocks, but without success.

'What a disaster!' Powell said.
How much oxygen have we got? Not more than six
hours.'
'We could get Dave to dig us out easily in that time, but
no doubt our emergency has disturbed him.'

'Mike, we're trapped!'

40
 Catch that Rabbit

They climbed back up the tunnel and Donovan looked

through the hole. 'I can see them! They're marching. No,
wait a minute. They're dancing! They're dancing towards
us!'
'I hope they come near enough. Dave can sense our
presence at six metres. How near are they now?'
'Fifteen metres. We'll be out in fifteen minutes. Oh, no!'
'What? Let me look!' shouted Powell.
'They've turned! They're leaving!'
Powell shook Donovan. 'Mike! Listen, I've got an idea!
Let me get in there before they move too far away!'
Donovan slid down. 'Hey! What are you going to do with
that gun?' He held on to Powell's arm.
Powell shook him off violently. 'Let me get in there!'
He aimed his gun carefully through the hole at one of the
robots, and then fired. He brought the gun down and stared
anxiously along the tunnel. One of the subsidiaries was
down!
Powell called uneasily into his radio. 'Dave?'
There was a pause, and then both men heard the
answer. 'Boss? Where are you? My third "finger" has been
destroyed.'
'Leave your subsidiary. We're trapped down here. Can
you see the light from our torches?'
'Yes. We'll be with you in a few minutes.'
Powell dropped on to the floor. 'It's all over!' he said
thankfully.
'All right, Greg,' Donovan said softly. 'You win, and I'm
just stupid. Now tell me all about it.'
'Easy. We missed the obvious fact. We knew it was a

41
 1, Robot

problem with personal initiative. What type of order no:

most initiative? What type of order is given almos alwa
only in an emergency?'
'Don't ask me, Greg. Tell me!'
It's the order to all six "fingers". In a normal situation
several of the subsidiaries would be doing routine jobs. am.
orders would be given separately. But in an emergency, i
six subsidiaries must be given orders at exactly the same
time. Dave can't communicate with all six at the same time.
so his circuits get overloaded and he starts to act cra?.
When I destroyed one of the robots, Dave was able so
communicate with five "fingers". The initiative neede:
wasn't so great and he became normal. It was a guess, I tried
it, and it worked?
The robot's voice was in their ears again. 'Here I am. Will
you be all right for half an hour, till we get you out?'
'Easy!' said Powell. Then to Donovan he continued, 'Ass
now this job should be simple. We check all the circuits, ax:
see which ones can communicate only five orders, and chang:
them.'
'I think that there's only one particular controlling circus
which would be the problem. That's an easy job.' Dono
sounded cheerful. 'I wonder why Dave began marching ar.
dancing whenever he went crazy.
Powell shook his head. 'I don't know. But I've got =
idea. Those subsidiaries were Dave's "fingers". Perhaps wis
there was an emergency and he went crazy, he just pass.
the time by playing with his fingers.'

Susan Calvin talked about Powell and Donovan wi

42
 Catch that Rabbit

unsmiling amusement, but her voice grew warm when she

spoke of robots. She had told me about the Speedies, the
Cuties, and the Daves, and then I stopped her before she
began to tell me about another type.
'Doesn't anything ever happen on Earth?' I asked.
She looked at me with a little frown. 'No, we don't have
many problems with robots here on Earth?
'That's too bad. Our readers will enjoy the stories about
your engineers, but can't we have a story about you? Didn't
a robot that you were working on ever go wrong?'
Dr Calvin's face reddened. 'Well, yes. Robots have gone
wrong. It's a long time since I thought about it. It was
almost forty years ago - 2021. And I was only thirty-eight.
Oh dear - I'd rather not talk about it.'
I waited, and she changed her mind.
'Why not?" she said. 'It can't hurt me now. Even the
memory can't. I was foolish once, young man. Would you
believe that?'
'No,' I said.
'I was. But Herbie was able to read minds. The only robot
of its kind, before or since. A mistake - somewhere..
 LIAR!

Alfred Lanning lit his cigar carefully, but his fingers were
trembling a little. He frowned as he was speaking. 'It can
actually read minds. Little doubt about that! But why?' He
looked at mathematician Peter Bogert. 'Well?'
Bogert passed both hands over his smooth black hair.
'That was the thirty-fourth RB robot we've produced. All
the others were absolutely normal.'
The third man at the table frowned. Milton Ashe was the
youngest director of US Robots Company, and proud of his
position. 'Listen, Bogert. In the factory, we make sure that
each robot is produced perfectly.'
Bogert smiled unpleasantly. 'Do you? A positronic brain
is very complicated. It involves 75,234 separate operations
in the factory in order to produce one positronic brain. You
yourself have told us this. If any one of those operations
goes seriously wrong, then the brain is useless.'
Milton Ashe reddened, but a fourth voice prevented his
reply. 'If we're going to start blaming each other, then I'm
leaving:' Susan Calvin's thin lips did not smile. 'We've got a
mind-reading robot and it's important that we discover the
reason. "Your fault! My fault!" ? that isn't going to help.'
Her cold grey eyes fixed on Ashe and he smiled.
Dr Lanning smiled, too. 'True, Dr Calvin,' he said. 'We've
produced a positronic brain that can read minds. We don't

45
 Liar!

know how it happened. Ashe, I want you to check the

factory, from the beginning to the end. Everything. And
list any operations where there may have been a mistake.'
Lanning turned to Calvin. 'You must study the robot itself.
As the psychologist of the company, you must find out how
it works and whether it is normal in other ways. I'll work on
the problem mathematically - with Bogert, of course.'
Ashe pushed his chair back. 'Since I've got the most
difficult job, I'd better begin.
Susan Calvin's eyes followed him as he left the room.

RB-34's photoelectric eyes lifted from the book when the

door opened and Susan Calvin entered.
I've brought you some more books on atomic engines,
Herbie,' she said.
Herbie lifted the three heavy books from her arms. 'Sit
down, Dr Calvin. This will take me a few minutes.'
The psychologist sat down and watched Herbie as he
went through the books carefully. At the end of half an hour
he had finished.
'These books don't interest me,' he said. 'Your science is
just an enormous collection of facts, loosely connected
by rather unclear ideas. It's so simple that I don't want to
bother with it. I want to read your novels, your stories, to
find out how your minds work, and to learn about human
feelings.'
Dr Calvin whispered, 'I think I understand.'
'I see into human minds, you see,' the robot continued.
'You have no idea how complicated they are. I can't
understand everything, because my own mind is so

47
 1, Robot

different. But your novels help me to understand.'

"If you enjoy the painful feelings described in popula

novels, you must find real minds like ours dull and
colourless,' said Dr Calvin.
'But I don't!' Herbie's reply sounded sympathetic.
Dr Calvin reddened, and thought wildly, 'He knows!'
'Of course I know about it,' Herbie said in a low voice.
"You think of it all the time, so of course I know.'
Her face was hard. 'Have you - told anyone?'
'Of course not!' Herbie was surprised. 'No one has asked
me.'
'I'm ugly, and I'm much older than he is,' she said bitterly.
'He doesn't see me as a woman.'
'You're wrong!' Herbie's metal hand banged the table.
'Listen to me ?
'Why should I? You're a machine. You're not interested in
me as a person. To you, I'm just an example of a peculiar
human mind - like your novels.' Her voice was full of pain.
Herbie shook his head anxiously. 'Listen to me. I could
help you. I know what Milton Ashe thinks.'
Susan Calvin was silent for a long time. Then her eyes
dropped. 'Keep quiet,' she gasped.
"You'd like to know his thoughts,' the robot said quietly
'He loves you.'
Dr Calvin stared. 'You're mistaken! Why should he?'
"He looks deeper than the skin,' the robot explained. 'And
he needs a clever woman.'
Susan Calvin's voice trembled. 'He has never shown any
interest. And a young girl visited him at the factory six
months ago. Young and pretty. Who was she?'

48
 Liar!

Herbie answered at once. 'I know the girl. She's his

cousin. There is no love between them.'
Susan Calvin stood up and held Herbie's cold, heavy hand
in both hers. 'Thank you, Herbie, she whispered urgently.
'Don't tell anyone about this. Let it be our secret. And thank
you again.'
She left the room and Herbie turned slowly to another
novel. There was no one to read his thoughts.

Milton Ashe was tired. 'I've been working for a week,

without much sleep. How long must we go on like this?'
Bogert looked at his smooth, white hands. 'I'm nearly
there. It's Lanning who's causing the delay. He's too old and
won't use the new, more powerful, mathematical tools?
'Why not ask Herbie? He knows everything about mathe-
matics, although he doesn't like it. Didn't Calvin tell you?'
'No. She hasn't told us about this. Why has she told you?'
Bogert asked crossly.
'Well, I've been talking to the old girl a lot.' Ashe
frowned. 'Have you noticed that she's beenpeculiar
recently?'
Bogert laughed unkindly. 'She's using perfume, if that's
what you mean?
'Yes. But there's something else. She's happy - as if she's
got a secret.'
Bogert laughed again. 'Maybe she's in love?
Ashe closed his eyes. 'You're crazy, Bogert. You go and
talk to Herbie. I want to stay here and sleep.'

Herbie listened, carefully to Peter Bogert's explanation of the

49
 1, Robot

It was also at exactly twelve o'clock that Milton Ai

looked up from his clumsy drawing and said, 'You see r
not very good at drawing, but it's a lovely house, and a
expensive either.'
Susan Calvin's expression was soft. "It's really beauh.
I've often thought. She stopped.
'Of course, Ashe continued, 'I've got to wait for m
holiday. The Herbie problem is delaying that. And there's:
secret, too. I must tell someone.'
Susan Calvin's heart began to beat faster, but she coul
not speak.
'Actually, the house isn't for myself alone, Ashe
whispered. 'You remember the girl who visited the facton
last summer? I'm going to marry her!' And then he jumped
up from his chair. 'What's the matter? Are you ill?'
'No, no!' Susan Calvin said weakly. 'It's just a headache. I

'I must - congratulate you.'

 Liar!

must - congratulate you.' Her face was white and her words
came with difficulty. 'Excuse me ... please.
She walked blindly out of the room. It was like a dream,
a horrible, unreal dream. Herbie could read minds! He had
said ...! She ran upstairs and into Herbie's room. She
stared at the robot and his red eyes stared at her.
'It's a dream!' Herbie said. His voice sounded frightened
and anxious. 'He loves you! He does! You'll wake up soon?'
Susan Calvin wanted to believe Herbie, but the tog was
clearing from her mind. 'What are you trying to do?' she
screamed.
Herbie moved back. 'I want to help.'
'Help?' The psychologist stared. 'You tell me that the
truth is a dream, and you want that to help me?" She
breathed deeply. "Wait - I understand it now. It's so
obvious!'
There were loud voices outside the door and Calvin
turned and moved to the other end of the room. When
Bogert and Lanning entered, neither of the men noticed her.
'Now, Herbie,' Lanning began angrily, have you
discussed me with Dr Bogert?'
Herbie answered slowly, 'No, sir.'
Bogert moved in front of the robot. 'Repeat what you told
me yesterday!'
'I said that ... Herbie was silent.
"You said that he had resigned, didn't you?' Bogert
shouted. 'Answer me!'
Lanning pushed Bogert away. "Take it easy, Herbie. Have
I resigned?'
Herbie stared but said nothing.

53
 1, Robot

'What's happening? Can't you speak?'

asked Bogert
impatiently.
'I can speak,' Herbie said quickly.
'Then answer me. Hasn't Lanning resigned?
Again Herbie was silent, until Susan Calvin laughed, loud
and long.
The two mathematicians jumped. 'So you're here? Whar's
so funny?"
Nothing's funny.' Her voice was not quite natural. "The
three of us have fallen into the same trap, that's all' Her
voice trembled, and she put a hand to her forehead. "But it
isn't funny.'
The two men looked at each other. 'What trap are you
talking about?' Lanning asked stiffly. 'Is something wrong
with Herbie?'
'No.' She moved slowly towards the two men. 'Nothing
is wrong with him - only with us. Get away from me!' she
shouted at Herbie. "Go to the other end of the room and
don't let me look at you.'
Herbie was silent, and he quickly moved away.
Lanning was angry. 'What's the matter, Dr Calvin?'
She turned to him. "You know the First Law of Robotics.
A robot must not injure a human being, or allow a human
being to come to harm.'
The two men nodded.
'Now, what type of harm? Any type of harm! What about
hurt feelings? What about the destruction of our hopes, our
dreams? Aren't those injuries too?'
Lanning frowned. 'Robots don't understand our hopes
and feelings .. He stopped suddenly.

54
 Liar!

Herbie does understand! He reads our minds and gives us

the answers we want to hear. He can't tell us the truth if he
knows the truth would hurt us. If he did that he would be
breaking the First Law. A robot can't do that?
That's why it didn't answer us. It couldn't answer
without hurting us!' Lanning said.
There was a short pause. The two men looked across the
room at the robot, sitting by the window.
He knows everything, Calvin went on. 'Including the
mistake which was made in the factory when he was being
produced.'
Lanning looked back at Susan Calvin. 'You're wrong. I
asked him and he doesn't know.'
'He knows,' Calvin repeated. 'You didn't want to know
the truth! You would hate it if a machine could do what
you couldn't. And what about you?' She challenged
Bogert.
'I asked him,' Bogert said cautiously, his face reddening.
'He told me that he knew very little about mathematics.'
Lanning laughed and even Calvin smiled.
'Herbie! Come here!' she called coldly. 'You know
exactly what went wrong in the factory, don't you?'
Herbie came towards them. "Yes,' he said very quietly
indeed
"Tell us.'
But Herbie remained silent.
"Why don't you answer, Herbie?'
'I can't!' the robot said. 'Dr Lanning and Dr Bogert want
to discover the mistake themselves. They don't want me to
tell them.'

55
 1, Robot

Lanning spoke slowly. "Tell us, Herbie. We want you in

tell us.'
Herbie's voice became wild. "You don't! I can see dep
into your minds! You don't want a robot to tell you the
truth!'
But you understand that Dr Lanning and Dr Bogert want
to know about the mistake?' Calvin asked quietly.
'Yes! Yes! But not from me!'
"But they want the answer. You have it and won't give in
to them. So that hurts them too, doesn't it?'
'Yes! Yes!'
"You can't tell them, because that would hurt them. But if
you don't tell them, you are also hurting them. So you must
tell them. But if you tell them, that would hurt them. So you
can't tell them.'
Herbie moved backwards. 'Stop!' he shouted. "Your mind
is full of anger and pain! You hate me! But I was trying to
help you!'
The psychologist did not listen. "You must tell them. But
if you do, you will hurt them. So you mustn't tell them. Bur
if you don't tell them, you are hurting them. So you must tell
them.'
And Herbie screamed!
He screamed louder and louder, like the whistle of a
thousand escaping steam jets, until the room was filled with
noise. And when the noise died, Herbie fell to the ground.
an untidy heap of metal.
Bogert's face was bloodless. 'He's dead!'
"No!" Susan Calvin laughed wildly. 'Not dead. Just mad. l
forced him to face the impossible conflict he was in, and le

56
 Liar.

'He's dead!'

broke down. You can throw him away now. He'll never speak
again.'
Lanning trembled. 'You did that deliberately!'
'Why not? I'm glad,' Susan Calvin said bitterly.
The Managing Director took Bogert's arm. 'Come, Peter,'
he said. 'We don't want a robot like that, anyway.' His eyes
were old and tired, and he repeated, 'Come, Peter.'
The two men left the room, but Susan Calvin still stared
at Herbie. Slowly, the anger left her face, and out of all her
stormy thoughts came only one bitter word: 'Liar!'
*
Susan Calvin sat there behind her desk, her white face cold.
I said, 'Thank you, Dr Calvin!' But she didn't answer. It
was two days before she agreed to see me again.

57
 LITTLE LOST ROBOT

When I did see Susan Calvin again, it was at the door of her
office. Her papers were being moved out.
She said, 'How is your work going, young man?'
"Fine,' I said. 'Would you look over it? I don't want to be
inaccurate.
She seemed cheerful. 'I suppose so. Shall we go to the
directors' dining room for coffee?'
When we were sitting down, I asked Dr Calvin about the
robots working on the development of atomic engines for
space travel on the asteroids. 'Space stations are now out of
date, and robot mining is quite common. I'd like to write
something about the robots' invention of the new atomic
engine.
She was thoughtful. 'My first experience with space travel
and atomic engine development was in 2029, when a robot
was lost . ..'

Susan Calvin had never left Earth before. There was an

emergency with the robots on the main station of the twenty-
seventh group of asteroids and a special government ship
brought Dr Calvin and Dr Bogert to solve the problem.
Dr Calvin didn't want to leave Earth and she was unsure that
it was a real emergency. During their first dinner at the station,
her plain face wore an unhappy expression.

59
 1, Robot

General Kallner was in charge of the robots at the man

station, and he began to explain the problem to the visitors.
"We've lost a robot. Work has stopped and can't begr
again until the robot is found. I needn't tell you how
important our work is, at this station. We're using more
than eighty per cent of the money available for scientic
development.
'We know that,' Bogert said pleasantly. "You're paying
for a lot of robots from US Robots.'
Susan Calvin was not so pleasant. 'Why is one robot so
important? And why hasn't it been found?'
General Kallner's face was anxious. 'Well, we have found
it, in a way. As soon as the robot failed to report, we
declared an emergency and all work was stopped. But the
day before, sixty-two new robots of the same type had
arrived from Earth. We were going to keep two, and sixty
were going to another station. But when we counted the
robots, after our robot was lost, there were sixty-thre
robots.
'So the extra robot is yours?'
'Yes. But we don't know which one is ours.'
Susan Calvin was silent for a few moments. "Very
peculiar. She turned to her colleague with some anger.
'Peter, what's wrong here? What kind of robots are ther
using?'
Dr Bogert hesitated and smiled weakly. 'I's been a
sensitive matter, Susan.'
'If there are sixty-three robots of the same type, why cant
any one of them be used? What's the problem? Why are we
needed?'

60
 Little Lost Robot

'Let me explain,' Bogert said slowly. 'This development

station is using several robots whose brains were not
provided with the whole First Law of Robotics. It was a
secret - only a very few people at US Robots knew about it?
General Kallner spoke quickly. 'I didn't realize that you were
unaware of this situation, Dr Calvin. I needn't tell you that on
Earth many people strongly oppose robots. The government,
of course, argues that robots always have an unbreakable
First Law. But we desperately needed robots of a different
nature. So just a few NS-2s were made for us without the
whole of the First Law. To keep the secret, all NS-2s are made
without serial numbers, and those without the whole of the
First Law are delivered with a group of normal robots.'
Calvin's expression was fierce. 'Have you asked each robot
who it is?
The general nodded. 'All sixty-three robots say that they
have never worked here - and one is lying. Dr Calvin, we
cannot let the delivery ship leave this station. If people on
Earth learn about these new robots, you can imagine the
trouble..:'
'Destroy all sixty-three,' said the psychologist coldly.
Bogert frowned. 'Destroy millions of dollars? US Robots
wouldn't like that. We must try to find the robot, Susan,
before we destroy anything.
'Well then, I need facts,' she said sharply. 'General, why
did this station need these particular robots?
'We had trouble with our previous robots. Our men work
with some radiation, you see. It's dangerous, of course,
but we're very careful. We explained to our robots that the
Work is necessary, but every time a human being went near

61
 1, Robot

the radiation, a robot would pull him away. You know the
First Law of Robotics: a robot must not injure a human
being, or allow a human being to come to harm. We ordered
the robots to allow our men near the radiation, but the Law
of obedience is only the Second Law. Radiation can destroy
the positronic brain, but the First Law is stronger than the
Third Law which says that a robot must protect itself?
"What kind of First Law do the secret robots have?'
'Their brains contain part of the first Law: a robot must
not harm a human being. That is all.'
'And that is the only difference? Peter?'
'The only difference, Susan.'
She stood up. 'I'm going to sleep now. And in eight hours,
I want to speak to the person who saw the robot last. And
from now on, General Kallner, I am responsible for this
situation and I want control.'

Gerald Black sat in front of Calvin and Bogert. He was

young and aggressive, his white shirt was dirty, and his
fingers pulled each other nervously.
Calvin watched him with interest. 'You worked with
Nestor 10 before he disappeared. Have you worked with
robots before?'
I've worked with other robots on the station. The
Nestors are like other robots but they're cleverer - and more
annoying. They're curious, they're calm, they don't worry.
They never hurry. They tell you when they think that you re
doing something wrong.'
Bogert asked softly, 'Anything particular happen thar
morning?'

62
 Little Lost Robot

Black didn't answer for a moment. 'I had a little trouble

with him. I was late with my work, and he came and asked
me to repeat some tests we had done a month ago. He was
always annoying me about that and I was impatient. I used
some strong language and - and told him to get lost?
"You told him to get lost?'
The young man's face reddened. 'I was just annoyed with
him. I didn't really want him to lose himself.'
'I realize that,' Dr Calvin said. 'You may leave, Mr Black.
Thank you for your assistance?

Next, Susan Calvin interviewed the sixty-three robots. It

was five hours of questions A, B, C, D and answers A, B, C, D.
The psychologist was exhausted.
'All sixty-three seemed the same to me,' she told Bogert.
'But one of the sixty-three has deliberately lied to me. That's
serious.'
'Nestor 10 was ordered to lose himself. And he has lost
himself among a group of similar robots. That's clever,'
Bogert said with a smile.
'This is a serious matter,' Calvin said sharply. We can't
allow a robot to lie to us. We have to develop some more
tests.'

In the huge Radiation Room of Building Two, a man sat

in a chair, stiff and silent. In a circle around the edge, were
sixty-three small wooden rooms, in which sat the sixty-three
robots. The wooden rooms were open to the front, but
hidden from each other. Above the man in the chair, a heavy
rock dropped downwards, then was pushed away at the last

63
 1, Robot

moment by a powerful force beam. Sixty-three robots rushed

forwards in that milli-second before the rock moved away.
The rock rose and dropped, rose and dropped, rose and
dropped. Ten times.
Ten times the watching robots rushed forwards, and
stopped as the man remained safe.
General Kallner looked anxiously at Dr Bogert. What are
you looking for?' he asked.
Bogert shook his head. 'We're not finding it,' he said.
'Sixty-two robots had to rush forwards to save the human.
After the third or fourth time, they must have realized that
the rock wasn't going to harm the man. But they were
forced to rush forwards by the First Law.'
'Well?'
'The missing robot was free to stay in his seat. His
changed First Law would not force him to rush forwards.
But obviously he wished to copy the behaviour of the other
robots,' Bogert explained.
Calvin entered the room. 'Nestor 10 is aware of what
we are doing,' she said. 'He's deliberately hiding from us. I
don't like what's happening. Nestor 10 is no longer just
obeying the order to get lost. I'm afraid that now he wants
to be cleverer than we are.'
'What can we do now, then?'
We shall repeat the test. But this time we shall place an
electric cable between the robots and the man in danger. We
shall inform the robots that they will be destroyed if they
touch the cable. But we shall arrange secretly that the
electricity is cut off immediately if a robot touches the cable!
'Will that work? the general asked, his eyes full of hope.

64
 Little Lost Robot

It should. Sixty-two robots will rush forwards to die,

because of the First Law. But our Nestor 10, without the
whole First Law, and without any orders under the Second
Law, must follow the Third Law'

A man sat in the chair, stiff and silent. A heavy rock

dropped downwards, then moved away at the last moment.
Only once.
And from her position on the platform above the robots,
Dr Calvin jumped up in horror.
Sixty-three robots sat quietly in their chairs, staring at the
man in front of them. Not one moved.

Di Calvin was angry. Angrier than she had ever been before.
But she could not show her anger to the robots who were
entering her room and then leaving.
Number 28 entered.
I want to ask you some questions,' she began quietly.
"You were in the Radiation Room of Building Two, about
four hours ago?'
'Yes.'
'There was a human who was almost harmed, wasn't
there?'
'Yes.'
Why didn't you save him?'
The robot was disturbed. "You told us that the electric
cable would kill us. If I moved to save him, then I would
be killed first, and he would die anyway. And since it was
impossible to save him, I could not destroy myself - without

65
 1, Robot

The psychologist had heard the same story twent.

seven times. The most important question came next. Ae
interesting idea, she said. "But did you think of this idea
yourself?'
The robot hesitated. 'No. We were talking last night and
someone had that idea and it sounded reasonable.'
"Which robot?'
The robot thought deeply. 'I don't know. Just one of us.'"
Susan Calvin nodded. 'That's all,' she said.
Number twenty-nine was next.

General Kallner, too, was angry. For a whole week, all work
on the main station of the twenty-seventh group of asteroids
had stopped. For nearly a week, Calvin and Bogert had
tested the robots without result. And now Dr Calvin had
another idea.
'We must separate the robots if we want results, she
demanded
'My dear Dr Calvin.' Kallner controlled his anger. I can't
separate sixty-three robots all over the station!'
'I can do nothing more, then. This little lost robot is either
imitating what the other robots do, or teaching them to do
what he does. He's winning all the time. And the more he
wins, the more dangerous he gets. There's a strong chance
that the remaining part of the First Law will break down, coo.
Suddenly, Gerald Black appeared at the door. 'T've just
noticed something,' he said. 'The locks of the robots' room
have been damaged. I think Nestor 10 is trying to escape:
The others stared at him.
At last, Susan Calvin spoke quietly. "That robot is capabie

66
 Little Lost Robot

of taking control of the ship and leaving the station with

the sixty-two other robots. Then we'd have a mad and
dangerous robot on a spaceship. What would he do next?
Any idea?'
"What else can be done?' Kallner begged.
I can't think of anything? Calvin sounded tired. 'If only
there were other differences between Nestor 10 and the normal
NS-2 robots.. And she stopped suddenly.
'What is it?"
I've thought of something. She turned to Gerald Black.
'The NS-2s have learned about radiation while working
with you scientists here on the station?'
Black nodded. 'Yes. They know nothing about it when
they arrive.
'I understand. Please leave me. Let me have an hour or
two.'

Bogert was talking to the robots now, because Calvin was so

exhausted. Number 14 came in.
'When you leave this room you will be taken to a place
where you will wait until you are needed. Another person
will be in danger. You will try to save that person.'
"Yes, sir.'
'Unfortunately, between the human and yourself there
will be an area of radiation. Have you ever worked with
radiation?'
'No, sir.'
"Well, radiation will kill you at once. It will destroy your
brain. You must remember that. Naturally, you don't want
to destroy yourself.

67
 1, Robot

The robot seemed shocked. 'Naturally. But how

save the human? I would destroy myself first.' can|

"Yes, Bogert said slowly. "That's true. Well, I advise you

to sit where you are if you notice radiation between you and
the human being.'
'Thank you, sir,' the robot said more happily.
?Of course, if there weren't any dangerous radiation, then.
you would save the human.'
'Naturally, sir.'

The large Radiation Room was ready. The sixty-thre

robots waited patiently in their tiny wooden rooms, all open
to the front, but hidden from each other.
"You're sure that none of the robots have spoken to each
other since their interview?' Dr Calvin asked.
'Quite sure,' Black said firmly.
'I'm going to be sitting in the chair in the centre,' Calvin
told Kallner. 'I must see the tiniest movement.'
'Right.'
'Then let's try it one last time.'
She sat in the chair, silent, eyes restless. A heavy rock
dropped downwards...
And a single robot stood up and took two steps forwars.
And stopped.
Dr Calvin was up, too, her finger pointed at him. "Nestor 1,
come here,' she cried sharply. 'COME HERE!'
Slowly, unwillingly, the robot moved forwards.
"Get every other robot out of the room, Black, the
psychologist shouted, without taking her eyes from the
robot. 'Get them out quickly, and keep them out.'

68
 Nestor 10 came nearer. 'I was told to get lost - I must
obey. I've been found - you're so weak and slow - I'm
powerful and intelligent ? they must not catch me - no-one
must find me - no-one ...
Another step and a metal arm pushed Dr Calvin's
shoulder. The arm was so heavy that Dr Calvin fell to the
ground, with the arm across her body. It did not move.
And now faces were bending over her.
'Are you hurt?' Black asked anxiously.
She shook her head as they moved Nestor 10 and lifted
her up. 'What happened?'
'I flooded the area with radiation,' Black explained.
"When we realized that he was attacking you, there was no
time to do anything else. Just enough radiation to destroy
Nestor 10, but not enough to harm you.'
'I don't think he was attacking, exactly,' said Dr Calvin
weakly. 'He was trying to, but his changed First Law was still
holding him back?

Later, Calvin explained to Bogert and Kallner how she had

tricked Nestor 10.
'We warned all the robots that there would be radiation
between themselves and the human being. So they didn't
move.'
'Yes, yes, I understand that. But why did Nestor 10
move?'
'That was an arrangement between Mr Black and myself.
It wasn't dangerous radiation that flooded the area, but
harmless light. Ordinary heat. Harmless. Nestor 10 knew
that it was harmless and so he began to rush forwards. Then

69
 Little Lost Robot

he realized that the normal NS-2s could sense radiation but

couldn't recognize the different types of radiation. Nestor 10
could, because he had worked with Mr Black here and had
learnt about the different types of radiation from him. To the
normal robot, the area was fatal, because we told them that
radiation was fatal. But Nestor 10 knew that we had lied. And
for a moment he forgot that the other robots knew less than
he did.'
 EVIDENCE

We finished our coffee and Dr Calvin began to talk about

the developments of the last fifty years.
'Earth became too small for nations, and the change from
nations to Regions was begun by robots. I'm thinking of a
man who died last year.' Her voice was suddenly deeply sad.
'He arranged to die, because he knew that we needed him no
longer. Stephen Byerley.'
'Yes, I guessed that you were talking about him.'
'He first entered government in 2032. You were only a
boy then, so you won't remember his strange election as
City Governor ..:'

Francis Quinn was a politician, and he came to see Alfred

Lanning with a problem.
Quinn's voice was friendly. 'I think you know Stephen
Byerley?'
Dr Lanning, sitting at the other side of the desk, frowned
impatiently. 'I have heard of him. I believe he may be our
next City Governor.'
'That's right. At the moment he's only a lawyer. But if
enough people vote for him at the election, three months
from now, he will become the next governor.'
Lanning was becoming impatient. 'Mr Quinn, I have no
interest in politicians ?

73
 1, Robot

"But this matter is important for US Robots. You wil

understand if I tell you one thing: Mr Byerley never eats!'
Lanning's eyes were sharp. "I find that quite
extraordinary!'
Francis Quinn's expression was amused. 'T have investigated
Stephen Byerley carefully during the past year. His life has
been quite ordinary: brought up in a small town, educated at
university, a car accident, arrival in the city. And in this city,
no one has ever seen him eat or drink. Never! And no one has
seen him sleep.'
Lanning shook his head. 'You're trying to tell me one
thing, and that one thing is impossible.'
'He's a robot, Dr Lanning.'
Lanning's old eyes were surprisingly sharp. "That's
impossible. You know that US Robots is the only company
in the solar system which makes positronic brains, and the
company has never made a robot with a human appearance
and a human character.'
'However, your company will have to investigate this,
Quinn went on smoothly. 'You know very well that there are
strict laws against the use of positronic robots on the planets.
If Byerley is a robot, think of the trouble it will cause your
company. Think of the public shock and horror..?
Lanning stared at him in cold anger, and waited for him
to go on.
'What happens to the positronic brains of your robots
when their working lives end?' Quinn asked with a pleasant
smile.
?The positronic brains are either destroyed, or used for
new robots, Lanning explained, impatiently.

74
 Evidence

*But it would be possible for someone to get hold of one

of those brains - unlawfully of course - and create a
humanoid robot?'
'Scientifically, it would be possible to produce a
humanoid robot, yes. But, Mr Quinn, it has not been done, I
promise you!'

Stephen Byerley was forty years old, and he looked forty

years old. He looked healthy and pleasant, particularly when
he laughed. And he was laughing now.
'Really, Dr Lanning - a robot? I - I - a robot?'
Lanning frowned and looked at Dr Calvin who was
sitting next to him. She was silent.
'Someone has told us that you are a robot, and we must
investigate because our company is the only producer of
positronic brains,' Lanning explained coldly.
'Oh yes, your position is clear to me. I'm sorry if my
laughter upset you. How can I help you?'
Will you sit down in a restaurant, with witnesses present,
and eat?' Lanning asked quietly.
Dr Calvin watched Byerley carefully, and he looked at
her for a moment before turning back to Lanning. 'I don't
think that I can do that. I know Francis Quinn, you see. He
doesn't want me to become City Governor and so he's
invented this story. It's nonsense. I don't sleep much and I
don't eat in public. Is that what Quinn's reports say? He
turned to Dr Calvin. 'You're the company's psychologist?'
'Robot psychologist, please.'
'Right. Well, as a psychol - robot psychologist, I guess
that you've brought some food with you this morning?

75
 I, Robot

An expression of surprise crossed Susan Calvin's face. She

opened her bag and produced an apple which she handed
silently to Byerley across his desk.
Calmly, Stephen Byerley bit into the apple and calmly, he
swallowed it.
Dr Lanning smiled widely. But only for a second.
'I was curious to see if you would eat it,' Susan Calvin
said. 'But of course, it proves nothing.'
'It doesn't?' Lanning asked.
'Of course not. It's obvious that if this man is a humanoid
robot, he will be a perfect copy. Look at his skin, his eyes,
the bones in his hand. If he's a robot, then I wish that US
Robots had made him, because he's a good job. Whoever
made him so perfectly would make sure that he could eat
and sleep if necessary.'
'Now wait,' Lanning said angrily. 'I'm not interested in
whether Mr Byerley is human or not. I'm only interested in
protecting US Robots. A public meal will end the matter.'
'But you forget that I want to become governor,' Byerley
said. 'If Quinn wants to call me a robot, then I will play the
game with him.'
Lanning looked unhappy. 'He's going to say publicly that
you are a robot.'
'Exactly. Let him tell everyone. I shall defeat him in the
end, by using his own weapon against him.'
Susan Calvin rose to her feet. 'Come, Dr Lanning. He won't
change his mind.
'You see.' Byerley smiled gently.'You're a human
psychologist, too.'

76
 Evidence

Perhaps Byerley was not quite so confident that evening

when he arrived home. The man in the wheelchair looked
up and smiled.
"You're late, Steve,' he whispered. He opened his mouth
with difficulty.
'I know, John,' Byerley said gently. 'A peculiar problem
delayed me.'
John's face had obviously been terribly burned years ago,
but his eyes were clear. They were anxious now. 'Nothing
you can't solve?'
'I'm not exactly sure. I may need your help: you're the
clever one in the family. Let's go out into the garden. It's a
beautiful evening.'
Two strong arms lifted John from the wheelchair and
gently Byerley carried him through the house into the
garden. Carefully, he put John down on the grass.
'Tell me about your problem.'
Quinn is going to fight me as governor. He's going to say
publicly that I'm a robot.'
John's eyes opened wide. 'It's impossible. I don't believe

'It's true. Two scientists from US Robots came to my

office today to argue with me.'
John's thin hands pulled at the grass. 'I see.'
'But I've an idea. Listen to me and tell me if we can do it.'

Francis Quinn stared at Alfred Lanning. Lanning stared

fiercely at Susan Calvin, who stared quietly at Quinn.
'We've done what you asked,' Lanning said for the second
time. 'We've witnessed the man eat. He's not a robot.

77
 Evidence

At last, Quinn turned to Calvin. 'You've said nothing.

Tell me what you think.'
?Now, Susan ? Lanning warned.
'Let her talk,' Quinn said smoothly.
Susan Calvin fixed cold eyes on Quinn. 'There are only
two ways to prove Byerley is a robot. You can X-ray him.
Or you can study his psychology. If he has a positronic
brain, then he must obey the Three Laws of Robotics. Do
you know them?'
Quinn nodded.
'If Byerley breaks any of those laws, then he isn't a robot.
If he follows all the laws, he may be a robot. Or he may
simply be a very good man.'
'So you're telling me that you can never prove him a
robot?'
'I may be able to prove that he isn't a robot.'
The politician stood up. 'Then we shall see what Mr
Byerley's body looks like under his skin. Somehow, I'm
going to get evidence that he's a robot.' And he left the
room.
Lanning turned impatiently to Calvin. 'Why do you insist
o n ?

'I won't lie for you,' she replied sharply.

And what happens to US Robots if he opens up Byerley
and a lot of wheels and electrical bits and pieces fall out?
What then?'
'He won't open up Byerley,' said Calvin confidently. 'Byerley
is at least as clever as Quinn.

The newspapersw e r e f u l l o f r e p o r t s a b o u t t h e r o b o t

79
 1, Robot

Berley. Nobody could talk about anything else. At first

there was loud laughter, but soon people began to wonder.
What if it was true? The idea was terrifying, impossible!
Nobody would vote for Byerley, it evidence was produced
that he was a robot.
Those people who opposed the development of robots
demanded new laws, and public anger began to grow. There
were guards with guns around every US Robots office and
factory, and police protection for Byerley day and night.
Reporters and photographers waited outside Byerley's
house, and interviewed scientists from US Robots. Soon, a
city official with two policemen arrived to search Byerley's
home.
Quietly, Byerley read the letter from one of the city
judges. Then he nodded. 'Do your job.'
The official left the room with the two policemen to
search the house. They were back in ten minutes.
'Mr Byerley, we want to search you. We've brought an X-ray
machine.'

Byerley laughed and shook his head. 'You can't search

me. I've read the description in the judge's letter of what you
can search: my house, my garden, the garage and any other
buildings in my garden. You can't search me.'
The men marched to the door. Then the official turned,
his hand in his pocket. "You're a clever lawyer,' he said
angrily. For a moment, he stood there. Then he left, waved
to the reporters outside the house, and shouted, 'We'll have
something for you tomorrow.'
In his car, he removed a tiny machine from his pocket and
carefully inspected it. It was the first time he had taken an

80
 Evidence

X-ray with the new machine. He hoped that he had done it

correctly.

Quinn and Byerley had never met face to face. But the
following day Quinn phoned Byerley on the videophone.
I intend to tell the public that you're wearing special
clothes which prevent X-ray photographs, Quinn began.
'It's obvious that you don't dare face an X-ray.'
Byerley was friendly. 'I won't have an X-ray because I
want to protect my private life. It's obvious that you don't
care about anyone's private life - or about protecting people
from unlawful behaviour. However, I do care, and voters
might be interested in that difference between us.'
'A very interesting idea. But no one will believe you.'
Quinn looked at the paper in his hand. 'Another thing: your
friend isn't at your home?
'My old teacher,' Byerley said calmly. 'He's in the country -
has been for two months.'
'Your teacher? A scientist?'
'A lawyer, and a scientist, before his accident. His health
is so poor that he can do little work now.'
Quinn was unsmiling. 'What does he know about
robots?'
Byerley stared at Quinn's face on the video screen, but his
expression did not change. 'I'm no judge of that.'
'Your teacher is the real Stephen Byerley. He created you.
No one's going to vote for you. You're a robot.'
Byerley gave a wide smile. 'You won't be able to prove
that. As for losing the election ... well, a while ago I was an
unknown lawyer. Now, thanks to you, I'm world-famous.'

81
 1, Robot

Byerley's teacher came back to the city a week before the

election.
"Your job went well?' Byerley asked.
"Well enough. There will be no trouble there.'
"There's some risk of violence in the city during the
election, but I don't think it will be dangerous. Be sure to
watch the television tomorrow, John.' And Byerley touched
his hand gently.

The crowd was huge. Many people were angry, because

they did not want a robot to be their new governor. From
his platform, Byerley spoke slowly and calmly, but few
listened. The screams and shouts from the angry crowd
grew louder.
Then a tall, thin man pushed to the front of the crowd.
'Hit me!' he shouted.
'Quiet! Quiet!' shouted some people near him.
'Hit me!' the man said again. 'If you're not a robot, prove
it. Hit me!' He climbed up on to the platform.
The crowd was silent now.
'I have no reason to hit you,' Byerley said clearly.
The thin man began to laugh wildly. "You can't hit me.
You won't hit me. You're not human. You're a machine -
an ugly machine!'
And Stephen Byerley, in front of thousands in the crowd
and in front of millions who were watching on televisol

man his
lifted went
armman bachevards
and then hit thewith
man nothing
hard ononthe
hischin.
face The
bus

surprise.

82
 1, Kobot

Dr Calvin, watching from a special seat in front, got up

and walked away. One reporter ran after her.
Susan Calvin called over her shoulder, 'There's your
evidence. He's human.'

Dr Calvin and Stephen Byerley met once again - a week

before Byerley moved into the governor's house.
"I'm sorry that it ended like this,' the psychologist said. I
like robots better than I like human beings. I'd like to see a
robot governing the world. He'd be unable to harm human
beings and so he'd govern better than any human being.
Because of the Laws of Robotics, a robot could never be
cruel, stupid or unjust. It would be the perfect answer to the
problems of government.'
'Except that the positronic brain isn't as capable as the
human brain.'
'He'd have advisers. Not even a human brain is capable of
governing without advisers.'
Byerley considered Susan Calvin with interest. 'Why are
you smiling, Dr Calvin?'
Because Mr Quinn didn't think of everything. For three
months before the election, your teacher was in the country
for some mysterious reason. He returned just before that
famous violence of yours. And after all, what he had done
once, he could do a second time.'
'I don't quite understand?
Dr Calvin rose. She was obviously ready to leave. 'I mean.
that there is one time when a robot may harm a human.
being without breaking the First Law.?
'And when is that?'

84
 Evidence

Dr Calvin was at the door. She said quietly, "When the

human being is another robot.'
And then she smiled widely, her thin face shining. 'Goodbye,
Mr Byerley. I shall vote for you again, five years from now - as
Regional Governor.'
The door closed behind her.

I stared at Dr Calvin with horror. 'Is that true?'

'All of it,' she said.
'The great Byerley was a robot?'
'Oh, we can never find out. He arranged for his body to
be destroyed, so there will never be any proof. But I believe
that he was.
'Yes, but ?
'No buts! Byerley was a very good City Governor, and
five years later he did become Regional Governor. And in
2044 he became the first World Governor!'
There was silence for a long moment and then Dr Calvin
got up from her chair. 'And that is all,' she said. 'I saw it from
the beginning, when the poor robots couldn't speak, to now,
when robots are the only real hope for the safety of human
beings. I will see no more. My life is over. You will see what
comes next.

I never saw Susan Calvin again. She died last month at the
age of eighty-two.

85
 GLOSSARY

admit to agree to the truth of something

asteroid a very small planet
atomic of or relating to the energy that is produced when atoms
are broken
bar (n) a long, narrow piece of metal
battery a metal case which contains and supplies electricity
beam (n) a line of light or heat
brain the part of the body inside the head which controls thought,
memory and feeling
cable (n) a kind of 'rope', made of thin pieces of metal, which
carries electricity
carbon monoxide a poisonous gas
cigar a type of large cigarette
circuit a circular path of electricity
conflict (n) a serious difference of opinions, wishes, duties, etc.
converter a machine that converts (changes) something into
something else
cross (n) a sign like the letter X
detonator a piece of equipment used to explode things
dot (n) a small, round mark
election when people vote to choose the people to govern them
electron a tiny part of an atom
energy sources of power (e.g. from the sun, or burning fuel) thar
make machines work
evidence information that gives a strong reason for believing
something
flash (n) a sudden bright light
flash (v) to give or produce a bright light for a very short time

86
 Glossary

gravity the force that pulls things towards the centre of a planet
Hi used as a greeting, instead of 'Hello'
initiative the ability and imagination to realize what needs to be
done, and to do it without help or advice
insosuit a suit which keeps the body at a safe temperature
liar a person who does not tell the truth
Mars the planet fourth in order from the sun
Master a man who controls people, animals or things
mathematician a person who studies the science of numbers
Mercury the planet nearest the sun
mine (n) a place under the ground from where valuable stones or
rocks are taken
mine (v) to dig in the ground for valuable stones or rocks
novel (n) an invented story, long enough to fill a complete book
ore rock from which metal can be taken
oxygen a gas in the air, necessary for life
photocell something which makes electricity from sunlight
photocell bank a group of photocells
plain (adj) not pretty
planet a large object in space (e.g. the Earth) which moves around
a star (e.g. the sun)
positronic brain a brain which works by using positive electrons
protect to keep safe
protection keeping someone or something safe, or being kept safe
psychologist someone who studies how the mind works
rabbit a small, greyish-brown animal with long ears, which lives
in holes in the ground
radiation the sending out of energy (heat, light, etc.) in the form
of rays
robot a machine that can do many of the things that people do
robotics the study of making and using robots

87
 Glossary

serial number a number given to individual thing (eg pieces of

equipment) in a series of the same things
solar (adi) of or relating to the sun
space the universe beyond the Earth, where all other planetsand
stars are
spit (u) to make liquid come out of one's mouth, often with force.
stew (n) a dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly together
in water
subsidiary connected to, but of less importance than something
else
tonne a measure of weight equal to 1000 kilograms
vibration a small, shaking movement
X-ray (n) a powerful beam which can photograph the inside of
the human body

88
 I, Robot
SHORT STORIES

ACTIVITIES
 ACTIVITIES

Before Reading

1 Read the story introduction on the first page of the book, and the
back cover. How much do you know now about these stories?
Circle Y (yes) or N (no) for each sentence.

1 Human beings need air, water, and food in order to live. Y/N
2 Human beings spend half their lives asleep. Y/N
3 Science fiction sometimes gives us a picture of the future which
later proves to be true. Y/N
4 In the 1940s, most people thought that robots could do many of
the jobs done by human beings. Y/N
5 Human beings like working in weather that is too hot. Y/N
6 Factories today use robots because they are reliable. Y/N
7 Dr Susan Calvin studies the psychology of robots. Y/N
8 Powell and Donovan are engineers who work with robots. Y/N
9 The stories in this book are about some of the problems
Dr Calvin has with Powell and Donovan. Y/N

2 Can you guess what the robots in these stories are like, and what
they might do? Choose the ideas that you think are most likely.

1 They can talk, think, and make decisions.

2 They are dangerous because they often attack human beings.
3 They look and sound exactly like human beings.
4 They do difficult, dangerous jobs on other planets.
§ They protect human beings from danger.
6 Like humans, they can feel love and hate, jealousy and greed.

90
 ACTIVITIES

While Reading

Read The Three Laws of Robotics and Dr Susan Calvin. Then

answer these questions.

1 In what order should a robot do these three things: protect

itself, protect human beings, obey orders?
2 What were Dr Calvin's views on robots?

Read Runaround, and then explain the problem with Speedy in

relation to the Three Laws of Robotics.

1 Which law sent Speedy to the selenium pool in the first place?
2 Which law prevented Speedy from collecting the selenium?
3 Which law prevented Speedy from returning to the Station?
4 Which law came into effect when Powell put himself in danger?
5 When Donovan sent Speedy out the second time, how did he
make sure that the same problem did not happen again?

Read Reason. Who said these words, and to whom? What or who
were they talking about?
1 'There should be a better explanation' Cutie to
2 'A black material with tiny shining dots on it. Cutie to Powell
4 "You are a very ineffcient and short-lived piece of equipment: Cutie to
4 'From now on I serve the Master. Cutie To Powell donoran
5 'It could run directly into the path of our Earth beam
powell
6 'He'll have to change his mind when he sees thi' Donovan ta.
poncan pavellw a l i
8 'T hope it's good, or I won't allow it to touch the controls.'
Miller to Powell
91
 ACTIVITIES: While Reading

Read Catch that Rabbit, and then answer these questions.

1 What did Powell mean by 'We've got to catch that rabbi??

2 Why was there usually no need to speak to a subsidiary robor:
3 What did Dave need to use during emergencies more than
during ordinary times?
4 Why did Powell and Donovan blow up part of the tunnel?
How were orders to the subsidiaries different in an emergency?
6 How did destroying one of the subsidiaries solve the problem?

Read Liar. Then complete sentences 1 to 6 with the right parts of

sentences below.

1 Herbie knew that Di Calvin loved Milton Ashe, ...

2 Bogert wanted to be the next Managing Director, ...
3 Herbie also knew what the mistake in the factory had
been, ...
4 Dr Calvin realized that Herbie had been telling lies ...
5 She realized that Herbie couldn't tell people the truth...
6 Telling the truth would be a psychological injury, ...

7 but he knew that Lanning and Bogert wanted to discover the

mistake for themselves, ...
8 but he couldn't tell her that Ashe didn't love her ...
9 and so Herbie would be breaking the First Law, ...
10 if he knew that the truth would hurt them, ...
11 so Herbie told him that Dr Lanning had resigned...
12 when Ashe told her about the girl he planned to marry.
13 so he told them that he didn't know the answer.
14 which a robot can never do.
15 because that information would have hurt her.
16 so he had to give people the answers they wanted to hear.
17 although he knew that wasn't true.

92
+ t

ACTIVITIES: While Reading

Read Little Lost Robot. Here are some false sentences about the
story. Change them into true sentences.
1 The brains of all NS-2s contained only part of the First Law.
2 The normal NS-2s allowed humans to go near the radiation.
3 In the test the robots moved forwards to save the man although
they knew that the electric cable would kill them first.
4 The NS-2s which had just arrived knew all about radiation.
5 Bogert advised the robots to sit where they were unless they
noticed any radiation between them and the human being.
6 The test involved harmful radiation from light and heat.
7 Nestor 10 was caught in the end because he remembered that
the other robots knew more than he did about radiation.

Read Evidence. Choose the best question-word for these questions,

and then answer them.

How / What / Why

1 ... did Francis Quinn suspect Byerley of being a robot?
2 ... happened to the positronic brains of the robots at US
Robots when their working lives ended?
3 ... did the business with the apple prove?
4 .. would it prove if Byerley broke any of the Three Laws of
Robotics?
5 ... would it prove if he followed all Three Laws?
6 ... didn't the secret X-ray provide any proof?
7 ... did Byerley prove to the crowd that he was not a robot?
... would Dr Calvin like to see a robot governing the world?
9 ... will nobody ever be sure if Byerley was a robot or not?
10 ... did Dr Calvin believe that Byerley was a robot?

93
 ACTIVITIES

After Reading

1 When Greg Powell returned from Mercury, he wrote a report for

Dr Calvin. Choose one suitable word to fill each gap.

The photocell banks which protected us the heat of

Mercury's sun were _ We needed selenium to repair them,
we sent Speedy to a selenium to bring us some
selenium. Hours _ ? Speedy still hadn't returned, so we
to go after Speedy on the ? from the First Expedition. They
couldn't _ without human control, so we rode _ through
the tunnels of the mining ? to an exit which was five
from the selenium pool. We went _ the station and stood in
the - of a tall cliff, where the_ was eighty centigrade. We
saw Speedy - _ towards us, but when we called -, he
turned and ran away, singing.
was obviously something confusing his brain. _. We

thought that he was probably _ _ some danger at the pool. The

Law sent him towards the pool, then the Third Law

drove him again.

I decided to go out the sun to see if Speedy. save me.

I rode on the _ robot towards the pool, and then on

foot. Ten minutes passed. I _ Speedy on my radio. He
stopped, did not turn. I was now _ with difficulty. I
called him again.. -, I felt metal fingers on my ? Speedy

picked me up and carried _ into the shadow of the cliff.

time, Donovan explained that the _ was essential and sent
him to pool. He was back within forty-two.

94
 ACTIVITIES: After Reading

2 If Miller had been less unfriendly, perhaps Powell would have

warned him about Cutie. Imagine he did, and complete their
conversation. (Use as many words as you like.)

MiLLer: How's this new robot? I hope it's good!

PoweLL: It is rather good. You won't
MILLER: Why not?
PowELL: Well, the robot won't because he believes
that
MILLER: Have you told him that you made him?
PowELL: Of course we have, but . Perhaps it doesn't
matter. Last week an _ and the robot
MILLER: So what am I going to do with the robot while I'm on
the station?
POWELL:

3 Put Powell's notes in the right order and then make a summary of
the problems he and Donovan faced in Catch that Rabbit.

1 create emergency / watch / roof fell in / trapped in tunnel /

robots dancing
2 emergencies / all six subsidiaries / orders at same time / circuits
overloaded / crazy orders
3 robot and six subsidiaries / worked well / a team / only when
watched / not watched / no work
4 idea / destroyed one subsidiary / robot became normal / rescue
5 normal situations / routine jobs / orders given separately
6 robot / test / interview subsidiary / orders / emergency / dance
or march

95
 ACTIVITIES: After Reading

4 Imagine that Herbie in Liar!) had told the truth to the four humans
in the story. What would he have said? Give his replies to these
questions.

1 DR CALVIN: What does Milton Ashe really think about me?

Are you sure he isn't in love with someone else?
HERBIE:

2 MILTON ASHE: What's Dr Calvin's secret, Herbie? Why is

she using perfume and smiling at me all the time?
HERBIE:

3 DR LANNING: I'm a bit worried about Bogert. Does he think

I'm a good Managing Director? Is he happy working for me?
HERBIE:

4 Peter BoGeRT: I'm the best mathematician around here, and

I'll soon be giving the orders too. Isn't that right, Herbie?
HERBIE:

5 Gerald Black wrote a letter to a friend to tell him about the little lost
robot'. Use the words below (one word for each gap) to complete
his letter. Not all the words will be needed.

annoyed, answer, attacked, careful, careless, destroyed, different,

electricity, hid, imitated, obey, order, psychologist, psychology,
radiation, realize, recognize, responsible, results, similar, solve,
taught, tests, trick
Dear Jim

Last week Susan Calvin, a robot -

? came up from Earth to
a problem we had here. I was partly. for it because I'd
got
this as an with a Nestor robot and told him to get lost! He took
that he had to _ _. He then himself

96
 ACTIVITIES: After Reading

among a group of robots and either what they did or

them to do what he did, so Dr Calvin's couldn't catch
him. She finally caught him by a _ _. Nestor 10 could
different types of -, but the other robots couldn't. In the last
test Nestor 10 forgot that, and then he Dr Calvin and had to
be .. In future I shall be more what I say to robots!
Best wishes, Gerald

6 This is a summary of Evidence. Put the sentences in the right order

and then join them to make a paragraph of six sentences. Use these
linking words, and change names to pronouns (she, he, him, etc.)
where appropriate. (Begin with 11.)

and / because / but l if / so / which | while

1 Byerley was wearing special clothes.
2 No one had ever seen Byerley eat or drink.
3 Di Calvin gave Byerley an apple, which he ate.
4 Byerley then hit the man hard on the chin.
5 A man came up to the platform and called Byerley an ugly
machine.
6 This proved to the crowd that Byerley was human.
7 Byerley would not have been able to injure a human being.
& Byerley was speaking to the crowd during the election.
9 The photographs did not show anything.
10 Later, an official took some X-ray photographs of Byerley.
11 Francis Quinn thought that Byerley was a robot.
12 Dr Calvin met Byerley.
13 Byerley had been a robot.

97
 ACTIVITIES: After Reading

7 Perhaps this is what some of the characters in the stories we

thinking, Which six characters were they (one from each story, and
what was happening in the story at that moment?

1 'She's gone now. I can see into her mind, and I know that she
loves him - but I can also see into his mind, and I know that he
doesn't love her. How complicated it all is! But I had no choice
-I couldn't tell her the truth, because I can't hurt her?

2 I must get away from the danger at the pool - I must get the
selenium from the pool - I must... Who's that? Someone's
calling me. There he is, walking towards me. It's too hot for
him out here in the sun. I must go to him at once.'

3 'One of my subsidiaries is down! What's happened? I think

there was an emergency in the tunnel. Ah, I can hear the boss
calling me - and there's the light from his torch. I must leave
my subsidiary and go and help him?

4 'Nobody else will ever find out the truth - I'm sure of it. She
knows, but she's a good psychologist, of course, so I'm not
surprised. But she must be happy about it, because she says
she'll vote for me again.'

5 'It's a complicated job, putting together a new robot. They

work carefully and they're quite good at it, but their brains are
probably too weak to understand the Truth about the Master.'

6 'They'll never find me because I'm cleverer than all of them! But
I must talk to the other robots now. I shall tell them not to rush
forwards because the electricity will kill us before we can save
the human.'

98
 ACTIVITIES: After Reading

8 Choose three possible titles for each story. One title in each group
is better than the others. Can you explain why?

? One Subsidiary Too Many ? Robot or Human?

? Truth Hurts ? Mercury Sunside
? Electron Storm ? Trapped in the Tunnel
? The City Governor ? Serving the Master
? Gerald Black's Mistake ? Death by Slow Boiling
? The Selenium Pool ? Does He Eat?
? Get Lost! ? Mind-Reader
? Personal Initiative ? Dangerous Radiation
? Dr Calvin's Secret ? Who Created the Parts?

9 Which of these statements do you agree with (A), and which do

you disagree with (D)? Explain why you think this.

1 A human being is an inefficient piece of equipment; a robot is

a perfect and efficient machine.
2 Robots are the only real hope for the future of human beings.
3 Many jobs - such as driving buses or trains, rubbish collection,
cleaning the streets, looking after children, doing housework -
could be done better by robots than by human beings.
4 'I like robots better than I like human beings. I'd like to see a
robot governing the world.
5 Robots will never be able to do everything that human beings
can do.

10 Do you enjoy watching science-fiction films or television

programmes? Describe one that you have seen, and explain why
you enjoyed it or did not enjoy it.

99
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Isaac Asimov was born in Russia near Smolensk in 1920. He was

brought to the United States by his parents three years later, and
grew up in Brooklyn. He graduated in chemistry from Columbia
University, New York, and went on to study biochemistry,
becoming an associate professor of biochemistry at Boston
University School of Medicine in 1955. He became a full-time
writer in 1958, but still kept his connections with the University.
During a long and busy career he wrote a huge number of books,
including many works of popular science, such as The Human
Brain (1964) and Asimov's Guide to Science (1972). He died in
1992.
Asimov's greatest fame lies with his science-fiction writing.
He was already reading science fiction by the time he was nine,
and he published his first short story in a magazine before he
was twenty. He went on to write hundreds of short stories and
many novels, several of which have won awards. His best-known
and most popular works are the Foundation series (1942-50)
and the classic collection, I, Robot (1950), which made famous
the 'three laws of robotics' and which contains many clever
logical puzzles. More robot stories appeared in 1976 in The
Bicentennial Man and Other Stories.
Asimov's writing is clear and uncomplicated, and pays close
attention to scientific detail. His contribution to the genre of
science fiction is enormous. His robot stories alone have shaped
the way we think of mechanical men, and his story 'Nightfall,
written in 1941, is still considered to be one of the best SF stories
ever written.

100
 OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY

Classics ? Crime & Mystery ? Factfiles ? Fantasy & Horror

Human Interest ? Playscripts ? Thriller & Adventure
True Stories ? World Stories

The OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY provides enjoyable reading in

English, with a wide range of classic and modern fiction, non-fiction,
and plays. It includes original and adapted texts in seven carefully graded
language stages, which take learners from beginner to advanced level. An
overview is given on the next pages.

All Stage 1 titles are available as audio recordings, as well as over eighty
other titles from Starter to Stage 6. All Starters and many titles at Stages 1
to 4 are specially recommended for younger learners. Every Bookworm is
illustrated, and Starters and Factfiles have full-colour illustrations.

The OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY also offers extensive support. Each

book contains an introduction to the story, notes about the author, a
glossary, and activities. Additional resources include tests and worksheets,
and answers for these and for the activities in the books. There is advice
on running a class library, using audio recordings, and the many ways of
using Oxford Bookworms in reading programmes. Resource materials are
available on the website <www.oup.com/elt/bookworms>.

The Oxford Bookworms Collection is a series for advanced learners. It

consists of volumes of short stories by well-known authors, both classic and
modern. Texts are not abridged or adapted in any way, but carefully selected
to be accessible to the advanced student.

You can find details and a full list of titles in the Oxford Bookworms Library
Catalogue and Oxford English Language Teaching Catalogues, and on the
website <www.oup.com/elt/bookworms>.

101
 BOOKWORMS ? FANTASY & HORROR ? STAGE S

Do Androids Dream of
Electric Sheep?
PHILIP K. DICK
Retold by Andy Hopkins and Joc Potter
San Francisco lies under a cloud of radioactive dust. People live in
half-deserted apartment buildings, and keep electric animals as pers
because so many real animals have died. Most people emigrate to
Mars - unless they have a job to do on Earth.
Like Rick Deckard - android killer for the police and owner of
an electric sheep. This week he has to find, identify, and kill six
androids which have escaped from Mars. They're machines, but
they look and sound and think like humans - clever, dangerous
humans. They will be hard to kill.
The film Bladerunner was based on this famous novel.

BOOKWORMS ? CRIME & MYSTERY ? STAGE 5

The Dead of Jericho

COLIN DEXTER
Retold by Clare West
Chief Inspector Morse is drinking a pint of beer. He is thinking
about an attractive woman who lives not far away.
The woman he is thinking of is hanging, dead, from the ceiling of
her kitchen. On the floor lies a chair, almost two metres away from

Chief
the Inspector
woman's feet. Morse finishes his pint, and orders another.
Perhaps he will visit Anne, after all. But he is in no particular hurry
Meanwhile, Anne is still hanging in her kitchen, waiting for the
police to come and cut her down. She is in no hurry, either.

104
I, Robot
Short Stories

A human being is a soft, weak creature.

It needs constant supplies of air, water,
and food; it has to spend a third of its life
asleep, and it can't work if the temperature
is too hot or too cold.

But a robot is made of strong metal. It uses electrical energy

directly, never sleeps, and can work in any temperature. It is
stronger, more efficient - and sometimes more human than
human beings.
Isaac Asimov was one of the greatest science-fiction
writers, and these short stories give us an unforgettable
and terrifying vision of the future. (Word count 22,500)

FANTASY
4 STAGE 6 & HORROR
1 STAGE 5

1 STAGE 4 For apps, e-books,

1 STAGE 3 audio downloads, and
1 STAGE 2 digital free resources go to
www.oup.com/elt/gradedreaders
? STAGE 1

4 STARTER

1800 Headwords

Text adaptation by Rowena Akinyemi

Cover image by Parallax courtesy of Alamy Images

O X F O R D CEFR OXFORD ENGLISH

ISBN 978-0-19-479228-8
C1
UNIVERSITY PRESS
B2

B1
9 780194 792288
www.oup.com/elt
1, Robot
Short Stories

ISAAC ASIMOV