Asimov's Birthday

Robots and the future

I recently listened to the audiobook I, Robot, a collection of short stories from Isaac Asimov. While I'd seen the Will Smith film loosely based on this book, I didn't know the book's title was not his choice. A novel by Eando Binder was previously published with that same title.

I raise this today because it happens to be Asimov's birthday. The date has also been designated National Science Fiction Day for that reason. It's nice to have some recognition for what amounts to a very minor genre. I think science fiction is an important contribution to literature and entertainment. However, this puts me in the minority.

If you haven't read – or heard – the collection of short stories, I recommend them. Asimov spent these stories exploring his Three Laws of Robotics. His efforts involve broader questions about humanity and society. For example, can humans create beings that are superior to them? If so, how do the two "species" interact? What are the implications of artificial life in a world where humans don't trust other humans? How might we paint ourselves into a corner with laws meant to protect us?