While reading O.V. Vijayan, whom i now adore for his non-fiction more than his fiction, i was intrigued by his mention of Asimov's I, Robot. I wanted to read it immediately. Checked for the e-book, found it was too expensive for me at the moment. But it had been long since i wanted to get my hands on science fiction and thanks to my bi-polar disorder, i was always looking for tasks to add to my to-do list. So it was that i visited Deshaposhini Public Library, Kuthiravattam (yeah), Calicut after more than 12 or so years.
Deshaposhini used to be my favourite place at one point of time. The last memory i have of it, however, is that of a book i lent and never gave back. This time, when i went there, the staff had changed. Nobody recognised me. I took a new membership and looked for Asimov. I didn't find I, Robot so i took a title with 'robot' in it and that was The Robots of Dawn.
I did google the book before lending it so i knew it was last of the trilogy. Usually, my OCD kicks in when i go out of order - in anything. Even toothpaste. I have to press it from bottom up and never from in between, like some lesser mortals do. I wrote down a request for I, Robot, and lent the third of the trilogy.
I made a plan. I am always making plans. I read 40 pages every day. I did. Finished the book before the assigned two weeks. What a fantabulous read it was! I had tried reading H.G. Wells before this and had failed, even though he was one of Appachan's favourites. Appachan would have loved Asimov. Too many books to read before i die and he died before he read Asimov.
To the book. The concepts amazing. See here.
What was troubling the robot was what the roboticists called an equipotential of contradiction on the second level. Obedience was the Second Law and R. Geronimo was now suffering from two roughtly equal and contradictory orders. Robot-block was what the general population called it or, more frequently, roblock for short.
The three laws are an important concept, central to the book, and i suppose it would be, to any book involving robots. I will find out when i read the second in the trilogy.
I noticed that Asimov too, notices a woman's breasts when he sits down to write.
What gave her away immediately were her breasts, the prominence of which she made no attempt to hide.
But to be just, Asimov was far more gender sensitive and respected women greatly. Female sexuality is a major concept in this book.
I particularly liked a legend that is recounted by Fastolfe about the robot that could read minds and gave all the pleasing answers to all the questions by humans. The robots inconsistency in answers resulted in much embarrassment to its creator, a woman roboticist. The narration ends with the line that i found very interesting.
The legend goes on to say that Calvin's last word to the destroyed robot was "Liar!"'
Old butterflies. I put this flower down on this page while in Kochi, completing my daily forty pages while attending an Amazon meeting. Look at it now. Look at it then
I liked his humour too.
'Why on Earth - or Aurora, rather - why on Aurora should you undo this work?'
We are dealing with a lot of words here, Asimov constantly reminds us.
What i loved the most about Asimov is his logic and reasoning. It is just perfect and that makes it a feast for any rationalist. The best part is that, that is the norm on Earth and all the other worlds, in the time that these stories are happening. Anyone speaking irrationally or without reason, would be considered dysfunctional, there, i suppose. At the same time, feelings are important. Like i said, female sexuality, feelings that robots don't have and humans do - these are vital concepts in the book. What pure bliss!
But what i remember the most, every day, is that i have, like the title of the sketch above, 'too many books to read before i die'. I return this book today.
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