h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I wrote all THAT? Blimey, I have been busy !

And a joy it was to edit and read

Although I did have to dig out my old copy of The Complete Robot to get the Laws right

He invented the word 'Robotics', by the way...

Can we use ... tags (or similar) in GuideML?

Good question!
Just participating, because I also want to know about that!

...in one of his later books (one of the later Foundation ones I think) one of the Robots had a new law, Law Zero. Coming before the others it says that 'A robot may not harm, or through inaction allow harm to befall, humanity' or something along those lines. The first law then becomes 'A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, as long as it does not conflict with Law Zero' etc. This was used to explain the disappearance of the robots etc. I have carried this useless fact long enough Now I can lay my burden to rest Until later....
BCNU - Crescent

I thought that useless information was the whole point behind the Guide!

I thought that useless information was the whole point behind the Guide!

Ooops double clicked on Send

Thanks for a pleasant, and I thought accurate, precis of Isaac Asimov's early works. I read them as a boy 30+ years ago and enjoyed them because of their scientific bent. My view is that scientists write better speculative fiction than arty farties (Tom Lehrer is another example - I understand his works which include classics such as "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" and the "Periodic Table of Elements" are enjoying populist revival). Did you see the recent(ish) film called "Millenium Man" starring Robin Williams? I noticed it drew on IA's Laws and thought it was charming, and true to the Master's speculative vision. I was pleased to have watched it because it, like Asimov's early works, contained a moral which provokes greater thought.

Oh, and the final observation: did'nt the great man get things charmingly wrong! He assumed that microprocessor development would be mirrored by the rate of development in other technologies, particularly the mechanical bits and bobs. He couldn't see that the future would consist of countless clever little doodads in countless locations - he foresaw few clever creations moving around. Which just goes to show how Man consistently gets priorities wrong in technological development.

And at this point I would refer you to the blessed DNA's piece about his lifetime experience of the development of computers - which again I found fascinating and thought-provoking.

With best wishes and apols for the lengthy reply : it was your fault for getting me over-excited !

When you say Millennium Man, do you not mean Bicentennial Man? If so (which was a film starring Robin Williams), then no I didn't see it, but I read the book. It was in fact a short story also called "Bicentennial Man", by a very good author called Asimov whom I can heartily recommend.

Yup, indeed.

'Where the ego's run wild and free'... hmm... I wonder who *that* could be

I have to say - fantastic entry! It's provoked many fond memories and I think I'll be off down the bookshop over the weekend....

And as soon as I think of something intelligent to add I'll be back!

(the terminator pun wasn't intentional, btw......)

(sits and stares at the monitor for five minutes, trying to think of whatever it was he was about to write....)

Well, I'm really pleased that everyone likes this entry! So pleased, in fact, I've gone bug-eyed. I only write these things in the odd bit of spare time I get, and didn't really expect there to be much response. Thanks everyone!!!

Thank you, Casanova. I stand corrected (and humbled) by your superior knowledge.

You been grazing on the wrong sort of grass, Cow ?

Nice to hear from you again.

Keep smiling

Hydroponically enhanced

It is indeed 'Bicentennial Man', and it's out on video now, and I watched it last night.

Then 'coincidentally' I found this brand spanking new entry on Asimov's robots! *of course, nothing ever happens by chance*

Now to add my new thread, 'The Positronic Brain'...

~A~

I found out myself. Name-tags do work!

HP.

Do you fancy doing a timeline/precis of all Azimovs robotic works? I love them, but they're hard to find

Also, which short stories are in which books... tried to find 'Robot AL-xx goes Astray' for a b/day pressie...