Time Was: Isaac Asimov's I-BOTS

by Steve Perry

Annabelle Donohoe, the CEO of World Tech, is mad as hell. Her dreams of world domination died the day Zac Robillard discovered her evil plans and fled World Tech, taking his greatest creation, his beloved I-Bots, and all his research, with him. (Read about their origins in Isaac Asimov's History of I-Bots!) More than super-machines, more than robots, the I-Bots are eerily human in appearance, but not in abilities. Their genetic components--based on human DNA--and mechanical infrastructures give them pshyical strength and powers humans can only imagine, and a measure of free will impossible in robots. Annabelle wants them back and will stop at nothing to get her way, including hiring the world's deadliest assassin to find Zac, and his I-Bots--the beautiful Radiant and Killaine, clever Itazura, Psy-4, and Stonewall --and bring them in...or kill them. For if Annabelle cannot have the I-Bots she vows that no one else can either. But Janus, the ruthless killer, is not the only hunter they must elude... Surrounded by enemies, Zac and the I-Bots can find no safe place, not even the streets. In the year 2013, the Silver Metal Stompers, a neo-Nazi gang, roam the nation's cities wreaking havoc on robots, especially Scrappers, outmoded homeless robots who huddle in hobo camps, rusting away unless they are repaired by a mysterious humanitarian and robotarian called DocScrap. In an unlucky twist of fate, the Stompers discover DocScrap is none other than Zac Robillard and that the I-Bots aren't exactly human...and vow to crush Zac and the I-Bots into wreckage. Based on an original concept by Isaac Asimov, Time Was is a nonstop action adventure combining all the excitement of Golden Age SF with the technological wonders of modern cybernetics and quantum science. This remarkable collaboration between the greatest science fiction genius of all time and a team of brilliant young writers is a major publishing event. Only the Grand Master himself could have foreseen the awesome wonders depicted in Isaac Asimov's I-Bots. And only today's finest storytellers could have brought them so vividly to life.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction

448 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Steven Carl Perry has written over fifty novels and numerous short stories, which have appeared in various magazines and anthologies. Perry is perhaps best known for the Matador series. He has written books in the Star Wars, Alien and Conan universes. He was a collaborator on all of the Tom Clancy's Net Force series, seven of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list. Two of his novelizations, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire and Men in Black have also been bestsellers. Other writing credits include articles, reviews, and essays, animated teleplays, and some unproduced movie scripts. One of his scripts for Batman: The Animated Series was an Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Writing.

Perry is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, The Animation Guild, and the Writers Guild of America, West

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good, fast-paced, well-written story with well-drawn sympathetic characters. It's unfortunately supposed to be set within Isaac Asimov's robot universe, but does not work within that milieu at all for me. With a few minor minor brushes and differently-named characters, it could be the best X-Men story ever.

[Kevin Connery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant enough story, with some nice action sequences. Very cardboard characters, though, and the skills of some of the characters were very hard to accept.

[Mary Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good. I was thinking about reading it and where it was going when ever I put it down. Full of unexpected happenings!

[Walter Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book from both a level of escapism and learning lessons about humanity.

The book speaks to humanities challenges in avoiding hubris as our knowledge and physical prowess continue to advance. I would recommend reading it with an eye toward self learning.

[Kev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Seemed like the second book in a series, but I haven't dug enough to see if that's the case. Definitely had that 1990's feel to it, which isn't bad. It was actually kind of nice getting that feeling from a book.

Wish I knew more about this book (series?) and why it has Asimov's name on it. It seemed set in the near future, but vaguely hinted at robots being restrained by the Three Laws (or something similar). but the book didn't really take the time to explain the origin of the I-bots and their situation. Which is what makes me think it was a sequel.

It was good. I'll have to look up the first book.

[Jen Larson]

Added it from a "best of 2018" list but couldn't get into it. DNF