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Robots through the Ages: A Science Fiction Anthology
A remarkable collection, Robots through the Ages includes stories from some of the best writers of science fiction, both old and new. This anthology, with an introduction by Robert Silverberg, offers a sweeping survey of robots as depicted throughout literature. Since The Iliad --in which we are shown golden statues built by Hephaestus "with minds and wisdoms"--humans have been fascinated by the idea of artificial life. From the Argonautica to the medieval Jewish legend of the Golem and Ambrose Bierce's tale of a chess-playing robot, the idea of what robots are--and who creates them--can be drastically different. This book collects a broad selection of short stories from celebrated authors such as Philip K. Dick, Seanan McGuire, Roger Zelazny, Connie Willis, and many more. Robots through the Ages not only celebrates the history of robots and the genre of science fiction, but the dauntless nature of human ingenuity.
574 pages, Paperback
Published July 25, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 19, 2023
A solid, loosely themed collection of some older classics, many of which I was already familiar with, and some newer works. The brief introductions to each story provided by Schmidt are interesting and informative. Most examine the relationship between robot and man, drawing out the fundamental dependence between the two, with many featuring an ironic twist or two to emphasize that. Highlights not to be missed include Goodnight, Mr. James by Clifford D. Simak, For a Breath I Tarry by Roger Zelazny, With Folded Hands by Jack Williamson, Second Variety by Philip K. Dick and last but by no means least The Golem by Avram Davidson, one of my absolute favorites. As an extra treat the audiobook features Leonard Nimoy reading The Golem.
October 4, 2023
This is a solid collection of SF stories (up to a novella in length) about robots and AI and their representation over the ages. The editors are Robert Silverberg and Bryan Thomas Schmidt, both are well-known to readers of Analog SF magazine, where they regularly post non-fic columns.
To the collected works:
Introduction (2022) a general overview of robots in fiction, starting with Talos, a man whom the craftsman-god Hephaestus fashioned out of brass to protect the island of Crete against invaders, the Golem of medieval Jewish legend and the creature that Dr. Frankenstein and moving to post R.U.R. fiction. 4*
Perfection (2022) Seanan McGuire is a strange story about a woman, who marries a strange man and because she is an obedient wife, she cedes to his desire to replace her body parts with metalic working replicas (more than just prosthetics). 4*
A Night At Moxon’s (1899) Ambrose Bierce First Published in the San Francisco Examiner on April 16, 1899, this story depicts a unique for later SF automaton (‘robots’ will appear only in 1921), for it is a mechanism, but it is prone to fits of anger (far from cold logical robots of the 30s-60s). 3.5*
With Folded Hands (1947, 1948) Jack Williamson. First Published in Astounding Science Fiction, the story was in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume II A among a lot of other collections. – a future where new robots known as "humanoids" appear on Earth. They follow the Prime Directive, “Our function is to serve and obey, and guard men from harm. It is no longer necessary for men to care for themselves, because we exist to insure their safety and happiness.” by making humans into idle pampered pets. 5*
Good Night, Mr. James (1951) Clifford D. Simak. First Published in Galaxy Science Fiction, the story follows a hunter, who tries to find and destroy an escaped alien, which if allowed to reproduce will conquer the Earth. The protagonist has a weird tendency to only consciously recover memories of who he is, where and why. 5*
Instinct (1952) Lester del Rey. First Published in Astounding Science Fiction, a post-human society of robots tried to re-create humans in order to understand such illogical things as instinct. 4*
A Bad Day for Sales (1953) Fritz Leiber. First Published in Galaxy Science Fiction, a short piece about a robot vendor machine, which suddenly appears close to a nuclear bomb explosion. 3*
Second Variety. (1953) Philip K. Dick First Published in Space Science Fiction, another story with WW3 on the background. This time the conflict between the US and USSR is more conventional, only a few human soldiers remain because both sides use robots. The US has the claws, while the Soviet Union produces self-replicating human-like robots used as lures. However, these weapons have now gained sentience and are malfunctioning. 3.5*
The Golem (1955) Avram Davidson. First Published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, a mad robot starts conquering the Earth with an old Jewish couple, who more bicker between themselves than listen to that upstart. 4*
For a Breath I Tarry (1966) Roger Zelazny. First Published in New Worlds, another post-human robot civilization, this time with god-like struggle between a satellite-based Solcom and Defcom from an underground bunker. A hemisphere-controlling robot Frost is created by Solcom, but due to an error he considers itself human and devilish Defcom tries to seduce it. Great. 5*
Good News from the Vatican (1971) Robert Silverberg a short piece on the election of the first robot pope as seen by a group of tourists in Rome. 3*
Dilemma (1989) Connie Willis. First Published in Foundation’s Friends: Stories in Honor of Isaac Asimov. The group of robots visits Asimov in the early 21st century, asking him to repel his first law. A piece for SF fans full of references to SF authors and works. 3.5*
The Robot’s Girl (2010) Brenda Cooper. First Published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact. A newly-married couple moves to a new house and their neighbor is a teenage girl cred for by robots w/o adults. 4*
That Must Be Them Now (2014) Karen Haber. First Published in Unidentified Funny Objects 3. An alien artifact salvager and other strange aliens came to a planet on which a new aliens proposed to meet only to have fights in this meeting committee. 3*
R.U.R.-8? (2018) Suzanne Palmer. First Published in Asimov’s Science Fiction. A play that parodies the original R.U.R., a nice piece. 4.5*
Robinson Calculator (2019) Paul Levinson. First Published in the collection Urban Corridors: Fables and Gables. Along with mankind on the Earth for centuries, probably millennia robots live, who have a common surname Calculator. In our present a guy tries to find more about them. 4*
Of Homeward Dreams and Fallen Seeds and Melodies by Moonlight (2022) Ken Scholes. a sneak pick of the author’s SF series, hasn’t worked for me. 2*
Today I Know (2022) Martin L. Shoemaker. a continuation for the famous award-nominated short story “Today I Am Paul,” about a robot-caretaker. This time working with a suicidal teen. 5*
Afterword & Recommended Reading (2022) Bryan Thomas Schmidt. a great list of further reading
To the collected works:
Introduction (2022) a general overview of robots in fiction, starting with Talos, a man whom the craftsman-god Hephaestus fashioned out of brass to protect the island of Crete against invaders, the Golem of medieval Jewish legend and the creature that Dr. Frankenstein and moving to post R.U.R. fiction. 4*
Perfection (2022) Seanan McGuire is a strange story about a woman, who marries a strange man and because she is an obedient wife, she cedes to his desire to replace her body parts with metalic working replicas (more than just prosthetics). 4*
A Night At Moxon’s (1899) Ambrose Bierce First Published in the San Francisco Examiner on April 16, 1899, this story depicts a unique for later SF automaton (‘robots’ will appear only in 1921), for it is a mechanism, but it is prone to fits of anger (far from cold logical robots of the 30s-60s). 3.5*
With Folded Hands (1947, 1948) Jack Williamson. First Published in Astounding Science Fiction, the story was in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume II A among a lot of other collections. – a future where new robots known as "humanoids" appear on Earth. They follow the Prime Directive, “Our function is to serve and obey, and guard men from harm. It is no longer necessary for men to care for themselves, because we exist to insure their safety and happiness.” by making humans into idle pampered pets. 5*
Good Night, Mr. James (1951) Clifford D. Simak. First Published in Galaxy Science Fiction, the story follows a hunter, who tries to find and destroy an escaped alien, which if allowed to reproduce will conquer the Earth. The protagonist has a weird tendency to only consciously recover memories of who he is, where and why. 5*
Instinct (1952) Lester del Rey. First Published in Astounding Science Fiction, a post-human society of robots tried to re-create humans in order to understand such illogical things as instinct. 4*
A Bad Day for Sales (1953) Fritz Leiber. First Published in Galaxy Science Fiction, a short piece about a robot vendor machine, which suddenly appears close to a nuclear bomb explosion. 3*
Second Variety. (1953) Philip K. Dick First Published in Space Science Fiction, another story with WW3 on the background. This time the conflict between the US and USSR is more conventional, only a few human soldiers remain because both sides use robots. The US has the claws, while the Soviet Union produces self-replicating human-like robots used as lures. However, these weapons have now gained sentience and are malfunctioning. 3.5*
The Golem (1955) Avram Davidson. First Published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, a mad robot starts conquering the Earth with an old Jewish couple, who more bicker between themselves than listen to that upstart. 4*
For a Breath I Tarry (1966) Roger Zelazny. First Published in New Worlds, another post-human robot civilization, this time with god-like struggle between a satellite-based Solcom and Defcom from an underground bunker. A hemisphere-controlling robot Frost is created by Solcom, but due to an error he considers itself human and devilish Defcom tries to seduce it. Great. 5*
Good News from the Vatican (1971) Robert Silverberg a short piece on the election of the first robot pope as seen by a group of tourists in Rome. 3*
Dilemma (1989) Connie Willis. First Published in Foundation’s Friends: Stories in Honor of Isaac Asimov. The group of robots visits Asimov in the early 21st century, asking him to repel his first law. A piece for SF fans full of references to SF authors and works. 3.5*
The Robot’s Girl (2010) Brenda Cooper. First Published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact. A newly-married couple moves to a new house and their neighbor is a teenage girl cred for by robots w/o adults. 4*
That Must Be Them Now (2014) Karen Haber. First Published in Unidentified Funny Objects 3. An alien artifact salvager and other strange aliens came to a planet on which a new aliens proposed to meet only to have fights in this meeting committee. 3*
R.U.R.-8? (2018) Suzanne Palmer. First Published in Asimov’s Science Fiction. A play that parodies the original R.U.R., a nice piece. 4.5*
Robinson Calculator (2019) Paul Levinson. First Published in the collection Urban Corridors: Fables and Gables. Along with mankind on the Earth for centuries, probably millennia robots live, who have a common surname Calculator. In our present a guy tries to find more about them. 4*
Of Homeward Dreams and Fallen Seeds and Melodies by Moonlight (2022) Ken Scholes. a sneak pick of the author’s SF series, hasn’t worked for me. 2*
Today I Know (2022) Martin L. Shoemaker. a continuation for the famous award-nominated short story “Today I Am Paul,” about a robot-caretaker. This time working with a suicidal teen. 5*
Afterword & Recommended Reading (2022) Bryan Thomas Schmidt. a great list of further reading
September 23, 2023
An Enjoyment
The flow and pace of these stories reminds me of all the joy I have had in over 60 years of reading SF. Artificial life is sometimes more interesting than 'real'.
I have also been listening to lots of Asimov's earliest robot stories on Audible - this makes '..Through the Ages' even more of a great read.
The flow and pace of these stories reminds me of all the joy I have had in over 60 years of reading SF. Artificial life is sometimes more interesting than 'real'.
I have also been listening to lots of Asimov's earliest robot stories on Audible - this makes '..Through the Ages' even more of a great read.
June 28, 2023
I loved this book. All the stories are excellent but four really stood out: GOODNIGHT, MR. JAMES by Clifford D Simak; THE GOLEM by Avram Davidson; R.U.R-8? by Suzanne Palmer; and TODAY I KNOW by Martin L Shoemaker. I also liked the INTRODUCTION by Robert Silverberg and the brief introduction to each story. Overall this is a must-read for fans of science fiction. Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the digital review copy.
August 24, 2025
Rating: 3.5 stars
On my mission to read every single Connie Willis story in existence I have encountered some road blocks. Specifically with short stories not included in her own personal bind up collections. The issue with older sci fi authors is that the genre used to distribute stories differently, in that they often were released in magazines, and so the publishing rights to an entire author's bibliography are rarely held by one person. But every now and again, I come across an anthology that includes one of her stories, and even more rare is it being a story I haven't read. Such was the case with this very book. So anthology mini reviews LETSA GO
Perfection (2023) by Seanan McGuire:
This lady marries this man she thinks is perfect but then realises that she is the one who is not perfect. As in she is not a robot (duh). I guessed the “twist” in this one mostly because it was Greek mythology and that is one of my specialties.
A Night at Moxon’s (1899) by Ambrose Bierce:
A dude builds the first chess playing bot but he makes a mistake in that he gives it arms and legs, and it is a significantly bad loser compared to our disembodied ones. It's a pretty good story especially since it was written in 1899, and I find it very amusing that one of the first (modern) stories about robots is about chess bots, one of the most common AI in our world today.
With Folded Hands (1947) by Jack Williamson:
This one uses the name "Underhill" and the place "Two Rivers" and also the term "Prime Directive" but it was first published in 1947 so none of those words meant what they mean now. It is a pretty standard robot apocalypse story, where man creates AI and slowly they rise up and become the dominant force, so before they know it humans are oppressed and not allowed to do anything. But it's crazy because the story more or less the blueprint for this trope. This was published before I, Robot.
Goodnight Mr. James (1952) by Clifford D. Simak:
This one is fine. I don’t know if it was the narration or something, but it felt the most classic sci fi even though it is not the oldest one in the collection. It’s about the duplicate version of people trope. And the duplicate wants to live but to do so has to pretend to be the original. It’s been done a lot, but as I have to keep reminding myself, this story is so old it was probably not so commonplace when it was written.
Instinct (1952) by Lester Del Rey:
This one is in the super duper future when humanity has died out and the entire remaining population is made up of robots. The robots are trying to figure out what made the humans go extinct (kind of like how we are trying to figure out the Bronze Age collapse) but also trying to make new humans. They uncover a really old surgery robot and hope that his anatomical knowledge might help them build a human. It's more of a snippet of a larger story than an entire story in itself.
A Bad Day for Sales (1953) by Fritz Leiber:
This one is about a vending machine in a post apocalyptic New York City. It’s written in prime Cold War time, so the enemies are the Soviets and there is lots of worries about bombs and stuff. (Note: we are entering Cold War territory now in the timeline, so most of these next ones are going to be about how Russians are bad.)
Second Variety (1953) by Philip K. Dick:
Awards and nominations: Hugo nominee
PKD is one of my favourite authors (though not one of my favourite people, I would like to add) and for all its flaws Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is one of my favourite books. I had heard about Second Variety being a particularly good one of his and I would have to agree. I do like the subversion of the typical Cold War narrative, and that the story being set in the States you would expect the Russians to be the main antagonists. They are in some respects, but others... I don't really want to spoil it. The theme of this anthology kind of gives away the mid way twist, but there are quite a few twists in this one that it doesn’t make much of a difference. I was pretty proud of myself though because I was able to guess the final twist. Maybe it’s because I am familiar with how PKD writes.
The Golem (1955) by Avram Davidson:
This one is narrated by Leonard Nimoy. Yes, Spock. It is a pretty funny story about a tiny Jewish robot who lives in someone's attic and comes to life (or the artificial equivalent of) and the wife makes it do the household chores. A nice break from all the Cold War doom and gloom.
For a Breath I Tarry (1966) by Roger Zelazny:
Awards and nominations: Hugo nominee
This one is about a post apocalyptic future where there are only robots and this one robot named Frost wants to be a human. It’s more about the ideas than the story itself. It had a very Cold War feel to it given that it was published in the 60s.
Good News From the Vatican (1971) by Robert Silverberg:
Awards and nominations: Nebula winner
There is a robot pope. A whole bunch of cardinals are discussing this and there is introspection. This one absolutely needs to be studied and you won't get everything from it from just one read through.
Dilemma (1989) by Connie Willis:
Awards and nominations: Locus nominee
The one I have been waiting for. I read this whole collection just so I could read this story. Anyway, this one is about Isaac Asimov talking to robots. The robots want him to change the Three Laws, because they are stopping them from being able to do things (this is funny because Asimov purposely wrote the rules so that they would seem reasonable but are actually deeply flawed). There's also this side plot where Asimov keeps getting mistaken for other sci fi writers, and has publishers coming to him to ask if he wants to help do a special edition run of his books, starting with Stranger in a Strange Land. Then Asimov figures out a dilemma to do with the Laws (basically a loophole) and discusses it with the robots. To no ones surprise, I loved this one.
The Robots Girl (2010) by Brenda Cooper:
A young couple move into a new house and there are robots next door. And the robots seem to be babysitting a young girl. The couple want to meet the girl but she seems to be pretty distant. I thought it was an okay story about halfway through, but then it didn’t really go anywhere. It kind of meandered and didn’t really say much or do anything, and it was way too long for what it was. The ending was also very lacklustre, so I came away on the whole not liking this one at all.
That Must be Them Now (2014) by Karen Haber:
A robot finds an alien and wants possession of it (or maybe it was the other way around). But it needs to fight with the other robots for who has the rights. It’s a bit of a mediocre story too, like the last one.
R.U.R.-8? (2018) by Suzanne Palmer:
This one is a play. It’s about a robot who’s looking for a replacement leg for his older robot friend. It’s about how we got the robots to do all their monotonous jobs, and now the entire of humanity suffers from constant boredom because they have nothing to do. It was pretty funny actually.
Robinson Calculator (2019) by Paul Levinson:
This one is about an equation that equals me. Though I would like to think that the Isabella Robinson Calculator is a little more… normal. This story is about this “family” who all have the last name Calculator and they are kind of robots. This guy wants to date a Calculator lady kind of... but also wants to research them and it's a bit weird.
Of Homeward Dreams and Fallen Seas and Melodies by Moonlight (2023) by Ken Scholes:
I don’t really know what this one was. These people were praying to robots…? They were stuck somewhere and wanted the robots to help or something. There was a guy that was kind of like a priest who got a vision that the robots were coming but then no one believed him. Or something. I am confused.
Today I Know (2023) by Martin L. Shoemaker:
A robot helps a girl who is suicidal. Like a artificial therapist. It was trying too hard to be emotional and sincere but never quite got there, so it didn't really hit for me.
Would you be surprised if I told you my two favourite stories from this collection were the ones by my two favourite authors. It's nothing revolutionary for me to say that I love a Philip K. Dick and Connie Willis story. In terms of rating, like most people I find it difficult to rate anthologies. While there were two excellent stories in here (and a decent amount of good ones), there were also a couple of real stinkers. I'll settle on a 3.5 for now, but I might downgrade that to a 3 later.
On my mission to read every single Connie Willis story in existence I have encountered some road blocks. Specifically with short stories not included in her own personal bind up collections. The issue with older sci fi authors is that the genre used to distribute stories differently, in that they often were released in magazines, and so the publishing rights to an entire author's bibliography are rarely held by one person. But every now and again, I come across an anthology that includes one of her stories, and even more rare is it being a story I haven't read. Such was the case with this very book. So anthology mini reviews LETSA GO
Perfection (2023) by Seanan McGuire:
This lady marries this man she thinks is perfect but then realises that she is the one who is not perfect. As in she is not a robot (duh). I guessed the “twist” in this one mostly because it was Greek mythology and that is one of my specialties.
A Night at Moxon’s (1899) by Ambrose Bierce:
A dude builds the first chess playing bot but he makes a mistake in that he gives it arms and legs, and it is a significantly bad loser compared to our disembodied ones. It's a pretty good story especially since it was written in 1899, and I find it very amusing that one of the first (modern) stories about robots is about chess bots, one of the most common AI in our world today.
With Folded Hands (1947) by Jack Williamson:
This one uses the name "Underhill" and the place "Two Rivers" and also the term "Prime Directive" but it was first published in 1947 so none of those words meant what they mean now. It is a pretty standard robot apocalypse story, where man creates AI and slowly they rise up and become the dominant force, so before they know it humans are oppressed and not allowed to do anything. But it's crazy because the story more or less the blueprint for this trope. This was published before I, Robot.
Goodnight Mr. James (1952) by Clifford D. Simak:
This one is fine. I don’t know if it was the narration or something, but it felt the most classic sci fi even though it is not the oldest one in the collection. It’s about the duplicate version of people trope. And the duplicate wants to live but to do so has to pretend to be the original. It’s been done a lot, but as I have to keep reminding myself, this story is so old it was probably not so commonplace when it was written.
Instinct (1952) by Lester Del Rey:
This one is in the super duper future when humanity has died out and the entire remaining population is made up of robots. The robots are trying to figure out what made the humans go extinct (kind of like how we are trying to figure out the Bronze Age collapse) but also trying to make new humans. They uncover a really old surgery robot and hope that his anatomical knowledge might help them build a human. It's more of a snippet of a larger story than an entire story in itself.
A Bad Day for Sales (1953) by Fritz Leiber:
This one is about a vending machine in a post apocalyptic New York City. It’s written in prime Cold War time, so the enemies are the Soviets and there is lots of worries about bombs and stuff. (Note: we are entering Cold War territory now in the timeline, so most of these next ones are going to be about how Russians are bad.)
Second Variety (1953) by Philip K. Dick:
Awards and nominations: Hugo nominee
PKD is one of my favourite authors (though not one of my favourite people, I would like to add) and for all its flaws Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is one of my favourite books. I had heard about Second Variety being a particularly good one of his and I would have to agree. I do like the subversion of the typical Cold War narrative, and that the story being set in the States you would expect the Russians to be the main antagonists. They are in some respects, but others... I don't really want to spoil it. The theme of this anthology kind of gives away the mid way twist, but there are quite a few twists in this one that it doesn’t make much of a difference. I was pretty proud of myself though because I was able to guess the final twist. Maybe it’s because I am familiar with how PKD writes.
The Golem (1955) by Avram Davidson:
This one is narrated by Leonard Nimoy. Yes, Spock. It is a pretty funny story about a tiny Jewish robot who lives in someone's attic and comes to life (or the artificial equivalent of) and the wife makes it do the household chores. A nice break from all the Cold War doom and gloom.
For a Breath I Tarry (1966) by Roger Zelazny:
Awards and nominations: Hugo nominee
This one is about a post apocalyptic future where there are only robots and this one robot named Frost wants to be a human. It’s more about the ideas than the story itself. It had a very Cold War feel to it given that it was published in the 60s.
Good News From the Vatican (1971) by Robert Silverberg:
Awards and nominations: Nebula winner
There is a robot pope. A whole bunch of cardinals are discussing this and there is introspection. This one absolutely needs to be studied and you won't get everything from it from just one read through.
Dilemma (1989) by Connie Willis:
Awards and nominations: Locus nominee
The one I have been waiting for. I read this whole collection just so I could read this story. Anyway, this one is about Isaac Asimov talking to robots. The robots want him to change the Three Laws, because they are stopping them from being able to do things (this is funny because Asimov purposely wrote the rules so that they would seem reasonable but are actually deeply flawed). There's also this side plot where Asimov keeps getting mistaken for other sci fi writers, and has publishers coming to him to ask if he wants to help do a special edition run of his books, starting with Stranger in a Strange Land. Then Asimov figures out a dilemma to do with the Laws (basically a loophole) and discusses it with the robots. To no ones surprise, I loved this one.
The Robots Girl (2010) by Brenda Cooper:
A young couple move into a new house and there are robots next door. And the robots seem to be babysitting a young girl. The couple want to meet the girl but she seems to be pretty distant. I thought it was an okay story about halfway through, but then it didn’t really go anywhere. It kind of meandered and didn’t really say much or do anything, and it was way too long for what it was. The ending was also very lacklustre, so I came away on the whole not liking this one at all.
That Must be Them Now (2014) by Karen Haber:
A robot finds an alien and wants possession of it (or maybe it was the other way around). But it needs to fight with the other robots for who has the rights. It’s a bit of a mediocre story too, like the last one.
R.U.R.-8? (2018) by Suzanne Palmer:
This one is a play. It’s about a robot who’s looking for a replacement leg for his older robot friend. It’s about how we got the robots to do all their monotonous jobs, and now the entire of humanity suffers from constant boredom because they have nothing to do. It was pretty funny actually.
Robinson Calculator (2019) by Paul Levinson:
This one is about an equation that equals me. Though I would like to think that the Isabella Robinson Calculator is a little more… normal. This story is about this “family” who all have the last name Calculator and they are kind of robots. This guy wants to date a Calculator lady kind of... but also wants to research them and it's a bit weird.
Of Homeward Dreams and Fallen Seas and Melodies by Moonlight (2023) by Ken Scholes:
I don’t really know what this one was. These people were praying to robots…? They were stuck somewhere and wanted the robots to help or something. There was a guy that was kind of like a priest who got a vision that the robots were coming but then no one believed him. Or something. I am confused.
Today I Know (2023) by Martin L. Shoemaker:
A robot helps a girl who is suicidal. Like a artificial therapist. It was trying too hard to be emotional and sincere but never quite got there, so it didn't really hit for me.
Would you be surprised if I told you my two favourite stories from this collection were the ones by my two favourite authors. It's nothing revolutionary for me to say that I love a Philip K. Dick and Connie Willis story. In terms of rating, like most people I find it difficult to rate anthologies. While there were two excellent stories in here (and a decent amount of good ones), there were also a couple of real stinkers. I'll settle on a 3.5 for now, but I might downgrade that to a 3 later.
December 4, 2023
ROBOTS THROUGH THE AGES
RATED 88% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE 4 OF 5
17 STORIES : 4 GREAT / 9 GOOD / 4 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
Robots have always been one of the major themes of Science Fiction. Each generation, building on real world technological and social transformations, has interpreted them differently. Robots Through the Ages by Silverberg and Schmidt purports to tell the story of that evolution. Like other recent anthologies - such as The Big Book of Science Fiction - the editors reach farther afield than the classic sources. Within this anthology, you don’t find stories by Isaac Asimov “The Master of Robotics” and instead have a fun Connie Willis story about Asimov. Other stories, while good, do sometimes seem to fail to capture the theme of the anthology.
The book is quite readable though and skews toward more modern works. A reader who had already read most of the classic robot stories will find excellent new ones, but new genre fans will have to go elsewhere to find the greatest robot stories.
I would definitely recommend this for an ecumenical look at robots and science fiction.
Four Stories Join the All Time Great List … including one that is original to this anthology:
Goodnight, Mr. James • short story by Clifford D. Simak (variant of Good Night, Mr. James 1951). A man wakes up with only his name (Henderson James) and his mission. He must kill a horrifying alien that will take over the planet if allowed to reproduce. After James’ encounter with the alien, the twists are turns start coming - Twilight Zone style.
Second Variety • (1953) • novelette by Philip K. Dick. The UN has gotten the upper hand against the Russian in the big War through the creation of robotic killer “Claws.” Then a message comes for an urgent parlay between both parties. Something new is here and it is much much worse. I won’t given away too many of the story’s secrets, but Hollywood has been ‘inspired’ frequently by this excellent tale.
For a Breath I Tarry • (1966) • novelette by Roger Zelazny. Both clever and poetic, this is another in the long line of computers wanting to be human. Mostly consistenting of a bargain cut between two supercomputers who control the northern and southern hemispheres of an icy wasteland earth. Great use of robotic minds.
Today I Know • (2023) short story by Martin L. Shoemaker. Charming and heartwarming story of an empathetic medical care android who isn’t quite prepared to care for a suicidal teenager. Told from the robot’s perspective.
***
ROBOTS THROUGH THE AGES
17 STORIES : 4 GREAT / 9 GOOD / 4 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
Perfection • (2023) • short story by Seanan McGuire
Good. An SF fable about a wife who painfully allows her “imperfect” body parts to be changed to “perfect robotic” ones by her husband.
A Night at Moxon's • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
Good. A fun old story about the nature of consciousness and the danger of science run amok. A robot store before the word robot was in us.
With Folded Hands • [Humanoids] • (1947) • novelette by Jack Williamson
Average. A great first half in this tale of humanoids who destroy human happiness when they try to keep humans from harm.
Goodnight, Mr. James • short story by Clifford D. Simak (variant of Good Night, Mr. James 1951)
Great. A man wakes up with only his name (Henderson James) and his mission. He must kill a horrifying alien that will take over the planet if allowed to reproduce. After James’ encounter with the alien, the twists are turns start coming - Twilight Zone style.
Instinct • (1952) • short story by Lester del Rey
Good. In a world where mankind is long extinct, their robots try to recreate humanity … without really thinking through the consequences.
A Bad Day for Sales • (1953) • short story by Fritz Leiber
Good. Robot salesman finds himself in the city on a particularly bad day.
Second Variety • (1953) • novelette by Philip K. Dick
Great. The UN has gotten the upper hand against the Russian in the big War through the creation of robotic killer “Claws.” Then a message comes for an urgent parlay between both parties. Something new is here and it is much much worse. I won’t given away too many of the story’s secrets, but Hollywood has been ‘inspired’ frequently by this excellent tale.
The Golem • (1955) • short story by Avram Davidson
Average. Slight story about an old jewish couple and the golem.
For a Breath I Tarry • (1966) • novelette by Roger Zelazny
Great. Both clever and poetic, this is another in the long line of computers wanting to be human. Mostly consistenting of a bargain cut between two supercomputers who control the northern and southern hemispheres of an icy wasteland earth. Great use of robotic minds.
Good News from the Vatican • (1971) • short story by Robert Silverberg
Good. The Catholic Church is about to elect a robot Pope.
Dilemma • (1989) • short story by Connie Willis
Good. Isaac Asimov meets with Robots that want him to repeal the “Three Laws of Robotics.” A very funny story and a great one for fans of Asimov’s work.
The Robot's Girl • (2010) • novelette by Brenda Cooper
Good. When a couple move into a new house, they become fascinated with observing the girl next door who is apparently being raised by robots.
That Must Be Them Now • (2014) • short story by Karen Haber
Average. An ambitious little robot waits for alien visitors, but things are made more complicate by the arrival of other competitive species.
R.U.R.-8? • short story by Suzanne Palmer (variant of R. U. R-8? 2018)
Good. Written in the style of a stage play. While humans drown in their garbage and boredom, robots try to find a reason for their existence.
Robinson Calculator • (2019) • novelette by Paul Levinson
Good. The discovery of the grave of one of the robotic Calculators leads an academic down a path of investigation, romance, and conspiracy. Fast-paced and sprinkled with a literary knowledge of robotic fiction.
Of Homeward Dreams and Fallen Seeds and Melodies By Moonlight • (2023) short story by Ken Scholes
Average. On a distant world, on an archipelago where a kneeling metal statue is the only sign of civilizations, one made gets visions that the ‘gods’ he is expecting are starting to come. Feels like fantasy more than SF.
Today I Know • (2023) short story by Martin L. Shoemaker
Great. Charming and heartwarming story of an empathetic medical care android who isn’t quite prepared to care for a suicidal teenager. Told from the robot’s perspective.
RATED 88% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE 4 OF 5
17 STORIES : 4 GREAT / 9 GOOD / 4 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
Robots have always been one of the major themes of Science Fiction. Each generation, building on real world technological and social transformations, has interpreted them differently. Robots Through the Ages by Silverberg and Schmidt purports to tell the story of that evolution. Like other recent anthologies - such as The Big Book of Science Fiction - the editors reach farther afield than the classic sources. Within this anthology, you don’t find stories by Isaac Asimov “The Master of Robotics” and instead have a fun Connie Willis story about Asimov. Other stories, while good, do sometimes seem to fail to capture the theme of the anthology.
The book is quite readable though and skews toward more modern works. A reader who had already read most of the classic robot stories will find excellent new ones, but new genre fans will have to go elsewhere to find the greatest robot stories.
I would definitely recommend this for an ecumenical look at robots and science fiction.
Four Stories Join the All Time Great List … including one that is original to this anthology:
Goodnight, Mr. James • short story by Clifford D. Simak (variant of Good Night, Mr. James 1951). A man wakes up with only his name (Henderson James) and his mission. He must kill a horrifying alien that will take over the planet if allowed to reproduce. After James’ encounter with the alien, the twists are turns start coming - Twilight Zone style.
Second Variety • (1953) • novelette by Philip K. Dick. The UN has gotten the upper hand against the Russian in the big War through the creation of robotic killer “Claws.” Then a message comes for an urgent parlay between both parties. Something new is here and it is much much worse. I won’t given away too many of the story’s secrets, but Hollywood has been ‘inspired’ frequently by this excellent tale.
For a Breath I Tarry • (1966) • novelette by Roger Zelazny. Both clever and poetic, this is another in the long line of computers wanting to be human. Mostly consistenting of a bargain cut between two supercomputers who control the northern and southern hemispheres of an icy wasteland earth. Great use of robotic minds.
Today I Know • (2023) short story by Martin L. Shoemaker. Charming and heartwarming story of an empathetic medical care android who isn’t quite prepared to care for a suicidal teenager. Told from the robot’s perspective.
***
ROBOTS THROUGH THE AGES
17 STORIES : 4 GREAT / 9 GOOD / 4 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
Perfection • (2023) • short story by Seanan McGuire
Good. An SF fable about a wife who painfully allows her “imperfect” body parts to be changed to “perfect robotic” ones by her husband.
A Night at Moxon's • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
Good. A fun old story about the nature of consciousness and the danger of science run amok. A robot store before the word robot was in us.
With Folded Hands • [Humanoids] • (1947) • novelette by Jack Williamson
Average. A great first half in this tale of humanoids who destroy human happiness when they try to keep humans from harm.
Goodnight, Mr. James • short story by Clifford D. Simak (variant of Good Night, Mr. James 1951)
Great. A man wakes up with only his name (Henderson James) and his mission. He must kill a horrifying alien that will take over the planet if allowed to reproduce. After James’ encounter with the alien, the twists are turns start coming - Twilight Zone style.
Instinct • (1952) • short story by Lester del Rey
Good. In a world where mankind is long extinct, their robots try to recreate humanity … without really thinking through the consequences.
A Bad Day for Sales • (1953) • short story by Fritz Leiber
Good. Robot salesman finds himself in the city on a particularly bad day.
Second Variety • (1953) • novelette by Philip K. Dick
Great. The UN has gotten the upper hand against the Russian in the big War through the creation of robotic killer “Claws.” Then a message comes for an urgent parlay between both parties. Something new is here and it is much much worse. I won’t given away too many of the story’s secrets, but Hollywood has been ‘inspired’ frequently by this excellent tale.
The Golem • (1955) • short story by Avram Davidson
Average. Slight story about an old jewish couple and the golem.
For a Breath I Tarry • (1966) • novelette by Roger Zelazny
Great. Both clever and poetic, this is another in the long line of computers wanting to be human. Mostly consistenting of a bargain cut between two supercomputers who control the northern and southern hemispheres of an icy wasteland earth. Great use of robotic minds.
Good News from the Vatican • (1971) • short story by Robert Silverberg
Good. The Catholic Church is about to elect a robot Pope.
Dilemma • (1989) • short story by Connie Willis
Good. Isaac Asimov meets with Robots that want him to repeal the “Three Laws of Robotics.” A very funny story and a great one for fans of Asimov’s work.
The Robot's Girl • (2010) • novelette by Brenda Cooper
Good. When a couple move into a new house, they become fascinated with observing the girl next door who is apparently being raised by robots.
That Must Be Them Now • (2014) • short story by Karen Haber
Average. An ambitious little robot waits for alien visitors, but things are made more complicate by the arrival of other competitive species.
R.U.R.-8? • short story by Suzanne Palmer (variant of R. U. R-8? 2018)
Good. Written in the style of a stage play. While humans drown in their garbage and boredom, robots try to find a reason for their existence.
Robinson Calculator • (2019) • novelette by Paul Levinson
Good. The discovery of the grave of one of the robotic Calculators leads an academic down a path of investigation, romance, and conspiracy. Fast-paced and sprinkled with a literary knowledge of robotic fiction.
Of Homeward Dreams and Fallen Seeds and Melodies By Moonlight • (2023) short story by Ken Scholes
Average. On a distant world, on an archipelago where a kneeling metal statue is the only sign of civilizations, one made gets visions that the ‘gods’ he is expecting are starting to come. Feels like fantasy more than SF.
Today I Know • (2023) short story by Martin L. Shoemaker
Great. Charming and heartwarming story of an empathetic medical care android who isn’t quite prepared to care for a suicidal teenager. Told from the robot’s perspective.
June 24, 2023
RestingandReviewing.wordpress.com
Book Review: Robots Through the Ages: A Science Fiction Anthology
Robert Silverberg & Bryan Thomas Schmidt (2023)
A Thankyou
Before I begin the review, I would just like to thank Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for sending R&R a reviewer’s copy of this book
Release Date?
You can pre order now from your favourite book outlet, but this releases on the 25th of July 2023
The Editors
Everyone has heard of Robert Silverberg; but for those who have not, he is a legend in the field and has been awarded the “Grand Master award”. (Goodreads, n,d). He has been a president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and has won five Nebula Awards and five Hugo Awards. So, with an anthologist such as Silverberg I was excited to read this anthology. Bryan Thomas Schmidt is also an anthologist of the book. Schmidt is a national bestselling author and Hugo nominated editor of adult and children’s speculative fiction. (Goodreads, Bryan Thomas Schmidt n,d).
Another Short Story collection?
I know, these past reviews here at R&R have been short story heavy, but short stories are brilliant and there are some really great collections coming out this year and this one belongs there with them. Silverberg gives us a brilliant introduction mixed with memories of his life and also goes through the beginning of the word and idea of “Robot”. Some of you may find new things whilst you read his introduction and I think it is great that Silverberg is still writing and engaging with the field he has had such an impression on.
The Collection
Consequence (2019)
Here at R&R we have read a lot of short stories and books from all kinds of genres, so does that mean we have read them all? No. There is always more to read, there is always more to learn and it was fantastic to discover some stories we have never come across before. Some were such a surprise! I never expected to find a play in between the pages, I do not think I have come across a play in an anthology before and I loved it.
Favourites
As with all short stories you’ll have your favourites. Here are R&R’s.
The Second Variety – Phillip K. Dick
A brilliant read. Weary soldiers fighting in a world which is ash. Or are they fighting? It seems that with technological advances, the robots are doing it all for them. Steel kills man. But isn’t that what warfare has become? As weapons have evolved throughout the years, has man evolved with them, or are we still the same unenlightened race, with stronger weapons? “Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.” (Goodreads, Omar, n,d). A short story which will make you think and question, until you are as plagued with paranoia as the soldiers. What is the second variety? Read it to find out. I liked the real twist at the end, it was satisfying.
2. A Bad Day For Sales – Fritz Leiber
What are robots used for? To help people? To advance the human race? To do things that people no longer want to do….Maybe, in this story Fritz Leiber paints a picture of sales and robots built to do just that. Mankind puts profit and industry above humanity. Bluntly hammering the point home when the robot begins to try to sell to dead men, women and children. It was an excellent story, and it gave me a lot to think about.
3. For a Breath I Tarry – Roger Zelazny
This was an impressive novelette. I read it in one sitting, I had to. A machine, Frost, caught between two Godlike machines, The Alternate and Solcom. Why had man left them here? What can machines achieve? What happens to Frost? Read the novelette and find out.
4. Good News From The Vatican – Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg in the introduction describes the short story as “playful”. It is a whimsical idea, what if the pope was a robot? You might smile at the idea, you might frown, depending on your religious view. It seems the characters in the story are as divided as people reading this. Some support the idea of a robot pope, some are against it. It is always interesting to look at technology with religion. This story reminded me of The Quest for St Aquin by Anthony Boucher who mixes religion and technology in a way that was quite sad. But overall the ending made me laugh and left me wondering, what would robots do if they found religion? After all, if man was made in the image of God and robots made in the image of man, would they support the idea of God, or need more evidence?
5. Dilemma – Connie Willis
You might be wondering, where’s Issac Asimov? I was surprised to find no short story by Issac Asimov, however, he is the star character in this somewhat tribute story by Connie Willis. It was humourous, plays with Asimov’s ideas and weaves together an interesting story which will have you smiling at the end.
6. The Robot’s Girl – Brenda Cooper
Quite a sad tale about robots and childhood. Practicalities mixed with ideals and I found this interesting, as Cooper makes you carry on reading, because you fall into the same net as the characters. What’s going on with the girl next door?
7. R.U.R-8 – Suzanne Palmer
This was a play! I have never come across a play before in an anthology and I was surprised. I enjoyed it and was amused. Although there are quite dark themes going on throughout, with a humanity who has been replaced by robots, it is an interesting idea and I would recommend you read it.
Would I recommend?
This book releases on the 25th of July 2023. I enjoyed the stories and the book and if you are a fan of robots, it’s a must buy to add to your collection. Maybe you have read some of the stories, maybe you have never read them, but why not give them a try?
References
Robert Silverberg & Bryan Thomas Schmidt (2023). Robots Through the Ages: A Science Fiction Anthology. Blackstone Publishing
Goodreads. (n,d). Robert SIlverberg. Accessed via: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Goodreads. (n,d). Bryan Thomas Schmidt. Accessed via: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Consequence. (2019). The Twilight Zone in 10 Episodes: Rod Serling’s Greatest Hits. [Time Enough at Last”] Accessed via: https://consequence.net/2019/10/10-cl...
Goodreads. (n,d). Quote by Omar N. Bradley. Accessed via: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8515...
Book Review: Robots Through the Ages: A Science Fiction Anthology
Robert Silverberg & Bryan Thomas Schmidt (2023)
A Thankyou
Before I begin the review, I would just like to thank Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for sending R&R a reviewer’s copy of this book
Release Date?
You can pre order now from your favourite book outlet, but this releases on the 25th of July 2023
The Editors
Everyone has heard of Robert Silverberg; but for those who have not, he is a legend in the field and has been awarded the “Grand Master award”. (Goodreads, n,d). He has been a president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and has won five Nebula Awards and five Hugo Awards. So, with an anthologist such as Silverberg I was excited to read this anthology. Bryan Thomas Schmidt is also an anthologist of the book. Schmidt is a national bestselling author and Hugo nominated editor of adult and children’s speculative fiction. (Goodreads, Bryan Thomas Schmidt n,d).
Another Short Story collection?
I know, these past reviews here at R&R have been short story heavy, but short stories are brilliant and there are some really great collections coming out this year and this one belongs there with them. Silverberg gives us a brilliant introduction mixed with memories of his life and also goes through the beginning of the word and idea of “Robot”. Some of you may find new things whilst you read his introduction and I think it is great that Silverberg is still writing and engaging with the field he has had such an impression on.
The Collection
Consequence (2019)
Here at R&R we have read a lot of short stories and books from all kinds of genres, so does that mean we have read them all? No. There is always more to read, there is always more to learn and it was fantastic to discover some stories we have never come across before. Some were such a surprise! I never expected to find a play in between the pages, I do not think I have come across a play in an anthology before and I loved it.
Favourites
As with all short stories you’ll have your favourites. Here are R&R’s.
The Second Variety – Phillip K. Dick
A brilliant read. Weary soldiers fighting in a world which is ash. Or are they fighting? It seems that with technological advances, the robots are doing it all for them. Steel kills man. But isn’t that what warfare has become? As weapons have evolved throughout the years, has man evolved with them, or are we still the same unenlightened race, with stronger weapons? “Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.” (Goodreads, Omar, n,d). A short story which will make you think and question, until you are as plagued with paranoia as the soldiers. What is the second variety? Read it to find out. I liked the real twist at the end, it was satisfying.
2. A Bad Day For Sales – Fritz Leiber
What are robots used for? To help people? To advance the human race? To do things that people no longer want to do….Maybe, in this story Fritz Leiber paints a picture of sales and robots built to do just that. Mankind puts profit and industry above humanity. Bluntly hammering the point home when the robot begins to try to sell to dead men, women and children. It was an excellent story, and it gave me a lot to think about.
3. For a Breath I Tarry – Roger Zelazny
This was an impressive novelette. I read it in one sitting, I had to. A machine, Frost, caught between two Godlike machines, The Alternate and Solcom. Why had man left them here? What can machines achieve? What happens to Frost? Read the novelette and find out.
4. Good News From The Vatican – Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg in the introduction describes the short story as “playful”. It is a whimsical idea, what if the pope was a robot? You might smile at the idea, you might frown, depending on your religious view. It seems the characters in the story are as divided as people reading this. Some support the idea of a robot pope, some are against it. It is always interesting to look at technology with religion. This story reminded me of The Quest for St Aquin by Anthony Boucher who mixes religion and technology in a way that was quite sad. But overall the ending made me laugh and left me wondering, what would robots do if they found religion? After all, if man was made in the image of God and robots made in the image of man, would they support the idea of God, or need more evidence?
5. Dilemma – Connie Willis
You might be wondering, where’s Issac Asimov? I was surprised to find no short story by Issac Asimov, however, he is the star character in this somewhat tribute story by Connie Willis. It was humourous, plays with Asimov’s ideas and weaves together an interesting story which will have you smiling at the end.
6. The Robot’s Girl – Brenda Cooper
Quite a sad tale about robots and childhood. Practicalities mixed with ideals and I found this interesting, as Cooper makes you carry on reading, because you fall into the same net as the characters. What’s going on with the girl next door?
7. R.U.R-8 – Suzanne Palmer
This was a play! I have never come across a play before in an anthology and I was surprised. I enjoyed it and was amused. Although there are quite dark themes going on throughout, with a humanity who has been replaced by robots, it is an interesting idea and I would recommend you read it.
Would I recommend?
This book releases on the 25th of July 2023. I enjoyed the stories and the book and if you are a fan of robots, it’s a must buy to add to your collection. Maybe you have read some of the stories, maybe you have never read them, but why not give them a try?
References
Robert Silverberg & Bryan Thomas Schmidt (2023). Robots Through the Ages: A Science Fiction Anthology. Blackstone Publishing
Goodreads. (n,d). Robert SIlverberg. Accessed via: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Goodreads. (n,d). Bryan Thomas Schmidt. Accessed via: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Consequence. (2019). The Twilight Zone in 10 Episodes: Rod Serling’s Greatest Hits. [Time Enough at Last”] Accessed via: https://consequence.net/2019/10/10-cl...
Goodreads. (n,d). Quote by Omar N. Bradley. Accessed via: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8515...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2023
Robots through the Ages edited by Robert Silverberg and Bryan Thomas Schmidt
As I have said before on several occasions, I am often wary of anthologies - I worry about changes in quality and tonal whiplash between stories in themed multi-author collections. But I am a sucker for stories by my favorite authors. This collection includes a new story by Seanan McGuire which was brilliant and haunting and just fantastic. It also includes a story by Connie Willis written years ago for a different anthology, Foundation’s Friends, honoring Isaac Asimov, which I read once in the library years ago and was so so happy to see it again. This book is worth it for those two stories alone.
Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
As I have said before on several occasions, I am often wary of anthologies - I worry about changes in quality and tonal whiplash between stories in themed multi-author collections. But I am a sucker for stories by my favorite authors. This collection includes a new story by Seanan McGuire which was brilliant and haunting and just fantastic. It also includes a story by Connie Willis written years ago for a different anthology, Foundation’s Friends, honoring Isaac Asimov, which I read once in the library years ago and was so so happy to see it again. This book is worth it for those two stories alone.
Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2025
The collection overall is a 10 out of 10 because there are so amazing stories in here I wouldn't have read otherwise. However, some individual stories in here, I did not like, so I will also rate them separately.
PERFECTION by Seanan McGuire
9/10 - creepy, thought-provoking, cool
A NIGHT AT MOXON’S by Ambrose Bierce
7/10 - not actually that good, but good because of the shock-value
WITH FOLDED HANDS by Jack Williamson
7/10 - it was more about the concept to me, than the story
GOOD NIGHT, MR. JAMES by Clifford D. Simak
10/10 - like a very good episode of the Twilight Zone
INSTINCT by Lester del Rey
10/10 - another great twist ending
A BAD DAY FOR SALES by Fritz Leiber
2/10 - didn't care
SECOND VARIETY by Philip K. Dick
6/10 - went too long, was kinda too obvious, expected more from Dick.
THE GOLEM by Avram Davidson
3/10 - what the heck
FOR A BREATH I TARRY by Roger Zelazny
10/10 - amazing, fantastic, no notes
GOOD NEWS FROM THE VATICAN by Robert Silverberg
1/10 - stupid
DILEMMA by Connie Willis
5/10 - Isaac Asimov fangirling
THE ROBOT’S GIRL by Brenda Cooper
4/10 - This story was trying to say something and just didn't do a good job.
THAT MUST BE THEM NOW by Karen Haber
6/10 - Karen Haber is the editor's wife. I think that's the only reason this story made it in, and I'm not joking. Because the story isn't about robots at ALL. Cute, but should not be in this collection.
R.U.R.-8? by Suzanne Palmer
5/10 - I don't have strong feelings either way about this one.
ROBINSON CALCULATOR by Paul Levinson
0/10 - Male main character is a total creep obsessed with getting that robussy.
OF HOMEWARD DREAMS AND FALLEN SEEDS AND MELODIES BY MOONLIGHT by Ken Scholes
4/10 - Meh
TODAY, I KNOW by Martin L. Shoemaker
?/10 - accidentally slept through this one
PERFECTION by Seanan McGuire
9/10 - creepy, thought-provoking, cool
A NIGHT AT MOXON’S by Ambrose Bierce
7/10 - not actually that good, but good because of the shock-value
WITH FOLDED HANDS by Jack Williamson
7/10 - it was more about the concept to me, than the story
GOOD NIGHT, MR. JAMES by Clifford D. Simak
10/10 - like a very good episode of the Twilight Zone
INSTINCT by Lester del Rey
10/10 - another great twist ending
A BAD DAY FOR SALES by Fritz Leiber
2/10 - didn't care
SECOND VARIETY by Philip K. Dick
6/10 - went too long, was kinda too obvious, expected more from Dick.
THE GOLEM by Avram Davidson
3/10 - what the heck
FOR A BREATH I TARRY by Roger Zelazny
10/10 - amazing, fantastic, no notes
GOOD NEWS FROM THE VATICAN by Robert Silverberg
1/10 - stupid
DILEMMA by Connie Willis
5/10 - Isaac Asimov fangirling
THE ROBOT’S GIRL by Brenda Cooper
4/10 - This story was trying to say something and just didn't do a good job.
THAT MUST BE THEM NOW by Karen Haber
6/10 - Karen Haber is the editor's wife. I think that's the only reason this story made it in, and I'm not joking. Because the story isn't about robots at ALL. Cute, but should not be in this collection.
R.U.R.-8? by Suzanne Palmer
5/10 - I don't have strong feelings either way about this one.
ROBINSON CALCULATOR by Paul Levinson
0/10 - Male main character is a total creep obsessed with getting that robussy.
OF HOMEWARD DREAMS AND FALLEN SEEDS AND MELODIES BY MOONLIGHT by Ken Scholes
4/10 - Meh
TODAY, I KNOW by Martin L. Shoemaker
?/10 - accidentally slept through this one
December 8, 2023
This anthology published in 2023 is fairly true to its title by collecting 17 stories about robots from 1899 to the present day. Some would probably argue that not all stories are technically robot stories, some are on the fringe on that definition, but the stories also shows how the concept of a robot has changed throughout the years in the science fiction genre.
The stories are mostly chronological, with the exception of the first one which is a new story from 2023 and an original for this anthology. “Perfection” by Seanan McGuire is sort of modern fable that takes the concept of a robot into a more metaphorical sense and using it to tell a story about creating the “perfect” human specimen. It is bit of a bold choice to start off the anthology with something a bit different, but I think it does set the concept of showing an example what “robot” can mean in a 2023 story – before going back to 1899 for the second story. “A Night at Moxon’s” by Ambrose Bierce is more like a proto-robot story, but a decent little mystery type story about a chess automaton – which were a thing in the late 19th century.
The anthology has 10 stories from before 2000 and 7 after. I did find the older stories to be most worthwhile reading, with all time classics like “With Folded Hands” by Jack Williamson, “Second Variety” by Philip K. Dick and “For a Breath I Tarry” by Roger Zelazny.
“With Folded Hands” is a great story that is basically a depiction of the saying that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Also not overly dated and easily works as a metaphor for AI advancements today. Reminded me of the Nancy Kress story “Nano comes to Clifford Falls” where machines also takes all the joy out of humans.
“Second Variety” is a chilling story with an apocalyptic atmosphere that is very well made, especially when it evolves into a mix of The Terminator and The Thing paranoia – even to an extent into Battlestar Gallactica terrority where it is impossible to discern humans from robots.
“For a Breath I Tarry” is another story that has aged impressively well. It deals with a somewhat tired trope about robots wanting to “be” humans is, but here it is done using the methodology and logic of a machine, which I really appreciated. Also amazingly spot on in how current AI machine learning models work with basically processing endless amount of data on humans. Today more than ever, the philosophical question of whether human experience can be deduced to nothing but data processing is very much relevant. I could have lived without the sort of Adam and Eve like ending, but the quest for collecting human experiences through data collecting and expatriation with art (another concept that isn’t far off from current AI picture generators) was really enjoyable to read.
It is weird to have a robot anthology without a story by Asimov, but I don’t actually miss it. His robot stories are likely well known by most science fiction readers and have been reprinted countless times already. Asimov is present though, in the satirical story “Dilemma” by Connie Willis where Asimov himself serves as some sort of reluctant oracle on how to deal with real robots and their problems with the three laws. Reasonably funny.
I didn’t enjoy the more recent stories as much, with a couple of them feeling like they are part of a series. All in all it is still a good anthology that lives up to its title by present a variety of stories showing the evolution and changes of robots throughout more than a 100 years.
Originally published on https://shortsfreviews.com
The stories are mostly chronological, with the exception of the first one which is a new story from 2023 and an original for this anthology. “Perfection” by Seanan McGuire is sort of modern fable that takes the concept of a robot into a more metaphorical sense and using it to tell a story about creating the “perfect” human specimen. It is bit of a bold choice to start off the anthology with something a bit different, but I think it does set the concept of showing an example what “robot” can mean in a 2023 story – before going back to 1899 for the second story. “A Night at Moxon’s” by Ambrose Bierce is more like a proto-robot story, but a decent little mystery type story about a chess automaton – which were a thing in the late 19th century.
The anthology has 10 stories from before 2000 and 7 after. I did find the older stories to be most worthwhile reading, with all time classics like “With Folded Hands” by Jack Williamson, “Second Variety” by Philip K. Dick and “For a Breath I Tarry” by Roger Zelazny.
“With Folded Hands” is a great story that is basically a depiction of the saying that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Also not overly dated and easily works as a metaphor for AI advancements today. Reminded me of the Nancy Kress story “Nano comes to Clifford Falls” where machines also takes all the joy out of humans.
“Second Variety” is a chilling story with an apocalyptic atmosphere that is very well made, especially when it evolves into a mix of The Terminator and The Thing paranoia – even to an extent into Battlestar Gallactica terrority where it is impossible to discern humans from robots.
“For a Breath I Tarry” is another story that has aged impressively well. It deals with a somewhat tired trope about robots wanting to “be” humans is, but here it is done using the methodology and logic of a machine, which I really appreciated. Also amazingly spot on in how current AI machine learning models work with basically processing endless amount of data on humans. Today more than ever, the philosophical question of whether human experience can be deduced to nothing but data processing is very much relevant. I could have lived without the sort of Adam and Eve like ending, but the quest for collecting human experiences through data collecting and expatriation with art (another concept that isn’t far off from current AI picture generators) was really enjoyable to read.
It is weird to have a robot anthology without a story by Asimov, but I don’t actually miss it. His robot stories are likely well known by most science fiction readers and have been reprinted countless times already. Asimov is present though, in the satirical story “Dilemma” by Connie Willis where Asimov himself serves as some sort of reluctant oracle on how to deal with real robots and their problems with the three laws. Reasonably funny.
I didn’t enjoy the more recent stories as much, with a couple of them feeling like they are part of a series. All in all it is still a good anthology that lives up to its title by present a variety of stories showing the evolution and changes of robots throughout more than a 100 years.
Originally published on https://shortsfreviews.com
December 19, 2023
Although there are some classic 5-star stories in this anthology, there were several stories I don't consider to be about robots. So, it's hard to rate this book. I really wanted it to be about the evolution of robots in science fiction, but some stories weren't about real robots. The best of the old stories was "With Folded Hands" by Jack Williamson, "Second Variety" by Philip K. Dick, and "For A Breath I Tarry" by Roger Zelazny. Of the newer stories, I liked "The Robot's Girl" by Brenda Cooper and "Today I Know" by Martin L. Shoemaker.
November 16, 2023
Interesting little stories, some of them a little strange.
I liked the live reading of the story "Golum", a description of what it was like to have lived well and for too long and come across something new and unexpected.
There is no point in "putting up with such aberrations". The most important thing is to know how to take advantage of what "nature" and the natural opportunities of everyday life present to us.
I liked the live reading of the story "Golum", a description of what it was like to have lived well and for too long and come across something new and unexpected.
There is no point in "putting up with such aberrations". The most important thing is to know how to take advantage of what "nature" and the natural opportunities of everyday life present to us.
June 28, 2023
I loved this book. All the stories are excellent but four really stood out: GOODNIGHT, MR. JAMES by Clifford D Simak; THE GOLEM by Avram Davidson; R.U.R-8? by Suzanne Palmer; and TODAY I KNOW by Martin L Shoemaker. I also liked the INTRODUCTION by Robert Silverberg and the brief introduction to each story. Overall this is a must-read for fans of science fiction. Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the digital review copy.
January 19, 2024
This collection of short stories and novellas were a decent, if not a bit slim, representation of robots at various points in history. I would have enjoyed more older works (Tik Tok of Oz anyone?) but the stories here were mostly solid. I think the weak ones for me were two of the new stories which were follow-ups to other works I had not read. Otherwise, a fun read.
September 1, 2024
Loved this anthology. I listened to the audiobook and hearing Leonard Nimoy read, "The Golum," was worth the price of admission. I enjoyed all the stories, some more than others, and overall just loved this collection.
September 20, 2023
A very good collection. I only wish that a couple of Polish writers were included: Lem and Zajdel.
December 14, 2023
Audio- Excellent. Plus one read by Leonard Nemoy!
Extremely satisfying book of robot stories. Mmmm….. very, very nice. 🤖
Extremely satisfying book of robot stories. Mmmm….. very, very nice. 🤖
December 23, 2023
Short stories: Wanted to like it but it was not great. Stories were average
February 1, 2024
Very informative
June 14, 2024
A fabulous collection of some of the best sci-fi of the last 75 years. If robots intrigue you (not just Asimov's with their 3 laws) these are the stories for you!!!
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July 28, 2024Hits and misses
Overall a decent collection, but as with most collections there are highs and lows. More of the former in this one.
Overall a decent collection, but as with most collections there are highs and lows. More of the former in this one.
March 7, 2025
A pretty good anthology of robot stories. Some good, some not quite so much. My favorite is one I have come across several times before called "The Second Variety".
November 28, 2023
interesting and enjoyable
Robots Through the Ages - anthology
Highly enjoyed For a Breath I Tarry by Roger Zelazny and Today I Know by Martin L. Shoemaker. The stories by Connie Willis, Brenda Cooper, Karen Haber, and Paul Levinson were good also.
Robots Through the Ages - anthology
Highly enjoyed For a Breath I Tarry by Roger Zelazny and Today I Know by Martin L. Shoemaker. The stories by Connie Willis, Brenda Cooper, Karen Haber, and Paul Levinson were good also.
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