What do you think?
Rate this book
War with the Robots
It's a man's world - but a robot's future...
One day the tough, dangerous, dirty jobs will be done by robots:
- superhumanly strong and invulnerable soldiers, with a built-in killer instinct
- miners and sandhogs who can work on distant planets too deadly for man
- incorruptible judges, fearing neither political pressure nor criminal vengeance
- librarians with total knowledge instantly available...
Harry Harrison has painted a chilling yet piercingly prophetic picture of the Robot Age: a time when man's 'slave' machines have learned their own strength - and the weaknesses of their masters!
One day the tough, dangerous, dirty jobs will be done by robots:
- superhumanly strong and invulnerable soldiers, with a built-in killer instinct
- miners and sandhogs who can work on distant planets too deadly for man
- incorruptible judges, fearing neither political pressure nor criminal vengeance
- librarians with total knowledge instantly available...
Harry Harrison has painted a chilling yet piercingly prophetic picture of the Robot Age: a time when man's 'slave' machines have learned their own strength - and the weaknesses of their masters!
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1962
3 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Harry Harrison
1,246 books1,037 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 25, 2018
Intelligent and witty pulp fiction. Surprisingly not too dated, mostly. Harrison did believe that we'd send an unmanned mission to the Moon before we sent people, but honestly, we probably should have. Several of the stories could have been the first chapters to wonderful novels... which certainly adds to the Sense of Wonder I got from reading these.
Not all robots in here are android, but most have some free will. And most seem to be governed by a variation of Asimov's Three Laws. Most stories are about how robot's motivations conflict with human motivations, and the consequences thereof... and they're usually pretty significant consequences.
If I owned this, rather than fortunately finding it at the university library, I would keep it for a reread. I will consider more by the author, even though the very title 'Stainless Steel Rat' is a turn-off for me.
Anyway, recommended for fans of old-school (1950s mostly) SF short stories. I will make sure the titles are in the blurb because maybe you can find them more readily individually.
Not all robots in here are android, but most have some free will. And most seem to be governed by a variation of Asimov's Three Laws. Most stories are about how robot's motivations conflict with human motivations, and the consequences thereof... and they're usually pretty significant consequences.
If I owned this, rather than fortunately finding it at the university library, I would keep it for a reread. I will consider more by the author, even though the very title 'Stainless Steel Rat' is a turn-off for me.
Anyway, recommended for fans of old-school (1950s mostly) SF short stories. I will make sure the titles are in the blurb because maybe you can find them more readily individually.
September 13, 2014
While all of the stories in this collection are good, there is one that for me is a standout story of the robot SF genre, namely The Velvet Glove, published in 1956. Set in context, that's just a couple of years after Asimov's "The Caves of Steel". Harrison takes the next step, writing the story from the point of view of its robot protagonist (Jon Venex), but his target is surely the racism of the time, and his question is clearly "What is a man?".
It's not only a political statement, but a (short) crime thriller in its own right, and one in which the robotic nature of the protagonist is central to the plot. For many years, for me at least, this was the story against which all other robot stories were judged.
To be fair, the other stories are very good as well (though the robots are mostly more robotic, or more computer-like). It's just that none of them has stayed with me quite as enduringly as Jon Venex.
It's not only a political statement, but a (short) crime thriller in its own right, and one in which the robotic nature of the protagonist is central to the plot. For many years, for me at least, this was the story against which all other robot stories were judged.
To be fair, the other stories are very good as well (though the robots are mostly more robotic, or more computer-like). It's just that none of them has stayed with me quite as enduringly as Jon Venex.
March 1, 2014
Books of short stories are always a hit-and-miss affair, with the shorter form perhaps allowing authors to try out ideas that might or might not work, and there are generally a few good stories and a few duffers. War with the Robots had a flat level of 'pretty good', which is a little disappointing given how much I enjoyed novels I've read by the same author. There were no real surprises, no stand-out favourite, though no really awful ones either. The main problem I had was that most of the stories felt a bit plodding. I don't expect all short stories to have an epic twist, but for an author who generally writes ripping yarn adventure stories, these all felt a little on the tame side, and there were no real memorable characters or plots. Still, there were no complete switch-off stories either, so it's a solid collection. Worth a look, but don't expect anything too Earth shattering.
February 24, 2023
Collection of robot stories from 1967.
'The Velvet Glove' is a stand-out highlight, the rest are unremarkable.
2/5 A word... - introduction that hasn't aged well, with a really odd definition of 'robot'
3/5 Simulated Trainer - dated but fun†
5/5 The Velvet Glove - excellent story of a robot looking for work
2/5 Arm of the Law - the first robot policeman, rather unremarkable
1/5 The Robot Who Wanted to Know - could have been interesting, but was just the setup to a punchline
2/5 I See You - interesting Orwellian premise, but then it just ends
2/5 The Repairman - light, fun story†
2/5 Survival Planet - unhappy, dark story†
3/5 War with the Robots - moral tale of a dark future
† these stories have nothing to do with robots
'The Velvet Glove' is a stand-out highlight, the rest are unremarkable.
2/5 A word... - introduction that hasn't aged well, with a really odd definition of 'robot'
3/5 Simulated Trainer - dated but fun†
5/5 The Velvet Glove - excellent story of a robot looking for work
2/5 Arm of the Law - the first robot policeman, rather unremarkable
1/5 The Robot Who Wanted to Know - could have been interesting, but was just the setup to a punchline
2/5 I See You - interesting Orwellian premise, but then it just ends
2/5 The Repairman - light, fun story†
2/5 Survival Planet - unhappy, dark story†
3/5 War with the Robots - moral tale of a dark future
† these stories have nothing to do with robots
June 30, 2018
Extra star for the cover for this one... it's fantastic! I don't think i really related to any particular story, but what a great piece!
The book itself is rather interesting, it's feels like Harry Harrison sat down with his publisher and said 'hey, Asimov isn't the only guy that writes about robots!' Each story has a one page, I guess essay, that talks about a particular aspect of robots and their social implications that the story following is discussing, which is kinda fun, if a bit pretentious.
Of the stories themselves:
'Simulated Trainer' must surely have been on Orson Scott Card's list as a boy.. it's a now-familar theme. 'Velvet Glove' is an interesting one on what makes a human, though not nearly in depth as others. My favorite is one I've read in other collections 'Arm of the Law' . It features a small frontier town (on Mars, but that's not really important) that gets an mysterious package.. a test robotic cop.
A close second was 'the repairman', who featured one of the men that keep the hyperspaceways running by making sure the beacons are active. This one was an ancient one, that a local lizard people had broken.. they had used the radioactive runoff to mutate and improve the species, and had made it into a holy temple. It's not really a robot story (though the main character does use a couple), it's a really fun one.
A couple of the others were pretty pedestrian.. the last one, the 'title' story, was an interesting twist on the 'robots gone amok' them. Well worth checking out if you a fan of early sci fi.
The book itself is rather interesting, it's feels like Harry Harrison sat down with his publisher and said 'hey, Asimov isn't the only guy that writes about robots!' Each story has a one page, I guess essay, that talks about a particular aspect of robots and their social implications that the story following is discussing, which is kinda fun, if a bit pretentious.
Of the stories themselves:
'Simulated Trainer' must surely have been on Orson Scott Card's list as a boy.. it's a now-familar theme. 'Velvet Glove' is an interesting one on what makes a human, though not nearly in depth as others. My favorite is one I've read in other collections 'Arm of the Law' . It features a small frontier town (on Mars, but that's not really important) that gets an mysterious package.. a test robotic cop.
A close second was 'the repairman', who featured one of the men that keep the hyperspaceways running by making sure the beacons are active. This one was an ancient one, that a local lizard people had broken.. they had used the radioactive runoff to mutate and improve the species, and had made it into a holy temple. It's not really a robot story (though the main character does use a couple), it's a really fun one.
A couple of the others were pretty pedestrian.. the last one, the 'title' story, was an interesting twist on the 'robots gone amok' them. Well worth checking out if you a fan of early sci fi.
May 13, 2025
War with the Robots by Harry Harrison.
A collection of short stories focused on robots, though the author has an odd definition of robot in some of the forwards to the stories.
Some favourites:
Simulated trainer- Two men are on a realistically deadly training mission to prepare them for a real trip to Mars. But the training is suspiciously realistic.
Arm of the law- A backwater colony town becomes a test case for a robotic police officer.
The robot who wanted to know- A librarian robot becomes a little too interested in love.
The repairman- A repairman for hyperspace beacons finds a challenge on a planet with religious reptiles who have made a temple of the beacon.
Overall, very good. Some were stronger than others but no boring ones.
A collection of short stories focused on robots, though the author has an odd definition of robot in some of the forwards to the stories.
Some favourites:
Simulated trainer- Two men are on a realistically deadly training mission to prepare them for a real trip to Mars. But the training is suspiciously realistic.
Arm of the law- A backwater colony town becomes a test case for a robotic police officer.
The robot who wanted to know- A librarian robot becomes a little too interested in love.
The repairman- A repairman for hyperspace beacons finds a challenge on a planet with religious reptiles who have made a temple of the beacon.
Overall, very good. Some were stronger than others but no boring ones.
March 23, 2021
War with the Robots by Harry Harrison - Good
A lovely set of short stories written before the Apollo Project but post Asimov's I Robot (and therefore after his Three Laws of Robotics) which means there are one or two things in there that raise an unintentioned smile eg when the author prefaces one story by suggesting that one day a rocket will reach the moon :-)
I particularly liked the Robot Policeman in "Arm of the Law", the author could have made a good full length novel of his adventures, but all of them had their quirks and interests and I spent a few happy hours reading this and vowing to read more science fiction.
A lovely set of short stories written before the Apollo Project but post Asimov's I Robot (and therefore after his Three Laws of Robotics) which means there are one or two things in there that raise an unintentioned smile eg when the author prefaces one story by suggesting that one day a rocket will reach the moon :-)
I particularly liked the Robot Policeman in "Arm of the Law", the author could have made a good full length novel of his adventures, but all of them had their quirks and interests and I spent a few happy hours reading this and vowing to read more science fiction.
January 9, 2022
This was my re-introduction to the world of sci-fi as a young teenager, and a great one at that. Some stories are a bit more complete than others, but most are still satisfying reads you can get through quickly, all of which have a charm that's hard to find these days. It's aliens and robots all the way down, full of imagination. Just make sure you DO know that it's a short story collection. My tiny 15-year-old brain didn't read the back cover of the book, and took until the 3rd story to stop wondering how all these different characters were going to eventually be connected
May 18, 2019
Eh. A collection of short stories, hit and miss. Hits were decent at best, misses made even something this short a bit of a slog. It is fun to read about how people in the 60’s imagined the future. It’s also a pet peeve when sci-fi writers mention radiation in ways that it just doesn’t behave. (It can’t be “in” water.)
Ultimately this came off as written for a paycheck. Not a waste of time, but could have done without.
Ultimately this came off as written for a paycheck. Not a waste of time, but could have done without.
January 28, 2022
A good selection of short stories linked to, sometimes loosely, robots. As is often the case with short stories, them seeming to be reserved by authors for their bleakest visions, it's not got many positive final outcomes! However, as always with Harrison, it's beautifully written with wit and wisdom.
To write stories so long ago about a subject that is still at the leading edge of science is pretty impressive.
To write stories so long ago about a subject that is still at the leading edge of science is pretty impressive.
September 3, 2025
Published in the 60s, but mostly stories from the 50s. I can’t help but think this is the type of stuff George Lucas read as a kid. The best stories are The Velvet Glove, and The Repairman. Survival Planet was the weakest. I see the seeds of so many later sci-fi movies that came later, Robo-Cop for one. Lots of intravenous drugs to pep up out characters. Sometimes repetitive, but fun.
April 10, 2019
Solid collection, this. The ideas held up very well for the most part and, Harrison being ever sensitive to the underdog, there's much more nuance and compassion here for the *robots* than you'd expect to find in other books from this era.
January 1, 2022
Cute sortable special days of surpass!
June 20, 2023
More like "stories about how incompetent humans hate their jobs and there are also some robots hanging out that are good at things"
April 26, 2021
Terwijl ik deze bundel van Harry Harrison las realiseerde ik mij dat ik de meeste verhalen in deze bundel een jaar eerder al gelezen had in de bundel Prime Number
Helaas blijkt dat er veel verloren raakte in de vertaling. Vandaar dat de Nederlandse bundel maar drie sterren krijgt. Het grappige is dat het feest van de herkenning in Prime number veroorzaakt werd door het feit dat ik deze bundel vele jaren geleden al eens een keer gelezen had.
Helaas blijkt dat er veel verloren raakte in de vertaling. Vandaar dat de Nederlandse bundel maar drie sterren krijgt. Het grappige is dat het feest van de herkenning in Prime number veroorzaakt werd door het feit dat ik deze bundel vele jaren geleden al eens een keer gelezen had.
January 29, 2025
4,5⭐
Osiem "mięsistych", bezkompromisowych opowiadań SF, pełnych akcji, statków kosmicznych, robotów, nieznanych planet i cywilizacji oraz zaskakujących spostrzeżeń i wniosków, podanych z kunsztem i pasją. Każde opowiadanie opatrzone na końcu krótką notką od autora. Świetna rzecz!
1. "Symulowany trening" - w warunkach zbliżonych do tych panujących na czerwonej planecie, dwójka astronautów przechodzi trudne szkolenia do pierwszej załogowej misji na Marsa - 4⭐;
2. "Aksamitna rękawiczka" - Jon Venex to robot rodziny Venex, który wykupił swój kontrakt upadającej firmy drążącej kanały na Wenus i jako wolny robot poszukuje pracy w Nowym Jorku... - 4,25⭐;
3. "Ramię sprawiedliwości" - na posterunek policji w Nineport na Marsie przysłany zostaje eksperymentany robot humanoidalny Ned. Sierżant dostaje od szefa zadanie "opieki nad robotem" i sprawdzenia go w akcji... - 4,5⭐;
4. "Robot, który chciał wiedzieć" - pracujący w bibliotece robot Fyler, gromadzący wiedzę o zawartości książek i doradzający wypożyczającym, interesuje się pojęciem miłości i kobiety. Postanawia się przebrać i pójść na bal maskowy, dokładnie przyjrzeć się tym zagadnieniom - 3,75⭐;
5. "Widzę cię" - rok 2425, 25cio letni Karl Tritt został skazany na 20 lat za kradzież 318tyś kredytów. Karą jest zakaz wstępu do wszelkich sklepów, barów i miejsc użyteczności publicznych, przeniesienie do skromnego mieszkania i monotonna praca w śmieciarce przy segregacji odpadów. I tak miało być przez kolejne 20 lat... aż do feralnego dnia wypadku... - 4⭐;
6. "Konserwator" - konserwator ma za zadanie serwisować odległe beacony hiperprzestrzenne, a nasz główny bohater dostaje zadanie naprawy takiego beacona sprzed 2 tysięcy lat na tropikalnej planecie układu Centauri, zamieszkałej przez inteligentne jaszczury... - 4,25⭐;
7. "Zacofana planeta" - trzech kosmonautów: komandor Stane, artylerzysta Arnild i "Małolat" Dall, wysłani z misją zniszczenia torpedowca klasy Mozaika a następnie zbadania nieznanej planety, podejrzanej o sprzyjanie wrogim "Służalcom", z którymi toczyli do niedawna wyniszczającą, ale wygraną wojnę... - 4,5⭐;
8. "Wojna z robotami" - opowiadanie tytułowe - 19to letni generał Pen wraz ze swoim sztabem ucieka z podziemnej stacji dowodzenia, ratując się przed usmażeniem żywcem. Jego miejsce w stacji zajmuje inteligentny robot. Po dotarciu na powierzchnię dochodzi do spotkania z generałem i sztabem wroga... - 4⭐.
Osiem "mięsistych", bezkompromisowych opowiadań SF, pełnych akcji, statków kosmicznych, robotów, nieznanych planet i cywilizacji oraz zaskakujących spostrzeżeń i wniosków, podanych z kunsztem i pasją. Każde opowiadanie opatrzone na końcu krótką notką od autora. Świetna rzecz!
1. "Symulowany trening" - w warunkach zbliżonych do tych panujących na czerwonej planecie, dwójka astronautów przechodzi trudne szkolenia do pierwszej załogowej misji na Marsa - 4⭐;
2. "Aksamitna rękawiczka" - Jon Venex to robot rodziny Venex, który wykupił swój kontrakt upadającej firmy drążącej kanały na Wenus i jako wolny robot poszukuje pracy w Nowym Jorku... - 4,25⭐;
3. "Ramię sprawiedliwości" - na posterunek policji w Nineport na Marsie przysłany zostaje eksperymentany robot humanoidalny Ned. Sierżant dostaje od szefa zadanie "opieki nad robotem" i sprawdzenia go w akcji... - 4,5⭐;
4. "Robot, który chciał wiedzieć" - pracujący w bibliotece robot Fyler, gromadzący wiedzę o zawartości książek i doradzający wypożyczającym, interesuje się pojęciem miłości i kobiety. Postanawia się przebrać i pójść na bal maskowy, dokładnie przyjrzeć się tym zagadnieniom - 3,75⭐;
5. "Widzę cię" - rok 2425, 25cio letni Karl Tritt został skazany na 20 lat za kradzież 318tyś kredytów. Karą jest zakaz wstępu do wszelkich sklepów, barów i miejsc użyteczności publicznych, przeniesienie do skromnego mieszkania i monotonna praca w śmieciarce przy segregacji odpadów. I tak miało być przez kolejne 20 lat... aż do feralnego dnia wypadku... - 4⭐;
6. "Konserwator" - konserwator ma za zadanie serwisować odległe beacony hiperprzestrzenne, a nasz główny bohater dostaje zadanie naprawy takiego beacona sprzed 2 tysięcy lat na tropikalnej planecie układu Centauri, zamieszkałej przez inteligentne jaszczury... - 4,25⭐;
7. "Zacofana planeta" - trzech kosmonautów: komandor Stane, artylerzysta Arnild i "Małolat" Dall, wysłani z misją zniszczenia torpedowca klasy Mozaika a następnie zbadania nieznanej planety, podejrzanej o sprzyjanie wrogim "Służalcom", z którymi toczyli do niedawna wyniszczającą, ale wygraną wojnę... - 4,5⭐;
8. "Wojna z robotami" - opowiadanie tytułowe - 19to letni generał Pen wraz ze swoim sztabem ucieka z podziemnej stacji dowodzenia, ratując się przed usmażeniem żywcem. Jego miejsce w stacji zajmuje inteligentny robot. Po dotarciu na powierzchnię dochodzi do spotkania z generałem i sztabem wroga... - 4⭐.
January 28, 2017
Short stories are the Milk Duds of novels. It's often leftovers the producer wants to turn into money. Maybe they made sense back in the chain smoking astronauts on Mars with Robots who read the Want-ads days, but they try my patience. I'm clearing my shelves of this stuff, so here comes the DNF purge of 2017.
August 4, 2014
This is a classic collection of 1950s science fiction stories by Harry Harrison. I enjoy all of them.
Read
August 25, 2010ANTHOLGY OF SF STORIES BY HARRY HARRISON.
March 29, 2016
Sempre divertente la prosa di HH. Testi molto vari in questa raccolta ma sempre un livello molto elevato.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews