Prelude to Foundation (Foundation, #6)

by Isaac Asimov

“But I had a…a friend twenty thousand years ago. Another robot. Not like myself. He could not be mistaken for a human being, but it was he who had the mental powers and it was through him that I gained mine. “It seemed to him that there should be a still more general rule than any of the Three Laws. He called it the Zeroth Law, since zero comes before one. It is:...

“Then the First Law must read: “ ‘One. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, except where that would conflict with the Zeroth Law.’ “And the oth...

Daneel went on. “The trouble is, Hari, that a human being is easy to identify. I can point to one. It is easy to see what will harm a human being and what won’t—relatively easy, at least. But what is humanity? To what can we point when we speak of humanity? And how can we define harm

to humanity? When will a course of action do more good than harm to humanity as a whole and how can one tell? The robot who first advanced the Zeroth Law died—became permanently inactive—because he was forced into an action that he felt would save humanity, yet which he could not be sure would save humanity. And as he became inactivated, he left the care of the Galaxy to me.

“Since then, I have tried. I have interfered as little as possible, relying on human beings themselves to judge what was for the good. They could gamble; I could not. They could miss their goals; I did not dare. They could do harm unwittingly; I would grow ina...

“But at times I am forced to take action. That I am still functioning shows that my actions have been moderate and discreet. However, as the Empire began to fail and to decline, I have had to interfere more frequently and for decades now I have had to play the role of Demerzel, trying to run the g...

“When you made your speech to the Decennial Convention, I realized at once that in psychohistory there was a tool that might make it possible to identify what was good and bad for humanity. With it, the decisions we would make would be less blind. I would even trust to human beings to make those decisions and again reserve myself only for the greatest emergencies. So I arranged quickly to have Cleon learn of your speech and call you in. Then...

“To you, I must remain Hummin on those rare occasions when I will be able to see you. I will give you what information I have if it is something you need and in my persona as Demerzel I will protect you as much as I can. As Daneel, you must never speak of me.”

“I wouldn’t want to,” said Seldon hurriedly. “Since I need your help, it would ruin matters to have your plans impeded.”

“Yes, I know you wouldn’t want to.” Daneel smiled wearily. “After all, you are vain enough to want full credit for psychohistory. You would not want anyone to know—ever—that you needed the help of a robot.”

Seldon flushed. “I am not—” “But you are, even if you carefully hide it from yourself. And it is important, for I am strengthening that emotion within you minimally so that you will never be able to speak of me to ot...

Seldon said, “I suspect Dors knows—” “She knows of me. And she too cannot speak of me to others. Now that you both know of my nature, you can speak of me to ...

Daneel rose. “Hari, I have my work to do now. Before long, you and Dors will be taken back to the Imperial Sector—” “The boy Raych must come with me. I cannot abandon him. And there is a young Dahlite named Yugo Amaryl—” “I understand. Raych will be taken too and you can do with any friend as you will. You will all be taken care of appropriately. And you will work on psychohistory. You will have a staff. You will have the necessary computers and reference material. I will interfere as little as possible and if there is r...

“Wait, Hummin,” said Seldon urgently. “What if, despite all your help and all my endeavors, it turns out that psychohistory cannot be made into a practical device after all? What if I fail?” Daneel rose. “In that case, I have a second plan in hand. One I have been working on a long time on a separate world in a separate way. It too is very difficult and in some ways even more radical than psychohistory. It...

“Take my advice, Hari! If the time comes when you are able to set up some device that may act to prevent the ...

can think of two devices, so that if one fails, the other will carry on. The Empire must be steadied or rebuilt on a new foundation. Let there be two su...

“No, Dors, you have a greater task.” “What is that?” “Psychohistory. I cannot tackle the project without you.”

Dors, let me explain that psychohistory needs more than a mathematician and a historian. It also needs the will to tackle what will probably be a lifetime problem. Without you, Dors, I will not have that will.”

“Of course you’ll have it.” “Dors, if you’re not with me, I don’t intend to have it.”

“Don’t you realize that Hummin can arrange to have your feelings change so that you will work on psychohistory—even without me?” Seldon shook his head. “Hummin will not make such an arbitrary decision. I’ve spoken to him. He dares not do much to the human mind because he is bound by what he calls the Laws of Robotics. To change my mind to the point where I will not want you with me, Dors, would mean a change of the kind he cannot risk. On the other hand, if he leaves me alone and if you join me in the project, he will have what he wants—a true chance at psychohistory. Why should he not settle for that?” Dors shook her head. “He may not agree for reasons of his own.” “Why should he disagree? You were asked to protect me, Dors. Has Hummin canceled that request?” “No.” “Then he wants you to continue your protection. And I want your protection.” “Against what? You now have Hummin’s protection, both as Demerzel and as Daneel, and surely that is all you need.” “If I had the protection of every person and every force in the Galaxy, it would still be yours I would want.” “Then you don’t want me for psychohistory. You want me for protection.”

Seldon scowled. “No! Why are you twisting my words? Why are you forcing me to say what you must know? It is neither psychohistory nor protection I want you for. Those are excuses and I’ll use any other I need. I want you—just you. And if you want the real reason, it is because you are you.” “You don’t even know me.” “That doesn’t matter. I don’t care. —And yet I do know you in a way. Better than you think.” “Do you indeed?” “Of course. You follow orders and you risk your life for me without hesitation and with no apparent care for the consequences. You learned how to play tennis so quickly. You learned how to use knives even more quickly and you handled yourself perfectly in the fight with Marron. Inhumanly—if I may say so. Your muscles are amazingly strong and your reaction time is amazingly fast. You can somehow tell when a room is being eavesdropped and you can be in touch with Hummin in some way that does not involve instrumentation.” Dors said, “And what do you think of all that?” “It has occurred to me that Hummin, in his persona as R. Daneel Olivaw, has an impossible task. How can one robot try to guide the Empire? He must have helpers.” “That is obvious. Millions, I should imagine. I am a helper. You are a helper. Little Raych is a helper.” “You are a different kind of helper.” “In what way? Hari, say it. If you hear yourself say it, you will realize how crazy it is.” Seldon looked long at her and then said in a low voice, “I will not say it because…I don’t care.” ...

Dors said softly, “Hari, I want what is good for you because of what I am, but I feel that if I wasn’t what I am, I would still want what is good for you. And I don’t think I am good for you.” “Good for me or bad, I don’t care.” Here Hari looked down as he paced a few steps, weighing what he would say next. “Dors, have you ever been kissed?” “Of course, Hari. It’s a social part of life and I live socially.” “No no! I mean, have you ever really kissed a man? You know, passionately?” “Well yes, Hari, I have.” “Did you enjoy it?” Dors hesitated. She said, “When I’ve kissed in that way, I enjoyed it more than I would have enjoyed disappointing a young man I liked, someone whose friendship meant something to me.” At this point, Dors blushed and she turned her face away. “Please, Hari, this is difficult for me to explain.” But Hari, more determined now than ever, pressed further. “So you kissed for the wrong reasons, then, to avoid hurt feelings.” “Perhaps everyone does, in a sense.” Seldon mulled this over, then said suddenly, “Did you ever ask to be kissed?” Dors paused, as though looking back on her life. “No.” “Or wish to be kissed again, once you had?” “No.” “Have you ever slept ...

Then Dors placed her hand gently on his arm and said, “So you see, Hari. I’m not really what you want.” Seldon’s head drooped and he stared at the floor. He weighed the matter and tried to think rationally. Then he gave up. He wanted what he wanted and he wanted it beyond thought and beyond rationality. He looked up. “Dors, dear, even so, I don’t care.” Seldon put his arms around her and brought his head close to hers slowly, as though waiting for her to pull away, all the while drawing her nearer. Dors made no move and he kissed her—slowly, lingeringly, and then passionately—and her arms ...

THE THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Like most people left behind on an overpopulated Earth, New York City police detective Elijah Baley had little love for either the arrogant Spacers or their robotic companions.

R. Daneel Olivaw. Worst of all was that the “R” stood for robot—and his positronic partner was made in the image and likeness of the murder victim!

Elijah Baley, sent from the streets of New York with his positronic partner, the robot R. Daneel Olivaw,