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Isaac Asimov: Robbie

“Robbie,” a short story by Isaac Asimov published in September 1940 in Super Science Stories and later included in the collection I, Robot (1950), tells the story of Gloria, an eight-year-old girl, and her robot Robbie, designed to be her companion and babysitter. Gloria and Robbie have a very close relationship, always playing and sharing adventures. However, Gloria’s mother, concerned about the robot’s influence and the neighbors’ opinion, decides to get rid of Robbie, convinced that a machine cannot be a suitable companion for a child.

Isaac Asimov: Trends. Summary and analysis

Trends, a short story by Isaac Asimov published in Astounding Science-Fiction in July 1939, presents a future where humanity, after a period of scientific progress, has fallen into conservatism and opposition to space exploration. John Harman, a visionary scientist, struggles to launch the first spacecraft into space while facing hostility from a world that considers his project a threat. With the support of a few allies, he challenges censorship and religious fanaticism, determined to prove that progress cannot be stopped.

Robert A. Heinlein: Life-Line

Robert A. Heinlein - La línea de la vida

Life-Line is a short story by Robert A. Heinlein, published in August 1939 in Astounding Science-Fiction. It tells the story of the eccentric Dr. Hugo Pinero, who claims to have developed a scientific method for accurately predicting any person’s death date. Faced with the disbelief and contempt of the scientific community, Pinero challenges his critics with demonstrations that shake the confidence of his detractors. As the controversy grows, his discovery threatens to disrupt the social order and generate intense reactions among those who see his invention as dangerous.

Isaac Asimov: Trends

Trends is a short story by Isaac Asimov, published in July 1939 in Astounding Science-Fiction. Set in a future where religious fundamentalism is on the rise and scientific progress is viewed with suspicion, it tells the story of John Harman, an engineer who defies social and religious opposition to make the first space flight. As the day of the launch approaches, public pressure intensifies, and the threats against his life increase. With unwavering determination, Harman faces the rejection of a world fearful of change, while his enemies claim that his project is a sacrilege that defies divine design.

Robert A. Heinlein: “All You Zombies …”

“All you zombies…” is a science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein, published in March 1959 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The story follows a mysterious bartender who listens to the confession of a young writer nicknamed “Single Mother.” In a New York bar in 1970, the young man recounts his extraordinary life, marked by abandonment, transformation, and a desperate search for his identity. What begins as a simple conversation turns into a surprising revelation when the bartender offers him the opportunity to face his past, unleashing a unique and disturbing temporal paradox.

Philip K. Dick: The Impossible Planet

The Impossible Planet is a science fiction story by Philip K. Dick, published in October 1953 in the magazine Imagination. The story follows Captain Andrews and his crew, who receive an unusual request from a 350-year-old woman: to travel to Earth, the mythical planet believed to be the cradle of humanity. Although science has ruled out that the Earth ever existed, the older woman is willing to pay a large sum to fulfill her dream, which awakens Andrews’ greed.