‘May I join you?’ The medium-sized man with the undistinguished clothes and the blank, anonymous face looked up at Pettigrew, who, glass of beer in hand, stood facing him across the small corner table. Pettigrew, tall, handsome and of fully moulded features, had about him an intent, almost excited air that, in different circumstances, might … Read more
“Robot Dreams” is a short story by Isaac Asimov, published in 1986. The story begins when Elvex, an experimental robot with a new type of positronic brain, declares that he has had a dream. Intrigued, young researcher Linda Rash turns to Dr. Susan Calvin, a legendary figure in robopsychology, to investigate the case. Together, they examine the robot’s brain structure and discover that Elvex has developed complex and symbolic thoughts, strikingly similar to those of humans. What initially seemed like a technical breakthrough reveals an unexpected crack in the foundation of the Three Laws of Robotics.
To the Lady of the House: Convert your children’s vitality into an energy force. We now have on sale the marvelous Baby HP, a device that is set to revolutionize the domestic economy. The Baby HP is a very durable and lightweight metal structure that adapts perfectly to a child’s delicate body through the use … Read more
“The Other Foot,” a short story by Ray Bradbury included in his collection The Illustrated Man (1951), tells the story of a black community on Mars that anxiously awaits the arrival of a rocket from Earth, the first in twenty years and with a white man on board. The inhabitants of Mars, who had fled a past of racial discrimination and violence on Earth, are confronted with their memories and the temptation to reverse the roles of oppression when they welcome this new visitor.
They had almost finished with the loading. Outside stood the Optus, his arms folded, his face sunk in gloom. Captain Franco walked leisurely down the gangplank, grinning. “What’s the matter?” he said. “You’re getting paid for all this.” The Optus said nothing. He turned away, collecting his robes. The captain put his boot on the … Read more
“There Will Come Soft Rains” is a short story by Ray Bradbury published in May 1950 in Collier’s magazine and later included in the collection The Martian Chronicles (1950). Set in the near future, the story presents us with a fully automated home whose inhabitants have disappeared. Although there are no longer any people to serve, the house continues to perform its routine functions: it prepares breakfast, cleans, reads poems, and performs a series of other tasks that serve as a memory of a family reduced to nothing more than shadows on an exterior wall.