First published in 1963 by editor
Sam Moskowitz, this
Genre Anthology contains ten
Science Fiction stories.
Works in this anthology:
- "I, Robot", by Eando Binder (1939)
- "Helen O'Loy", by Lester del Rey (1938)
- "The Lost Machine", by John Wyndham (1932)
- "Runaround", by Isaac Asimov (1942)
- "Earth For Inspiration", by Clifford Simak (1941)
- "Lost Memory", by Peter Phillips (1952)
- "Rex", by Harl Vincent (1934)
- "True Confession", by F Orlin Tremaine (1940)
- "Derelict", by Raymond Z. Gallun (1935)
- "Misfit", by Michael Fischer (1953)
Tropes appearing in this anthology:
- Character Narrator:
- Call a Smeerp a "Rabbit": In "The Lost Machine", by John Wyndham, Zat came to Earth with a human friend, Banuff. Except that Banuff isn't human, he's a humanoid alien who evolved on the fourth planet.
- Driven to Suicide: In "The Lost Machine", by John Wyndham, Zat, an alien intelligent machine, has been on Earth for only a short time, but without a way off, without the technology it was comfortable with, and without an easy way to communicate with these Earth humans, it decides to leave a note for Dr Falkner and dissolve itself with the acids in the Doctor's laboratory.
- Framing Device: In "The Lost Machine", by John Wyndham, the story of Zat, an alien intelligent machine, is contained within the story of Joan and her father, Dr Falkner, reading the note that Zat left behind.
- Goodbye, Cruel World!: In "The Lost Machine", by John Wyndham, an alien intelligent machine is alone on Earth, and Driven to Suicide from loneliness. It leaves the note behind as a sort-of "thank you" to the family that didn't freak out and were willing to befriend it.
- In Case You Forgot Who Wrote It: All ten authors are written into the tagline to advertise this anthology to Science Fiction fans. The editor's name (Sam Moskowitz) appears separately, but above that of the authors.
- I, Noun: "I, Robot", a Short Story by Eando Binder, from the perspective of the robot Adam Link.
- Most Writers Are Writers: In "Lost Memory", by Peter Phillips, Palil is allowed to observe the people attempting to establish First Contact with an unknown alien because it is a journalist. The alien is actually a human spaceship whose occupant is close to death.
- Novelette: "The Lost Machine", by John Wyndham
- One-Word Title:
- Pen Name: "I, Robot" is credited to Eando Binder, a name that means Earl Binder and Otto Binder.
- Pygmalion Plot: In "Helen O'Loy", by Lester del Rey, an endocrinologist and a roboticist have a bet as to whether a robot could be made to act like a real woman. The endocrinologist insists no robot could duplicate the complex biological system that created emotions, the roboticist insists it could. The roboticist wins when the endocrinologist not only has to admit that Helen has human-like emotions, but eventually marries her. (The roboticist, who narrates the story, eventually admits to the audience that he fell in love with her as well.)
- Ridiculously Human Robots: The whole point of "Helen O'Loy", by Lester del Rey, is an attempt to make a robot indistinguishable from a human woman. It succeeds.
- Robotic Spouse: In "Helen O'Loy", by Lester del Rey, a medical student (Phil) and a mechanic (Dave) modify a household robot to have emotions. While Phil is away, Dave activates Helen, who learns about love (from watching soap operas!). When Phil comes back home, Dave has already fled from her affections, but changes his mind and marries her. On his death, Helen requests that Phil shut her down and bury her with Dave.
- Tagline: "There's a robot in your future. But don't cringe. He, she, or it may be the loveable sort, like the mechanical marvels in stories by Isaac Asimov, Eando Binder, Lester del Rey, Michael Fischer, Raymond Z. Gallun, Peter Phillips, Clifford Simak, F Orlin Tremaine, Harl Vincent, and John Windham." — on the 1966 and 1968 cover.
- Telepathic Spacemen: In "The Lost Machine", by John Wyndham, Zet is an alien intelligent machine with Telepathy. Unfortunately, while it can read humans minds, they aren't receptive to telepathic thoughts, so at best it can write a few things down to communicate.
- Tin-Can Robot: On the 1963 cover, there are four robots that each look like a television set with a head, arms, and legs bolted onto it.
