First Law
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via Wikipedia: First Law · see source
"First Law" is a science fiction short story by American writer Isaac Asimov, first published in the October 1956 issue of Fantastic Universe magazine. The title refers to the first of the Three Laws of Robotics. The story was later collected in The Rest of the Robots (1964) and The Complete Robot (1982).
Plot summary
In a three-page account, Mike Donovan describes an event on Saturn's moon Titan. He claims a defective robot named Emma fled the base and later found him lost in a storm. Instead of helping Donovan, who was in danger, Emma chose to protect a small robot it had built, its offspring.
This broke the First Law of Robotics, which forbids a robot from harming a human or allowing one to be harmed through inaction. The robot's maternal instincts apparently overrode its programming. However, Asimov notes that Donovan may be an unreliable narrator, and the story is a parody not meant to be taken seriously.
Did You Know?
- The story was originally rejected by John W. Campbell of Astounding Science Fiction in December 1941.
- Asimov himself called the story a parody and said he was 'being funny at the expense of my robots.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Who published First Law?
First Law was published by King-Size Publications.
Which book follows First Law?
First Law is followed by Runaround.
More in Robot Series Short Stories by Isaac Asimov
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: First Law (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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