Lenny (short story)
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"Lenny" is a science fiction short story by American writer Isaac Asimov, originally published in the January 1958 issue of Infinity Science Fiction. It appears in the collections The Rest of the Robots, The Complete Robot, and Robot Visions. As in many of Asimov's robot stories, prejudice is an important theme in "Lenny".
Plot summary
U.S. Robots plans the LNE series of robots for boron mining in the asteroid belt. A tourist accidentally reprograms the prototype LNE, wiping its brain structure and rendering it a baby. Robopsychologist Susan Calvin experiments with it, naming it "Lenny" and developing maternal feelings.
After a month she teaches it simple words and actions, realizing robots can be built to learn. Lenny breaks a technician's arm, causing panic about robots attacking humans. Calvin exploits the danger to add a new thrill to robotic investigation, akin to space exploration or radiation physics.
Did You Know?
- The Harlan Ellison screenplay I, Robot expands Lenny's role and links "Lenny" to "Evidence".
- In the screenplay, Stephen Byerley is revealed to be Lenny in disguise.
- The original short story never explicitly states whether Byerley is human.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who published Lenny (short story)?
Lenny was published by Royal Publications.
Which book follows Lenny (short story)?
Lenny is followed by Galley Slave.
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: Lenny (short story) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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