Robbie (short story)

History

Asimov began writing the story on June 10, 1939, inspired by Otto Binder's story "I, Robot" from the January 1939 Amazing Stories. John W. Campbell of Astounding Science Fiction rejected it in June. Asimov then hired Frederik Pohl as literary agent, but no magazine accepted it.

Pohl became editor of Astonishing Stories and Super Science Stories in October 1939 and purchased "Robbie" for the latter in March 1940. Pohl renamed it "Strange Playfellow," a title Asimov disliked. When reprinted in I, Robot, Asimov's preferred title was restored, with revisions including a cameo by Susan Calvin and mention of the First Law of Robotics.

Plot summary

In 1982, the mute robot Robbie serves as nursemaid for the Weston family's daughter Gloria. Mrs. Weston worries that Robbie may harm Gloria or hinder her social development, and she pressures her husband to return the robot to the factory. Mr. Weston complies, and the parents tell Gloria that Robbie "walked away," replacing him with a collie dog named Lightning. Gloria becomes unhappy and misses Robbie.

Mrs. Weston suggests a trip to New York City to help Gloria forget, but Gloria believes they are searching for Robbie. At the Museum of Science and Industry, Gloria sneaks away to a "Talking Robot"—a room-sized computer—and asks if it has seen Robbie; the machine breaks down. Mr. Weston then proposes touring a robot factory so Gloria can see robots as machines. During the tour, he asks to see a room where robots assemble other robots, and one assembler is Robbie.

Gloria runs toward him in front of a moving vehicle, but Robbie rescues her. Mrs. Weston realizes her husband had arranged the encounter, but after Robbie saves Gloria's life, she relents, and Robbie stays with the family.

Significance

The story centers on technophobia surrounding robots and argues that such fear is misplaced. Asimov believed the Frankenstein complex—the fear that robots would turn against their creators—was unwarranted. Most earlier robot fiction followed that theme, but Asimov's works instead showed robots helping humanity.