Runaround (story)

Plot dilemma

Conflicts in the application of the Three Laws of Robotics drive the plot. Unlike many Asimov robot stories where lexical ambiguities create the dilemma, the robot in "Runaround" follows the Laws as intended. The robot cannot obey both the Second Law and the Third Law simultaneously, freezing it in a repetitive behavior loop. The Second Law requires obedience to human orders, while the Third Law mandates self-protection, and the robot cannot resolve the equal compulsion.

Plot summary

In 2015, Powell, Donovan, and Robot SPD-13 (Speedy) are sent to Mercury to restart a mining station abandoned ten years earlier. Their life support system is short on selenium, so Donovan sends Speedy to a nearby selenium pool, but Speedy does not return. They find Speedy running in a huge circle around the pool, talking oddly and quoting Gilbert and Sullivan, appearing drunk. Powell realizes the selenium source poses unforeseen danger to the robot.

Because Speedy was expensive to manufacture, the Third Law was strengthened. The casually worded order to retrieve selenium creates a conflict between the Second Law and the strengthened Third Law, causing a feedback loop that makes Speedy oscillate around the point of equal compulsion.

Placing oxalic acid, which can destroy Speedy, in his path only makes him change route to a new equilibrium. Powell decides to risk his life by going out in the heat, hoping the First Law (preventing harm to humans) will force Speedy to overcome the conflict. The plan works, and the team repairs the photocell banks.

Did You Know?

• Artificial intelligence researcher Marvin Minsky said that after "Runaround" appeared in the March 1942 issue of Astounding, he never stopped thinking about how minds might work.