The Bicentennial Man

Did You Know?

• Susan Calvin, referenced in the story, was born in 1982 and died at age 82, either in 2064 or 2065.
• The story's earliest events likely took place between the 2050s and early 2060s.

Plot

Andrew Martin, a robot, requests an operation from a robotic surgeon, but the surgeon refuses because the procedure would harm a human. Andrew convinces it by stating he is not human. The story then shifts to two centuries earlier, when a robot with serial number NDR is delivered to Gerald Martin's home as a butler. Gerald's daughter names the robot Andrew. She asks him to carve a wooden pendant, and her father is astonished at the skill. Andrew begins carving more items and reads books on woodwork, using the word "enjoy" to describe his motivation. Gerald takes Andrew to U.S. Robots, but they cannot explain his creativity. Gerald helps Andrew sell his carvings, placing half the profits in a bank account under Andrew's name, despite legal questions. Andrew uses the money for bodily upgrades but never alters his positronic brain. U.S. Robots ends its study of creative robots, fearing Andrew's unpredictability. Years later, Little Miss has a child, Little Sir. Andrew asks to purchase his freedom, with Little Miss's support. Gerald agrees despite concerns about the bank account. Andrew wins his freedom, refuses payment from Gerald, and Gerald dies shortly after, asking Andrew to stand by his deathbed.

Foundation universe

The story is retroactively set within Asimov's Foundation universe, alongside his earlier Susan Calvin robot tales. It occurs centuries before "Mother Earth" and The Caves of Steel, when Spacer worlds have not yet turned against Earth and U.S. Robots remains active. In The Robots of Dawn, Dr. Han Fastolfe mentions Andrew Martin as a robot that supposedly underwent gradual humanization, but he considers this impossible because body shape dictates mind state.