Robots through the Ages

A Thankyou

Before I begin the review, I would just like to thank Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for sending R&R a reviewer’s copy of this book

Release Date?

You can pre order now from your favourite book outlet, but this releases on the 25th of July 2023

The Editors

Everyone has heard of Robert Silverberg; but for those who have not, he is a legend in the field and has been awarded the “Grand Master award”. (Goodreads, n,d). He has been a president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and has won five Nebula Awards and five Hugo Awards. So, with an anthologist such as Silverberg I was excited to read this anthology. Bryan Thomas Schmidt is also an anthologist of the book. Schmidt is a national bestselling author and Hugo nominated editor of adult and children’s speculative fiction. (Goodreads, Bryan Thomas Schmidt n,d).

Another Short Story collection?

I know, these past reviews here at R&R have been short story heavy, but short stories are brilliant and there are some really great collections coming out this year and this one belongs there with them. Silverberg gives us a brilliant introduction mixed with memories of his life and also goes through the beginning of the word and idea of “Robot”. Some of you may find new things whilst you read his introduction and I think it is great that Silverberg is still writing and engaging with the field he has had such an impression on.

The Collection

Here at R&R we have read a lot of short stories and books from all kinds of genres, so does that mean we have read them all? No. There is always more to read, there is always more to learn and it was fantastic to discover some stories we have never come across before. Some were such a surprise! I never expected to find a play in between the pages, I do not think I have come across a play in an anthology before and I loved it.

Favourites

As with all short stories you’ll have your favourites. Here are R&R’s.

The Second Variety – Phillip K. Dick

A brilliant read. Weary soldiers fighting in a world which is ash. Or are they fighting? It seems that with technological advances, the robots are doing it all for them. Steel kills man. But isn’t that what warfare has become? As weapons have evolved throughout the years, has man evolved with them, or are we still the same unenlightened race, with stronger weapons? “Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.” (Goodreads, Omar, n,d). A short story which will make you think and question, until you are as plagued with paranoia as the soldiers. What is the second variety? Read it to find out. I liked the real twist at the end, it was a satisfying.

2. A Bad Day For Sales – Fritz Leiber

What are robots used for? To help people? To advance the human race? To do things that people no longer want to do….Maybe, in this story Fritz Leiber paints a picture of sales and robots built to do just that. Mankind puts profit and industry above humanity. Bluntly hammering the point home when the robot begins to try to sell to dead men, women and children. It was an excellent story, and it gave me a lot to think about.

3. For a Breath I Tarry – Roger Zelazny

This was an impressive novelette. I read it in one sitting, I had to. A machine, Frost, caught between two Godlike machines, The Alternate and Solcom. Why had man left them here? What can machines achieve? What happens to Frost? Read the novelette and find out.

4. Good News From The Vatican – Robert Silverberg

Robert Silverberg in the introduction describes the short story as “playful”. It is a whimsical idea, what if the pope was a robot? You might smile at the idea, you might frown, depending on your religious view. It seems the characters in the story are as divided as people reading this. Some support the idea of a robot pope, some are against it. It is always interesting to look at technology with religion. This story reminded me of The Quest for St Aquin by Anthony Boucher who mixes religion and technology in a way that was quite sad. But overall the ending made me laugh and left me wondering, what would robots do it they found religion? After all, if man was made in the image of God and robots made in the image of man, would they support the idea of God, or need more evidence?

5. Dilemma – Connie Willis

You might be wondering, where’s Issac Asimov? I was surprised to find no short story by Issac Asimov, however, he is the star character in this somewhat tribute story by Connie Willis. It was humourous, plays with Asimov’s ideas and weaves together an interesting story which will have you smiling at the end.

6. The Robot’s Girl – Brenda Cooper

Quite a sad tale about robots and childhood. Practicalities mixed with ideals and I found this interesting, as Cooper makes you carry on reading, because you fall into the same net as the characters. What’s going on with the girl next door?

7. R.U.R-8 – Suzanne Palmer

This was a play! I have never come across a play before in an anthology and I was surprised. I enjoyed it and was amused. Although there are quite dark themes going on throughout, with a humanity who has been replaced by robots, it is an interesting idea and I would recommend you read it.

Would I recommend?

This book releases on the 25th of July 2023. I enjoyed the stories and the book and if you are a fan of robots, it’s a must buy to add to your collection. Maybe you have read some of the stories, maybe you have never read them, but why not give them a try?

References

Robert Silverberg & Bryan Thomas Schmidt (2023). Robots Through the Ages: A Science Fiction Anthology. Blackstone Publishing
Goodreads. (n,d). Robert SIlverberg. Accessed via: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4338.Robert_Silverberg
Goodreads. (n,d). Bryan Thomas Schmidt. Accessed via: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3874125.Bryan_Thomas_Schmidt
Consequence. (2019). The Twilight Zone in 10 Episodes: Rod Serling’s Greatest Hits. [Time Enough at Last”] Accessed via: https://consequence.net/2019/10/10-classic-twilight-zone-episodes/%5D
Goodreads. (n,d). Quote by Omar N. Bradley. Accessed via: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/85158-ours-is-a-world-of-nuclear-giants-and-ethical-infants

Robots through the Ages edited by Robert Silverberg and Bryan Thomas Schmidt


As I have said before on several occasions, I am often wary of anthologies - I worry about changes in quality and tonal whiplash between stories in themed multi-author collections. But I am a sucker for stories by my favorite authors. This collection includes a new story by Seanan McGuire which was brilliant and haunting and just fantastic. It also includes a story by Connie Willis written years ago for a different anthology, Foundation’s Friends, honoring Isaac Asimov, which I read once in the library years ago and was so so happy to see it again. This book is worth it for those two stories alone.

Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Here is the summary of my review, found at the start of the review, " 'Robots Through The Ages', Robert Silverberg and Bryan Thomas Schmidt editors, 2023 Blackstone Publishing (7/25/2023 release date), is a great anthology of stories about robots, androids and AI. While mostly reprints, there are three outstanding stories original to this anthology. Rated 3.89/5, or "Great". I strongly recommend "Robots Through the Ages". See link for my full review.

I loved this book. All the stories are excellent but four really stood out: GOODNIGHT, MR. JAMES by Clifford D Simak; THE GOLEM by Avram Davidson; R.U.R-8? by Suzanne Palmer; and TODAY I KNOW by Martin L Shoemaker. I also liked the INTRODUCTION by Robert Silverberg and the brief introduction to each story. Overall this is a must-read for fans of science fiction. Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the digital review copy.

I believe we are at a crossroads as humans, and the possibilities and dangers of our next step forward are to be known, discussed, and resolved by the time we traverse the point of no return. Robots Through the Ages works as a collection of short stories due to its sheer diversity of themes, which make the reader think about the issues and opportunities created by a technology that has the power to permeate every dimension of human life.