Recently, I started reading Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot. I thought I knew what to expect going in, as I had seen the film a half dozen times in middle and high school. Now, I love Will Smith and any time he graces the screen I get a little giddy, but I’m incredibly thankful this book is nothing like the movie. Instead of a detective predicting the robot apocalypse, the book is actually a collection of short stories involving the Three Laws of Robotics and robopsychology. This book isn’t action-packed. This book is a collection of eight increasingly complex logic puzzles that must be solved by Dr. Susan Calvin and the employees of U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc.
I had a lot of fun reading this book. I don’t think that it’ll appeal to everybody, but I have always enjoyed logic puzzles and solving them along with the characters of the story made the book all the more engaging. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys logic puzzles or anyone who wants to see the source of the legendary Three Laws of Robotics. If you’re looking for something like the movie, I’d recommend checking out some of Asimov’s other works.
Also, I read the first volume of Jim McCann’s Mind the Gap. I enjoyed the read but it didn’t blow me away. I was a little disappointed because I thought it had a lot of potential and I’d heard the series was really good. There are a ton of plot lines being weaved together here involving the comatose Elle and her friend, her boyfriend, her family etc. The characters are brought together in interesting ways, and McCann expertly ends each issue with a cliffhanger. These cliffhangers were enough to keep me reading and make me want to move forward, but I didn’t feel like the plot lines have really come together yet. Hopefully volume 2 will start to weave the plot lines into a cohesive whole.
Also, I just watched Matt Smith’s first episode of Doctor Who and I already miss the old intro sequence. But I think I’m going to like the eleventh doctor.
So that’s where I’m at currently. If you want to discuss some robotics or Will Smith movies, or if you want to assure me that Matt Smith is a worthy doctor, feel free to message me or tweet me @left4turtle.