I bought this book at a Friends of the Library book sale in Fair Oaks, California. I've already read it (see my review here), but I bought this copy to share in a bookray.

From the back cover:

"What do you do with a drunken robot?

You may not believe it, but robots have problems too. Just like humans.

In these mind-spinning tales, Isaac Asimov brings us an astonishing and delightful vision of a tomorrow filled with marvels and miracles--of computers in human form so incredibly real you cannot tell the man from the machine without a scorecard.

'To you, a robot is a robot. Gears and metal. Electricity and positrons. Mind and iron! Human-made! If necessary, human-destroyed. But you haven't worked with them, so you don't know them. They're a cleaner, better breed than we are.' --Dr. Susan Calvin, 2057 A.D."

This book is now part of a bookray!

This bookray is currently open. PM me if you'd like to join.
The following is the current list of members. The list is subject to change.

1. Sunneschii (Switzerland) Europe pref
2. aset01 (France) int'l
3. PrincessJCM (Ireland) int'l
4. Drusillamac (UK) int'l
5. q-cow (Phillipines) US only
6. maatkare (MA) US pref
7. Tuz (Brazil) N/S America only
8. Paige-Dayspring (AB, Canada) US/Can only
9. sqdancer (AB, Canada) int'l
10. ffroggie (Ireland) anywhere <--- it's here!
11. Hearth-Crafter (Australia) last

A bookray is when a book is sent from one person to another through a list of members who have signed up for it. When the last person on the list receives the book they can do with it as they choose--start a new ray or ring, release it into the wild, give it to a friend--whatever!

Here are the guidelines for this bookray:

1. When the person before you on the list is done reading the book they will send you a personal message (PM) asking you for your address. If you feel that you are too busy at that time to read the book within a reasonable time period (about 1 month), ask that person to skip you and go to the next person on the list. If this happens, PM me to let me know what’s going on and, if you want, I may be able to move you down the list so you can try again later.

2. When you receive the book, make a journal entry letting everyone know where the book is. Keep in mind that there are other people waiting to read the book after you, so try not to take too long to read it. A general rule of thumb is to have the book in your possession for no longer than one month. If you know you won’t be able to get to the book within a month, pass it on to the next person on the list, PM me letting me know, and I can move you down the list so you can try again later if you’d like. If you’re reading the book and it’s taking you longer than expected to finish, make a journal entry letting everyone know! Remember, there’s no such thing as too many journal entries.

3. When you’re done (or almost done) reading the book, send a PM to the next person on the list asking for their address. Even if you think you already know that person’s address, it’s a good idea to double-check to make sure their address hasn’t changed—-and also make sure the list order hasn’t changed since you checked it last. If the next person on the list doesn’t respond to your PM within several days, try again. If you still get no response within one week, PM me to let me know what’s going on and then skip this person and try the next person on the list.

4. After you’ve finished the book, journal a quick review of it for us letting us know what you thought of it!

5. Send the book to the next person on the list and post a journal entry letting everyone know it’s on its way. Sit back, relax, and watch the journals as the book completes its journey!

RELEASE NOTES:

I went to the post office this morning and started this book on its journey. It's on its way to Sunneschii now. Sometimes I get a little jealous of my books--too bad I can't pop myself in an envelope and take a trip to Switzerland for just five bucks!

Ok...the book arrived today at my house....Will start reading it this week!
Thanks a lot, Eucalia!

I just finished, it's a great book. I really enjoyed it a lot, it made me think. Hope everyone else will also like it!
I'll bring it to post tomorrow, sending it to aset01

Very interesting book. Youwill see robots differently after reading it. Thanks for sharing. On it's way to the next bookcrosser in list

Rec'd today. My DH will be reading this ASAP =)

This is princessjcm's other, better, half.

I wasn't looking forward to reading the rest of this book after the first tale, about Robbie. The rest of them were, thankfully, surprisingly good. Basically tales of logic problems encountered. Nothing to do with the film at all though if you're expecting some robot action. I'll probably end up picking up the related collection if they're as intelligent as these (Bar that Robbie story of course).

RELEASE NOTES:

Drusillamac already has a copy of the book and asked to be skipped.

Mailed swiftpost to q-cow - happy reading!

I enjoyed it. Sending off to maatkare. as soon as I get an address.

I received this Friday-ish, and I just finished it seconds ago.

I now understand why my husband refuses to watch the movie. I watched the movie, was amused, and thought "It can't be THAT far off". OMG was I wrong.

I haven't read much Asimov but I love his writing style. I particularly love our narator Dr. Calvin.. although I felt the 180 in her behavior during "liar!" was a bit much.

OK, there are spoilers ahead, so if you haven't read the book yet, OR wanted to see the movie without an opinion first don't go on.

I think the ultimate annoyance I have with Hollywood's translation is THEIR 180 on the statements made in the final chapter.

Throughout this book the Laws of Robotics are the answer, and it is always an outside factor that causes a problem. Or the modification of the law.

In the movie our salvation is a robot without the laws... because the machines are going to "take over" for our own protection. It is portrayed as being very sinister. Something we would never want...

In the last few pages Dr. Calvin states that we want and NEED robots to guide us. That the machines having complete control over society will prevent us from eventually killing ourselves. And it can't be sinister, because they have no emotions. They base their decisions on mathmatics...

ok, I'm going to stop now so I can go to work. If anyone wants to discuss this more, send me a personal message!

AT LONG LAST! I have mailed this book to sqdancer, as he was the first person to get me an address.

Arrived safe and sound.

Apologies for the late journal entry. This book was sent on Monday, August 15th via Air Mail.

Thank you for sharing; I enjoyed it.

Just arrived in the post, Thankyou. Am looking forward to reading this.