Many years ago I discovered the Robot stories of Isaac Asimov and I fell in love with them and have reread them on numerous occasions since then. One of my favourite stories was ‘Little Lost Robot’. This story concerns an incident that happened in a hyperspace research base out near the Gas Giants and involves a robot which is helping with the scientific project that goes missing.
A missing robot might not be too much of a problem one might think, but this robot is different. This robot is special in that it has the first law of robotics, which is not harming a human or allowing a human to come to harm, modified. It was modified in order that it didn’t automatically rescue humans from a potentially dangerous area even when the humans might be at less risk than the robot believes it is.
Unfortunately for the researchers in the space base, this robot is now missing and it’s a race against time to find it. They have to call in the brilliant robopsychologist Dr Susan Calvin in order to tell this particular robot from a large cohort of robots that are completely identical apart from not having the First Law modification.
This version of the story looks to be a TV adaptation and even allowing for the technology and studio facilities available at the time, 1962, this is still a cracking story told in a way that is as accurate as it could be to the original storyline.
Yes, but to be honest I don’t feel I can watch any sci-fi now, too much of seems to be currently happening or is perceived to be happening. I read all of John Wyndham, H G Wells and George Orwell while still in my teens, and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, but looking back on it were they the best influences?
One of my favourite films I keep returning to is Powell and Pressburger’s 1944 A Canterbury Tale. It seems to have a timeless morality which, without wanting to spoil the plot for anyone who hasn’t watched it, seems all the more relevant now.
I’m with you on Canterbury Tale it is indeed a great movie.
I assumed it would be an American production; I was somewhat surprised.
As far as UK TV programmes go, the one that frightened me most was the 1978 dramatisation of 1990 written by Wilfred Greatorex and starring Edward Woodward. It’s about a dystopian all to believable future. It’s available on DVD in two series, also two books but they’re out of print and expensive. Also, all 16 episodes are on YouTube the first episode is “Creed of Slaves”
Look up “1990 starring Edward Woodward” or you may never find it.
Considering its age it’s a gripping tale of state tyranny thoughtful written and truly terrifying in places. I won’t spoil it for you.
Thanks I’ll look out for that.
Looks like something from UK’s ITV channel back when they did actual plays.