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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIsaac Asimov wrote I, Robot, the 1950 collection of his positronic robot stories published by Gnome Press. The title was not unique to him, and the 2004 film with the same name is a separate work that does not come from Asimov’s writing.
What the 1950 book is
I, Robot is a collection of short stories, not a single novel. It gathers Asimov’s robot stories, which had been published earlier in magazines, and presents them together as one book. Gnome Press issued the collection in 1950. The stories are the source of the rules for robots and intelligent machines that became known as the Three Laws of Robotics, so if you are looking for the origin of those laws, this is the book to check.
Keep one caution in mind: the book collects work that appeared before 1950. The 1950 date marks when the stories were brought together in book form, not when each story was first written.
The earlier story with the same title
The title had already been used. An earlier story by Eando Binder was also called “I, Robot.” That story does not change who wrote Asimov’s collection. When you search for the title, the answer you want is Asimov’s book-length 1950 collection.
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The 2004 film is a different work
The 2004 film I, Robot is often confused with the book. According to the reference biography of Asimov that this article relies on, the film began from an unrelated script. Asimov’s ideas were incorporated into it after the title rights were acquired. The film therefore should not be credited to Asimov as writer of its original screenplay.
Quick reference
- Author: Isaac Asimov
- Type: A collection of robot short stories, not a novel
- Publisher of the 1950 collection: Gnome Press
- Same title, different author: An earlier story by Eando Binder
- Same title, different work: The 2004 film, whose original script was unrelated to Asimov
How the question is usually phrased
The question appears in quiz formats in its literal form. A 2015 science table quiz published by the Society of Chemical Industry asked, “Who wrote ‘I, Robot’ and ‘Foundation’?” That shows how the question is posed in print, but it does not indicate how often people search for it.
Asimov on his own identity as a writer
The reference biography quotes Asimov, in 1980, on how he wished to be known: “No matter how various the subject matter I write on, I was a science-fiction writer first and it is as a science-fiction writer that I want to be identified.” That statement fits the robot collection, which is one of the foundational works of the genre.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reading the book today
If you want to read the original collection, look for the 1950 Gnome Press edition or a later printing of the same stories under the title I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. Check the copyright page to confirm which stories are included, since later editions may differ in arrangement.
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