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乇賵亘賵鬲 賮乇丕乇蹖
The robot named Rex had been bought as a companion for Paul when the Simpsons decided to pioneer on Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter...a rough, dangerous satellite where a small boy needed a strong, intelligent robot to protect him. By the time Paul is sixteen, they are inseparable. Robots, of course, have a personality leeway that gives each one a certain individuality within its pattered capacities - and Rex had a wonderful personality, with a logic quotient that allowed him to reason. But when the Simpson family is ordered back to Earth and Paul refuses to part with Rex, the robot plans to stow away on a spaceship to Earth - no easy feat, even for a robot with Rex's abilities. Thrilling chases in skimmers, through spaceports, and over the deserts of Mars are just the start of the problems for The Runaway Robot!
175 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
4 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Lester del Rey
582听books114听followersLester del Rey was an American science fiction author and editor. Del Rey is especially famous for his juvenile novels such as those which are part of the Winston Science Fiction series, and for Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction branch of Ballantine Books edited by Lester del Rey and his fourth wife Judy-Lynn del Rey.
Also published as:
Philip St. John
Eric van Lihn
Erik van Lhin
Kenneth Wright
Edson McCann (with Frederik Pohl)
Also published as:
Philip St. John
Eric van Lihn
Erik van Lhin
Kenneth Wright
Edson McCann (with Frederik Pohl)
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January 17, 2019
Runaway Robot, Lester del Rey
The robot named Rex had been bought as a companion for Paul when the Simpsons decided to pioneer on Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter ... a rough, dangerous satellite where a small boy needed a strong, intelligent robot to protect him. By the time Paul is sixteen, they are inseparable.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 爻蹖夭丿賴賲 賲丕賴 丌賵乇蹖賱 爻丕賱 1999 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 乇賵亘賵鬲 賮乇丕乇蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賱爻鬲乇 丿賱 乇蹖貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丨爻蹖賳 丕亘乇丕賴蹖賲蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳: 賯丿蹖丕賳蹖 - 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖 亘賳賮卮賴貙 1378貨 丿乇 175 氐貨 賲賵囟賵毓: 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 禺蹖丕賱 丕賳诏蹖夭 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖 - 爻丿賴 20 賲
倬爻乇讴蹖 亘賴 賳丕賲 芦倬賱禄貙 賴賲乇丕賴 倬丿乇貙 賲丕丿乇 賵 禺賵丕賴乇卮貙 丿乇 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 賯賲乇賴丕蹖 賲卮鬲乇蹖貙 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖讴賳賳丿貙 丕蹖賳 賯賲乇 讴賵趩 賳卮蹖賳蹖 亘賵丿賴貙 讴賴 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賵 乇賵亘賵鬲賴丕蹖 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 丿乇 丌賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖讴乇丿賳丿貙 芦乇讴爻禄 乇賵亘賵鬲蹖 亘賵丿賴貙 讴賴 丕夭 亘趩诏蹖 芦倬賱 (氐丕丨亘卮)禄 亘賵丿賴 賵 丕夭 丕賵 賲乇丕賯亘鬲 賲蹖讴乇丿賴貙 賵 丕讴賳賵賳 倬賱 賵 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴 丕卮貙 賲蹖禺賵丕賴賳丿 亘賴 讴乇賴 蹖 夭賲蹖賳 亘乇賵賳丿貙 賵賱蹖 亘乇丿賳 乇賵亘賵鬲賴丕 亘賴 讴乇賴 蹖 夭賲蹖賳貙 賴夭蹖賳賴 蹖 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 丿丕乇丿貙 賵 丕夭 丕蹖賳乇賵 芦倬賱禄 賳賲蹖禺賵丕賴丿 丕夭 乇賵亘賵鬲卮 噩丿丕 卮賵丿貙 賵 丿乇 丕丿丕賲賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳... 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕蹖 丕蹖賳 倬爻乇 賵 乇賵亘賵鬲卮 丕爻鬲. 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
The robot named Rex had been bought as a companion for Paul when the Simpsons decided to pioneer on Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter ... a rough, dangerous satellite where a small boy needed a strong, intelligent robot to protect him. By the time Paul is sixteen, they are inseparable.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 爻蹖夭丿賴賲 賲丕賴 丌賵乇蹖賱 爻丕賱 1999 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 乇賵亘賵鬲 賮乇丕乇蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賱爻鬲乇 丿賱 乇蹖貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丨爻蹖賳 丕亘乇丕賴蹖賲蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳: 賯丿蹖丕賳蹖 - 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖 亘賳賮卮賴貙 1378貨 丿乇 175 氐貨 賲賵囟賵毓: 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 禺蹖丕賱 丕賳诏蹖夭 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖 - 爻丿賴 20 賲
倬爻乇讴蹖 亘賴 賳丕賲 芦倬賱禄貙 賴賲乇丕賴 倬丿乇貙 賲丕丿乇 賵 禺賵丕賴乇卮貙 丿乇 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 賯賲乇賴丕蹖 賲卮鬲乇蹖貙 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖讴賳賳丿貙 丕蹖賳 賯賲乇 讴賵趩 賳卮蹖賳蹖 亘賵丿賴貙 讴賴 丕賳爻丕賳賴丕 賵 乇賵亘賵鬲賴丕蹖 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 丿乇 丌賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖讴乇丿賳丿貙 芦乇讴爻禄 乇賵亘賵鬲蹖 亘賵丿賴貙 讴賴 丕夭 亘趩诏蹖 芦倬賱 (氐丕丨亘卮)禄 亘賵丿賴 賵 丕夭 丕賵 賲乇丕賯亘鬲 賲蹖讴乇丿賴貙 賵 丕讴賳賵賳 倬賱 賵 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴 丕卮貙 賲蹖禺賵丕賴賳丿 亘賴 讴乇賴 蹖 夭賲蹖賳 亘乇賵賳丿貙 賵賱蹖 亘乇丿賳 乇賵亘賵鬲賴丕 亘賴 讴乇賴 蹖 夭賲蹖賳貙 賴夭蹖賳賴 蹖 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 丿丕乇丿貙 賵 丕夭 丕蹖賳乇賵 芦倬賱禄 賳賲蹖禺賵丕賴丿 丕夭 乇賵亘賵鬲卮 噩丿丕 卮賵丿貙 賵 丿乇 丕丿丕賲賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳... 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕蹖 丕蹖賳 倬爻乇 賵 乇賵亘賵鬲卮 丕爻鬲. 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
March 24, 2016
After all, I was only a robot. I wasn't a human even if I did feel like one sometimes. At least I thought that what I felt must have been somewhat the same as human emotions.
Sixteen-year-old Paul grew up on Ganymede. He lives in a colony where they grow herbs and fungus for the people of Earth. (Yeah - just go with it.) He's known Rex, a robot purchased to be his companion, almost his entire life. Now, Paul's family is returning to their home planet and they can't afford to take Rex along. So, the robot is sold to a farmer and Paul prepares to fly back to Earth. And that is where things start to go awry . . .
I hate to use the words sweet and cute to describe something that was meant to be a boys' adventure story, but Rex's devotion to Paul is pretty adorable. There are fun and exciting times galore, and I love that the book is told from the robot's point of view. For a chunk of metal, and some tubes and wires, Rex has quite a personality. Just like us, he even likes to read.
They had taken my pants away, wouldn't give me a magazine to read, and there was no one to talk to.
And he's obviously mastered the human art of complaining.
Originally published in 1965, this book is incredibly dated, but still offers some treats for today's kids. I found my copy at an antique store, but there are plenty of used versions available on Amazon. Keep your eyes open at charity shops and yard sales.
Lester del Rey wrote dozens of science fiction books and short stories, and once posed for possibly the best author photo EVER -
Sixteen-year-old Paul grew up on Ganymede. He lives in a colony where they grow herbs and fungus for the people of Earth. (Yeah - just go with it.) He's known Rex, a robot purchased to be his companion, almost his entire life. Now, Paul's family is returning to their home planet and they can't afford to take Rex along. So, the robot is sold to a farmer and Paul prepares to fly back to Earth. And that is where things start to go awry . . .
I hate to use the words sweet and cute to describe something that was meant to be a boys' adventure story, but Rex's devotion to Paul is pretty adorable. There are fun and exciting times galore, and I love that the book is told from the robot's point of view. For a chunk of metal, and some tubes and wires, Rex has quite a personality. Just like us, he even likes to read.
They had taken my pants away, wouldn't give me a magazine to read, and there was no one to talk to.
And he's obviously mastered the human art of complaining.
Originally published in 1965, this book is incredibly dated, but still offers some treats for today's kids. I found my copy at an antique store, but there are plenty of used versions available on Amazon. Keep your eyes open at charity shops and yard sales.
Lester del Rey wrote dozens of science fiction books and short stories, and once posed for possibly the best author photo EVER -
May 27, 2016
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘貙 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲 丿賵乇丕賳 讴賵丿讴蹖 丕賲 亘賵丿. 賮賯胤 丕夭 丿賵 爻賴 鬲丕 讴鬲丕亘 丕蹖賳 賯丿乇 賱匕鬲 亘乇丿賲 讴賴 禺丕胤乇賴 卮賵賳貙 亘毓丿 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賴賲賴 爻丕賱貙 賴賳賵夭 鬲賵 匕賴賳賲 賲賵賳丿賴貙 蹖讴蹖卮賵賳貙 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘賴.
September 7, 2024
This is THE book...the one that set me on a Year of Nostalgic Re-reads, and the one that prompted a nine-year old boy to declare unequivocally that Lester del Rey was the "best science fiction writer ever!" Okay, so he wasn't...but del Rey was a pretty savvy editor and publisher. I finally got this from (they had some issues with their waiting list code), and thoroughly enjoyed reading it again after 43 years. Dated, and clearly aimed at a juvenile audience, del Rey snuck in a few elements of wisdom not lost on my young mind.
This is the first science fiction book I owned. My mother reminded me that "the librarian would almost always have you and her son read any of the science fiction books first to make sure they were all right." Strangely, despite my pretty good memory, I did not recall that.
[Update: A couple of years ago I found a copy in an antique mall.]
This is the first science fiction book I owned. My mother reminded me that "the librarian would almost always have you and her son read any of the science fiction books first to make sure they were all right." Strangely, despite my pretty good memory, I did not recall that.
[Update: A couple of years ago I found a copy in an antique mall.]
January 13, 2015
I know this is primarily a kids book, but I still enjoy it now after several years of first reading it. It's not only a fascinating story of a very well-thought out universe of the future, but a very interesting moral and spiritual investigation of "conscious machines" like robots. Rex is a very good and sometimes funny narrator, and, as a robot, he has a unique point of view. I must admit I never thought of many sci-fi space stories from the intelligent robot's point of view: it's quite fascinating. There were part when I laughed out loud,and towards the end, after Rex has been cornered by the police after deciding to give up his life for his master, I almost cried. (When I was 10) :) This one really does need to be read to be appreciated.
September 26, 2017
I was lucky enough to inherit this from a thrift store, but you should be able to find it online at Open Library (). Somewhat dated, but lots of fun, and thought-provoking as well. Though the boy is 16, he's been rather sheltered & isolated, so it's not surprising that he sometimes acts more like 12... and I believe the book would appeal most to youngsters 9-12.
Proper classic SF for kids is too rare. If you don't want fantasy, dystopia, weirdness, or the problematic Heinlein juveniles, you're left with this, , and some of the books by . Please comment if you know any others.
Proper classic SF for kids is too rare. If you don't want fantasy, dystopia, weirdness, or the problematic Heinlein juveniles, you're left with this, , and some of the books by . Please comment if you know any others.
May 5, 2022
My husband love this book so much as a kid that he borrowed it permanently from his teacher's collection. The cover is tattered, the pages falling out, and it has that delightful old Scholastic book sweet oatmeal smell. Since I'm on a robot-story kick, this was the perfect next read.
This book was published in 1965, so it's old enough that science fiction writers were still imagining us encountering intelligent life forms on other planets in our solar system or moving to places like Jupiter's moon Ganymede. They could imagine video phones, but we still have phone booths. And spaceships still needed ticker tapes for blasting off.
Anyhow, the story is about Rex, a robot that Paul's parents bought for him as a companion in a Ganymede mining community since there aren't a lot of kids his age there. When Paul's family has to move back to Earth, they plan to leave Rex (the robot) behind because of the shipping expense. Rex escapes from his new owner and Paul escapes off the ship leaving for Earth because neither of them can bear to be parted. The rest of the story is about their adventures trying to get to Earth together without Rex the robot being apprehended as a runaway or kidnapper.
It's a fun story that holds up to an adult reading. There's even a bit of contemplative robot/human philosophy tucked in for good measure. If you're lucky enough to ever run across the book in a used book store, it's worth grabbing if you like robots or adventure stories.
This book was published in 1965, so it's old enough that science fiction writers were still imagining us encountering intelligent life forms on other planets in our solar system or moving to places like Jupiter's moon Ganymede. They could imagine video phones, but we still have phone booths. And spaceships still needed ticker tapes for blasting off.
Anyhow, the story is about Rex, a robot that Paul's parents bought for him as a companion in a Ganymede mining community since there aren't a lot of kids his age there. When Paul's family has to move back to Earth, they plan to leave Rex (the robot) behind because of the shipping expense. Rex escapes from his new owner and Paul escapes off the ship leaving for Earth because neither of them can bear to be parted. The rest of the story is about their adventures trying to get to Earth together without Rex the robot being apprehended as a runaway or kidnapper.
It's a fun story that holds up to an adult reading. There's even a bit of contemplative robot/human philosophy tucked in for good measure. If you're lucky enough to ever run across the book in a used book store, it's worth grabbing if you like robots or adventure stories.
June 13, 2016
丕夭 丿賴 爻丕賱诏蹖 亘賴 亘毓丿 鬲丕 蹖賴 趩賳丿 爻丕賱蹖 蹖賴 爻乇蹖 讴鬲丕亘 丕夭 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 亘賳賮卮賴 禺賵賳丿賲 讴賴 賯氐賴 蹖丕丿賲賴 賵賱蹖 丕氐賱丕 蹖丕丿賲 賳賲蹖丕丿 丕爻賲丕卮賵賳 趩蹖 亘賵丿賴... 亘蹖卮鬲乇卮賵賳 乇賵 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘禺賵賳賴 丕賲丕賳鬲 賲蹖诏乇賮鬲賲... 蹖讴蹖卮賵賳 賴賲蹖賳 乇賵亘賵鬲 賮乇丕乇蹖 亘賵丿...丕賱丕賳 讴賴 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 蹖丕丿賲 賲蹖丕丿 亘夭乇诏 鬲乇蹖賳 賲爻卅賱賴 丕賲 丕蹖賳 亘賵丿 讴賴 禺亘 趩乇丕 "乇賵亘賵鬲"責責責責
賯氐賴 蹖丕丿賲賴... 蹖賴 爻乇蹖 氐丨賳賴 賴丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘 蹖丕丿賲賴... 丨鬲蹖 鬲氐賵蹖乇 丕蹖賳讴賴 讴噩丕 亘賵丿賲 賵賯鬲蹖 丿丕卮鬲賲 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 賲蹖禺賵賳丿賲 蹖丕丿賲賴... 睾乇賯 卮丿賳賲 鬲賵 賯氐賴 乇賵 蹖丕丿賲賴... 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 蹖丕夭丿賴 爻丕賱賲 亘賵丿...
趩賯丿乇 爻丕丿賴 亘賵丿 丿賳蹖丕蹖 讴賵丿讴蹖... 趩賯丿乇 賱匕鬲 亘禺卮 亘賵丿 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘...
賯氐賴 蹖丕丿賲賴... 蹖賴 爻乇蹖 氐丨賳賴 賴丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘 蹖丕丿賲賴... 丨鬲蹖 鬲氐賵蹖乇 丕蹖賳讴賴 讴噩丕 亘賵丿賲 賵賯鬲蹖 丿丕卮鬲賲 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 賲蹖禺賵賳丿賲 蹖丕丿賲賴... 睾乇賯 卮丿賳賲 鬲賵 賯氐賴 乇賵 蹖丕丿賲賴... 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 蹖丕夭丿賴 爻丕賱賲 亘賵丿...
趩賯丿乇 爻丕丿賴 亘賵丿 丿賳蹖丕蹖 讴賵丿讴蹖... 趩賯丿乇 賱匕鬲 亘禺卮 亘賵丿 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘...
March 31, 2013
A Quickie Review
Though George Lucas' space opera is easily the best-known science fiction work, intergalactic tales were alive and well before Star Wars, and The Runaway Robot is an excellent example. Narrated from the android's perspective, it's a well-written, fun, and cute story of a 'bot who doesn't want to lose his best mate. The book may prove hard to find, given its age and "out of print" status, but I'm sure any young science fiction fan would adore it.
Score: 4/5
Though George Lucas' space opera is easily the best-known science fiction work, intergalactic tales were alive and well before Star Wars, and The Runaway Robot is an excellent example. Narrated from the android's perspective, it's a well-written, fun, and cute story of a 'bot who doesn't want to lose his best mate. The book may prove hard to find, given its age and "out of print" status, but I'm sure any young science fiction fan would adore it.
Score: 4/5
June 23, 2009
The first SF book I ever read. Loved it, grabbed me hook line & sinker, started my love of SF that has yet to wane.
April 21, 2013
I like science fiction, and a lot people ask me to recommend science fiction novels for kids. The problem is there is not a lot good stuff out there. I read this one as a kid and I really liked it.
Unfortunately, this is a hopelessly dated because of the life found on other planets of our solar system, but if you keep an open mind it could take place in an alternate universe. This is also long out of print, so you'll be lucky to get a copy at a book sale or the Internet, or at your local library.
It's a simple story about a boy who tries to get back and save his hopelessly out dated robot after it takes off in order to escape the possibility of being sent to the scrap heap.
It's a very touching story, when you are 11 years old.
Unfortunately, this is a hopelessly dated because of the life found on other planets of our solar system, but if you keep an open mind it could take place in an alternate universe. This is also long out of print, so you'll be lucky to get a copy at a book sale or the Internet, or at your local library.
It's a simple story about a boy who tries to get back and save his hopelessly out dated robot after it takes off in order to escape the possibility of being sent to the scrap heap.
It's a very touching story, when you are 11 years old.
May 19, 2009
A great sience fiction novel for youth and adults who still think like kids. That's me.
August 16, 2016
鈥屭┷� 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й屰� 亘賵丿 讴賴 丿乇 讴賵丿讴蹖 禺賵賳丿賲. 乇丕囟蹖賲 丕夭卮.
May 31, 2019
One of the best books of my childhood.
April 8, 2025
This is written for children or teens but has a lot of deeper ideas for older readers (even science fiction fans) to consider. Who wouldn't love a yarn about a boy and his robot, riding the spaceways of the solar system? Rex the robot ponders morality, etymology, long-range planning, ethical dilemmas, metaphysics, and even the nature of God and His creative work, all while (ironically) presuming that he doesn't have a soul. Tongue-in-cheek warning: The story's robots aren't "three-laws safe" (a repeated line in the movie adaptation of Isaac Asimov's I, Robot), but Rex still gives the reader a character to root for, thoughts to chew on, and a fun adventure.
(Four stars only because I generally reserve five stars for exceptional but weightier books; compared to works within its genre or level, it's probably worthy of at least consideration for five stars.)
(Four stars only because I generally reserve five stars for exceptional but weightier books; compared to works within its genre or level, it's probably worthy of at least consideration for five stars.)
July 30, 2018
DNF. Not a bad book - it had cute elements, it was just a little blah.
February 4, 2019
fun and astronomy-factual AI-bot-ventures.
this is pure guessing, of course, but i bet this is 'the' story from which: 1) Futurama-people got Bender (and how he'll never get up if fallen on his/its back); and 2) IBM-people came up with Deep-Blue :D
this is pure guessing, of course, but i bet this is 'the' story from which: 1) Futurama-people got Bender (and how he'll never get up if fallen on his/its back); and 2) IBM-people came up with Deep-Blue :D
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November 12, 2024I can see why this is so well loved by many, especially those who first encountered it in their childhood. It's such a fabulous introduction to sci-fi with just enough excitement and intellectual discussion without being too intense or esoteric for early middle schoolers. In fact, as I read I kept thinking, my oldest (11) would enjoy this--so I've actually pressed pause about half way through and we are going to do a read-aloud together instead :-) Many thanks to my friend Qt for sending me this vintage gem!
May 20, 2017
I read this book twice. The first time, I was in grade school. The second time, was in the last week. I was interviewed by Ernest Hancock of Declare Your Independence and he asked if I was into science fiction because that is a common gateway to the kinds of realizations that lead to an appreciation for freedom and liberty. His question reminded me that I had read this book way back then (over 35 years ago now) and I wanted to read it again.
There is an image in that book which feels very much to me like the seed that grew into the central beautiful theme of my life. That theme is that people are assets and opportunities, not liabilities. Individually, we are valuable to each other, and when we are free to act, we express that value most effectively. It seems to me now that the image is what I needed to get again. It was buried in my subconscious, waiting to be rediscovered, and Ernest's question said "dig here." So I bought a new copy and started reading it. The image comes near the end of the book and reading it this second time made my cry with joy and nostalgia.
I wish I could thank the man who wrote it, but he passed away on May 10, 1993.
Perhaps I have been fitting myself into the position of Rex, the Robot since I read Del Ray's book, and now, 35 years later, I understand why. Brett Veinotte of School Sucks Podcast helped me discover how I was turned into a robot, and Mr. Del Rey helped me grow the beauty of freeing myself from the programming. I highly recommend this book because of the allegorical value it provided to my life.
There is an image in that book which feels very much to me like the seed that grew into the central beautiful theme of my life. That theme is that people are assets and opportunities, not liabilities. Individually, we are valuable to each other, and when we are free to act, we express that value most effectively. It seems to me now that the image is what I needed to get again. It was buried in my subconscious, waiting to be rediscovered, and Ernest's question said "dig here." So I bought a new copy and started reading it. The image comes near the end of the book and reading it this second time made my cry with joy and nostalgia.
I wish I could thank the man who wrote it, but he passed away on May 10, 1993.
Perhaps I have been fitting myself into the position of Rex, the Robot since I read Del Ray's book, and now, 35 years later, I understand why. Brett Veinotte of School Sucks Podcast helped me discover how I was turned into a robot, and Mr. Del Rey helped me grow the beauty of freeing myself from the programming. I highly recommend this book because of the allegorical value it provided to my life.
February 26, 2013
I remember seeing this book, with its classic cover of a running, boxy robot, on the shelf in one my classes in grade school. For some reason I've always remembered it when I thought of Asimov's "I, Robot." There is no relation there except for the robot, though. I don't think I ever read it in grade school. After it came to my mind once again while I read some Asimov novels I decided that I needed to read it. I'm glad I did. It isn't that deep, but it is nonetheless a classic.
By the way, Wikipedia says that this is *not* a Lester del Rey book, but that it was ghost written using a story outline he wrote. Another interesting fact about a book that probably was on many a grade school shelf.
By the way, Wikipedia says that this is *not* a Lester del Rey book, but that it was ghost written using a story outline he wrote. Another interesting fact about a book that probably was on many a grade school shelf.
June 27, 2015
This was one of, if not the first SF book I ever read, and it's as good as I remember. A boy and his caretaker robot, as told from the robot's point of view, run away when the father sells the robot to save on shipping, when they move back to Earth from Ganymede, Jupiter. It's pure kid stuff, with no real bad guys, concluding in the inevitable, slightly improbable, happy ending. But don't let this dissuade you. This isn't dumb fluff. This is real, old school SF story, from back when SF was a vehicle for intellectual challenge. This is how we should tax our kid's brains. I wish we could see more of this on the shelves today.
July 31, 2014
When I was in middle school, my mom gave me her yellow taped-up copy of this book and told me it was one of her favorite books as a kid. As well it should be. It's the story of a robot wishing to be human without realizing how human he already is. Very sweet book; highly recommended, if you can manage to find a copy. Currently I believe it is out of print.
December 13, 2007
This was another book that my dad read to us when we were younger. But unlike Earth Abides, it was a children's story, so it was interesting. It was a book he read when he was a kid, and so now I have a copy so that I can read it to my kids
April 22, 2014
A lighthearted tale about a boy and his robot, I found this book tucked behind some others on a shelf in a discount book store. I knew right away that is was going to be a sweet tale and couldn't wait to get started. I was not disappointed.
March 14, 2016
A fine story of intra-planetary intrigue, AI advancement, and tweener angst. I especially like that this is a Scholastic Book, meaning that schools are (were; its pretty old) promoting science fiction.
June 17, 2009
One of my favorites by Del Rey. Maybe 3 and a half stars.
December 22, 2014
蹖讴蹖 丕夭 賲丨亘賵亘 鬲乇蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕蹖 賳賵噩賵丕賳蹖賲貙 賵 讴鬲丕亘蹖 讴賴 禺蹖賱蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 乇賵賲 鬲丕孬蹖乇 诏匕丕卮鬲 賵 亘賴 賲毓賳丕蹖 賵丕賯毓蹖 亘丕賴丕卮 夭賳丿诏蹖 讴乇丿賲.
March 17, 2016
This was one of the first true SiFi books I read as a young reader. Del Rey writes an excellent story to introduce a new our very young reader to the SiFi genre. Very recommended
November 21, 2016
Oh god how long i was searchin for this book omg after all this time i found u
January 3, 2020
This book was published in 1965, so it is necessary to forgive most of the descriptions of the surface conditions and the presence of life on the other planets of the solar system. In this book, there is even life on Mercury and Pluto. Paul is a sixteen-year-old boy that lives on the moon Ganymede. The story is narrated by Rex, his personal robot. On Ganymede as is the case on the other planets, much of the tedious and dangerous manual labor is performed by robots. Rex has been a companion to Paul since he was three.
When Paul鈥檚 father is recalled to Earth, Rex cannot go with them, so he is sold to a farmer on Ganymede. Paul objects, but it has no affect on the situation. Robots are designed to be subservient and follow human orders, while they are not explicitly stated, the rules generally follow Asimov鈥檚 three laws of robotics.
Before his transport takes off, Paul jumps ship and Rex and Paul go into hiding. Whenever a robot significantly deviates from what the human expectations of their programming is, it is declared a 鈥渕ad robot鈥� and can be vaporized on sight. Furthermore, even though Paul is willingly with Rex, there is the belief that any human that sides with a robot in those circumstances has been hypnotized, so their statements are not taken seriously.
Paul and Rex then must find a way to safely travel from Ganymede to Earth and most of the story is about their machinations. There is a happy ending, even though there are many close calls and Rex is transformed into what would have been considered a mad robot to one that is considered extraordinary. Although the science is dated, the fundamentals of the interaction between a human and a robot are likely prescient.
When Paul鈥檚 father is recalled to Earth, Rex cannot go with them, so he is sold to a farmer on Ganymede. Paul objects, but it has no affect on the situation. Robots are designed to be subservient and follow human orders, while they are not explicitly stated, the rules generally follow Asimov鈥檚 three laws of robotics.
Before his transport takes off, Paul jumps ship and Rex and Paul go into hiding. Whenever a robot significantly deviates from what the human expectations of their programming is, it is declared a 鈥渕ad robot鈥� and can be vaporized on sight. Furthermore, even though Paul is willingly with Rex, there is the belief that any human that sides with a robot in those circumstances has been hypnotized, so their statements are not taken seriously.
Paul and Rex then must find a way to safely travel from Ganymede to Earth and most of the story is about their machinations. There is a happy ending, even though there are many close calls and Rex is transformed into what would have been considered a mad robot to one that is considered extraordinary. Although the science is dated, the fundamentals of the interaction between a human and a robot are likely prescient.
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