I Robot by Isaac Asimov, First Edition, Signed (11 results)

Softcover. Condition: Very Good+. First Edition. First edition, trade paperback, signed by Ellison on the title page, the book has a subtle lean to the binding, light bumps to the spine ends and cover corners, and mild rubbing with minor edgewear to the covers. Overall, a solid, Very Good+ copy.

Soft cover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Trade Paperback Original. SIGNED by Ellison in purple ink on the title page. FINE. Signed by Author(s).

Softcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket. First Edition; First Printing. First edition. SIGNED by Harlan Ellison on title page. A trade-size paperback original. Fine in pictorial printed wrappers.

Black Leather. Condition: As New. Zug, Mark (illustrator). 1st Edition. Limited, signed and numbered edition. Signed by Ellison. Number 756/1500. Fine/ as new condition. Pictures sent on request. Signed by Author(s).

Mass Market Paperback. Condition: Very Good. First Paperback Edition. Signet S1282; 12mo 7" - 7½" tall; 192 pages; 1956 Signet S1282. Mass market paperback in glossy pictorial covers. Signed in blue ballpoint by Asimov at the top edge of the title page, obtained in the mid-1980s. The first paperback edition of this iconic collection of robot stories. Soundly bound and clean, with bold, uniform red edge stain and sharp edges. Mild spine lean and a light opening crease along the front hinge. Provenance: from the collection of a long-time SF convention exhibitor active during the 1970s80s; additional contextual information available on request. A scarce signed example of the true first paperback printing of one of Asimov's central works. VG to VG+; Signed by Author.

Hardcover. First edition. This first edition, first printing, of Asimov's genre-defining work is compelling, both for condition and for being inscribed and dated by the author on the day of publication. The inscription, inked by Asimov in six lines on the front free endpaper recto, reads: "For | Samuel | Cotter | with best regards | 12/2/50 | Isaac Asimov". Condition is near fine in a very good plus dust jacket. Both the red cloth binding and illustrated red dust jacket proved quite susceptible to sunning. In this case, both retain brilliant color. The red cloth binding is not only beautifully bright, but also strikingly clean, square, and tight, with sharp corners and no apparent wear. The contents are likewise bright. Moderate spotting and soiling appear confined to the text block edges. At both lower pastedowns and on the facing endpapers is minor browning and offsetting, presumably from the pastedown glue. The red dust jack is unclipped, retaining the original "$2.50" upper front flap price, and almost entirely complete, the only fractional loss at the upper rear joint. The jacket retains deep, unfaded red hue, with no color shift between the illustrated front face and spine. We note minor wrinkling at the spine head above the printed title, tiny scuffs to the red background, light wear to extremities, some soiling to the white rear face, with light spotting to the upper rear face and upper rear flap. The dust jacket is protected beneath a clear, removable, archival cover.The book is a pioneering, genre defining work. In it, Asimov coined the term "robotics" and posited the "Three Laws of Robotics" which have permeated subsequent science fiction; nearly every robot in books or film since has been created with Asimov's laws in mind. I, Robot collects and connects nine short stories, which had originally appeared in science fiction magazines in the preceding decade. Individually, the stories were engaging and influential. Presented together, the stories are linked by a framing narrative involving a reporter's interview with Susan Calvin, a former robopsychologist at U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc. The result is an enduringly resonant and perhaps increasingly relevant thread of ethicial and sociological questions nested within and among these tales from the Golden Age of science fiction.Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) was born Isaak Yudovick Ozimov in Russia, emigrating soon thereafter with his family to the United States. He taught himself to read at age five and was placed one year early into grade one by his mother, who lied about his birthday. The Asimov family, as they renamed themselves after arrival in America, owned a candy store, at which all family members were expected to work. With unlimited access to the store's newspapers and magazines, the young Asimov gained a lifelong love of the written word. Asimov's first foray into writing came at the age of 11. Four years later, at the age of 15, he graduated from high school, entering Columbia University, from which he would earn a B.Sc., MA in chemistry, and Ph.D in biochemistry. During World War II, Asimov worked for three years at the Philadelphia Naval Yard's Naval Air Experimental Station, where two of his colleagues were L. Sprague de Camp and Robert A. Heinlein. Asimov's first story was accepted for publication in Amazing Stories in 1938. His first novel was Pebble in the Sky in 1950, the first of sixteen book he would publish in the decade, including I, Robot later that same year. Asimov's Foundation Trilogy, followed in the next few years. Incredibly prolific, his writing and editing eventually ran to hundreds of books including astrology, biology, math, religion, and literary biography. The winner of numerous Hugo and Nebula Awards, Asimov has been recognized in other ways as well, including having an asteroid and a crater on Mars named after him. He is regarded among the "Big Three" science fiction writers of his time, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke.

First edition of this groundbreaking collection of stories. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on page bound in, "For Michael Raisbeck whose grandfather and aunt have already impressed me almost as much as I'm sure he will twenty years from now Isaac Asimov." Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. An exceptional example, rare and desirable signed and inscribed. In this collection, one of the great classics of science fiction, Asimov set out the principles of robot behavior that we know as the Three Laws of Robotics. Here are stories of robots gone mad, mind-reading robots, robots with a sense of humor, robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world, all told with Asimov's trademark dramatic blend of science fact and science fiction. It includes "The Evitable Conflict." in which machines that have made the world of the twenty-first century an economic utopia take control of Mankind's future, moving it "toward an unknown and happy destiny" (Berger, Science Fiction and the New Dark Age). It is the basis for the 2004 film starring Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, Chi McBride, and Alan Tudyk.

First edition. First edition. 8vo. Signed by the author on the front free fly leaf. Fine, bright copy in dust jacket lightly faded on the spine. Asimov's best-known work, a collection of "Nine "postironic" robot stories, originally published 1940-1950, with new material added for continuity. Contains Asimov's famous Three Laws of Robotics and involves the history of U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc., and the strong-willed "robopsychologist" Dr. Susan Calvin" (Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 3-20). An attractive copy of this 20th century science fiction cornerstone. Basis for the 2014 film directed by Alex Proyas and starring Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, and Alan Tudyk. Housed in a cloth clamshell case with leather spine label and titles stamped in gilt.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Isaac Asimov (1950) 'I, Robot', US first edition, first printing, published by Gnome Press. Signed and inscribed by the author on the date of publication for the publisher and founder of Gnome Press: "For: | Martin Greenberg | who actually got this | book out, by God | Love! | Isaac Asimov | 12/2/50". Also inscribed by Greenberg on the front pastedown: "Gnome Press/File Copy/Martin Greenberg". Housed in a stylish solander case for protection. Condition: a stunning fine and unread copy without any foxing. Clean throughout, tight and square. The dust jacket is near fine and a superb specimen without any of the usual fading to the spine. No tears nor chips. Light rubbing to the edges and a few creases to the head. Beautiful. This is the best association copy possible. Martin Greenberg founded the Gnome Press and convinced Asimov to publish the Robot short stories, which appeared in sci-fi magazines in the 1940s, as an anthology; hence the warm inscription. Gnome Press would also publish the famous Foundation trilogy. Later, Asimov and Greenberg would fall out with Asimov accusing Greenberg of underpaying his authors. I, Robot is famous for postulating the Three Laws of Robotics giving AI ethical guidelines. Given today's fast pace of AI technology development the book is prescient, urgent and crucial in the AI debate. This makes it one of the sexiest sci-fi titles on the market from an investment perspective. First and Fine. Signed by Author(s).

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Gnome Press, New York, 1950 Stated First Edition, First PrintingĀBeautiful fine/near fine book with a scarce original stunning near fine dust jacket. Only 5,000 copies of the first edition were printed of this iconic title in which Asimovās āThree Laws of Roboticsā were postulated for the first time. Signed by Isaac Asimov on a laid-in signature. The book is in beautiful fine/near fine condition with crisp red boards, with a black robot emblem to front, and black titles to spine. The boards are clean, a vibrant red and still maintain their original sheen. The book has sharp corners and no edgewear. Just a tiny spot of rubbing to spine. The end papers are clean with No owner names, No bookplates and No bookstore stamps. The internal pages are clean, bright and flat with No marks, No stains, No writing, No handling marks, and No foxing. Internally appearing as unread! Signed by Isaac Asimov on a laid-in signature. A beautiful fine/near fine example of this landmark title! The original first edition dust jacket has benefited from slight restoration to the very outer spine tips and one small intact tear to lower edge, and as such presents as a fine/near fine example. The jacket is bright with highly vibrant colors, and but only the very slightest hint of fading to the spine (the spine of this jacket is more usually found faded completely to a grey tone). The stunning dust jacket has No rips, No chips, No stains, No rubbing and No foxing. The rear panel is unusually bright for this title. The dust jacket is NOT price clipped and has a stated price of $2.50. Please see detailed images. Stunning, handsome jacket presenting the book beautifully on the shelf. A very handsome example of this scarce, classic title in beautiful collectible condition with a vibrant book and stunning dust jacket. ADDITIONAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. Please see our store for other landmark SciFi titles.

First edition, first printing, presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "For Dean McLaughlin, where would we be without readers? 12/2/50, Isaac Asimov". Dean Benjamin McLaughlin, Jr. (b. 1931) is an American science fiction author whose novels include Hawk Among the Sparrows (1968), which was nominated for the Hugo and Nebula awards for Best Novella, and Dawn (1980), inspired by Asimov's own Nightfall (1941). This landmark collection of short stories includes "Liar", in which the author coined the term "robotics", and "Runaround", in which he sets out for the first time his Three Laws of Robotics. "Upon realizing he had coined a new and lasting word, Asimov recognized the uniquely profitable position he had created for himself, and along with the successful prediction of space travel, self-driving cars, and war-computers among others, would go on to position himself as a sort of friendly-but-rough-around-the-edges technological herald, someone entertaining, trustworthy, and often right" (Jung). The nine stories collected here were originally printed in the magazines Super Science Stories and Astounding Science Fiction between 1940 and 1950. Gia Jung, "Our AI Overlord: The Cultural Persistence of Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics in Understanding Artificial Intelligence", Emergence, 5 June 2018. Octavo. Original red cloth, spine lettered in black, robot design to front cover in black. With dust jacket. Lightly bumped; jacket slightly creased, spine sunned as usual, else bright and unclipped: a near-fine copy in near-fine jacket.