I, Robot, inscribed and dated by the author on the day of publication

Isaac Asimov

Published by Gnome Press, Inc., New York, 1950

About this Item

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.

Seller Inventory # 007452

Bibliographic Details

• Title: I, Robot, inscribed and dated by the author on the day of publication
• Publisher: Gnome Press, Inc., New York
• Publication Date: 1950
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First edition.
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)