I’ve read James Patrick Kelly’s (no relation) stories since the mid-1970s. I consider Kelly an underrated writer even though he’s won Hugo, Nebula, and LOCUS awards. His new collection, The Book of Bots, collects a dozen of his short stories about robots.
But the two essays Kelly includes in this collection are worth the price of admission alone: “The Comedy of Science” and “Robots on Parade 2026.” “The Comedy of Science” is an engaging history of robots in Science Fiction writing. “Robots on Parade 2026” centers on the state of the art of robotics today. I learned a lot from these two finely crafted, detailed essays.
James Patrick Kelly organizes the dozen short stories in The Book of Bots in chronological order by publishing date. The early stories show robots as helpers. The later stories–mixed with Artificial Intelligence–present a more complicated picture of humans interacting with robots with superior intelligence.
If you’re interested in possible futures of robots and humans, The Book of Bots supplies some possible answers. GRADE: B (for bots)
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Forward — 11
Itsy Bitsy Spider — 15
10 to 1 — 28
Undone — 52
Bernardo’s House — 82
The Comedy of Science — 106
The Best Christmas Ever — 121
Uncanny — 136
Grace’s Family — 140
Yukui! — 174
Robot s on Parade 2026 — 184
Your Boyfriend Experience — 193
What It. Means to Be a a Car — 224
Embot’s Lament — 237
Je Ne Regrette Rien — 253
Don’t know him, never read him, but it sounds interesting.
Jeff, Kelly (no relation) has been writing about robots for decades. The guy really knows his stuff!
Just checked John Scalzi’s blog and he’s featuring the same book in In Big Idea!
Jeff, Great Minds think alike…
I’m not familiar with him but I did see the news story the other day about how China is investing heavily in robotics with a video featuring their robot that can outrun humans and jump over a 12-foot wall. The future is fast arriving while humanity (especially in this country) seems to be headed backwards.
Byron, robots and Artificial Intelligence with completely change the world. But Better…or Worse?
Short stories are about what I seem to have time to read these days but even though it sounds interesting, I still need to use my time reading mysteries
Maggie, some of the stories in THE BOOK OF BOTS are mysterious, but I know that feeling when the mysteries I need to review near the Deadline…
I repeat, AI will destroy the world as we know it! So will Socialist Democrats!
Bob, how about Socialist Democrats who use AI?
That just speeds up the process!
Drumpf’s doing much worse, of course, and embezzling with all four paws.
Todd, and Trump has surrounded himself with grifters so the corruption just spreads!
This sounds very good, George. I like stories about robots and AI. I will put it on my wish list, and hope to get a copy soon.
Tracy, if you like robots, you’ll like THE BOOK OF BOTS!
Thanks for your kind comments. I am proud of the stories but I spent a lot of time and research writing the two essays. Love to read comments!
Jim, the two essays in THE BOOK OF BOTS were brilliant! You traced the development of robots over the past century in great detail and made sense of it all. I look forward to you next robot work whether it’s a short story or a novel!
I’ve read a number of Kelly’s earliest published stories…he started publishing when I started reading the magazines…but haven’t read too much recently, and it’s high time.
Todd, would you like a copy of THE BOOK OF BOTS? I’d be happy to send you one.