Robot Dreams
Robot Dreams (1986) is a collection of science fiction short stories by American writer Isaac Asimov, illustrated by Ralph McQuarrie. The title story is about Susan Calvin's discovery of a robot with rather disturbing dreams. It was written specifically for this volume[1] and inspired by the McQuarrie cover illustration.[1] All of the other stories had previously appeared in various other Asimov collections. Four of the stories are robot stories, while five are Multivac stories.
![]() First edition  | |
| Author | Isaac Asimov | 
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Ralph McQuarrie | 
| Country | United States | 
| Language | English | 
| Series | Robot series | 
| Genre | Science fiction | 
| Publisher | Berkley | 
Publication date  | November 1986 | 
| Media type | |
| Pages | 349 | 
| ISBN | 978-0-425-09345-0 | 
| Preceded by | The Complete Robot | 
| Followed by | Robot Visions | 
The companion book, which also showcases McQuarrie's illustrations (and includes Asimov essays in addition to short stories), is titled Robot Visions.
Contents
    
It contains a foreword by Asimov as well as the following stories:
- "Little Lost Robot" (1947), a Robot story
 - "Robot Dreams" (1986), a Robot story
 - "Breeds There a Man...?" (1951)
 - "Hostess" (1951)
 - "Sally" (1953), a Robot story
 - "Strikebreaker" (1957)
 - "The Machine that Won the War" (1961), a Multivac story
 - "Eyes Do More Than See" (1965)
 - "The Martian Way" (1952)
 - "Franchise" (1955), a Multivac story
 - "Jokester" (1956), a Multivac story
 - "The Last Question" (1956), a Multivac story
 - "Does a Bee Care?" (1957)
 - "Light Verse" (1973), a Robot story
 - "The Feeling of Power" (1958)
 - "Spell My Name with an S" (1958)
 - "The Ugly Little Boy" (1958)
 - "The Billiard Ball" (1967)
 - "True Love" (1977), a Multivac story
 - "The Last Answer" (1980)
 - "Lest We Remember" (1982)
 
Reception
    
Dave Langford reviewed Robot Dreams for White Dwarf #90, and stated that "The title story is new and quite good; the rest is familiar Asimovian reprint material."[2]
Reviews
    
- Review by Don D'Ammassa (1987) in Science Fiction Chronicle, #89 February 1987[3]
 - Review by Nik Morton (1987) in Vector 138
 - Review by David V. Barrett (1987) in Vector 138
 - Review by Tom Easton (1987) in Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, August 1987
 - Review by L. J. Hurst (1988) in Paperback Inferno, #74
 - Review by Ian Sales (1990) in Paperback Inferno, #82
 - Review by Michael Tolley (1992) in SF Commentary, #71/72
 
References
    
- Asimov, Isaac. Robot Dreams. Ace, 1990, page xvi
 - Langford, Dave (June 1987). "Critical Mass". White Dwarf. No. 90. Games Workshop. p. 19.
 - "Title: Robot Dreams".
 
External links
    
- Robot Dreams title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
 - 0-441-01183-7 Robot Dreams from Google Books
 
