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Bewar By Skot Garrick The Robot Book by Robort Ms I one; Harvest Books; $6.95 With the advent of Star Wars and the ever-growing rise of public interest on the subject of "the future," there seems to be a boom in the field of science fiction. Undeniably, one of the most popular aspects of Star Wars was the two robotic counterparts of Laurel and Hardy, Artoo Detoo and See Threepio. Because of the immense popularity of these two, the open n a - -" mantei nas oecome a breeding ground for metal men. Besides the outpouring of robotic toys, we now see robot games, books, costumes and posters. Madison Avenue has 6ven waded into the futuristic fray; it is now common to see [ robots selling everything from cars to beer. TO KEEP up with this melange, Robert Malone has written a concise book on robots, ap propriateiy called The Robot Book. The book is a documentary style history of robots, not only in this country, but on a worldwide basis. Throughout its 10-chapter length, the book looks at robots as workers, actors, heroes, villains, entertainers and even as art obI a jecis. ^ Malone has traced the origins of robots back to the early days of Egypt, and has speculated far into U.S.C. Studt C-fa t Hard Le. (incl. exam,k glasses Dr. Wm. Moore, P.A. 14 ] fftim 7C PHO HAflfl I.A wvirwr^m and appoiij mm&gm Wm, e of the met the future. He devotes an entire chapter on the origins of robots, going through early diagrams, steam-powered automatons, the nilhlir's firol roanfinn r ~ " *'? ? vMvhivu tw U1C thought of metal men and the actual creation of the electric "man machine." Chapter three of The Robot Book deals with the concept of the Robot as a hero-villain. Malone starts in the 1920s and chronologically follows public attitude (as represented by movies, books and plays) through the 1970s. Malone attributes much of the public's maturing attitudes toward the robot to Isaac Asimov's work, 1 ~...? n.i ii? iin -* Iiucc Liawa VI nuuviicit. /UUlOUgll the three laws were incorporated originally for his science fiction series, I Robot, they prophesied laws and moralities that are becoming more prevalent in today's growing technological society. TTie three laws of robotics are: 1. A robot mnv nnt ininrA . human beings or through inaction allow a human being to come to any harm. 2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the first law. 3. A rnhnt miict nrfttan* 5*-" UWVV 111 UO b J/1 VtCVl lia UWII existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second laws. MALONE ALSO deals with the robot as an entertainer. He discusses the homemade robot (as nits Going Soft ses - 225. lses -150. snses, training, supplies) available AA BT? II rt >- ? -. tj UV Barnwell M., tola., S.C. I 9-7766 j IMVIE I TOS I ormation fe| itments j| imiMitiyiMMfiuiuuM' - :al men is frequently seen on talk shows and in county fairs), toys and robots in movies. He deals with the robot as an actor, from Karel Capek's 1920s play R.U.R., through Fritz Lang's monumental 1920s film Metropolis, to Artoo Detoo. To show that the robot is more than just the product of fiction, Malone gives extensive coverage to real-life robotics. He discusses robots built and engineered by NASA, working robots and the field of prosthetics. Malone proves he has done his homework; his information is accurate and highly involved. For those who care about such things, he even has a chapter on how to build a robot. At first glance. The Robot Book is an attempt to cash in on the growing "robot boom." But Robert Malone has devoted much research and time to this book, and serious fans of science will find it to be informative and entertaining. I IIS MEETINGS: Is1 P.E. Ctr. 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