The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 18, 1978, Page Page 13, Image 13
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
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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
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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,
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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
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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
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EQUIPMENT RENTAL
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and his T
Wednesdc
(Oct. 18 {
This is Dixi
Comepr
f i i
?^ W w ^ w W W V
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY BEST SELLER LIST {
October 16, 1978
I HARDBACK
\ i
Fiction Non-fiction j
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Scruples Complete Book of Running i
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Immigrants Woman's Dress For Success 1!
Thorn Birds How to Flatten Your Stomach I,
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(r- iwau nuao 10fO
Dynasty Doonesbury's Greatest Hits 1.
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;)
? ;
r en id a 1
'va^uun
Wednesday of the month: Room 1 1 1
7 P.M. Oct. 4; Nov. 1 ; Dec. 6
;ers, films, exhibits, trips
River, Lake Murray, Bomber's Island,
lorida Springs, & Offshore S.C., Etc. ,
c. cniD a (tin 1- ii
^'1 ^1 1 u /*> JC I L/ pt?l W 66K8nQ|
>r, subgage, B.C., light, wet suit, compass,
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win City Jazz Band
>y & Thursday Nights
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ieland Jazz at its finest
epared for a surprise.
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