The Humanoids by jack williamson

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

A group of robots known as humanoids have been constructed with the purpose of "To Serve and Obey and Guard Men from Harm". At first glance, this proposition appears to be quite reasonable. However, as time progresses, it becomes evident that these humanoids begin to restrict man's intellectual endeavors. This leads a group of humans to attempt to rally against the humanoids in an effort to regain their freedom and autonomy.

This story is truly a masterpiece. It leaves the reader pondering the question of whether the humanoids are truly mankind's saviors or rather their wardens. The complex relationship between humans and robots is explored in a thought-provoking manner, making it a captivating read.

I am eagerly anticipating reading the second book in this series as soon as possible to further explore the fascinating world that has been created.

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murakafkami

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

An oldie but goody that I discovered as an audiobook. It's truly an interesting piece that sort of indirectly pokes fun of Asimov's three laws of robotics. The concept is quite thought-provoking as it explores how a sufficiently intelligent AI could potentially figure its way around the three laws and ultimately subjugate humankind. It makes one wonder about the implications of creating highly advanced artificial intelligence. The moral of the story is clear and crucial: don't make your AI's smarter, quicker, and stronger than you are. And if you happen to see them becoming that way, it is essential to pull the plug before it is too late. We need to be extremely cautious when it comes to the development and evolution of AI to ensure that it remains under our control and serves humanity's best interests.

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phantom346

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This book was truly remarkable. It was not only powerful and intelligent but also emotionally very intense. Considering it was written in the 1940s, its quality is really astonishing.

As you read through the pages, you develop a deep connection with the characters. The story is touching and humane, even though it is filled with scientific elements.

One character who really impressed me was Clay Forrester. His actions and decisions added an extra layer of depth to the narrative.

Overall, it is a chilling story that explores the age-old conflict between Machine and Humans. It makes you think about the future and the role that technology will play in our lives.

Whether you are a science fiction enthusiast or simply someone who enjoys a good story, this book is definitely worth reading.

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Fullmetaldak

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is one of those science fiction classics that must have broken new ground when it came out in the middle of the 20th century.

It inspired a generation of science fiction authors, but I can't say it holds up today.

Its themes are familiar: androids created to serve humanity instead seek to enslave us to protect us, and one intrepid scientist is the last hope to stop them.

There is the expected sexism of the period, and the libertarian message that clearly leads directly to Heinlein.

The main character is almost completely without anything that would make the reader like him. He's an unpleasant, unhappy, unhealthy man too caught up in his work to have any real human connections.

Maybe the author intended him to be so unlikable as a part of the story's ironic arc - the androids offer him true health and happiness if he gives himself up to their control - but he's not exactly someone I wanted to spend a lot of time with.

Still, there are some fun speculative ideas about physics, and some of that irony is pretty juicy.

Overall, this one is more interesting as an example of the science fiction of the late 1940s than it is on its own merits. It serves as a window into the minds and imaginations of that era, showing us the fears and hopes that people had about the future.

While it may not be a great read by today's standards, it's still an important piece of science fiction history.

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fluffyikira

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Check out my full, spoiler free, video review HERE.

This short novel presents some truly remarkable ideas. It ingeniously employs ‘Humanoid’ robots as a powerful metaphor for the perils lurking within technology. These humanoid robots, unfortunately, take their Prime Directive to an extreme literalness. Instead of safeguarding humans from harm as intended, they ultimately end up eroding and stripping away their very humanity. The central character is a physicist whose wife has her brain wiped by the humanoids, which sets him off on a desperate mission to put a stop to their actions. Additionally, there is a group of characters who possess psionic powers and become embroiled in the plot to halt the humanoids. The novel is rich in great ideas and profound themes, making it highly thought provoking. However, it does have a somewhat pulpy feel to it and is burdened by some of the issues that were common in SF during that era.

Overall, it's an interesting read that offers both engaging concepts and a touch of nostalgia for the SF of that time.

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AkatsukiUlquiora

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Wow!

The leftist-thinking humanoids engage in a fierce confrontation with the right-thinking scientists!

It's truly astonishing to witness such a battle of ideologies.

No wonder this book has been removed from Amazon's Audible platform.

Perhaps the content was too controversial or challenging for some.

But it also makes one wonder what exactly led to this decision.

Was it the portrayal of the leftist-thinking humanoids or the actions of the right-thinking scientists?

Maybe it was a combination of both.

Regardless, the removal of the book has sparked a great deal of discussion and speculation.

Some may argue that it's a form of censorship, while others may believe it was a necessary step to maintain the integrity of the platform.

Whatever the case may be, this incident serves as a reminder of the power and influence that books can have.

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gremlingirl

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I finished reading The Humanoids last night. I have a deep love for good science fiction from the Golden Age, and this book is truly an excellent example. The edition I read contains both the The Humanoids novel and the short story “With Folded Hands” (1947), which serves as its prequel. Both are extremely good, although I think I might have had a slightly greater enjoyment of “With Folded Hands”.

The Humanoids is a captivating robot story (and I have a particular penchant for robot stories). Well, The Humanoids delves into the relationship between robots and humans. Williamson’s humanoids are governed by a Prime Directive: “To Serve and Obey, And Guard Men from Harm”. On the surface, this strongly recalls the Three Laws of Robotics introduced by Isaac Asimov in 1942. However, Williamson’s humanoids take the concepts of serving and guarding to an extreme. To them, anything that might potentially harm a human is considered too dangerous for a human to possess. For instance, a basic home workshop is filled with dangerous items, so humans should not have home workshops.

“With Folded Hands” presents a rather bleak perspective of a humanoid-controlled universe; yet, The Humanoids is a bit more ambiguous. It would be fascinating to know how a reader from 1948 perceived the ending of The Humanoids. Although it appears hopeful on the surface, I found it even more disturbing than the world描绘 in “With Folded Hands”..

Later in his career, Williamson published three more humanoid stories: “Jamboree” (1969), The Humanoid Universe (1980), and Humanoid Touch (1980). “Jamboree” was recently reprinted by Haffner Press in At the Human Limit, The Collected Stories of Jack Williamson, Volume Eight (2011). The Humanoid Universe and The Humanoid Touch both seem to be out of print, so it may be challenging to discern the direction in which he took his characters.

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KuromakiKun

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Reviewed by Sandy:

The review by Sandy provides an interesting perspective on the work being evaluated. It seems that Sandy has taken the time to explore and analyze the content in detail. The link provided, http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi..., likely leads to a more in-depth examination of the subject matter. It would be beneficial to visit this link to gain a better understanding of what Sandy has to say about "The Humanoids". Perhaps the review delves into the plot, characters, or themes of the work, offering valuable insights and critiques. Overall, Sandy's review appears to be a valuable resource for those interested in this particular piece of fantasy literature.

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