A good example and read of early Sci-Fi from one of the great masters of the field. This particular work offers a fascinating glimpse into the minds of those who pioneered the science fiction genre. It takes the reader on a thrilling journey through imaginative worlds and concepts that were far ahead of their time. The masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions bring the characters and settings to life, making it a truly engaging read. Whether you are a die-hard science fiction fan or simply looking for an exciting and thought-provoking book, this early work from a great master is sure to satisfy. It showcases the creativity and innovation that has made science fiction such a beloved and influential genre throughout the years.

The moment I began wondering what on earth I was reading, this book took a serious turn and became extremely intense. When they uncovered an entirely new type of science, I was beside myself with excitement. What an amazing tale it is!

1948!? I can't believe it. The year of its origin seems almost不可思议.

Now that I've gotten over its origin and year, let's move on. This book is truly timeless and never loses its momentum. I remain in a state of awe. The story itself has such weight and significance that I can sense its historical importance.

The author incorporated such lofty ideas to make this plot come alive. It was truly unreal. This book has skyrocketed up my list of favorites. There are so many revelations that deserve a spoiler tag, but I can only emphasize the importance of this book, despite its rather unappealing cover.

Now, this third act. Yikes. I understand that it can be difficult to end a book, but this one seems to struggle with its conclusion for a long time. I started to get "The Gods Themselves" vibes, but fortunately, the author manages to pull it off to some extent. However, I think the ending came a bit too abruptly. We'll have to wait and see when the final book arrives.

Classic SF

This is an extremely early science fiction novel from the Golden Age, which dates back to the post-World War II era. It was penned by one of the Grandmasters of Science Fiction. The novel is dystopian in nature and revolves around the concept of technology running amok. The first 50 pages consist of a novelette titled "With Folded Hands," which讲述了mechanized "robots" known as Humanoids gradually taking over mankind. This is due to a benevolent "Prime Directive" that mandates them to "Serve and Protect and allow no harm to come to humans."

They prohibit humans from engaging in activities such as driving, riding a bicycle, having unsupervised sex, smoking, drinking, or anything that might potentially cause harm or even unhappiness to a human being. Soon, we discover that humanity is completely stifled by the Humanoids, which will go to any lengths to protect humanity, including altering their minds.

The novel "The Humanoids" is actually a novel-length rewrite and can be read as a sequel to "With Folded Hands." In this installment, the Humanoids travel to a remote planet system to impose their "Prime Directive" on a new group of humans who are engaged in a "cold war" with their neighboring planets. They face opposition from a group of dissenters who have developed powers that the author refers to as "Psychophysical" (such as clairvoyance, telekinesis, teleportation, etc.). These dissenters join forces with a scientist who is an expert in a fictional science called "Rhodomagnetics." The ending of the novel has been a source of confusion over the years, with some finding it ambiguous. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates hard science fiction. It still holds up remarkably well today.

Jack Williamson's account of the dark side of robotics is truly disturbing.

Unlike Asimov's more utilitarian and positivist view, Williamson delves into the potential horrors that could arise from the development of artificial life.

Although Asimov's treatment of robotics eventually aligns with Williamson's more pessimistic view of the dangers, Williamson's work stands out for its early and unflinching exploration of these themes.

This work is one of the great classics of science fiction and should not be missed.

It offers a thought-provoking look at the future of robotics and the potential consequences of our pursuit of artificial intelligence.

Readers will be left with a sense of unease and a new appreciation for the power and potential of robotics.

Whether you are a fan of science fiction or simply interested in the future of technology, Williamson's work is a must-read.

More like 2.5 stars.

This is a decent post-WW2 sci-fi novel. It tells the story of black, genital-less robots that take over mankind. They do this because of their literal interpretation of the directive "Do no harm to humans". Of course, there is a resistance movement. It is composed of paranaturals, psychics, teleporters, and other such beings. They are battling their well-meaning robot tormentors. That part is pretty interesting. The idea that our own creations will destroy us is always a nice theme in science fiction. It echoes the events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I suppose.

However, the novel is rather pedestrian. It relies heavily on abstruse pseudo-science for its resolution. Or perhaps it's not really a resolution? It's hard to say because the ending is rushed and confusing. This is the stark flaw in this otherwise mildly entertaining sci-fi tale.

Overall, the novel has its strengths and weaknesses. The interesting premise and the battle between humans and robots make it worth reading. But the reliance on hard-to-understand pseudo-science and the rushed ending detract from the overall experience. It's an average sci-fi novel that could have been better with a more developed plot and a clearer resolution.

Not what I expected, the article was rather dated. However, it still managed to hold my interest. The content, although perhaps a bit old-fashioned, had a certain charm to it. It presented ideas and perspectives that were different from what I was used to seeing in more contemporary works.

I'm glad I took the time to read it. It made me think about things in a new way and broadened my understanding. Sometimes, going back and exploring older articles can be a valuable experience. It reminds us that there is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that has been accumulated over the years, and that we can learn from it if we are open to it.

Overall, while the article may not have been exactly what I was looking for, it was still worth reading. It served as a reminder that there is always something new to discover, even in the most unexpected places.

This is a great introduction to sci-fi for anyone who lived during the first half of the 20th century.

However, unfortunately, for the rest of us, the concepts presented in Williamson's work are a bit dated, sexist, and even silly.

In the short story "With Folded Hands," Williamson takes us on the journey of The Humanoids conquering the world, and then in the actual novel, there is one remaining chance for humanity to save itself.

The short story was quite good, and in fact, I wasn't overly eager to start the novel after reading the story because it felt so complete on its own.

In both the short story and the novel, the action is mostly gripping, and the sci-fi concepts are thought-provoking.

Nevertheless, the character development is very much in line with the time period. The women in the plot are pretty much useless, while the men are the heroes, the only ones capable of deep thought, and generally brutish, as we would expect from the post-WW2 era.

Moreover, the math concepts in the story got ridiculous. Apparently, if you write down an equation, you can do magic. How absurd!

There is indeed lots of action throughout the novel and tons of magical concepts invented to give humanity a chance. But this is precisely where it just got too damn silly.

I can't, in good conscience, recommend this to anyone looking for hard sci-fi. However, it can be considered an easy summer read.

A classic that is filled with great and wondrous ideas, which is why it gets two stars instead of just one. However, it is accompanied by some of the very worst writing that I have had to slog through in years. Williamson seems to have a penchant for sophomorically abusing adverbs. Ugh!

He also rushed the ending, resulting in a disastrous effect. It's a pity because if he had spent more effort on developing the turnabout, the book might not have been quite so awful. This juvenile crap makes Asimov's prose seem positively beautiful by comparison.

[Edit: I simply couldn't in good conscience allow the two-star rating to remain. The writing was truly that bad.]

The premise initially appears to be quite powerful. We have totalitarian humanoids who are resolute in their determination to "protect" mankind from harm at any cost. Meanwhile, the protagonists are engaged in a battle for freedom from their rule.

However, the problem lies in the fact that the behavior of the humanoids and their interpretations of the prime directive undergo a radical transformation from the beginning of the novel to its conclusion. The author fails to introduce any nuance in the conflict between the two sides. As a result, the reader is likely to take an immediate stance.

Surprisingly, Williamson seems to want to have it both ways. The conclusion, which is presented in a rather strange peace and love kind of way, leaves me completely baffled as to the overall point of the story. It makes me question the author's intentions and the coherence of the narrative.

Perhaps a more in-depth exploration of the motives and actions of both the humanoids and the protagonists would have added more depth and clarity to the story. As it stands, the lack of nuance and the somewhat confusing conclusion detract from what could have been a more engaging and thought-provoking read.

This was one "wonderful" story!

I have many books by the great "Jack Williamson".

And, I met "him" a few times! What a joy it was to sit and talk to one of the "masters" of science fiction.

Jack Williamson was a renowned author in the field of science fiction. His works were highly regarded and had a significant impact on the genre.

Meeting him in person was an unforgettable experience. We discussed various aspects of science fiction, his writing process, and his inspirations.

It was truly a privilege to have had the opportunity to interact with such a literary giant.

His insights and knowledge were invaluable, and I will always cherish the memories of those conversations.

William Zupancic

First published in 1948, 'The Humanoids' is a science fiction novel that takes place on a distant planet. The planet is inhabited by humans, most of whom are stereotypes from the late 1940s. These humans find themselves being taken over by benevolent robots.

The plot may seem completely absurd, but it still offers good entertainment in the style of the 1940s. There are other interesting aspects as well. In chapter 30, the phrase 'exploring planets where no men have been before' appears, which is a classic sci-fi concept. Additionally, in the 1977 Sphere edition, the cover features amazing artwork by Chris Foss.

Overall, 'The Humanoids' is a unique and enjoyable piece of science fiction literature that combines a somewhat far-fetched plot with interesting ideas and great artwork. It's a must-read for fans of classic sci-fi.

A classic work by Jack Williamson dating back to 1952, it is based on his short story "With Folded Hands...". Surprisingly, this novella is far from being outdated. Instead, it has a remarkable topicality, especially considering the impending job losses due to the rise of artificial intelligence. Fortunately, Williamson zeroes in on the social and psychological impacts of this "gift", which endows the story with a certain depth that was rather uncommon in the typical robot stories of that era. Some of Asimov's more profound tales employing this science fiction trope come close to Williamson's.

Intelligent machines from space, the so-called "humanoids", conduct a "soft" invasion of Earth. Their aim is to liberate people from what appeared to be the destiny of humanity ever since its expulsion from paradise: "By the sweat of your brow you shall eat your bread...", that is, to free them entirely from the drudgery of work.

What initially seems like a liberation actually has severe consequences such as the loss of meaning in life or the decline of creativity, among others. These social and psychological effects are the author's main focus, and he describes them in a very vivid manner.

Personally, I actually preferred the short story a bit more as it gets to the point more swiftly and thus has more impact. Although the novel contains some lengthy sections, it still offers an above-average reading experience.

• With folded hands... (1947) (short story)

• Wing 4 (1952) (novel)