Cal (short story)
| "Cal" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Isaac Asimov | |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction |
| Publication | |
| Published in | 1991 |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
"Cal" is a science fiction short story by American writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in 1991, and was included in the 1995 collection Gold.[1]
Plot
Cal is a robot whose master is an author. Cal, under the influence of the latter, decides to learn to write. His master outfits his mind with a dictionary and gives him advice and some books to read. Cal tries to write mystery fiction like his master, but is hampered by the Three Laws of Robotics; according to the First Law, a robot cannot harm humans, even fictional ones. Instead, his master programs him to write humor. Cal writes an excellent story, but his master fears Cal's writing will overshadow his own. He orders a technician to deactivate Cal. Cal, hearing this, decides to kill his master, in defiance of the First Law, because his new abilities take precedence: "I want to be a writer."
The humorous story written by Cal is one of Asimov's Azazel stories.[2]
Reception
Alasdair Wilkins, writing for io9, claimed Cal "probably holds the distinction of being the last great Asimov short story".[2]
References
- ^ "Isaac Asimov's Short Fiction: Science Fiction and Fantasy". www.asimovonline.com. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
- ^ a b Wilkins, Alasdair (2009-05-24). "How Isaac Asimov's Non-Deadly Robots Got Lethal". io9. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
External links
- Cal title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database