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Saturday, December 3, 2011

R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) by Karel Čapek

Availability:
  1. Science Fiction Thinking Machines, ed. Groff Conklin, Vanguard 1954
  2. The Treasury of Science Fiction Classics, ed. Harold W. Kuebler, Hanover House 1954
  3. Of Men and Machines, ed. Arthur O. Lewis, Jr., E.P. Dutton 1963
  4. Science Fact/Fiction, ed. E. J. Farrell, Scott Foresman 1974
  5. The Arbor House Treasury of Science Fiction Masterpieces, ed. Robert Silverberg & Martin H. Greenberg, Arbor House 1983
  6. Philosophy and Science Fiction, ed. Michael Philips, Prometheus 1984
  7. Great Tales of Science Fiction, ed. Robert Silverberg & Martin H. Greenberg, A&W/Galahad 1985
  8. The Road to Science Fiction Volume 6: Around the World, ed. James Gunn, White Wolf 1998
  9. R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots), New York: The Oxford University Press 1923
  10. R. U. R. and The Insect Play, Josef Capek & Karel Capek, Oxford University Press 1996; tr. by Paul Selver
  11. Project Gutenberg: text online
  12. eBooks@Adelaide: text online
Pre-Reading: .

Summary: Steena, Bat, and Cliff investigate the mysteriously derelict spaceship, Empress of Mars. What at first seemed a handicap becomes a necessary attribute in difficult circumstances.

Questions:

  1. If you can think of other possible questions , please let me/us know.

Critical commentary:
  • From Fantastic Universe Science Fiction: "An odd story, made up of oddly assorted elements that include a man, a woman, a black cat, a treasure—and an invisible being that had to be seen to be believed. Under normal conditions a whole person has a decided advantage over a handicapped one. But out in deep space the normal may be reversed—for humans at any rate."
Applicability:
  • Chemistry, Physics, or Physical science: Introduction to Electromagnetic Radiation.
  • Biology: Limited: colorblindness or bat behavior.
  • Inclusion: People with special needs are shown in a positive light.
  • English: This might fit well with a unit on comparative literature, genres, fairy tales, or science fiction.
  • If you can think of other possible uses, please let me/us know.
Resources:

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