Azerbaijan University of LanguagesSchool of Philology and JournalismSubject: Country LiteraturePresenter: Bayramli Sakina, group 438Theme: Science fiction. Isaac Asimov “ The Bicentennial Man”

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginative content such as futuristic settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, time travel, faster than light travel, parallel universes and extraterrestrial life.

It often explores the potential consequences of scientific and other innovations, and has been called a “literature of ideas.”

Science fiction is difficult to define, as it includes a wide range of subgenres and themes.

Science fiction is largely based on writing rationally about alternative possible worlds or futures.

It is similar to, but differs from fantasyForrest J Ackerman used the term sci-fi

(analogous to the then-trendy "hi-fi") at UCLA in 1954.

A time setting in the future, in alternative timelines, or in a historical past that contradicts known facts of history or the archaeological record.

Characters that include aliens, mutants, androids, or humanoid robots and other types of characters arising from a future human evolution.

Futuristic or plausible technology such as ray guns, teleportation machines, and humanoid computers

Scientific principles that are new or that contradict accepted physical laws, for example time travel, wormholes, or faster-than-light travel or communication.

New and different political or social systems, e.g. dystopian, post-scarcity, or post-apocalyptic.

Paranormal abilities such as mind control, telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation.

Other universes or dimensions and travel between them.

Science fiction elements include

Isaac Asimov

• Born: Isaak Yudovich Ozimov Between October 4, 1919 and January 2, 1920; Petrovichi, Russian SFSR

• Died: April 6, 1992 (aged 72) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

• Occupation: Writer, professor of biochemistry

• Nationality: Russian (early years), American

• Ethnicity: Russian American• Education: Columbia University,

PhD. Biochemistry, 1948• Period: 1939–1992

• Genre: Science fiction (hard SF, social SF), mystery

• Subject: Popular science, science textbooks, essays, literary criticism

• Literary movement:Golden Age of Science Fiction

• Spouse: Gertrude Blugerman (1942–1973; divorced)

• Janet Opal Jeppson (1973–1992; his death)

• Children: David Asimov, Robyn Joan Asimov

Some Words About His Life…

The Robot series

The Foundation Series

The Bicentennial Man

I, Robot

The Intelligent Man's Guide to Science

Nightfall

The Gods Themselves

Notable works

"The Bicentennial Man" is a short story written by Isaac Asimov and first published in 1976. The short story inspired the 1999 film Bicentennial Man. "The Bicentennial Man" revolves around the efforts of an android to become human, including the technological and cultural hurdles he must face to do so.

The Bicentennial Man

In order to fully understand the context of this novel, it is important to understand Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. The laws are as follows:

First Law: A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the first law.

Third Law: A robot must protect it's own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

The title suggests, the android achieves to become human on the two-hundredth anniversary of its construction, at which point the World Congress declares it a human-the bicentennial man

Title

• Separation of mind and body

• Human enough

• Mortality

Themes

Structure

Flashback

Mood

Optimistic

Genre

Science fiction

Robot series

Setting

Place

San Francisco, California

Time

From the mid 21st century to the mid

23rd, Over the next 200 years

Positives

Andrew Martin (NDR-113)

Richard Martin (Sir)

Portia Charney

Negatives

Mechanical Man

Dennis Mansky - Head of NorthAm Robotics

Characters

NDR-113- is one of the robots. Designed by NorthAm Robotics, this robot, Andrew, is the focal point with everything told from his perspective. Purchased by the Martin family, like with pets, he becomes "Andrew Martin". However, Andrew is not a pet, he is seen as little more than an appliance, and not treated at all well by the Martin children. Sometimes the family members accept him and are curious about him. At other times they are not. In one incident, one of the children orders Andrew to throw himself out of an upper bedroom window, just for a giggle. Martin complies - he can do nothing else. The fall damages him, thankfully not irreparably.

Gerald’s wife 'Ma'am' Rachael Martin

Little Miss Amanda Martin - Age 7 'Miss' Grace Martin - Age 9GalateaPresident Marjorie BotaLloyd CharneyRupert BurnsBill Feingold - Martin's LawyerDennis Mansky - Head of

NorthAm RoboticsMotorcycle PunkFrank Charney

Other Characters

One is glad to be of service.-Andrew MartinAndrew, People grow through time, then for you, time is a completely

different proposition, for you, time is endless.- Sir (Richard Martin)I have a friend who is very special to me. He's sweet and exceptionally

intelligent, but, well - he's not really a - I mean, a relationship between us would be impossible. It would never, could never, work out.-Little Miss (Amanda Martin)

What's right for most people in most situations isn't right for everyone in every situation! Real morality lies in following one's own heart.-Portia Charney

I think personality is much more important than intelligence, don't you?- Galatea

You see, imperfection is the key. Imperfections make us individuals, that's what makes us unique. See my nose, how it is all bulbous and pock marked, well, I am the only one with my nose.-Rupert Burns

Quotes

Sir: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Andrew: One does not know, sir, possibly a predator was behind the chicken, or possibly there was a female chicken on the other of the road, if it's a male chicken. Possibly a food source, or depending on the season it might be migrating. One hopes there's no traffic.

Sir: To get to the other side. Andrew: To get to the other side. Ah,

why is that funny?

Dialogues

[after Little Miss's wedding]Andrew: Sir, is everything all right?Sir: Umm. They've both gone now, Andrew. Well, things

change, things always change. People move on. It's as it should be. But, what I realized today is that I'll never stop missing them.

Andrew: Sir? One is still here.Sir: And one is glad of that Andrew. Thank you.

[last lines]Galatea: In the words of the great Andrew Martin, "One

is glad to be of service".Portia: [looking to Andrew] See you soon.

If a robot spends enough time around humans, can he learn to become one of them?

Message

In this novel, the Martin family purchases an android to perform housekeeping and maintenance duties. Although they expect their robot to act as a servant, he soon becomes part of the family. The android soon becomes known as "Andrew" when Amanda, the youngest Martin daughter, mistakes the word android for Andrew.

The longer Andrew is with the Martin family, they begin to realize he isn't a typical robot. Andrew seems capable of expressing emotion and generating creative thoughts. The longer Andrew is around the family, the stronger these behaviors become.

When Andrew accidentally breaks Little Miss's figurine, he carves her a replacement out of wood. The family is astonished by his creativity and Sir Richard Martin takes Andrew to his manufacturer. The CEO of the NorthAm Robotics wishes to destroy Andrew because they see his development as detrimental to society. Angered at this suggestion, Sir takes Andrew home and encourages him to pursue his development by educating himself in the humanities. Years later, Andrew returns to NorthAm for some repairs and requests for his face to be altered so he can more effectively convey his emotions.

Plot Summary

Andrew and the Martin family have a hard time coping with the fact that Andrew does not age as a real person does. Andrew is seemingly stuck in time, as he watches his family age and die right before his eyes. Andrew has a particularly hard time dealing with the pain of not being able to cry and realizes that every person he loves will eventually die.

When Andrew is separated from the Martin family he searches for more NDR series robots that may have sentience. Eventually Andrew is successful in his endeavors. He finds Galatea, an NDR robot that has feminine attributes and feelings. However, she has not developed these traits as Andrew has, but rather, they are a part of her programming. Andrew locates Galatea's inventor, Rupert Burns, and asks Burns to help modify his features. Burns is able to give Andrew artificial skin and facial hair. After these adjustments are made, Burns and Andrew work together to develop the equivalent of human organs and a central nervous system, which allows Andrew to feel tactile sensations.

Over this period of time, Andrew becomes acquainted with Little Miss's granddaughter Portia. They begin to develop feelings for one another and develop a romantic and sexual relationship. When Andrew realizes this relationship is socially unacceptable, he petitions the World Congress to recognize him as human. Andrew's request is rejected because he would be an immortal human, which would stir up too much controversy and jealousy.

Andrew offers to prolong Portia's life with his medical inventions, but Portia decides she does not want this. Andrew then decides he does not want to live his life without Portia. Burns and Andrew then work together and figure out how to put blood into Andrew's system which will cause his brain to decay, in turn, allowing him to age.

When Andrew is old and frail, he once again petitions the World Congress and asks to be declared a human being. Andrew is on his death bed and is listening to the broadcast of the Court's decision. Andrew is officially recognized as a human being and is reportedly the oldest human being in history at the age of 200 years. The Speaker also legalizes Portia and Andrew's marriage and the couple passes away hand-in-hand.

I enjoyed this story. I'm pretty sure I've never read Asimov before, and that seems strange to me considering that he wrote over 500 books in his lifetime. I may branch out to some of his longer works after this--it was an easy yet thoughtful read. I know it was made into a film starring Robin Williams, but I've never seen it. I can see why it was made into a movie, but I doubt I would enjoy it as much as Mr. Asimov's written version. "The Bicentennial Man" won the Nebula Award in 1976 and the Hugo Award in 1977. I'm surprised that the last printing of this book was in 2000, in conjunction with the movie.

My opinions about the novel