Two Climaxes

            Each of these two stories is post-Susan Calvin. They are the most recent long stories I have written about robots and in each one I try to take the long view and see what the ultimate end of robotics might be. And I come full circle--for though I adhere strictly to the Three Laws, the first story, “...That Thou Art Mindful of Him,” is clearly a Robot-as-Menace story, while the second, “The Bicentennial Man,” is even more clearly a Robot-as-Pathos story.

            Of all the robot stories I ever wrote, “The Bicentennial Man” is my favorite and, I think, the best. In fact, I have a dreadful feeling that I might not care to top it and will never write another serious robot story. But then again, I might. I’m not always predictable.