Robot science fiction has long been a favorite genre for readers. This type of science fiction combines intriguing characters with some of the philosophical questions which accompany robotics and artificial intelligence. This list contains some of the most influential classics in science fiction history as well as a mix of more modern genre work. If you want to check out any of these titles for free, you can do so with Audible's one month free trial.
1.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
By Philip K Dick
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Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is an absolute landmark work of robot science fiction and gained even greater recognition due to being adapted into the classic motion picture Blade Runner. Dick’s novel is set in a gritty futuristic world where the story’s hero is tasked with hunting down sentient robots that have gone rogue. The story raises many interesting philosophical questions and is a must read for any fan of robot scifi.
2.
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
By Douglas Adams
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Douglas Adams’ tale is a landmark work helping to establish the norms for quirky, humorous science fiction. The robot which makes Hitchhiker’s Guide worthy of this list is Marvin the Paranoid Android, an iconic character who has gained recognition even outside the science fiction genre. The tale itself is fun and adventurous, full of many memorable characters and humorous occurrences.
3.
I Robot
By Isaac Asimov
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Isaac Asimov is an indisputable giant within the world of robot science fiction due to his formulation of the three laws of robotics. I, Robot is a landmark work of robot scifi which explores every facet of robots and their place in the world of humans, from their conception through to their possible replacement of humanity. This is a thought provoking read for fans of intelligent robot science fiction.
4.
Neuromancer
By William Gibson
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Neuromancer is a classic gritty science fiction tale of the future which has frequently been compared to 1984 and Brave New World. It is a similar classic which imagines a future in which sinister forces are at play. Neuromancer’s plot focuses on artificial intelligence and shady political forces at play. The tale is a classic in both the robot and cyberpunk genres and has been a seminal science fiction work for decades.
5.
The Night Sessions
By Ken McLeod
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The Night Sessions by Ken McLeod envisions a world in which extreme secularism has been embraced and religions and those who believe in them have been pushed to the edges of society. This is also a world populated by sentient robots who sometimes help humanity but are often shunned by their very creators. The Night Sessions is an imaginative work of robot scifi which managed to make many relevant satirical points about the world in which we live.
6.
Sea Of Rust
By C Robert Cargill
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Sea of Rust is set in a future world in which humanity has been totally wiped out by an unimaginably powerful artificial intelligence and the robots it has at its command. In this world without mankind, the two most powerful artificial intelligence systems vie for control. The story’s main character is a robot outlawed to the most remote and barren part of the world. Cargill’s robot scifi tale is an immersive vision of a future which is terrifyingly plausible.
7.
Robopocalypse
By Daniel H Wilson
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Daniel H Wilson is featured more than once on this list and with good reason - as well as being an acclaimed science fiction, he also holds advanced degrees in robotics and computing. This level of knowledge adds a level of complexity to his work not found in many other books, and is a true bonus for fans of robot scifi. Robopocalypse is an epic tale of humanity united in an ultimate war against artificial intelligence, robots, and technology in general.
8.
R.U.R
By Karel Capek
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R.U.R, standing for Rossum’s Universal Robots, is a little different from other works on this list as it takes the form of a play. However, its early publication time in the 1920s makes it an essential read for any true fan of robot scifi. Capek’s story is set in a world where human like robots more similar to clones than machines are used to do humanity’s bidding. There is a lot of satire and black humor in R.U.R which examines the social and economic implications of a world where robots can carry out humanity’s bidding.
9.
Expiration Day
By William Campbell Powell
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Expiration Day takes place in a version of the future where humanity’s fertility rate has declined massively as a whole. Only a very small number of genuine human children are born. Most of the population takes the form of robots manufactured by a corporation. Powell’s story is a robot scifi tale centering around one girl’s quest to discover the difference between humanity and robots, with tension provided by the fact that all robots are permanently returned to their makes on their eighteenth birthday, the expiration day of the title.
10.
Ilium
By Dan Simmons
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Dan Simmons’ Ilium is an epic mix of fantasy and science fiction, primarily set on Mars. The story is based around an epic war raging in space triggered by the Gods of Greek mythology such as Zeus and his family. The Planet Earth has a small group of surviving humans, and powerful robots are also featured in this story. Ilium is a great choice for anyone who enjoys fantastical stories in addition to more traditional robot science fiction.
11.
Man Plus
By Frederik Pohl
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Frederik Pohl begins his Man Plus series with a robot science fiction story of the same name. The tale is based around a man who has been chosen to be transformed into a being capable of surviving in the Martian climate without a suit or other assistance. All doesn’t go to plan and the story examines the meaning of humanity and the implications of undergoing a profound transformation.