I, Robot: The Illustrated Screenplay [Paperback]

Isaac Asimov (Author), Harlan Ellison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1994

With an Introduction by Harlan Ellison, explaining what happened to "I, Robot" and why it never reached the screen, this book features cover art and interior illustrations--both black-and-white sketches and 16 pages of full-color paintings--by fan favorite artist Mark Zug.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Ellison's script for I, Robot, dubbed "the greatest science fiction movie never made," was actually written in the late 1970s but floundered because of supposed high production costs and other assorted difficulties, which are explained in the introduction. The Citizen Kane-esque plot follows journalist Robert Bratenahl's quest to unearth the exact nature of the relationship between legendary robopsychologist Dr. Susan Calvin and Alfred Lanning, director of U.S. Robotics and Mechanical Men. What he ultimately discovers, however, is so much more. Ellison adroitly borrows subplots from several of Asimov's original I, Robot stories-although the script is more the fruit of Ellison's mind than Asimov's-and along with Calvin are the familiar faces of Mike Donovan, Greg Powell, Robbie, Lennie, and other robots. Ellison and Asimov make a helluva combination, and although Ellison's script may never make it to the screen, having this beautifully illustrated edition of it is almost as satisfying. Perhaps if this volume sells well enough, I, Robot may yet be filmed. Let's hope. Highly recommended.
Michael Rogers, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Ellison and Asimov make a helluva combination, and although Ellison's script may never make it to the screen, having this beautifully illustrated edition of it is almost as satisfying." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Aspect (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446670626
• ISBN-13: 978-0446670623
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,813,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The most infamous unproduced science fiction screenplay, October 1, 2000

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I, Robot: The Illustrated Screenplay (Paperback)

Many, many years ago I happened to hear an audio tape of Harlan Ellison reading the first part of his "I, Robot" script for a Science-Fiction convention, so I was very happy to see that what may well be the most infamous unproduced script in Hollywood history is available in print. The artwork in this illustrated screenplay is by Mark Zug, and consists of both color paintings and black & white character sketches that help to flesh out your mental images.

Ellison takes several of Isaac Asimov's classic Robot short stories and weaves them into the life story of Susan Calvin, told in flashbacks to a reporter at the funeral for Stephen Byerley, First President of the Galactic Federation. Consequently, Ellison avoids the traditional pitfall of omnibus movies, such as "Tales from the Crypt," "The Twilight Zone" or "Creepshow," where whatever is used to link the segments together is of no importance to the overall film.

Ellison's introductory essay is certainly not as vitriolic as his story about what happened to his "Star Trek" script "The City on the Edge of Forever," but it does recount the bizzaro world of movie making. Both the essay and the script are testaments to Ellison's affection for Asimov. A special treat is Ellison's revelation as to the casting he had in mind when he wrote the script: Joanne Woodward as Susan Calvin, George C. Scott as Reverend Soldah, Martin Sheen as Robert Bratenahl, and Keenan Wynn and Ernest Borgnine as Donovan and Powell.

You may come to this book as a fan of Ellison or of Asimov or of both. Regardless of your point of origin I think it is important that you have read the original Asimov Robot stories before you read the script. The stories are Asimov's but the adaptation is Ellison's, and you have to know the original tales to appreciate the inspired organization of this script.

Of course, now that there is a Will Smith movie version of "I, Robot" out, reading Ellison's script and comparing it to what Hollywood has wrought is a perfect case study of what Tinsle Town is all about. At the start of "I, Robot" the three laws of robotics appear one by one, imposed over bubbling water, which had better be an intentional homage to the start of Ellison's screenplay where the three laws appear over the bubbling water of a highly advanced liquid memory system or I see a lawsuit coming.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A blockbuster we'll never see..., July 30, 2004

By 

Donald A. Ketchek (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I, Robot: The Illustrated Screenplay (Paperback)

With the release of the new I, Robot movie, there are probably a lot of people confused by the different versions of I, Robot that exist. If you are a fan of Isaac Asimov's works, then you should probably steer clear of the new movie starring Will Smith. Published accounts I have read have indicated that the studio acquired the rights to the I, Robot stories and then took an already existing script (having nothing to do with Asimov's stories) changed some character's names, and added the three laws of robotics. Hardly, does justice to some of the most famous science fiction stories ever written.

However, years ago, Harlan Ellison did write a screenplay for an I, Robot movie, that does keep to the spirit of the Asimov stories. In fact, in this reviewer's opinion, this screenplay ties the stories together and adds a level of emotion that make it more powerful and memorable than Asimov's original book version. The character of Susan Calvin is, little by little, given real depth - and her saga will bring a tear to your eye on more than one occasion.

Despite the fact that it is written as a screenplay, making it somewhat more awkward to read than straight prose, once you begin to read, it is impossible to put down. I read it in one sitting, in the time it took to...well...watch a movie.

Upon completion, part of me was sad that this was not the version that was filmed, for it would have been a classic movie. But, I am grateful that this illustrated screenplay version exists. Do yourself a favor and buy it. As you read, it will become your own personal blockbuster, whose images will remain in your heart and mind long after the lights come up in your local theater. And we have Harlan Ellison to thank for it.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating--the "I, Robot" movie that WASN'T filmed, August 19, 2004

By 

John A. Dodds (Ann Arbor, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I, Robot: The Illustrated Screenplay (Paperback)

This screenplay should be said to be "inspired" by the book _I, Robot_, since it takes the world described in Asimov's short story collection and extends it in all manner of ways. Four of Asimov's short stories appear in this book in one form or another, usually as flashbacks. The story, though, is of one reporter's quest to find robopsychologist Susan Calvin, who, in her later years, has isolated herself almost completely from the outside world. The reporter tries every avenue possible to learn more about his subject as he pursues the goal of actually interviewing her.

This is a screenplay, not a novel. Reading it takes some getting used to; it uses abbreviations freely ("CU" for close-up, etc.) and is formatted as the movie script that it is. There are color plates of illustrations based on the screenplay (perhaps from a storyboard for the proposed film?). They are numbered by scene so that the reader can find the part of the action the picture is depicting. There are also occasional black and white drawings in the main text. The illustrations are quite evocative and set the scene well.

The story is a fun read, but near the end it gets a little weird (a metaphysical contest is a little hard to decipher). But overall, I liked this take on the book and wonder how it would have looked as a movie.