"Evidence" ( Eng Evidence , in another translation - "Evidence" ) is a science fiction story by the American writer Isaac Asimov . First published in September 1946 in Astounding Science Fiction by Street & Smith . Subsequently, the story was included in three collections of authors: “ I, the Robot ” (1950), “The Perfect Robot” (1982) and “Dreams of Robots” (1990) [1] .
| The evidence | |
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| Evidence | |
| Genre | science fiction |
| Author | Isaac Asimov |
| Original language | English |
| Date of writing | |
| Date of first publication | September 1946 |
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The story was translated into Russian three times. First translated by A. Iordansky for the publication of the collection "I, Robot" 1964 [2] . Also translated by G. V. Filatova; in this translation was published in the collected works of 1997 [3] . In 2003, it was published in the translation of D. Skvortsov under the title "Evidence" [4] .
In September 1946, Asimov sold the rights to a film adaptation, a television and radio show to Orson Welles for $ 250, but the director never filmed the story [5] .
Story
US Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc. Visits the famous politician Francis Quinn. He meets Alfred Lanning and Dr. Susan Calvin and tells them about Stephen Beyrle. Beyrle was a middle-aged man, a successful lawyer with a good career, and as a prosecutor he never sent the defendant to execution. Now he is running for mayor of a large American city, but Quinn and his wards claim that Beyrle is actually a robot and, therefore, can not run for this post.
Quinn asks Lanning and Calvin to establish if Beyrle is a robot. Lanning is opposed to being used in political games, Susan Calvin's reaction is unclear. Beyrle is trying to enlighten with an X-ray, to search - he refuses, referring to his legal right - and thereby exposing the enemy in a very unfavorable light. Then Quinn's assistant uses X-ray without Beyrle's knowledge, but it turns out that he is wearing an opaque screen. Calvin checks Beyrle, who has aroused her trust and sympathy with his intellect, holding out an apple to him. He bites off a piece - and, it seems, this becomes a welcome proof - robots do not eat. But to simulate, as Calvin observes, a food absorption device could be integrated. To study Beyrle’s behavior also fails - since the famous three laws are too close to the ethical principles of most religions - do not harm people, take care of them, and the like. The decisive proof is the moment when provoked by an insulting shout, Beyrle punched the viewer in a public speech.
However, after Beyrle's victory, Susan Calvin comes to him. She claims that she has nothing against the robot as mayor - moreover, she likes this idea - the robot would be alien to corruption, petty intrigues and really take care of its constituents. Susan voiced the version that the crippled disabled person who lives in Beyrle's suburban mansion is not his old teacher, but himself, the real Stephen Beyrle, who sent his double to the world to achieve everything that he could not do. And for someone who is able to create a robot almost indistinguishable from humans, it is easy to create another one. The one who was publicly hit by Beyrle. Susan Calvin leaves, wishing his interlocutor good luck in future elections for a higher position of the Coordinator of planet Earth.
Notes
- ↑ Isaac Asimov “The Evidence” . Laboratory fiction. Date of treatment June 28, 2012.
- ↑ Edition Information
- ↑ Edition Information
- ↑ Edition Information
- ↑ Isaac Asimov FAQ . Date of treatment June 28, 2012. Archived on October 6, 2012.
Links
- Information about the story on the Fantasy Lab website