[The Complete Robot] brings together 31 of Asimov's robotics stories from "Robbie" of 1940 to several which were published in 1977, including some which have never been collected. Susan Calvin, Powell and Donovan, the Three Laws of Robotics—all of these and more old friends appear in this book.

As Asimov's theories of robotics have had a profound influence upon recent industrial development, this volume can be read as more than a mere work of fiction; however, the work is flawed in terms of its arrangement. Instead of arranging the stories chronologically, so that Asimov's development of robotics could be more easily perceived, they are ordered by arbitrary and conflicting classifications: non-human robots, immobile robots, metallic robots, humanoid robots, etc. Many of the stories reveal a lesser importance upon style, especially characterization, than social commentary.

Eugene La Faille, in his review of "Complete Robot," in Voice of Youth Advocates (copyright 1982 by...