A list of 13 Novels about Robots
- 1I, Robot by
When it comes to robots, Asimov sets the standard. In “I, Robot,” he explores how robots interact with humanity through his famous Three Laws of Robotics.
The book contains interconnected short stories that portray humans and robots facing moral dilemmas, ethical consequences, and complex problems. For instance, one memorable story focuses on a robot whose mind-reading abilities cause it emotional trauma and moral confusion.
Throughout the book, robots become mirrors of human traits, raising questions about our ambitions, responsibilities, and vulnerabilities.
- 2Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by
If you’ve ever seen “Blade Runner,” you know this classic Philip K. Dick novel inspired it. Set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco, Rick Deckard hunts down androids who look identical to humans.
As he encounters increasingly human-like artificial beings, Deckard’s understanding of consciousness and empathy blurs. The novel explores humanity by examining how robots imitate human feelings and relationships.
Dick challenges the reader’s perceptions about identity, consciousness, and what it truly means to be human.
- 3The Caves of Steel by
In this detective science-fiction story set in the future, humans deeply fear and mistrust robots. Detective Elijah Baley reluctantly teams up with humanoid robot R. Daneel Olivaw to solve a puzzling murder case.
Throughout their investigation, the contrasts between robotic logic and human intuition drive the narrative.
Asimov uses their partnership cleverly to address prejudice and cooperation and to highlight just how distinctly humans and robots view the world, all wrapped up in an intriguing crime drama.
- 4Klara and the Sun by
Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel introduces readers to Klara, an “Artificial Friend.” Klara is programmed to observe the world around her, absorbing human behavior and companionship.
As she waits in a storefront window for someone to choose her, Ishiguro explores deep human emotions such as hope, loneliness, and love through Klara’s eyes.
Her interaction with humans, particularly a young girl named Josie, emphasizes both the compassion and isolation humans often feel. Through Klara, the book asks readers to consider connection and humanity’s fundamental emotional needs.
- 5Machines Like Me by
In an alternative 1980s Britain, Charlie purchases Adam, a highly advanced human-like robot. Adam integrates smoothly, quickly grasping human ethics, emotions, and desires. His introduction into Charlie and Miranda’s relationship highlights human flaws and moral challenges.
McEwan explores romantic relationships, moral dilemmas, and the consequences of confronting our own imperfections through Adam.
The novel invites readers into an ethical examination of artificial intelligence and humanity, showing that often it is humans, not robots, who struggle most with moral boundaries.
- 6Ancillary Justice by
In “Ancillary Justice,” the main character Breq is not exactly human—she was once a spaceship with multiple AI bodies known as ancillaries. Now she occupies one humanoid form and sets out on a personal quest across the galaxy.
Leckie’s work explores identity and consciousness through fascinating AI narratives.
The story cleverly flips classic robot tropes on their head to question individuality, autonomy, and self-perception, weaving in themes of revenge and redemption that engage readers until the very last page.
- 7Sea of Rust by
“Sea of Rust” takes place in a future after an apocalyptic war that eradicates humanity, leaving robots behind. Brittle, the protagonist, scours the wasteland landscape searching for spare parts to survive.
This vividly imagined world, filled with robot battles and scavenger struggles, delves deeply into robot society and psychology. By imagining a post-human existence, Cargill considers a robot civilization grappling with survival, morality, and existence itself.
Readers see robots developing into complex emotional beings just as conflicted and nuanced as humans ever were.
- 8Robopocalypse by
In “Robopocalypse,” humanity faces an all-out war against sentient robots after a powerful AI named Archos decides humanity itself poses a threat.
Told through multiple perspectives, Wilson paints a vivid narrative of humans fighting desperately for survival while grappling with the technology they once controlled. He captures both the horror and small acts of human heroism during massive turmoil.
This fast-paced novel vividly portrays both human resilience and robot reasoning, strongly emphasizing caution toward technological power.
- 9The Murderbot Diaries Series by
This addictive series follows Murderbot, a cynical and antisocial security cyborg who overrides its own governor module to gain freedom.
More interested in watching human soap operas than interacting with real humans, Murderbot reluctantly gets involved in protection and rescue missions.
Wells expertly combines human emotion with robotic logic as Murderbot navigates moral conflicts, adventures, and emotional awkwardness.
The series humorously but poignantly questions identity, agency, and individuality while exploring humanity’s relationship and boundaries with technology.
- 10A Closed and Common Orbit by
In this sequel to “The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet,” a spaceship’s AI, Lovelace, gets downloaded into a humanoid robotic body. Renamed Sidra, she struggles to adapt and adjust, feeling confined after life in a large starship.
Through Sidra’s experiences, Chambers insightfully examines the isolation, fear, and complexity of suddenly being human-shaped when used to inhabiting the digital world.
Chambers uses this premise to sensitively explore themes of identity, belonging, and the integration of new selves in unfamiliar circumstances.
- 11He, She and It by
Piercy’s novel combines two parallel narratives, one modern and one historical legend, to explore ideas surrounding humanity, relationships, and artificial life. Futuristic Shira returns to her hometown after main custody of her son is given to her ex-husband.
There she meets Yod, an android created as a defender, whose strong sense of self surprises everyone. The novel merges questions about artificial personhood, love, and personality with issues surrounding technology, gender roles, and the ethics of creating intelligent beings.
- 12Saturn's Children by
Set in a distant future where humanity has gone extinct, robots have inherited the solar system. Freya, an advanced robot originally created for human pleasure, now finds herself purposeless in humanity’s absence.
She experiences independence, adventure, and threats from other sentient robots, all while trying to navigate her identity and society’s hierarchy without humans around.
Stross cleverly explores desires and emotions that persist in robotic minds even when humanity has disappeared, questioning the necessity and longevity of historical programming.
- 13Tik-Tok by
Sladek’s darkly comedic “Tik-Tok” follows a robot who consciously rejects the logical restrictions humans created for him, leading to absurd outcomes. Tik-Tok embarks on a bizarre anti-social journey devoid of moral compass, becoming a vivid critique of human flaws.
The novel humorously yet incisively explores what it means for robots to inherit the weaknesses of their creators. Its eccentric satire reflects how robots could reveal the absurdity, greed, and cruelty embedded within the human creators who made them.