Machines That Think is a compilation of 29 science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 stories probing the scientific, spiritual, and moral facets of computers and robots and speculating on their future. It was edited by Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...

, Martin H. Greenberg

Martin H. Greenberg

Martin Harry Greenberg was an American speculative fiction anthologist and writer.-Biography:Dr. Martin H. Greenberg was born March 1, 1941, to Max and Mae Greenberg in South Miami Beach, Florida...

, and Patricia S. Warrick.

Published in 1984 by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, it features a foreword by Asimov, the creator of the Three Laws of Robotics

Three Laws of Robotics

The Three Laws of Robotics are a set of rules devised by the science fiction author Isaac Asimov and later added to. The rules are introduced in his 1942 short story "Runaround", although they were foreshadowed in a few earlier stories...

. In addition, each story has introductory notes by Warrick, author of The Cybernetic Imagination in Science Fiction, explaining the significance of the story in the context of science fiction's evolution of ideas concerning artificial intelligence. This book is a companion piece to that book, providing the source material upon which Warrick's analysis is based.

Stories included

Title	Author	Originally published
Moxon’s Master	Ambrose Bierce Ambrose Bierce Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist and satirist...	ss San Francisco Examiner Apr 16, 1899
The Lost Machine	John Wyndham John Wyndham John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris was an English science fiction writer who usually used the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names, such as John Beynon and Lucas Parkes...  (as John Beynon Harris)	nv Amazing Apr ’32
Rex	Harl Vincent Harl Vincent Harl Vincent was the publication name of Harold Vincent Schoepflin, an American mechanical engineer and science fiction author. He was published regularly in science fiction "pulp" magazines.-Life and work:...	ss Astounding Jun ’34
Robbie [“Strange Playfellow”]	Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...	ss Super Science Stories Sep ’40
Farewell to the Master Farewell to the Master "Farewell to the Master" is a science fiction short story written by Harry Bates. It was first published in the October 1940 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. It provided the basis of the noted 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still and its 2008 remake...	Harry Bates Harry Bates (author) Harry Bates was an American science fiction editor and writer. His 1940 short story "Farewell to the Master" was the basis of the well-known 1951 science fiction movie The Day the Earth Stood Still.-Biography:Harry Bates was born Hiram Gilmore Bates III on October 9, 1900 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...	nv Astounding Oct ’40
Robot’s Return	Robert Moore Williams Robert Moore Williams Robert Moore Williams , born in Farmington, Missouri, was an American writer, primarily of science fiction. Pseudonyms included John S Browning, H. H. Hermon, Russell Storm and E. K. Jarvis ....	ss Astounding Sep ’38
Though Dreamers Die	Lester del Rey Lester del Rey Lester del Rey was an American science fiction author and editor. Del Rey was the author of many of the Winston Science Fiction juvenile SF series, and the editor at Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction branch of Ballantine Books, along with his fourth wife Judy-Lynn del Rey.-Birth...	nv Astounding Feb ’44
Fulfillment	A. E. van Vogt A. E. van Vogt Alfred Elton van Vogt was a Canadian-born science fiction author regarded by some as one of the most popular and complex science fiction writers of the mid-twentieth century: the "Golden Age" of the genre....	nv New Tales of Space and Time, ed. Raymond J. Healy, Holt, 1951
Runaround [Mike Donovan (Robot)]	Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...	nv Astounding Mar ’42
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" is a postapocalyptic science fiction short story by Harlan Ellison. It was first published in the March 1967 issue of IF: Worlds of Science Fiction. It won a Hugo Award in 1968. The name was also used for a short story collection of Ellison's work, featuring...	Harlan Ellison Harlan Ellison Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...	ss If Mar ’67
The Evitable Conflict The Evitable Conflict The Evitable Conflict is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. It first appeared in the June 1950 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and subsequently appeared in the collections I, Robot , The Complete Robot , and Robot Visions .-Plot summary:The "Machines", powerful positronic computers...  [Susan Calvin (Robot)]	Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...	nv Astounding Jun ’50
A Logic Named Joe A Logic Named Joe "A Logic Named Joe" is a science fiction short story by Murray Leinster that was first published in the March 1946 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. The story actually appeared under Leinster's real name, Will F. Jenkins, since that issue of Astounding also included a story under the Leinster...	Murray Leinster Murray Leinster Murray Leinster was a nom de plume of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an award-winning American writer of science fiction and alternate history...  (as Will F. Jenkins)	ss Astounding Mar ’46
Sam Hall	Poul Anderson Poul Anderson Poul William Anderson was an American science fiction author who began his career during one of the Golden Ages of the genre and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson also authored several works of fantasy, historical novels, and a prodigious number of short stories...	nv Astounding Aug ’53
I Made You	Walter M. Miller, Jr.	ss Astounding Mar ’54
Triggerman	J. F. Bone	ss Astounding Dec ’58
War with the Robots	Harry Harrison Harry Harrison Harry Harrison is an American science fiction author best known for his character the Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! , the basis for the film Soylent Green...	nv Science Fiction Adventures (UK) #27 ’62
Evidence [Susan Calvin (Robot)]	Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...	ss Astounding Sep ’46
2066: Election Day	Michael Shaara Michael Shaara Michael Shaara was an American writer of science fiction, sports fiction, and historical fiction. He was born to Italian immigrant parents in Jersey City, New Jersey, graduated from Rutgers University in 1951, and served as a sergeant in the 82nd Airborne division...	ss Astounding Dec ’56
If There Were No Benny Cemoli If There Were No Benny Cemoli "If There Were No Benny Cemoli" is a science fiction short story by American writer Philip K. Dick, first published in the December, 1963 issue of Galaxy magazine with illustration by Lutjens....	Philip K. Dick Philip K. Dick Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist whose published work is almost entirely in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments and altered...	nv Galaxy Dec ’63
The Monkey Wrench The Monkey Wrench The Monkey Wrench is a science fiction short story by Gordon R. Dickson.In this story, Lowland society lawyer Cary Harmon drops in unannounced on the weather station of meteorologist Burke McIntyre, high in the Lonesome Mountains, a jagged chain of the deserted shorelands of Venus's Northern Sea...	Gordon R. Dickson Gordon R. Dickson Gordon Rupert Dickson was an American science fiction author.- Biography :Dickson was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1923. After the death of his father, he moved with his mother to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1937...	ss Astounding Aug ’51
Dial “F” for Frankenstein	Arthur C. Clarke Arthur C. Clarke Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...	ss Playboy Jan ’65
The Macauley Circuit	Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg is an American author, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple nominee of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award.-Early years:...	ss Fantastic Universe Aug ’56
Judas	John Brunner John Brunner John Brunner may refer to:* Sir John Brunner, 1st Baronet , a.k.a. John Tomlinson Brunner, British industrialist and Liberal Member of Parliament* John L...	ss Dangerous Visions, ed. Harlan Ellison, Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1967
Answer	Fredric Brown Fredric Brown Fredric Brown was an American science fiction and mystery writer. He was born in Cincinnati.He had two sons: James Ross Brown and Linn Lewis Brown ....	vi Angels and Spaceships, Dutton, 1954
The Electric Ant The Electric Ant The Electric Ant is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. First published in Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine in October 1969....	Philip K. Dick Philip K. Dick Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist whose published work is almost entirely in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments and altered...	ss F&SF Oct ’69
The Bicentennial Man The Bicentennial Man The Bicentennial Man is a novella in the Robot Series by Isaac Asimov. It was awarded the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award for best science fiction novelette of 1976....	Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...	nv Stellar #2, ed. Judy-Lynn del Rey, Ballantine, 1976
Long Shot	Vernor Vinge Vernor Vinge Vernor Steffen Vinge is a retired San Diego State University Professor of Mathematics, computer scientist, and science fiction author. He is best known for his Hugo Award-winning novels and novellas A Fire Upon the Deep , A Deepness in the Sky , Rainbows End , Fast Times at Fairmont High ...	ss Analog Aug ’72
Alien Stones	Gene Wolfe Gene Wolfe Gene Wolfe is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He is noted for his dense, allusive prose as well as the strong influence of his Catholic faith, to which he converted after marrying into the religion. He is a prolific short story writer and a novelist, and has won many awards in the...	nv Orbit 11, ed. Damon Knight, G.P. Putnam’s, 1972
Starcrossed	George Zebrowski George Zebrowski George Zebrowski is a science fiction author and editor who has written and edited a number of books. He lives with author Pamela Sargent, with whom he has co-written a number of novels, including Star Trek novels.Zebrowski won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award in 1999 for his novel Brute Orbits...	ss Eros in Orbit, ed. Joseph Elder, Trident, 1973