The Robot Passes

"Quixote and the Windmill."

A complete contrast to the opening post-World War III story, "Marius,":

houses are almost self-managing;

giant food factories are almost automatic;

carplanes are self-piloting;

the standard work period is short;

there are picnics, dances, concerts and other recreational activities;

the robot electronically detects human nervousness;

the ground vibrates under his tread;

his internal engine makes the air quiver.

Is he a threat to comfortable, complacent mankind? No. But, like Adam in Paradise Lost, quoted on the title page of Frankenstein, he might well ask:

Did I request thee, Maker, from my Clay

To mould me Man, did I sollicite thee
From darkness to promote me

-quoted from here.