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Runaround

Isaac Asimov · 1942novelette

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Robot SPD-13 or "Speedy" sent for liquid selenium on Mercury gets stuck (actually running "drunkenly" in a circle and babbling nonsense) between the vague command and the danger the pool seems to pose for him; Powell must risk his life in direct sunshine to end the impasse by invoking the First Law.

Source · ISFDB CC BY 4.0

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