The Soul of the Robot

The Soul of the Robot is the sixth science fiction novel by Barrington J. Bayley, featuring the character Jasperodus from his 1956 story "Fugitive". The book tells of Jasperodus, the only robot with a soul, as he attempts to prove that he is the equal of the humans around him. It was published in 1974 by Doubleday, with a revised version published in 1976 by Allison and Busby.[1]

The Soul of the Robot
First edition
AuthorBarrington J. Bayley
Cover artistLaszlo Kubinyi
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
PublisherDoubleday
Publication date
July 1974
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages206
ISBN0-385-01772-3
Followed byThe Rod of Light 

Literary significance and reception

Rhys Hughes[2] and John Clute[1] both felt that this was one of Bayley's lighter yet slighter works, arguing that the themes of the novel were better handled in John Sladek's Roderick.

Brian Stableford's review compared Bayley's absurd stylings with that of Alfred Jarry, concluding that the book was "thoroughly likeable."[3]

Alastair Reynolds remembered the "massive enjoyment" he had reading the book and mentioned that Jasperodus had formed part of the inspiration for the character of Hesperus in House of Suns.[4]

References
  1. "Bayley, Barrington J." SF Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  2. "Annihilation Factotum: The work of Barrington J. Bayley". The Council for the Literature of the Fantastic. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  3. "Soul of the Robot", Foundation 9, November 1975.
  4. "Sporting with the Child". Teahouse on the Tracks. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
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