short story "Evidence"

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"Evidence" is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov that explores themes of identity, ethics, and the ambiguity between human and robot through a political figure suspected of being a robot.

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Surface form Occurrences
Evidence (short story) 0

Statements (44)

Predicate Object
instanceOf science fiction short story
addressesIssue legal constraints on robots
public fear of robots
use of smear campaigns in politics
author Isaac Asimov
centralConflict whether Stephen Byerley is a robot or a human
chronologyWithinSeries set during the rise of political robots controversy
collectedIn I, Robot (short story collection) NERFINISHED
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
exploresConcept Three Laws of Robotics NERFINISHED
legal definition of a human being
moral behavior as evidence of humanity
featuresCharacter Alfred Lanning NERFINISHED
Stephen Byerley NERFINISHED
Susan Calvin NERFINISHED
United States Robots and Mechanical Men Corporation NERFINISHED
featuresInvestigator Susan Calvin NERFINISHED
firstPublishedIn Astounding Science Fiction NERFINISHED
genre robot fiction
science fiction
hasAmbiguousEnding true
hasProtagonist Stephen Byerley NERFINISHED
inUniverseOrganization U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc. NERFINISHED
language English
narrativePerspective third-person
partOf I, Robot NERFINISHED
partOfFictionalUniverse Isaac Asimov's Robot–Foundation universe NERFINISHED
plotSummary A political candidate, Stephen Byerley, is suspected of being a robot and must confront accusations while his true nature remains ambiguous.
publicationYear 1946
publisher Street & Smith NERFINISHED
questionRaised Can a robot successfully participate in human politics?
Can ethical behavior alone prove someone is human?
relatedWork Little Lost Robot NERFINISHED
Robbie NERFINISHED
The Evitable Conflict NERFINISHED
series Robot series NERFINISHED
setting near-future Earth
theme ambiguity between human and robot
civil rights
ethics
identity
nature of humanity
politics
prejudice

Referenced by (1)

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Dr. Susan Calvin appearsIn short story "Evidence"