Robot Universe gathers the hundred most important androids and automatons of all time, exploring their creation, purpose, design, and how they have comforted or terrified us across the ages and galaxies. Robot aficionado Ana Matronic—the Grammy-nominated female vocalist for the Scissor Sisters—deftly explores how we have defined and redefined them, why they’ve captured our imaginations, and why they’re here to stay. Tracing their evolution from myth, through literature and film, into the sentient machines of today, this richly illustrated compendium offers a definitive assessment of the key robots of every genre, across cultures and eras, showcasing K-9 (Doctor Who), Maria (Fritz Lang’sMetropolis), Optimus Prime (Transformers), R2-D2 and C-3P0 (Star Wars), the Replicants (Blade Runner), the sentinels ofThe Matrix, the various Terminators, Wall-E and EVA, and scores more. Sidebars focus on special topics, such as robots in art and fashion and robots and mortality. But as technology improves and robots evolve, so does the fear that they might rise up against us. The collection ends with robots in use now and what lies in our robotic future.
They serve, fight, seduce, and go rogue—these 100 epic robots and androids have captured our collective imagination. Pop singer Ana Matronic looks at the most legendary examples; their creators, purpose, and design; and why their existence shakes or comforts us. Gathered from across popular culture, they range from Maria in Fritz Lang's Metropolis to the sentinels of The Matrix.
