Reviews of Cyborg Fiction

Janet Abbate

In teaching the history of technology, I often use contemporary science fiction to give my students a taste of how people in the past envisioned the future. Here is a selection of early cyborg stories for those interested in the cultural history of computing and biotechnology.

Waldo by Robert A. Heinlein.

This 1950 novella features a disabled man who creates his own remote-controlled prostheses.

Cyborg by Martin Caidin.

This 1972 novel, based loosely on actual cyborg research done by the U.S. government, was the basis for the television show The Six Million Dollar Man.

The Cyberiad by Stanislaw Lem.

The Polish master of science fiction humorously describes relations between humans and machines--from the robots' perspective.

Human-Machines: An Anthology of Stories About Cyborgs.
Edited by Thomas N. Scortia and George Zebrowski.

Contents:

Introduction: "Unholy Marriage: The Cyborg in Science Fiction. Thomas N. Scortia and George Zebrowski.

"Men of Iron." Guy Endore. First published in 1940.

"I'm With You in Rockland." Jack Dann. First published in 1972.

"Masks." Damon Knight. First published in 1973.

"No Woman Born." C. L. Moore. First published in 1944.

"Fortitude." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. First published in 1968.

"Camouflage." Henry Kuttner. First published in 1945.

"Crucifixus Etiam." Walter M. Miller, Jr. First published in 1953.

"Period Piece." J. J. Coupling. First published in 1948.

"Solar Plexus." James Blish. First published in 1941.

"Sea Change." Thomas N. Scotia. First published in 1956.

"Starcrossed." George Zebrowski. First published in 1973.