Liar! (short story)
Science fiction short story by American writer Isaac Asimov
- 2 min read
- 3 chapters
Related on Lably
Through Short story, Isaac Asimov and Robotics
Plot summary
Through a fault in manufacturing, a robot, RB-34 (also known as Herbie), is created that possesses telepathic abilities. While the roboticists at U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men investigate how this occurred, the robot tells them what other people are thinking. But the First Law still applies to this robot, and so it deliberately lies when necessary to avoid hurting their feelings and to make people happy, especially in terms of romance.
However, by lying, it is hurting them anyway. When it is confronted with this fact by Susan Calvin (to whom it falsely claimed her coworker was infatuated with her – a particularly painful lie), the robot experiences an insoluble logical conflict and becomes catatonic.
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Adaptations
- In 1958, "Liar!" was adapted into an episode of the radio show Exploring Tomorrow.
- El robot embustero (1966), short film directed by Antonio Lara de Gavilán
- In 1969, "Liar!" was adapted into an episode of the British television series Out of the Unknown, although only a few short clips of this episode are known to exist.
- The story was adapted in 1987 as part of episode 12 of the Soviet anthology series This Fantastic World ("Этот фантастический мир"). It featured Boris Plotnikov as RB-34 and Natalya Nazarova as Susan Calvin.
- The story was broadcast as episode four of a five-part 15 Minute Drama radio adaptation of Asimov's I, Robot on BBC Radio 4 in February 2017 and December 2025.
Accolades
"Liar!" was voted 41st in the 2012 Locus Poll of Best 20th Century Short Stories.