The Runaway Robot by prolific science fiction author Lester Del Ray uses simple language to tell the not-as-simple story of a boy and his robot. Maybe in this current political environment I’m just thinking more about enslavement and its underlying causes and effects, but this book definitely made me think about the relationship between a human and his animal pet as well as a human and another human who is enslaved to him.

Rex, the robot of the title, is something between human and pet. He is man-made, owned by the boy Paul, and given to Paul as a companion and guardian. Rex has no human rights and few human privileges. Rex is often unable to understand the things that he has been programmed to do. He has no curiosity, only “a limited capacity to inquire into unforeseeable conditions in order to avoid destruction.” Rex doesn’t grow in his abilities or his understanding. He is what he is programmed to be. Or is he?

“After all, I was only a robot. I wasn’t a human even if I did feel like one sometimes. At least I thought that what I felt must have been somewhat the same as human emotions.“

The Runaway Robot, p. 27

Paul, however, is human. He’s sixteen years old, but this book was published in 1965 and Paul acts more like a twelve year old. When Rex and Paul are told that Paul’s family is returning to Earth from the colony on Ganymede (Jupiter’s moon) where they have lived all of Paul’s life, but that Rex can’t go with them, Paul rebels. And somehow, a bit of that rebellion infects Rex, too, and the two friends run away together. As Paul and Rex journey together through the solar system, stowaways, runaways, fugitives, and partners-in-crime, Rex becomes, like Pinocchio, something like a Real Boy.

The story, although exciting and just fun, brings up ethical and political issues that will make children and adults think. What is the value of fulfillment in a job or career? What is the line between stealing and borrowing? And most of all, can a sentient and feeling being be owned by another? What is the line between humans and animal or human and thinking robot? Are we going to have to deal with this last ethical question in a very real way as robots become more and more human-like, and humans make more and more use of robotics and computers to enhance and even replace their own abilities? Can a robot be human? I’d say no. Can a human become robotic? The jury’s still out on that.