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Isaac Asimov Discussion board for the works of Isaac Asimov - especially the Foundation and Robot series.


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Old 9th March 2008, 11:18 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Homosexuality?

I must say I have read about 10 of his novels (few of those are with Silverberg). Few days ago I went on wikipedia to see an article about his "I, Robot" book and the first sentence of the article describe the book as collection of nine homosexual English language science fiction short stories. At first I thought that someone is just goofing around and now the article is changed the word 'homosexual' is edited out. But article can still be seen in history of wikipedia. (sorry I can't give you the link the forum don't allow me because I have to little posts, but you can see it on wikipedia history under date 06:07, 6 March 2008)

So I made a little searching around and find out that novel "The Robots of Dawn" are 16th on amazon list of Best Gay Books.

So what does it means? Since I have not yet read those books I'm just wandering are they gay and if they are why is it suppressed by wikipedia? They don't even mention it actually no one mentions when they talk about Asimov's robot books.
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Old 9th March 2008, 11:32 AM   #2 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

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Originally Posted by Sai Baba View Post

So what does it means? Since I have not yet read those books I'm just wandering are they gay and if they are why is it suppressed by wikipedia? They don't even mention it actually no one mentions when they talk about Asimov's robot books.
Perhaps because it isn't there?

Well....I suppose you could put up a case for R.Daneel and Eljah having suppressed feelings for each other, but it would be an extremely tenuous link, especially regarding R.Daneel.....it would have to be deliberately programmed into it.
I must confess, having first read Robots over thirty years ago, and several times since, it's never actually occurred to me, but I dare say people could read homoerotic meaning into the relationship between C3PO and R2D2 if they really tried.

And never believe all you read in Wikipedia...anyone can edit most entries...
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Old 9th March 2008, 12:56 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

Sounds like Wikipedia vandalism to me. It's not unusual, and their bots usually pick it up quite quickly.
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Old 9th March 2008, 03:55 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

Asimov's stories tended to be asexual if anything. (At least the Robot series). I'd have to agree, it sound's like vandalism.

Last edited by steve12553; 9th March 2008 at 03:56 PM. Reason: spelling.
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Old 9th March 2008, 04:06 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

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Originally Posted by steve12553 View Post
Asimov's stories tended to be asexual if anything. (At least the Robot series). I'd have to agree, it sound's like vandalism.
Oh, there's sexuality there, all right... between Gladia Delmarre and Lije, just as plain as you please.... But yes, you're right, steve... the feel of the stories is very much asexual. In other words: yes, it's a bit of asinine vandalism on someone's part, whether directed at Asimov or Wikipedia... who knows?
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Old 9th March 2008, 05:18 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

But it's not just wikipedia, like I said, there is also on amazon.com list of Best Gay Books (of All time) and "The Robots of Dawn" is 16th on the list.

amazon.co.uk/Best-gay-books/lm/1ZEV7B31SC8EU
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Old 9th March 2008, 09:46 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

Yeah, I agree. sexuality exists on this book, and robots and empire between Lije and Gladia, though in Robots of Dawn there WAS mention of sexuality between Gladia and... the second humaniform robot, I can't recall his name, who was identical to R. Daneel, so while yes almost all the robots were androgynous. the ones built as humaniform WERE fully functional, and nearly impossible to distinguish from humans except by behavior.

Sai, I have no idea why you are running across so much info about Asimov books being related to homosexual. though the partnership of two male police officers and the friendship they develop, might be a happiness for gay males. Asimov put sex into his novels.... I'd say rarely.

I have noticed though that you seem to have been tossing in a number of posts in this forum that to me seem like you are trying to get people to believe what you say is truth, and that what you say is the most unbelievable pap that could be regurgitated. trying for outraged response, or denial from the uneducated, whichever.
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Old 9th March 2008, 11:54 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

I can't imagine why Robots of Dawn would be rated 16th on amazon list of Best Gay Books. what little sexuality that is described in the book, and indeed the entire series, is strictly heterosexual.
The relationship between R. Daneel (a humaniform robot) and Elijah Baleey (a human male police detective) is strictly a buddy/cop relationship.

The collection of short stories in I Robot doesn't have any obvious homosexual references, or any sexual references of any time, come to think of it.
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Old 10th March 2008, 01:00 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

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Originally Posted by Sai Baba View Post
But it's not just wikipedia, like I said, there is also on amazon.com list of Best Gay Books (of All time) and "The Robots of Dawn" is 16th on the list.

amazon.co.uk/Best-gay-books/lm/1ZEV7B31SC8EU
Have you looked at the list? Notice that it is posted by a single individual... not the results of a poll or anything else reflecting even the meagerest authority. Combining that with at look at the other books on the list... the entire thing comes off as either a prank or some well-intentionted but poorly-executed promoting of personal favorites....

Given the subject of this thread, and the request concerning Asimov's The Sensuous Dirty Old Man, I cannot help but ask the obvious question: Do we have a certain agenda going on here....?
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Old 10th March 2008, 03:48 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

Asimov himself said he rarely had sex or even romantic connections in his stories because he himself felt uncomfortable around the opposite sex. Although he subsequently went on to meet the girl of his dreams, he never felt he had any prowess in the romance department
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Old 10th March 2008, 09:39 AM   #11 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

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Sai, I have no idea why you are running across so much info about Asimov books being related to homosexual. though the partnership of two male police officers and the friendship they develop, might be a happiness for gay males. Asimov put sex into his novels.... I'd say rarely.

I have noticed though that you seem to have been tossing in a number of posts in this forum that to me seem like you are trying to get people to believe what you say is truth, and that what you say is the most unbelievable pap that could be regurgitated. trying for outraged response, or denial from the uneducated, whichever.
Well sorry I made some haste conclusions which were false and I opened this topic whiteout thinking. That's my problem and that's why I always have a hard time blending in in Internet forums because people seem to react on my posts and topics as they written by insane man.
But I guess everybody would make the same mistake and they are aware of it and that's why they are always cautious which explaint the somewhat lesser number of opened topics on this sub forum and others.
Let me just say that yesterday I submitted 2 posts on this subforum which were immediately removed they didn't even show up when I submitted them. I don't know even if this post will be published. Is it because of forum error or am I just being on special observation by forum administrators I don't know either. I just know that people are to serious and to cautious not just here but almost everywhere.
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Old 10th March 2008, 06:18 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

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Originally Posted by Sai Baba View Post
Let me just say that yesterday I submitted 2 posts on this subforum which were immediately removed they didn't even show up when I submitted them. I don't know even if this post will be published. Is it because of forum error or am I just being on special observation by forum administrators I don't know either.
Did the posts have links in them? Because until your post count reaches 15 you can't post a link. This rule is in place to protect the forum from spammers.

Or if your message contained any graphic obscenities, that would explain it, too. The software is programmed to catch certain words and immediately sends the post to a moderation queue pending approval. And sometimes the software, being software, sends something to moderation and even the moderators don't know why.
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Old 10th March 2008, 07:14 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

It was an interesting discussion Sai. I would not worry about being wrong on this occassion. I make mistakes almost everytime I speak/write. Tis human nature. I also would not discount what you have written here, as I am sure there is a seed of truth in what you have written.

I cant see a record of your posts being deleted mate, but we will look into it.
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Old 10th March 2008, 10:07 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

Sai, sorry about that reply, it was more rant against internet sites than anything you said. keep running across sites that cite other sites that cite others with statements and "facts" on them that are so far out there they are laughable. but others look and BELIEVE. rolling eyes. I've read a number of Asimov's books, and the only places where he penned in ANY sex I ran across were between Lije Bailey, and Gladia. granted I haven't read Sensuous dirty old man. but I have read all robot novels, and Foundation novels written by Asimov.

I suppose it rating like that COULD be based on the spiritual relationship. Bailey being able to accept someone he is working with who is different and reviled by the society surrounding him.
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Old 10th March 2008, 10:50 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Re: Homosexuality?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sai Baba View Post
Well sorry I made some haste conclusions which were false and I opened this topic whiteout thinking. That's my problem and that's why I always have a hard time blending in in Internet forums because people seem to react on my posts and topics as they written by insane man.
But I guess everybody would make the same mistake and they are aware of it and that's why they are always cautious which explaint the somewhat lesser number of opened topics on this sub forum and others.
Let me just say that yesterday I submitted 2 posts on this subforum which were immediately removed they didn't even show up when I submitted them. I don't know even if this post will be published. Is it because of forum error or am I just being on special observation by forum administrators I don't know either. I just know that people are to serious and to cautious not just here but almost everywhere.
I'm curious as to what you mean by "too serious and too cautious"... could you explain that one a bit?

As for your posts... I've seen nothing indicating they were put in a moderated queue, let alone removed, so this may be one of those oddities of a simple glitch in the system sending a post or two off into cyberlimbo. (I've had my share of posts suffer such as well. It's annoying, but it's also simply the way the 'net sometimes works....)

As for my query above... it is just that, posting two such topics so close together got me to wondering if you had a particular agenda or idea in mind, and wanted to address that. Nothing wrong with the subject here, it's just that the juxtaposition had me wondering....

EDIT: Ah, I stand corrected. Both your posts and mine responding to you are awaiting moderation. In this case, I'll go ahead and approve them, since they're obviously not promotions, but adding to the discussion....

Last edited by j. d. worthington; 10th March 2008 at 11:00 PM.
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