Comments on: "I could call them Labori, but that strikes me as a bit bookish."

"I could call them Labori, but that strikes me as a bit bookish."

Iridic — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:28:33 -0800

The play R.U.R. (or Rossum's Universal Robots) and the novel The War with the Newts, both by the redoubtable Karel Čapek.

By: painquale

painquale — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:46:38 -0800

CAPEK and RUR: staples of crossword puzzles everywhere. These should be fun to read. Thanks.

By: dorian

dorian — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 20:00:25 -0800

knowing about it for ages but never having the chance to read r.u.r, I have to say this is just lovely. what surprises me is the style quite reminds me of saki or wilde, where I was expecting stanislaus lem. superb.

By: blacklite

blacklite — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 20:21:31 -0800

I have never been able to read R.U.R. either. Surreal, but wonderful.

By: debgpi

debgpi — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 20:38:44 -0800

Both are great reads. I'm glad to see them online.

By: kendrak

kendrak — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 22:33:40 -0800

these are two of my all time favourite stories. thanks for spreading to good word.

By: trip and a half

trip and a half — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 22:43:25 -0800

Yes, thanks! I am an admirer of Čapek. (And yes, dorian, reminds me of Saki, as well.)

By: adgnyc

adgnyc — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:43:38 -0800

I was in a production of "R.U.R." in college. I played the Cassandra-ish old-man scientist, even though I looked about 12 at the time. (Hair sprayed silver -- very convincing.) I had the embarassing task of delivering the last line of the play, spoken as a pair of male and female robots seem to have discovered the emotion that we humans call love: "Go, Adam, go Eve -- the world is yours." My friends sat in the audience and jeered at me. That said, there's something appealing -- if overwrought -- about the play.

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:29:06 -0800

The War with the Newts I can't read that without thinking "Fink-Nottle."