Reading The Wild Robot with one of my book clubbers was quite the experience.
‘Do you think a robot can experience emotions?’ I asked.
‘Yes,’ came the confident reply, which took me by surprise.
‘Why would you say that?’
‘Because it’s artificial intelligence, which learns. If it can learn other things, why can’t it learn to experience emotion?’
And with this conversation, we started reading The Wild Robot, the story of Roz the robot, who hatches out of a crate that is washed up on the shore of a wild island. A group of curious otters turns her on with a click, and Roz springs to life–artificial life.
Through Roz, author Peter Brown forces us to be curious and ask questions that have no single correct answer. For instance, how does a robot with Survival Instincts differ from an animal? Can robots experience guilt?
As a student of philosophy, I remember studying several theories of friendship. One that sat uncomfortably with me was Ringer’s theory that friendship is value for value. We give so that we can receive. If this is true for human beings, can it be true for artificial intelligence too? Why can’t a robot then learn that by giving of herself, she has a greater chance of survival?
No matter how old the reader, The Wild Robot sparks questions. It’s a sweet, lovely story about survival, life and death, community, hardship and loss. I loved its simple complexity, the gentle storytelling style, and the sense that even if we don’t have all the answers, the world around us is beautiful, surprising and generous.
| Title | The Wild Robot |
| Author | Peter Brown |
| Tags | Science Fiction, Middle-Grade |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4.5 |
| Age-group | 9+ |
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