SKU: 32236096632

R.U.R. and the Vision of Artificial Life

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R.U.R. and the Vision of Artificial LifeBy: Karel Capek A new translation of Karel apeks play R. U. R.which famously coined the term robotand a collection of essays reflecting on the plays legacy from scientists and scholars who work in artificial life and robotics. Karel apek's R. U. R. and the Vision of Artificial Life offers a new, highly faithful translation by tpn imek of Czech novelist, playwright, and critic Karel apeks play R. U. R.: Rossums Universal Robots, as well as twenty

By: Karel Capek     
A new translation of Karel Čapek’s play R.U.R.—which famously coined the term “robot”—and a collection of essays reflecting on the play’s legacy from scientists and scholars who work in artificial life and robotics.

Karel Čapek's “R.U.R.” and the Vision of Artificial Life offers a new, highly faithful translation by Štěpán Šimek of Czech novelist, playwright, and critic Karel Čapek’s play R.U.R.: Rossum’s Universal Robots, as well as twenty essays from contemporary writers on the 1920 play. R.U.R. is perhaps best known for first coining the term “robot” (in Czech, robota means serfdom or arduous drudgery). The twenty essays in this new English edition, beautifully edited by Jitka Čejková, are selected from Robot 100, an edited collection in Czech with perspectives from 100 contemporary voices that was published in 2020 to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the play.

Čapek’s robots were autonomous beings, but biological, not mechanical, made of chemically synthesized soft matter resembling living tissue, like the synthetic humans in Blade Runner, Westworld, or Ex Machina. The contributors to the collection—scientists and other scholars—explore the legacy of the play and its connections to the current state of research in artificial life, or ALife. Throughout the book, it is impossible to ignore Čapek’s prescience, as his century-old science fiction play raises contemporary questions with respect to robotics, synthetic biology, technology, artificial life, and artificial intelligence, anticipating many of the formidable challenges we face today.

Contributors
Jitka Čejková, Miguel Aguilera, Iñigo R. Arandia, Josh Bongard, Julyan Cartwright, Seth Bullock, Dominique Chen, Gusz Eiben, Tom Froese, Carlos Gershenson, Inman Harvey, Jana Horáková, Takashi Ikegami, Sina Khajehabdollahi, George Musser, Geoff Nitschke, Julie Nováková, Antoine Pasquali, Hemma Philamore, Lana Sinapayen, Hiroki Sayama, Nathaniel Virgo, Olaf Witkowski
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SKU: 32236096632

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Oasis Of Tranquility
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Very nice work chair
Color: Khaki, Color: Khaki
I am happy, it’s easy to assemble, comfortable, height adjustable, good quality and nice looking. I would recommend it.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2026
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Kindle Customer
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect for my studio
Color: Black
Naught this chair for my bedroom home recording studio. Honestly, I bought it mostly for the look. I just thought it would look great with what I was trying to v to do in the studio. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that’s its much more comfortable than I had assumed. It was easy to assemble. The provided assembly instructions were clear and easy to follow. It took me less than 20 minutes to build it. The build quality is solid. I’m a tall well build dude that weights more than 210 lbs and it takes my weight very well. Great little chair. I recommend it.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2026
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oaday
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Very happy customer!
Color: Cream White, Color: Cream White
This chair is what you are looking for!!! No serious friends, this chair is everything and so incredibly comfortable! I’m so happy with this purchase. The wood accents I believe are actual wood and the PU leather is gorgeous and seriously looks like real leather. The size is perfect for my frame too. I’m a size medium bottom girly and the curve and level of cushion on the seat is so well executed. The rollability of the rollers are fantastic too, not super loud on our wooden floors and a really smooth glide. Im on the search for a rug to go under my desk but man the patience I used to wait to find this chair truly was worth it. A total lesson on patience and biting when you find the right thing. I think it’s pretty sturdy too. But I’ll report back in a few months. At the moment nothing leads me to be suspicious of a less than long life for this chair.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2026
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Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 4
Good product, could improve backrest depth.
Color: Cream White
Comfortable seat. Stylish looking. Works well. Con is that the backrest is too far away, I had to add a lumbar support pillow. I also added a waffle seat for added comfort as I sit all day in the office. Easy to assemble. Color is nice. Feels sturdy. Rocks back, nice feature. Smooth wheels.
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Ursa
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Great production
Color: Cream White
It’s very comfy and doesn’t take too much space like those gaming chairs which I like a lot. I also like the back of the chair is not all the way up but it’s supporting the waist and the back very well. Easy to assemble and very pretty ivory faux leather and wood combination.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2026

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