R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)

Karel Čapek · 1890–1938 · Czechoslovakia

Originally R.U.R. (Rossumovi Univerzální Roboti) (Czech)

Why it matters

Rossum's factory-built artificial workers, humanity's tireless replacement labor, learn to feel and rise to exterminate their makers. Čapek's play coined the word 'robot' and, before science fiction had a name for itself, wrote one of its founding catastrophes.

At a glance

A brisk, dialogue-driven three-act structure carries big ideas without dense prose.