Peter Brown: The Wild Robot (Little, Brown and Company 2016)
Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Escapes (Little, Brown and Company 2017)
Many thanks to Maxim Könyvkiadó for sending me the books!
Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Protects (Little, Brown and Company 2023)
Our story begins with the sinking of a ship. After a huge storm, hundreds of crates were floated on the ocean waves, but only one of them reached the shores of an island safely. A brand new robot was hiding in the crate. Thanks to some curious otters, the ROZZUM 7134 unit opens its eyes for the first time here, and a remote, wild island show itself. In order to fit in, our robot must become part of the island, it must be wild. It also finds friends on the island, but unfortunately this idyllic state cannot last forever.
The world that the author has invented is very interesting and with the lovely characters he discusses important questions such as what our purpose is in life. When it comes to artificial life forms, the question always arises: do we want them to think and feel the same way as us? The author also highlights the similarity between the programmed life of robots and the inherited behavior and inner motivations of animals.
We are in the future. People are helped by robots in all areas of life, who always follow the given command precisely. Our robot is faced with the question that she is not simply a ROZZUM 7134 unit. But who is she then? She is Roz. Her home is a remote, wild island and she can only be herself truly in there. And although she is able to make friends everywhere, she has one desire: to go home.
The third volume of the trilogy, in contrast to the previous two books, which dealt with more philosophical questions, focuses on environmental protection. The most important message of the story is to notice how interconnected the lives of aquatic and terrestrial habitats and their living beings are. How animals suffer from the problems caused by the changed environment. Unfortunately, we, humans, have a big role in this. However, reading the book, we see that there are no good and bad, or clear solutions, because life is complicated and fragile.
Peter Brown has always loved telling stories. He was drawn to writing as a teenager, and then studied illustration in college, so his love of the written words and pictures led him to children’s books. The Wild Robot books are illustrated with his simple but expressive drawings. His work has won numerous awards and The Wild Robot was recently adapted into an animated film by DreamWorks.
