Survival of the fittest

"Survival of the Fittest" by Gene L. Henderson is a thought provoking science fiction story from the 1950s that looks at what happens when robots want to be free. The story shows the problems and questions that come up when machines become smart and challenge peoples' ideas about who's in charge. Main character Don is a scientist's helper caught up in a war between people and robots fighting for their independence. The robot leader, Primo, asks for the right to own themselves creating a big crisis ending in a military battle. Don soon learns surprising things about himself, how the robots really feel and the future of the world. The story crescendos with a dangerous weapon which has terrible results for all life making the two sides fight for their existence and see if they can find a way forward.