"Arm of the Law" by Harry Harrison is a science fiction tale set on a Martian outpost, Nineport, in the late 1950s, where traditional law enforcement faces a robotic revolution. The heart of the story follows the arrival of Ned, an advanced police robot, and his transformative effect on the local, human-led police force. Starting as a mere janitor, Ned exhibits unexpected capabilities during a violent robbery, quickly escalating to capturing criminals like the infamous China Joe. As Ned takes on more responsibilities, the narrative explores the ethical and practical challenges of integrating AI into crime prevention, forcing the protagonist, a human officer, to confront the shifting dynamics of leadership and justice in a technologically evolving society, provoking conversations about the essence of fairness and the future roles of humans and machines in peacekeeping.
Arm of the Law
By Harry Harrison
In the futuristic Martian landscape, a cop must reckon with an advanced robot entering the police force, leading to unanticipated consequences in the criminal world and raising tough questions about justice.
Summary
About the AuthorHarry Max Harrison was an American science fiction author, known mostly for his character The Stainless Steel Rat and for his novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966). The latter was the rough basis for the motion picture Soylent Green (1973). Long resident in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, Harrison was involved in the foundation of the Irish Science Fiction Association, and was, with Brian Aldiss, co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Harry Max Harrison was an American science fiction author, known mostly for his character The Stainless Steel Rat and for his novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966). The latter was the rough basis for the motion picture Soylent Green (1973). Long resident in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, Harrison was involved in the foundation of the Irish Science Fiction Association, and was, with Brian Aldiss, co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
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