The Humanoids is a 1949 dystopian science fiction novel by American author Jack Williamson (1908–2006). Originally published as a three-part serial called "...And Searching Mind" in Astounding Science-Fiction (March, April, May 1948), it was in fact a sequel to an earlier novelette, "With Folded Hands...", appearing in the same magazine in July of the previous year of 1947. The Humanoids was published as a hardback book in 1949, but only in 1980 was the award-winning "With Folded Hands..." included in a reissue edition of The Humanoids. Also in 1980, Williamson added a final, separate work to the sequence, namely The Humanoid Touch. The sequence tells the story of robots called humanoids, so perfect and efficient that human beings are left with nothing to do, and life is reduced to meaninglessness.
Plot
Background As laid out in the precursor story ("With Folded Hands..."), and reiterated in The Humanoids, the narrative unfolds thousands of years in the future when humankind has spread out and settled on planets throughout much of the galaxy. Civilizations have risen and fallen. A powerful new technology called rhodomagnetics has emerged. (As a triad of elements can be ferromagnetized — iron, cobalt, nickel — so an analogous triad of elements — rhodium, palladium, silver — can be "rhodomagnetized" according to Williamson's imaginary new science.) On a distant planet called Wing IV, the new science has already resulted in weapons that wiped out most of the population. The inventor — known as Sledge in the earlier work, but changed (without explanation) to Mansfield in the novel — was wracked with guilt. He then used rhodomagnetics to build mechanicals known as "humanoids", perfect sleek black androids, all identical and all controlled by a central transmitter on Wing IV. He imbued them with a Prime Directive: "To Serve and Obey, And Guard Men From Harm". The intent was to prevent future wars and maximize human welfare. But the humanoids were too powerful and their Prime Directive robbed human life of all meaning wherever they went. They are rapidly spreading planet to planet throughout the galaxy, and they appear to be irresistible.
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