We are the Robots

New book Robot takes two robot-related tales from Polish writer Stanislaw Lem’s science-fiction Mortal Engine collection, and adapts them into graphic novel form thanks to artists Andrzej Klimowski and Danusia Schejbal.

Schejbal takes on Uranium Earpieces, a story about a young king who forces his subjects to wear suits of glowing uranium alloy. Pyron, a young inventor, takes it upon himself to rescue the uranium-clad, oppressed masses from the evil tyrant.

Schejbal says of her illustrations, ‘I usually work in gouache, but for this project I worked almost exclusively with Aquarelle pencils, adding a touch of white gouache in only a few places for highlights. Working in this way meant I easily could soften and “humanise” the robot’s appearance.’

In another tale of good vs evil, Klimowski’s adaptation of The Sanatorium of Dr Vliperdius, a world  filled with robots goes horribly wrong. Dr Vliperdius’ patients turn on the book’s protagonist when our hero visits the practice, which holds a dark secret.

Klimowski says, ‘I chose a story set in this odd sanatorium. It was perfect because it was so grounded: so seemingly normal and it had a human protagonist. But everything was not as it first appeared in this strange place and we are all the time being given hints and glimpses of the sci-fi elements in the story.’

Robots is priced £14.99 from Self Made Hero and is available from www.selfmadehero.com/