The Process and Value of Humanization

This is one of the novel’s major themes, and manifests in two key ways.

The first takes place relatively early in the story. It comes about shortly after Donovan arrives in at the Academy for Scholastic Distinction and is placed in a homeroom that also consists of the membership of the school’s robotics club. When he is “introduced” to the club’s robot creation, he wonders what its name is, and is shocked to discover that the club had not given it one. Over the protests of at least one of the club members (the competitive Abigail), Donovan suggests several possibilities, with the class agreeing that the robot should be named Tin Man. Abigail’s protests are based on her belief, which is true enough, that the robot is not a person and, therefore, does not need a name...