And then came the last crate. It followed the same path as the others, but instead of crashing against the rock… it soared through the air, spinning and glistening until it slammed down onto a tall shelf of rock. The create was cracked and crumpled, but the robot inside was safe.
-- Narrator (Chapter 1 paragraph 3)

Importance: When the novel begins, a cargo ship containing hundreds of crates full of robots sinks. Only one robot in one crate survives to land safely on the island. The others are destroyed. This leads the reader to want to know more about the robots and their past –particularly the surviving robot, Roz.

Hello, I am ROZZUM unit 7134, but you may call me Roz. While my robotic systems are activating, I will tell you about myself.
-- Roz (Chapter 3)

Importance: When a gang of sea otters discovers the surviving crate, they witness Roz activating herself. Roz explains some very basic things about herself, telling...