The word “robot” was coined a little over a century ago, but humankind has always told stories of constructed lifeforms. From the earliest myths to the latest blockbuster, stories of artificial life have always held our attention. But what do the stories we tell about the machines we make reveal about how we see ourselves?One person risks everything for one good shot. Absolution is dispensed at the push of a button. A brother and sister disagree about a strange benefactor’s true mo...

In 1832 the Scottish ballad collector Peter Buchan of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, presented an anthology of risqué‚ and convivial songs and ballads to a Highland laird. When Professor Francis James Child of Harvard was preparing his magisterial edition of The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, he made inquiries about it, but it was not made available in time to be considered for his work. On his death it was presented to the Child Memorial Library at Harvard. Because of its unsee...

In 1832 the Scottish ballad collector Peter Buchan of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, presented an anthology of risqué‚ and convivial songs and ballads to a Highland laird. When Professor Francis James Child of Harvard was preparing his magisterial edition of The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, he made inquiries about it, but it was not made available in time to be considered for his work. On his death it was presented to the Child Memorial Library at Harvard. Because of its unsee...