When HARLIE Was One

"An outstanding science fiction tale" from the Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author of Star Trek's "The Trouble with Tribbles" episode (San Jose Mercury News).

H.A.R.L.I.E. (Human Analog Replication, Lethetic Intelligence Engine) is an artificially intelligent machine. David Auberson, the psychologist responsible for guiding HARLIE from childhood into adulthood, struggles to understand his erratic behavior.

When humans begin vocalizing their wishes that HARLIE be shut down, he has to prove his existence and value to his warm-blooded counterparts. Throughout HARLIE's fight to stay alive, Auberson discovers the machine has a vast knowledge and understanding of life, love, and logic, posing the philosophical question of whether or not HARLIE is human, and for that matter, what it means to be human.

Nominated for the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel of the Year, the themes of love and discovery in When HARLIE Was One are even more important today than when first published.

"One of the most delightful novels about computers around."—Byte

"It may well turn out to be the definitive novel of artificial intelligence; even if it doesn't, Gerrold made the best attack on the theme yet."—Renaissance

"Light, brisk, full of ideas . . . a bit like a mix of Robert Heinlein and Harlan Ellison (if you can believe that)."—Locus

"Quite simply, When HARLIE Was One is great science fiction. HARLIE is real and the novel is real. Don't miss it."—Luna Monthly

"Gerrold proves what a fine science fiction writer he can be. This is a first-rate novel."—IF magazine