The Last Robot and Other Science Fiction Poems

The Last Robot and other Science Fiction Poems was awarded the Elgin prize for best Chapbook in 2023. The Elgin prize is awarded by the Science Fiction & Poetry Association.

Birthed in the body shop,

polished by the nurse,

it rests in your arm

without movement or thought,

until you speak.

- from 'Robot Baby'

These poems were written over the course of a number of years, some sold to magazines. But it wasn't until the folks at Shoreline of Infinity, a wonderful award-winning Scottish sf magazine I have had poems in, asked if I would like to do a "Pamphlet" for them the idea for this book came about.

Turns out "Pamphlet" is what Americans call "Chapbook." Once that was sorted, I looked through my many poems, both published and unpublished to find the right poems for this small book.

-Jane Yolen

Jane Yolen has won the Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master award, plus two Nebulas. She is also a GrandMaster of the World Fantasy Association and a Grandmaster of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. 

From her vast collection of poetry she has written over many years, Jane has chosen some of her favourite science fiction poems for us to publish in this wee collection.