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Reason ( 1942 ) is a Science-fiction Short Story by Isaac Asimov , originally published in book form in I, Robot . It is part of his Robot Series . Powell And Donovan are assigned to a Space Station which supplies energy via beams to the planets. The Robot that controls the energy beams, QT1, known to them as Cutie, is an advanced model with highly developed reasoning ability. Using these abilities, it decides that space, stars and the planets beyond the station don't really exist; that the humans that inhabit the station are unimportant, short-lived and expendable, and that it serves a greater purpose (i.e. God ). QT1 concludes that it must become the Prophet of the Master and serve only the Master. The humans initially attempt to reason with the robot, until they realise that they can't win, and the robot can still perform its job well. The only difference is that, as far as it is concerned, it doesn't do it for the benefit of the humans, but for its deity. An interesting point is that the robot still obeys all Three Laws Of Robotics , albeit unwittingly. Why, if it doesn't believe in the humans on the planet Earth , should it act to protect them? (Powell and Donovan, noting that QT's newly developed religion conveniently requires it to perform all the functions for which it was created, conclude that the robot is still unconsciously following its programming, which is why they decide to leave it alone.) In 1967 this short story was adapted into an episode of British television series '' Out Of The Unknown '' entitled "The Prophet".
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