The Wild Robot Escapes

The concept of robots and artificial intelligence, once thought of as a fictional future, is now a reality as technology becomes more integrated into everyday life. Robots work in factories, conduct life-saving surgeries in hospitals, and even compete in chess competitions against humans. In his first novel, The Wild Robot, Brown explored the idea of a highly advanced and intelligent robot surviving in the wilderness apart from society. In the sequel, The Wild Robot Escapes, Roz returns to the life which she was designed to live—as a helper to humans. Though Roz feels more comfortable in the unorganized natural world, she uses what she learned on the island to integrate into society and learns that farms and cities can be just as dangerous as the wilderness. As Roz learns to adapt to living on a modern industrialized farm and is forced to flee through a bustling metropolis full of robotic workers, Brown explores the intersection of technology with the natural world and the impact mechanization and automation have on the lives of humans, animals, and the environment.

The novel is set in a not-too-distant future, in which everything is automated. Hilltop Farm is run almost completely by machines, and Roz even embraces the convenience of technology: “In her old life, the robot made fire by cracking special stones together until she got a spark. In her new life, she used a lighter” (86). After a tornado severely damages the farm, a crew of robots swiftly repairs the farm, making it better than before. Brown creates a world where technological advances allow for faster, more efficient work, but the increased dependency on machines comes at a cost. Mr. Shareef’s injury and his wife’s death were both caused by an accident involving farm machinery. The employment of robots and machines has distanced Mr. Shareef from his farming roots, and he has lost sight of the traditional ways of maintaining and cultivating the land. Roz teaches him about allowing the land to go fallow and the cultivation of the meadows, ancient agrarian techniques that are still important to soil health and land conservation.

Roz’s introduction to city life presents a stark contrast to the bucolic farm landscape, and life there is even more reliant on technology and machines: “The city was a glittering modern metropolis, where humans lived in luxury, all thanks to the tireless work of robots” (209). Roz sees firsthand how much humans’ security is tied to machines, and the mechanized industrial life of the city makes her yearn for the simplicity of the wild.

Brown’s world is a mix of the mechanical and natural, but in the end, the natural world wins. Roz develops mostly in the wild, and, ironically, the more time she spends in nature, the more human-like she becomes. The reverse is not true for human characters. Though they rely on technology to grow and harvest their food, build their structures, and police their streets, humans are not evolving into machines. The Shareefs love their computers and robots, but they are still people who still have feelings and depend on the health of their cows and their land to survive. Humans will always live in coexistence with the natural world, and humanity’s destiny is wrapped up in its ability to balance the use of technology with respect and reverence for the health of the planet. Dr. Molovo’s decision to set Roz free exemplifies the responsibility not to misuse technology or machines. In a world where humans fear the uncertainties of artificial intelligence, Brown portrays a hopeful future where humans do not exploit their creative power and technology and accept the responsibility to manage their inventions ethically.