© 2010

Illustrations by Eugene Smith

Russian names consist of three parts: the given name, the patronymic (derived from the father’s first name), and the family name. Often, individuals also go by a nickname. Hence the first character introduced is Stepan Arkadyich Oblonsky-Stepan is his given name, Arkadyich the patronymic, and Oblonsky the family name. But the man is often called “Stiva,” his nickname.

Class I and II robots also use a three-part nomenclature: a Roman numeral for class type, a function-designation, and an indication of model. Hence the I/Samovar/1(8) is a Class I device, designed to steep and serve tea, model number 1(8).

Class III robots are universally known by the nickname bestowed by their master or mistress.

Stepan Arkadyich Oblonsky (Stiva), a Moscow gentleman and Small Stiva, Stiva’s Class III

Darya Alexandrovna Oblonskaya (Dolly), Oblonsky’s wife and Dolichka, Dolly’s Class III

Anna Arkadyevna Karenina, Oblonsky’s sister and Android Karenina, Anna’s Class III

Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin, Anna’s husband

Sergey Alexeich Karenin (Seryozha), the Karenins’ young son

Konstantin Dmitrich Levin, Oblonsky’s old friend and Socrates, Levin’s Class III

Nikolai Dmitrich Levin, Levin’s brother and Karnak, Nikolai’s Class III

Ekaterina Alexandrovna Shcherbatskaya (Kitty), Dolly’s sister and Tatiana, Kitty’s Class III