The Norby Chronicles [Paperback]

Janet Asimov (Author), Isaac Asimov (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Ace (November 15, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441586341
• ISBN-13: 978-0441586349
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,710 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT WAY TO INTRODUCE SCIENCE FICTION TO A SEVENTH GRADER, August 26, 2007

By 

Gunner (Smyrna, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: The Norby Chronicles (Paperback)

The Norby Chronicles


To date the series contains the following books, not including the omnibus editions which have their own titles:

* Norby, the Mixed-Up Robot (1983)
* Norby's Other Secret (1984)
* Norby and the Lost Princess (1985)
* Norby and the Invaders (1985)
* Norby and the Queen's Necklace (1986)
* Norby Finds a Villain (1987)
* Norby Down to Earth (1988)
* Norby and Yobo's Great Adventure (1989)
* Norby and the Oldest Dragon (1990)
* Norby and the Court Jester (1991)

The three Omnibus Editions are:
The Norby Chronicles (Books 1 &2)
Norby Robot for Hire (Books 3 & 4)
Norby through Time and Space (Books 5& 6)

In the Norby Chronicles you meet Jeff Wells, an awkward fourteen year old boy who is trying to graduate from the Space Academy. He gets into more trouble than anybody. For example he trying to "sleep learn" Martian Swahili when he screws up the kitchen computer which translates all the recipes into Martian Swahili. That wouldn't be so bad except Admiral Yobo, the Academy Commandant, is very fond of eating. He's also fond of Jeff's older brother Fargo Wells (apparently Janet likes a good pun). Anyhow Admiral Yobo lends Jeff the money to buy a second-hand robot, which starts this adventure. You'll meet Space Pirates, Ing the Ingrate, Dragons, and sentient robots.


Highly recommended for mid- to early teens and up

Gunner August 2007

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The first two tales in the funny Norby series., June 8, 1999

By 

R. D. Allison ([e-mail]) (Gainesville, Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Norby Chronicles (Paperback)

This book is a compilation of the humorous first two science fiction stories for children in the Norby series: "Norby, the Mixed-Up Robot" (first published in 1983) and "Norby's Other Secret" (published in 1984). The first tale introduces the reader to a 14-year-old Space Academy cadet, Jeff Wells, and his unusual robot, Norby. Norby has skills that other robots lack, apparently due to the incorporation of alien parts in his construction. In this first book of the series, Jeff and Norby foil a plot of a villian to take over the Solar System. Norby discovers he has "anti-gravity" capabilities as well as the ability to travel through "hyperspace" and great distances. [Isaac Asimov, in another book, apologizes for using antigravity in this series.] In "Norby's Other Secret" the robot discovers his origin, a dragon-inhabited planet, and some new abilities: traveling through time and telepathy.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The First Adventures, September 5, 2007

By 

Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Norby Chronicles (Paperback)

The Norby Chronicles (1986) is an omnibus edition containing the first two volumes in the Norby series: Norby, the Mixed-Up Robot and Norby's Other Secret. Norby is the product of McGillicuddy -- a genius level space explorer -- who found an alien spaceship in the asteroid belt. Norby was constructed in a stainless steel barrel used to transport nails and has various and sundry components from the alien ship.

In Norby, the Mixed-Up Robot (1983), Cadet Jeff Wells is really in trouble. While trying to use the main computer network to sleep-learn Martian Swahili, he accidentally scrambled the recipes in the kitchen computer. Federation Security Agent Two Gidlow intends to take Jeff back to headquarters to probe his brain for the presence of any classified material.

Admiral Yobo of Space Command is skeptical of Agent Gidlow's charges. He calls Jeff's older brother -- Farley Gordon Wells -- and discusses the situation with him. Fargo suggests that Jeff be sent home by matter transmitter as soon as possible.

Admiral Yobo tells Jeff to do as Fargo says and even gives him some credits to buy a used teaching robot so that he can learn Martian Swahili. Jeff packs -- not hard with the little allowed a cadet -- and heads home. After dropping his stuff off at home, he heads out to buy a teaching robot.

The salesman tries to talk Jeff into putting a down payment on a newer model, but Jeff finds Norby behind all the other robots and buys him for a reasonable amount. It helps that Norby had not been talking to the salesman and was therefore thought to have failing faculties. Jeff immediately takes Norby home with him.

In this story, Norby displays some unusual properties, including a lack of the usual three laws of robotics. He doesn't obey commands very well, but tries to protect Jeff and himself. He is also good-natured, but his feelings are easily hurt.

In Norby's Other Secret (1984), Norby is wanted by the Inventors Union so that they can disassemble him to discover the secret of miniantigravity. Even Admiral Yobo wants to find out that secret, but he is considerably less ruthless that the inventors.

The Admiral drops in unannounced to warn Jeff and also to eat some real food. The Admiral has a large appetite and a love of very hot spices. He is busily eating the roast chicken when a thump and a growl come from elsewhere in the apartment.

Checking out the strange sounds, Jeff and the Admiral find a full-grown lion in the bedroom. After throwing the chicken to the lion and waving a chair in its face, Jeff packs sedatives into the meatloaf and throws it to the lion. During this time, Jeff's brother Fargo and Albany the policewoman show up; Albany orders an antigravity car and Norby loads the sleeping lion into it for transport to a nearby zoo.

When agents of Federal Security show up to take away Norby, he and Jeff flee through hyperspace. Norby takes them back to Jamya, but this time the lady dragon Ziphyzggtmtizm welcomes them and even allows them to call her Zi. They are invited into her castle for a bite to eat.

In this story, Jeff is summoned to the large castle on the hill by the Mentor, a large four-armed robot. When he and Norby arrive at the castle, Jeff is confined by a misty force field, but Norby escapes through hyperspace. Jeff's mind is scanned by a computer until Norby can rescue him.

Highly recommended for younger Asimov fans (and for some older ones) as well as for anyone else who enjoys tales of space adventures, alien robots, and friendly dragons.

-Arthur W. Jordin