Norby the Mixed-Up Robot (Dover Children's Classics) [Paperback]

Janet Asimov (Author), Isaac Asimov (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Dover Children's Classics

In the first book of the Asimovs' Norby Chronicles, Norby the robot teacher is drafted to help young space cadet Jeff Wells pass his Martian Swahili exam. When Jeff and good-natured Norby are thrust into a sinister plot, can they foil Ing the Ingrate in his attempt to take over the universe?

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (January 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486472434
• ISBN-13: 978-0486472430
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #364,382 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Introduction to Science Fiction, August 23, 2007

By 

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

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This review is from: Norby, the mixed-up robot (Unbound)

Norby the Mixed- Up Robot

First, let me say that the Norby series is an ideal way to introduce Science Fiction to a young adult or to a middle school student. My guess is that boys will like this series more than girls, but what the hey, maybe girls would like it as well. It is written by Janet Asimov, Isaac Asimov's wife.

As I'm sure you know Isaac Asimov was the Father of Science Fiction Robots. (The Robots of Dawn, the Caves of Steel, the Complete Robot, etc). He's the one who invented the three laws of Robotics; in fact, he coined the phrase Robotics.

Now as to the age of the reader. I would guess that a bright seventh grader would enjoy this series. Jeff Wells, the protagonist is fourteen, that's probably a good mid-range age for the reader. I believe that reading science fiction can expand one's vocabulary and expose one to some new and fascinating ideas; also, it can expand one's sense of wonder and help create a love of reading.
In this book Norby battles against Ing the Ingrate. Now I don't know about you ,but I don't believe that "ingrate" was in my lexicon in the seventh grade. This book reveals that Norby has certain special capabilities, such as the ability to feel emotions and anti-gravity capabilities. He can also go into hyper-space.

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)

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

I highly recommend this book, especially for young adults.

Gunner, August,2007

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Little Robot Who Could, August 27, 2007

By 

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

This review is from: Norby, the mixed-up robot (Unbound)

Norby, the Mixed-Up Robot (1983) is the first SF novel in the Norby Series. 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 this novel, 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.

Fargo does not come home to meet Jeff for the summer solstice rites. Shortly before sunrise, Norby wakes Jeff and takes him to Central Park. Jeff is rather surprised by the method, since Norby has a very small anti-gravity device concealed within his barrel. Jeff enjoys the ride, but Norby complains about power usage.

When they reach the park, Norby has a little trouble with the landing. It is survivable, but somewhat erratic. Jeff lands on his hands and knees in mud and Norby lands in the fish pond. When Norby soars up out of the pond, he rotates and showers Jess with pond water.

Despite this mishap, Jess leads Norby to the proper site. They wait for Fargo, but he doesn't appear. Suddenly three men run out on the high walkway. Fargo seems to be running away from two men. Jeff has Norby lift them over the two pursuers and then they drop on the men, knocking them unconscious.

The two men are henchmen of Ing the Ingrate, wannabe Emperor of the Solar System. Fargo uses their own truth wand to learn something of the situation. Then a cop shows up in an anti-gravity car and insists on taking in Fargo and Ing's men. Jeff leaves for home. Then things start getting really complicated.

This story is a straight forward action tale, with a few moments for introspection and discussion. Norby tries hard and assists Jeff in some very weird ways -- after all, he is mixed-up -- but he always seems to do the right thing eventually. Jeff thinks highly of the little robot.

This story is very short, but leaves lots of loose ends for the sequels to develop. Enjoy!

Highly recommended for younger Asimov fans (and for some older ones too) as well as for anyone else who enjoys tales of space adventures, evil villains, and mixed-up robots.

-Arthur W. Jordin

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The first in The Norby series for juveniles., June 8, 1999

By 

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

This review is from: Norby: The Mixed Up Robot (Library Binding)

This is the first volume in a series of short science fiction novels for young teenagers about 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: he felt that it represented poor science.] The second book in the series is "Norby's Other Secret," published in 1984. These two books were latered reissued as "The Norby Chronicles."