Norby and the Terrified Taxi

The Norby Chronicles #11

by Janet Asimov

Jeff and Norby must find the evil Garc the Great in order to save Earth and the human race and are sent into space to hunt him down and change the course of history.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade

125 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Also known as: Janet Jeppson Asimov, Janet O. Jeppson, J.O. Jeppson

Janet Asimov was an American science fiction writer, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst. She originally wrote as J.O. Jeppson. She was an accomplished novelist and short-story writer who sometimes worked in collaboration with her husband, the late Isaac Asimov. Among the Asimovs' joint ventures as writers is the series of juvenile novels involving an endearing robot, Norby, and his young owner, Jeff Wells.

Reviews

[Mark Oppenlander · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book isn't technically by Isaac Asimov so by the unofficial rules of my Asimov project reading challenge, I didn't have to pick it up. Janet Asimov wrote this entry in the Norby series by herself after her husband's death. But it was a completion thing; I wanted to finish the series, despite the fact that I didn't really like it. Is that strange?

In this installment, Norby and Jeff team up with a sentient robot taxi named Lizzie, to fight an alien technology called the Connector. The Connector works through some sort of mind control, and basically takes over the entire solar system's internet (or something) and then travels back in time to change history in its favor. In so doing, it destroys all human evolution and life. Naturally, only Norby can assist. The usual cast of characters shows up, including Rembrandt of the Others, Admiral Yobo, and Jeff's brother Fargo.

These books almost always left me a little cold. I simply found the characters a bit dull, the situations a bit contrived, and the plotting and scene progression a bit ragged. I read one description of the series as being almost like a Saturday morning serial, but those old film serials were more lighthearted and fun than the Norby books.

I think these books really only could work for elementary age kids. Adults need not apply.

[Nickolai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Книга рассчитана на детей: и по сюжету, и по стилю изложения. По своей основной проблематике чем-то похожа на лучшую книгу серии «Норби и ожерелье королевы», но написана значительно хуже и менее интересно.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son enjoyed this one, too.

[Jeff Stockett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book in the Norby series was a good end to the saga. Norby and Jeff encounter an alien from another universe who possesses an advanced technology called "The Connector" which has power to connect the minds of organic beings and robots alike.

The Connector brings them through an adventure in time and space, back to the Cretaceous period on earth as well as to the far future.

Yet another fabulous adventure in the story of Norby the Mixed up Robot.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very late Norby adventure it is not quite as compelling as the earlier adventures. Mostly because Norby's adorable mixed-up ness has largely been resolved in previous adventures. The introduction of a new robot taxi is amusing and the book was a good read; just not quite as enjoyable as the earlier volumes in the series.