SOLVED. SF book for YA/kids about a schoolboy with a sentient computer [s]

[Hemlyn]

Science fiction book series for kids that I read in '95 or '96 about a boy who had a sentient computer. I think it was an alien lifeform? The boy was your average school going kid. He once took the computer to school where it briefly was stolen/went missing. I have reason to believe it was part of a series.

Unfortunately, I can't recall much else other than the fact that I really enjoyed it, and it's turned out to be completely ungoogleable.

[Hemlyn]

Bump... anybody recognise this one? :)

[Andy]

Xorandor Xorandor has a brother and sister who discover an alien computer. The twins though are pretty unusual (very smart, etc.)

[Hemlyn]

Andy wrote: "Xorandor Xorandor has a brother and sister who discover an alien computer. The twins though are pretty unusual (very smart, etc.)"

Hi Andy, thanks for responding. This doesn't seem like it. I don't recall there being a twin sister who shared the computer with him, nor about the PC being powered by nuclear radiation.

[Hemlyn]

Bump... anybody recognise this one? Being hopeful since it's a new year!

[Kris]

Hemlyn, can you describe the sentient computer's personality? What did the computer want (e.g., to help the boy as a friend or mentor, take over the world)?

How did the boy discover the computer (possible alien)?

[Hemlyn]

Hi Kris,

I don't recall how he discovered the computer, sadly. I feel like it may have been a gift from his family, but I can't be sure.

The computer was helpful, the boy initially used it for schoolwork and the like, but they seemed to be involved in trying to solve a mystery of sorts later on. Apologies, I'm not being deliberately vague, I remember very little of this book!

Kris wrote: "Hemlyn, can you describe the sentient computer's personality? What did the computer want (e.g., to help the boy as a friend or mentor, take over the world)?

How did the boy discover the computer (..."

[Kris]

A guess - Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine by Jay Williams?

[Hemlyn]

Thank you, I looked through the series on Wikipedia, and the other books don't seem to be related to the computer (the series revolved around the boy and the computer.) I don't think this is it, though I really hoped it would be.

Kris wrote: "A guess - Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine by Jay Williams?"

[Peter]

When I read your description I immediately thought of Bruce Coville, but that doesn't necessarily mean much. I just looked at a list of his book titles and nothing jumped out, but this is definitely the type of book he'd write.

[Andi]

Is it maybe A Very Personal Computer? I vaguely remember reading that in middle school; it's got the sentient computer and is the right time period, but I don't recall it being part of a series.

[Hemlyn]

Thanks, Peter, nothing stands out, but his books look really interesting. I intend to buy these for some younger cousins (and borrow, of course.)
Peter wrote: "When I read your description I immediately thought of Bruce Coville, but that doesn't necessarily mean much. I just looked at a list of his book titles and nothing jumped out, but th..."

[Hemlyn]

Hi Andrea, it sounds similar, but I don't think this is it. The names aren't familiar. This looks like an interesting read though, so I'm going to try and find it anyway.

Andrea wrote: "Is it maybe A Very Personal Computer? I vaguely remember reading that in middle school; it's got the sentient computer and is the right time period, but I don't recall it being part ..."

[Kathy]

Could this be Terry Pratchett's 1992 Only You Can Save Mankind? The sentient device is not the computer itself, but a video game on the computer, whose "warriors" are alien life forms who genuinely fight and die whenever a human child begins to play. This was the first of the Johnny Maxwell series, which includes Johnny and the Dead and Johnny and the Bomb.

[Hemlyn]

Hi Kathy,
No, I don't think it's this one either. The remaining two books in the series don't deal with the sentient computer... thank you so much for your suggestion, though!

i>Kathy wrote: "Could this be Terry Pratchett's 1992 Only You Can Save Mankind? The sentient device is not the computer itself, but a video game on the computer, whose "warriors" are alien life forms ..."

Kathy wrote: "Could this be Terry Pratchett's 1992 Only You Can Save Mankind? The sentient device is not the computer itself, but a video game on the computer, whose "warriors" are alien life forms ..."

[BJ]

Hemlyn, I think I know what book you're talking about, and I've been searching for it too.

Do these details line up?
* the computer makes first contact by showing "POIUY TREWQ" on its screen
* kid names his computer (or the computer chooses its name) Zenda after Prisoner of Zenda
* apparently the computer comes to life because an alien inhabited it.
* computer absorbs info by books the kid places on the keyboard.
* eventually computer learns to speak and can mimic voices.
* kid can move his computer around by placing it on a pram and disguising it in a Guy Fawkes effigy
* kid's dad works for a car company that holds a design contest, computer designs an entry for him.
* kid takes computer to school, mimics voices of teachers who are in a love triangle
* school bullies eventually destroy computer, kid has to burn the computer.

EDIT: If this is the book you're looking for, then the series is called Tom's Amazing Machine by Gordon Snell ... I've been looking for it for years and I just found it today.

[Hemlyn]

YES THIS IS IT! I thought I was imagining the Zenda/Zelda bit, so I didn't mention it. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Moving this to the solved threads!

I am beyond excited!

BJ wrote: "Hemlyn, I think I know what book you're talking about, and I've been searching for it too.

Do these details line up?
* the computer makes first contact by showing "POIUY TREWQ" on its screen
* kid..."

YES THIS IS IT! I thought I was imagining the Zenda bit! THANK