The Robot's Revenge

The Hardy Boys #123

by Franklin W. Dixon

The Hardy's invention, Roger the Lobber, an automatic tennis ball retrieval and return unit, has been stolen from the Teen Inventor's Club competition and then reappears without warning, transformed into a device of danger.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Thriller, Young Adult, Mystery Thriller

Hardcover

First published December 1, 1993

About the author

Franklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors who were part of a team that wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate (now owned by Simon & Schuster). Dixon was also the writer attributed for the Ted Scott Flying Stories series, published by Grosset & Dunlap.
Canadian author Leslie McFarlane is believed to have written the first sixteen Hardy Boys books, but worked to a detailed plot and character outline for each story. The outlines are believed to have originated with Edward Stratemeyer, with later books outlined by his daughters Edna C. Squier and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams. Edward and Harriet also edited all books in the series through the mid-1960s. Other writers of the original books include MacFarlane's wife Amy, John Button, Andrew E. Svenson, and Adams herself; most of the outlines were done by Adams and Svenson. A number of other writers and editors were recruited to revise the outlines and update the texts in line with a more modern sensibility, starting in the late 1950s.
The principal author for the Ted Scott books was John W. Duffield.

Reviews

[PenNPaper52 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank, Joe and Phil go to an inventors competition with their robot the retrieves tennis balls. Think of the largest, silliest dog and that is their robot. It gets stolen and I was thinking "why". No one wants a robot that makes so much noise... If roomba made so much noise no one would buy it. But then this was way back in the day... I keep reminding myself. The leash looked like an interesting hobby project and I again kept wondering if integrating AI into it with real time geospatial map would enhance the features. Too bad no specs were given, the science geek in me was craving some. The mystery baffled me... But I think the reason I didn't even suspect the villain was because my mind kept wandering on the inventions and how it could be perfected. On the whole I enjoyed my time going into the Hardy world.

[Samarth Prabhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read as a kid, and it absolutely pulled me into the world of reading. For a 12 year old me, it was an amazing experience to follow the story of Joe, Frank, Megan, Yueh and the others. I am a bit disappointed on the design of the robot, though. It does look like a big moving trashcan. Other than that trivial inconvenience, I'd say go at it.

[Ethan Hulbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the Chicago bits. The inventor stuff though... I mean look at that robot. Geez, look at that hunk of junk. Roger the Lobber. It's tough to not just shake your head in shame.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank and Joe have worked hard on their invention for a science fair and then it gets stolen! They also learn of other contestants that receive threatening notes and calls. A big mystery starts to unfold. Who is innocent and who is guilty... read it and find out! I personally enjoyed it.