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Book reviews for "Gilden,_Mel" sorted by average review score:

Surfing Samurai Robots
Published in Paperback by New American Library (1991)
Author: Mel Gilden
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One of the most killer books of all time.
Detective Zoot Marlowe, endlessly quipping geek from the planet T'toom, faces his first case on earth. Can he unravel this gnarly mystery in time to keep his endless-summer gang of Malibu beach buddies from losing the Surf-o-rama? Are the suit-wearing gorillas behind it? Or maybe the guy with his brain in a lobster?

Mel Gilden blends surf movie satire with just plain, good, detective mystery plotting to achieve a highly humerous and engrossing novel.

This book really is a genre of its own.

Laughs cover-to-cover!
This is an excellent book! How do you combine aliens with surfers and biochemistry and Sam Spade (excuse me, Phillip Marlowe) and make it funny? I have no idea, but Mel Gilden does it effortlessly. Filled with outrageous situations and larger-than-life characters, this book is a delight to read. Highly recommended.

The best sci-fi humor I've read ever!
My introduction to "Surfing Samurai Robots" was many years ago, when I was strolling through the public library and the cover caught my eye. Any book that depicted a camel-nosed alien standing next to a posing surfer robot had to be interesting, at least. I wasn't disappointed. Mel Gilden's blend of the absurdly humorous characters is excellent, yet he also delivers a rather gripping tale of intrigue.

This is just the right book for those wishing to while away a hot summer at the beach, or an evening at home during the depths of winter. Reading this book will not make you rich, but it might just make you want to try yoyogurt after that birthday party binge. ^_^


Cybercops & Flame Wars (Cybersurfers ; #4)
Published in Paperback by Grosset & Dunlap (1996)
Authors: Ted Pedersen, Mel Gilden, and Ted Pederson
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This is my favorite book!
This book uses a couple of computer terms that you may not have heard, but don't worry, the book includes a glossary of the terms that are used! Over all, the story was great, it never lacked a second of exciting events! If you love computers, this is the book for you!


Cyberspace Cowboy (Cybersurfers, No 2)
Published in Paperback by Price Stern Sloan Pub (1995)
Authors: Ted Pedersen and Mel Gilden
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it is about 2 kids who rescue some1 from the Syndicate
I hope he makes more. these are awesome books!


Z Is for Zombie
Published in Paperback by Camelot (1989)
Authors: Mel Gilden and John Pierard
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Fun read for kids and great beach book.
During summer vacation at NJ shore in a small corner bookstore, our 4 year old discovered this book! Great cover illustration. After finishing the book, he wanted more. Z is for Zombie- Danny Keegan and moster friends at PS 13 help to save favorite teacher, Ms. Cosgrove. Discover the secret of the Zombie Pizza Parlor! Watch out for Dr. Zoe!


The Jungle Book: A Novelization
Published in Paperback by Harper Mass Market Paperbacks (1999)
Authors: Mel Gilden, Stephen Sommers, and Rudyard Jungle Book Kipling
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A True Original
The Jungle Books are usually marketed as juvenile fiction. True, this is essential reading for children, but it's even deeper when you read it as an adult.

Although "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" and "The White Seal" are just as good as the least of the Mowgli stories, it is the various tales of the boy raised in the jungles of India that are - and justifiably - the heart of the collection.

As a baby, Mowgli is found and raised by a clan of wolves and three godfatherly mentors who each teach him about life in different ways - Baloo the Bear, who teaches him the technical laws he'll need to survive; Kaa the Python, the nearly archtypal figure who teaches him even deeper lessons; and Bagheera the Panther, who perhaps loves Mowgli most of all but understands all too well the implications of the ambiguous humanity of the boy he's come to care for.

The stories have it all, from the alternately humorous and frightening "Kaa's Hunting", where Mowgli learns an important lesson about friendship and it's responsibility, to the epic "Red Dog" that reads like something out of Homer, to "Letting in the Jungle" which, without giving anything away contains a disturbing paragraph that's both glaring and a long time in coming if you've read between the lines in the previous Mowgli stories and yet at the same time so subtle you can almost miss it's importance.

If you didn't read it as a child, read it now. If you did, read it again as an adult.

Learn the Jungle Law, it's still in effect
The story of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves in the jungles of 19th century India, charmed me when I was young no less than it does today. Kipling wrote this to celebrate his love of India and it's wild animals as well as to show again some of his frequent themes of honor, loyalty, and perserverance. While his writing may seem 'dated' to some, to others the truths he includes rise above politics and 'current correctness'. Baloo the Bear, Shere Khan the Tiger, Bagheera the Panther, Kaa the Python were all childhood friends of mine, and reading these Jungle Book stories to your own children today will result in their exposure to such old fashioned concepts as sticking by your friends in adversity, helping your family, relying on yourself. Good lessons then, good lessons now. Mowgli learns the value of 'good manners' early on, learns that 'all play and no work' leads to unexpected troubles, learns that thoughtless actions can have devasting consequences. By showing Mowgli in an often dangerous 'all animal' world, we see reflections of modern human problems presented in a more subtle light. Kipling leads children down the jungle path into adventures beyond their day to day imagining and along the way, he weaves subtle points in and out of the stories, he shows the value of 'doing for yourself', of 'learning who to trust'. All of this in a tale of childhood adventure that's never been equaled. The book is over 100 years old now, and there are terms & concepts from the age of Empire that aren't 'correct' today. Parents can edit as needed as they read bedtime stories, but I've found that children learn early on that the world changes, and that some ideas that were popular long ago did not prove to be correct. Explaining this, too, is a part of parenting. Some of our current popular ideas may not stand the test of time, but I suspect that 100 years from now parents will still read the Jungle Book to their children. And the children will still be charmed, thrilled and instructed in valuable life-lessons.

A book of wonder
This was probably one of my most favorite books as a young child if not my favorite. The way Kipling shows the struggle of this young boy in the jungle is amazing. He fails to leave out any detail and throughout the whole story your totally caught up in it without one point of boredom. I recommend this to any parent looking for a good book to read to their children or to have their kids read. Kipling is a great author and after doing a report on him and reading some of his other works I recommend those as well, especially A White Man's Burden. If your looking for books by a author who mixes fiction with truth, action and adventure with tales that bring in more serious aspects Kipling is the author for you.


Beverly Hills 90210
Published in Paperback by Harper Mass Market Paperbacks (1991)
Author: Mel Gilden
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Pretty OK Book!
I read this book awhile ago, and when I read it I was a huge fan of the series. This book is the first book from the first episode of the show. It's about when Brenda and Brandon Walsh move from Minneapolis to Beverly Hills, and their awkwardness in adjusting to the new lifestyle. All of the characters are introduced with the exception of Dylan. It's a good book, but it is strictly from the episode. Whatever wasn't in the show is not in this book. If you never saw that first episode, this is definiely the book to get. For those of you who saw it, this book is just repetition!

Definently a keepsake
Here is the novelization of the series that started it all. I still have the original set of books at home, and am unwilling to part with them under any circumstances.

Other than the fact there are no commericals to contend with, you can reread this book whenever you want to. Although there are some pictures included, another hidden benifit is the ability to update the characters wardrobe.

As with the orginal, Luke Perry is not in the book, but this is a small price to pay because the writing (while not groundbreaking) is good enough to let people visualize what is unfolding.

One of the best books ever!
Here is the first episodes (as a book!) of Beverly Hills 90210. What a great show, what a great book! This was very sunny, fresh and nice book. Even if you don't like the show, you might like this book. It's a shame that this is out of print ............, because otherwise I might order this right now! This book includes everything... Buy it! If you can! You won't be disappointed!


Pet
Published in Library Binding by Bt Bound (1999)
Authors: Mel Gilden, Lisa Clancy, and Ted Pedersen
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Delightful
Odd, but delightful. Similar to the madcap antics of the DS9 book (not the episode!) The Siege, it's a romp that includes all the characters we're used to while focusing on Jake in an interesting way. Before the War broke out several seasons later, this is a light, breezy read to wile away an afternoon.

Wonderful, wonderful book
The Pet is probably the best in the kids series. I'm not sure they call it a kids series, but it sure seems like one. Anyway, back to the book. The Pet is where Jake and Nog make friends with a pet that they call Babe. It's been a while since I've read this book, but the end is where an alien ship (as good, and slightly better than the Borg) comes to the space station and does a tiny attack, and the masked commander claims that a "prince" is aboard DS9. I knew who that prince was right away. However, the crew and Jake and Nog don't. Even though Sisko sounds innocent and dosen't know where the prince is, they still attack. I can't remember when or how, but later Jake and Nog find out who the prince is, and go to Ops (I like to say the bridge) with Dr. Bashir, and Babe does something incredible... I'm not telling you any more, except that unless it was a very good story I wouldn't be writing this much. So if you see this book, get it no matter what. Enjoy it.


Beverly Hills 90210: No Secrets (Beverly Hills, 90210)
Published in Paperback by Harper Mass Market Paperbacks (1992)
Author: Mel Gilden
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This book is very interesting and worth reading .
Written by: Mel Gilden 171 pages Published by: Harper Paperbacks Reviewed by: LeighAnn Gholson Not in print When I first started reading this book I knew I'd like it. The setting takes place in Beverly Hills. The Walsh family is new in town. They have just moved to a suburb in Beverly from a town in Minnesota. They have arrived at their new school and made a few new friends, (Donna, Kelly, David, Dylan, Steve, and Audrea) and they take the Walshes under their wing. Brenda starts dating Dylan and problems arise. Everyone thinks of Dylan as a wild, out of control guy. Brenda's friend Kelly that is pretty and popular, and for the most part caring, helps to convince Brenda to not let her give up on Dylan. But when Brenda learns of Dylan's past, she has many doubts. This book shows the life of these eight teens and what they have to do to fit in. This book was well written. It was wrote in good detail and made you want to read on, because of suspense and wanting to know more about their lives. I would recommend this book for anyone that's a teenager. Written by:LeighAnn Beverly Hills 90210, No Secrets Gholson


Beverly Hills 90210: Where the Boys Are (Beverly Hills, 90210)
Published in Paperback by Harper Mass Market Paperbacks (1993)
Author: Mel Gilden
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Wonderful trip down memory lane.
As a devout Brenda/Dylan fan, I really liked this book because it enables the reader to revisit the ideal teen tv couple 24-7 on their own time.

Their romance was a key theme in the 90210 empire for many years, and if you were disappointed that this was later abandoned, this book will bring back some membories. Those who did not watch have a chance to see what made the sparks fly.

While comparatively dry compared to romance novels, the plot lines have their warm romantic moments. As always, pictures are included in the middle of the book, but (since the fashions are now dated) as always, you can imagine "the gang" clothed in contemporary numbers.


Outer Space and All That Junk
Published in Library Binding by Ty Crowell Co (1989)
Authors: Mel Gilden and Daniel LaVigne
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A unique story showing Myron that he shouldn't prejudge.
Myron is forced to go to his uncle's house for the summer. He thought his uncle was crazy. Later he finds out that he is really helping aliens. Then he gets caught up in all the chaos, gets kidnapped and escapes in order to help his uncle.


Related Subjects: Author Index Reviews Page 1 2

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