Book 1, Gamadin: Word of Honor (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: yellow brick pathway, orange bolts, alien weapon, General Gunn, Captain Walker, Simon Bolt (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Sixteen-year olds Harlowe Pylott and Matt Riverstone are bodysurfing the narliest waves of the new century when their fun is interrupted by a yacht capsizing off the Newport coast. After rescuing the famous movie star Simon Bolt and the half-alien socialite Leucadia Mars from certain death, Fate sends them on the greatest ride of their lives. Robobs and the undog are only the beginning! Dakadude killers have swooped down from the heavens looking for the galaxy's most powerful weapon: an ancient Gamadin spaceship named Millawanda.

If the Daks cannot capture Millawanda, they will kill her while she is still weak and unprotected . . . along with the Earth and anyone else who gets in their way.

If you think finding an ancient spaceship in the middle of the desert is cool, wait till you get a load of what Harlowe and his friends dig up . . .

And it still works!!!

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 446 pages
• Publisher: Emerald Book Company; First edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934572063
• ISBN-13: 978-1934572061
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #202,993 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, what a ride!, September 24, 2008

By	Francesca Romero "Pres., Havertine Book Club" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

When our book club first received Book 1, Gamadin: Word of Honor to review, many of us thought this would be another UFO story or off-world space tale, especially after reading the first chapter, which put us on the distant planet of Amerloi.

But we realized that this was no ordinary adventure when we were transported to a very earthly Newport Beach, California! There we meet a couple of surfers, Harlowe Pylott and Matt Riverstone, taking on the waves of a closed beach. They come across a boating accident. Saving its passengers leads Harlowe to his half-alien, soon-to-be significant other, Leucadia Mars. He finds out that having a girlfriend like "Lu" has its consequences, like a promise that could cost all of them their lives. In no time, a series of events leads the boys in search of the galaxy's most powerful weapon: Millawanda, an ancient Gamadin spaceship.

Discovering new words like "robobs," "Dakadudes" and "undog" is only part of the charm of Word of Honor. The fast pace, strategy and battle sequences, and inter-relationships of the characters are well put together. "Flashback" passages are cleverly woven in throughout, providing clarity to the story and in many places, setting the stage for events to come.

The two surfers are fresh, likable, irreverent, good-yet-"bad boys" that you would want to go out with on a date, or just hang out with. They are cool, funny and forthright - definitely hero material. Who would have guessed that two ordinary sixteen-year old boys would lead the resurrection of a once mighty, galactic police force?

We especially enjoyed the portrayal of the two female lead characters, Leucadia and her mother, Sook, who are intelligent, independent and strong - very good role models for our younger female readers. You will find the common thread of love, loyalty and a sense of purpose over self woven throughout the story, as the young characters begin their epic inter-galactic adventure. Even the junior characters of the story have their own special appeal, and a few of them even have the potential to steal the show.

As a club, we found Word of Honor a heartwarming surprise of Southern California lifestyle humor and plot twists, full of imagination. You will find yourself drawn into the Gamadin saga with Book One. It is, we have found, quite a ride!! You don't have to be a sci-fi aficionado to enjoy this adventure. The story and characters are engaging enough to capture both the young adult and the young-at-heart audience. All of us felt the same sense of regret once the story ended, and we look forward with enthusiasm to Book Two!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Word of Honor", September 24, 2008

By	Bob Van Epps (Olivenhain, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Book 1, Gamadin: Word of Honor

I seldom take the time to read fiction these days but needed something to fill the time while traveling to Hawaii on vacation. I am certainly glad that I selected "Word of Honor". What a fun read. By the time the plane touched down in Maui, I was half finished and could not wait to get into my lounge chair so I could continue the adventure.

"Word of Honor" is the first of a series of books that in the "Harry Potter" tradition leave you clammering for more. The story contains a wonderful mixture of everyday real world happenings and imaginative science fiction fantasy. The "G" rated language makes it perfect for children of all ages, especially grown up ones like me.

When I finished reading this book, (in record time for me), I immediately contacted the author and asked when I would be able to read the next installment. I suspect that most people who read "Word of Honor" will feel the same way. It would not surprise me at all if, once it gains a little exposure, the series generates a cult-like following not seen since the early days of Harry Potter.

Read this book... you will not be dissapointed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read!, September 30, 2008

By	Laura Collins, Ph.D. (San Diego CA) - See all my reviews

I'm not a teenage boy, which I thought was the target audience for a book starring two 'surfer dudes,' but I still enjoyed this book. After two straight days of reading it (who needs to do laundry anyway?), I want to find out what happens next to these adventure-loving heroes (especially Ian, whom I hope will make his own big splash in the next book). It is obvious that Mr. Kirkbride paid close attention to the details of his alien realm, such that other-worldly characters come alive on the page. The reader definitely benefits from Mr. Kirkbride's creativity in this far-flung adventure story. I recommend you get a copy and enjoy the adventure first-hand.