Outer space, and all that junk [Hardcover]

Mel Gilden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1989

A boy works for his uncle one summer only to discover him collecting junk in the belief he is helping aliens return to their home in outer space.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-- Myron Duberville, 13, was looking forward to working for the summer at Uncle Hugo's company, the Astronetics Corporation. He soon learns, however, that Uncle Hugo believes that aliens are stranded on earth in the shape of junk, and has plans to send them home in a converted 1960 Chevy Belvedere in exchange for spaceships full of titanium. Myron questions not only his uncle's sanity but also whether he can survive the embarrassment of riding around in a pickup truck full of scrap metal. The board of directors of his uncle's company wants to get rid of Hugo any way they can--and they want Myron's help. This wacko story has a good strong linear plot that, while bizarre, does not confuse. And what a cast of characters! Myron and Princess, his helper and niece of the top director, are unusual and nerdy protagonists--the stuffy and correct Myron is honest, straightforward, and as coldly determined as his opponents when he makes up his mind; and Princess, whom Myron first sees as "a real porker," proves herself a forceful adventurer. Gilden inserts references to an earlier, even stranger book; includes lots of amusing science fiction in-jokes that won't hinder or puzzle the uninitiated; and indulges in food humor, this time in the form of a restaurant called the Unidentified Flying Omelette. Although he can be compared to Pinkwater and Manes, Gilden is becoming a force in his own right, and a growing fan following would be just proof of "The Ethical Structure of the Universe" referred to in this funny book. --Annette Curtis Klause, Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries, MD
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 167 pages
• Publisher: Lippincott; 1st edition (1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0397323069
• ISBN-13: 978-0397323067
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,932,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mel Gilden is the author of many children's books, some of which received rave reviews in such places as School Library Journal and Booklist. His multi-part stories for children appeared frequently in the Los Angeles Times. His popular novels and short stories for grown-ups have also received good reviews in the Washington Post and other publications. (See new publications under his name at the Kindle Store of Amazon.com.)
Licensed properties include adaptations of feature films, and of TV shows such as Beverly Hills, 90210; and NASCAR Racers. He has also written books based on video games and has written original stories based in the Star Trek universe. His short stories have appeared in many original and reprint anthologies.
He has written cartoons for TV, has developed new shows, and was assistant story editor for the DIC television production of The Real Ghostbusters. He consulted at Disney and Universal, helping develop theme park attractions. Gilden spent five years as co-host of the science-fiction interview show, Hour-25, on KPFK radio in Los Angeles.
Gilden lectures to school and library groups, and has been known to teach fiction writing. He lives in Los Angeles, California, where the debris meets the sea, and still hopes to be an astronaut when he grows up.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A unique story showing Myron that he shouldn't prejudge., November 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Outer space, and all that junk (Hardcover)

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.