The Mad Scientists' Club (Mad Scientist Club) [Hardcover]

Bertrand R. Brinley (Author), Charles Geer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2001 | Age Range: 9 and up | Series: Mad Scientist Club

The boys are back after 40 years! Author's Edition with previously unpublished text restored from the original manuscripts.

A strange sea monster appears on the lake ...a fortune is unearthed from an old cannon ...a valuable dinosaur egg is stolen. Watch out as the Mad Scientists turn Mammoth Falls upside down!

Take seven, lively, "normal" boys -- one an inventive genius -- give them a clubhouse for cooking up ideas, an electronics lab above the town hardware store, and a good supply of Army surplus equipment, and you, dear reader, have a boyhood dream come true and a situation that bears watching.

In the hands of an author whose own work involved technological pioneering, the proceedings are well worth undivided attention, as the boys explore every conceivable possibility for high and happy adventure in the neighborhood of Mammoth Falls. To the unutterable confusion of the local dignitaries -- and the unalloyed delight of Bertrand Brinley's fans -- the young heroes not only outwit their insidious rival, Harmon Muldoon, but emerge as town heroes. Here, captured under one cover, are the fun-filled escapades of the young scientists whose exciting capers debuted in Boys' Life magazine 40 years ago.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...filled with spirit of adventure and good-natured fun... In fact, Henry Mulligan, chief Mad Scientist, reminds me of me! -- Homer Hickam, Author of October Sky

For better or worse (better, I think) the Mad Scientists' Club was a major influence in my youth. -- Glenn H. Reynolds -- InstaPundit.com, October 11, 2004

Fun and gentle, the books paint a picture of a more innocent boyhood where scientific know-how could save the day. -- USA TODAY, December 3, 2002

When I was a kid, some of my favourite books were about young geniuses. ...I loved Bertrand Brinley's Mad Scientists -- Kenneth Oppel, author of Barnes & the Brains series, Silverwing series

Timeless and entertaining, The Mad Scientists' Club is a fun read and top pick. --Midwest Book Review

About the Author

After attending Stanford University, where he majored in Economics and Speech, BERTRAND R. BRINLEY was a methods and procedures analyst for Lockheed Aircraft's engineering department. He entered the Army in 1944 and served fifteen years in a variety of infantry and public relations assignments, including position of aide-de-camp to the chief of the United Nations delegation during the Korean armistice negotiations. He retired from active duty in order to devote himself to writing, and held a commission as major in the United States Army Reserve. He later worked in technical writing and public relations positions for the Martin Company.

The author of Rocket Manual for Amateurs, Bertrand Brinley lectured extensively to schools and civics groups on space age topics. His articles and stories appeared in Harper's Magazine, Boys' Life, Family Weekly, Woman's Day, The Microwave Journal, Electronics Illustrated and The Book of Knowledge.

Bertrand Brinley is well-known for his beloved tales of the Mad Scientists' Club, whose further antics can be found in The New Adventures of the Mad Scientists' Club, The Big Kerplop! and The Big Chunk of Ice.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 217 pages
• Publisher: Purple House Pr; 1st edition (October 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930900104
• ISBN-13: 978-1930900103
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #443,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 77 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Finest Science-Based Stories For Boys Ever Written February 4, 2006

By fredtownward VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

There have been plenty of science-based children's stories written over the years, but Bertrand R. Brinley's Mad Scientists' Club stories are something special. A combination of excellent true-to-life writing, simple yet sound science (with a single exception), and a gently wicked sense of fun have produced a marvelous collection of stories that seem as clever and fresh as when they came out more than forty years ago. The secret? The fact that the Mad Scientists of Mammoth Falls use science not for building great inventions or solving great mysteries, but primarily for playing clever pranks on the well deserving.

In "The Strange Sea Monster of Strawberry Lake", Dinky Poore makes up a story about seeing a sea monster in order to explain being late for dinner. His fellow club members decide to build a sea monster. Hi-jinks ensue.

In "Night Rescue" the boys make clever use of simple scientific principles in order to rescue a downed Air Force pilot.

In "The Unidentified Flying Man of Mammoth Falls" the boys liven up Mammoth Falls' Founder's Day celebration with a flying man.

In "The Big Egg" the boys try to hatch a fossil dinosaur egg. (!) It gets an A for story and an F for science.

In "The Secret of the Old Cannon" the boys use a combination of cutting edge science (for 1963) and simple basics to solve an unsolved bank robbery (and embarrass a couple of sneaks trying to take credit for their work).

In "The Great Gas Bag Race" the boys come up with a truly brilliant concept for winning a balloon race.

In "The Voice in the Chimney" the boys hilariously haunt a house.

I find it difficult to put into words just how much fun these stories are.... I enjoyed them as a boy; I enjoyed them as a man; I'll read them to my children; and I'm sure that they will pass them on to their children. Mr. Brinley wrote three more books about the Mad Scientists' Club: The New Adventures of the Mad Scientists' Club, The Big Kerplop!: The Original Adventure of the Mad Scientists' Club, and The Big Chunk of Ice: The Last Known Adventure of the Mad Scientists' Club, all of them great, but this, the first one is IMHO the best.

Note: the Purple House 40th anniversary reprint of The Mad Scientists' Club is worth picking up even if you own an older edition because the text is based on the original manuscripts, restoring a number of passages that had been cut for space reasons when they were first published in Boys' Life. It also includes an introduction written by Bertrand's son Sheridan and a chronological listing of the stories so you can read them in the order they were written (the order of the stories in the book was not changed). Reading them chronologically clears up some confusion over places, geographical references, and characters, though according to internal references "The Big Egg" takes place before "The Secret of the Old Cannon". Read more ›

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brains Can Be Cool! September 10, 2005

By Snarf40

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Like many of the other reviewers of this book, I read it repeatedly as a boy. I identified with the characters. I loved the way they used their intelligence and knowledge of science to get themselves in and out of mischief, and sometimes to help people. And let's not forget to mention Brinley's easy reading style and Geer's terrific illustrations. But one lesson I took away from this book (and its sequel) was that it was perfectly fine to be a skinny geek who was interested in science. These guys solved all kinds of real life problems without the benefit of brawn, large amounts of money, or even magic (a la Harry Potter).

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Girls October 21, 2005

By Neufemism

Format:Hardcover

Not only boys will enjoy this wonderful collection of stories. I'm a girl & this was one of my favorite books growing up. The adventures are much better than Nancy Drew or those... *opinion* inane 'babysitter' books. I highly recommend this book & am currently purchasing my second copy in addition to putting the rest of the mad scientist books on my wish list. These books would make great presents for any child.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book of my childhood April 15, 2004

By Patrick G. Green

Format:Hardcover

I ordered this book through Scholastic when I was in grade school back in the 70's. I always kept my copy, and I've handed it down to my son. I ordered another for my daughter and then purchased all three books for both of my kids. I highly recommend this book and the others by Mr. Brinley. You won't be disappointed.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An All-Time Favorite! January 22, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Whatever the maximum number of stars allowed in a review, this book would rate every single one. The librarians got used to seeing me check out both Mad Scientist books on a regular basis, & I was fortunate enough to find copies to add to my own library back in the late '80s. The best recommendation I can give is that my mom (who also loves the books) said that she always knew when I was reading a Mad Scientist story, because she would hear shrieks of laughter coming from my room!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Returns January 14, 2002

By "sklbbmc"

Format:Hardcover

I purchased multiple copies of the 40th anniv. edition of this book. All the original photos and more were there. The text which is as the author wrote it is smooth. I am now able to pass this treasure down to 3 nephews and one son. It was great to have the guys come right back to life.These stories still stand by themselves 40 yrs. later.
The great news is soon there will be more releases. The New Adventures of the Mad Scientist Club will be re-released as will The Big Kerplop!. Hopefully the fourth novel The Big Chunk of Ice will finally be released.
Great reading is back !

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best memories of my childhood June 1, 2006

By R. Riley

Format:Hardcover

was reading these short stories as they were published in Boy's Life. The collection was almost an anti-climax - still wonderful, but by then so thorougly digested I'd practically memorized them.

The real treat was when I bought these books for my son. Not only was there "The Mad Scientists Club" and "The New Adventures" thereof, but two full length novels published after the author's death - The Big Kerplop, and The Big Chunk of Ice.

All four are treasures.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A long lost friend returns November 2, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I first read this book some twenty years ago--and I read it at least twenty times. In fact, after my mother purged my collection of children's books while I was away at college, I so missed this particular book that I looked for years before I found a used copy. I am ecstatic to see it back in print.

The Mad Scientist's Club has all the elements that make for a fast-paced, engrossing book: an ensemble cast of unique and humorous characters, a rival club of bigger but less creative scientists, adults who aid as well as thwart the Mad Scientists' projects/practical jokes, and, of course, a great secret hide-out and lots of clandestine meetings in a booby-trapped clubhouse. The cast of characters is comprised of a variety of personalities that are familiar yet creatively re-imagined: the geeky science nerd, the pip-squeak tag-along, the bologna sandwich toting goof, and the narrator-as-everyman. What makes these characters particularly likeable is that, along with their irrepressible hijinks and constant smart-aleck attitudes is a real respect and fondness for each other and their tremendous interest in the power of knowledge (and accidents) when used for good...and entertainment. Adults as well as kids will enjoy this book--a gang of Encyclopedia Browns with better senses of humor, more ingenuity, and less of a holier-than-thou attitude: it doesn't get much better than this.