Da die Surfroboter der Strandkommune, die ihn aufnimmt, vor einem wichtigen Wettkampf demoliert werden, hat er prompt auch seinen ersten Fall. Er landet natürlich gleich am richtigen Ort, am Strand von Malibu. Zap, ein T'Tumler, identifiziert sich so stark mit Philip Marlow, dass er glaubt den Menschen helfen zu müssen und sich Richtung Erde aufmacht. In diesem Roman sind es Surffilme, Krimis mit Philip Marlow, Roboter und Joghurt.Īuf dem Planeten T'Tum empfängt man irdische Radiosendungen, was zu einem festen Teil der dortigen Kultur geworden ist. Wie im gleichnamigen Film (und Comicvorlage) scheint sich im Roman ein Autor seine Vorlieben in einem Werk zusammenfassen und zu einem Ganzen, also einem Roman formen zu wollen. 'Surfing Samurai Robots' liest sich als Titel genauso schräg wie 'Mutant Ninja Turtles'. He lives in Los Angeles, California, where the debris meets the sea, and still hopes to be an astronaut when he grows up. Gilden lectures to school and library groups, and has been known to teach fiction writing. Gilden spent five years as co-host of the science-fiction interview show, Hour-25, on KPFK radio in Los Angeles. He consulted at Disney and Universal, helping develop theme park attractions.

He has written cartoons for TV, has developed new shows, and was assistant story editor for the DIC television production of The Real Ghostbusters. His short stories have appeared in many original and reprint anthologies. He has also written books based on video games and has written original stories based in the Star Trek universe. Licensed properties include adaptations of feature films, and of TV shows such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and NASCAR Racers. (See new publications under his name at the Kindle Store of .)

His popular novels and short stories for grown-ups have also received good reviews in the Washington Post and other publications. His multi-part stories for children appeared frequently in the Los Angeles Times. 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.

Two Hearts by Mel Gilden