Stormbreaker

This article is about the 2000 novel. For the 2006 film, see Stormbreaker (film).

Stormbreaker

First edition cover UK cover
Author	Anthony Horowitz
Language	English
Series	Alex Rider series
Genre	Adventure, spy
Publisher	Walker Books
Publication date	4 September 2000
Publication place	United Kingdom
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	240 pp (first edition, paperback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-7445-5943-X (first edition, paperback)
Followed by	Point Blanc (2001)

Stormbreaker is the first novel in the Alex Rider series by British author Anthony Horowitz. It was released in the United Kingdom on September 4, 2000 and in the United States on May 21, 2001. A film adaptation, starring Alex Pettyfer as Rider, was released on July 21, 2006.

Official summary

Walker Books plot synopsis

When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, fourteen-year-old Alex Rider finds his world turned upside down. Forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex has to take part in grueling SAS training exercises. Then, armed with his own special set of secret gadgets, he’s off on his first mission to Cornwall, where Middle-Eastern multi-billionaire Herod Sayle is producing his state-of-the-art Stormbreaker computers. Sayle has offered to give one free to every school in the country – but there’s more to the gift than meets the eye.

Plot summary

Alex Rider learns of the death of his uncle and adopted parent, Ian Rider. Although told that Ian died in a car accident, Alex investigates. He finds his uncle's car at a wrecking yard, which has bullet holes on the windshield. After escaping from from a car crusher, Alex is asked to visit Ian's former employer, a bank called "Royal & General", a front for MI6. They inform him that a successful Lebanese (Egyptian in the US version) business man, Herod Sayle, a computer entrepreneur, has built a revolutionary computer, the Stormbreaker, and will give one free to every secondary school in the UK, accompanied by a grand activation ceremony in the Science Museum (London). MI6, however, got suspicious and had sent Ian to investigate. When he tried to report to MI6, he was assassinated by Yassen Gregorovich. MI6 forcibly recruit Alex and put him through a grueling SAS training camp. Shortly afterwards, he is sent to Herod Sayle's base in Cornwall (using the alias of another boy who won a competition), equipped with gadgets given to him by a man named Smithers, disguised as a yo-yo, acne cream, and a Game Boy Color.

Alex visits Sayle's house. Sayle shows Alex around his mansion, which houses a large jellyfish aquarium containing a Portuguese Man o' War jellyfish. Alex also meets Mr. Grin, a henchman who had an accident which left him with scars in his mouth, forming a "smile."

Initially the trip goes well, with Alex finding a cryptic diagram made by Ian. However, while investigating the base, Alex sees several of Sayle's men unloading metal cases from a submarine. Alex decides to head to the local library to further investigate, but finds himself attacked by guards on quad-bikes. After overcoming them, he searches the library, finding a map which matches the diagram left by Ian. He learns that Ian had borrowed several books on viruses, and assumes Sayle plans to use the Stormbreakers to release a computer virus. Alex investigates the mine and, following the path left by his uncle, discovers a large computer manufacturing facility, where the Stormbreaker computers are being filled with fluid. Alex realizes that the viruses being investigated by Ian were not computer viruses, but biological weapons. Alex is detected, caught and tranquillized. When he comes to, Herod explains his plan to Alex.

When Sayle attended school, he was bullied, worst of all by the future Prime Minister. Sayle plans to humiliate him; when the computers are activated by the PM, the virus, a potent strain of smallpox, will be released into every school in the country. Alex is then left handcuffed, until Nadia Vole, Sayle's assisstant, frees him, telling Alex that she is a fellow spy who worked with Ian Rider. However, she triggers a trapdoor which drops Alex into the jellyfish tank. Alex escapes by using the acne cream to damage the tank's supporting iron girders, causing it to burst. Vole is killed by the burst and jelly-fish. Picking up a harpoon gun, Alex rushes outside to find that Sayle's helicopter has left, leaving a cargo plane on the tarmac. Alex knocks out a guard, taking his jeep and pistol. Alex creates a make-shift gadget to hoist himself onto the plane. Once inside, he confronts the pilot, Mr. Grin. Alex makes him fly to London by threatening him with the pistol.

Once in London, Alex parachutes out of the plane. Mr. Grin attempts to ram Alex with the plane, before Alex activates a smoke bomb he placed; the plane crashes. Alex crashes through the roof of the Science Museum and fires at the Stormbreaker, two shots hitting the Prime Minister and Sayle. Mrs. Jones orders security not to open fire on him. MI6 immediately recalls the computers, citing "safety issues".

After a debriefing by Alan Blunt and Mrs. Jones, Alex enters a taxi. The driver is Sayle, who survived. He leads Alex to the top of a building, about to shoot Alex, but is instead shot by Yassen Gregorovich, who lands in a helicopter. Yassen explains that Sayle was an embarassment, and had to be killed. Alex tells Yassen he will one day kill him, but Yassen brushes the comment aside and tells Alex to drop the spy business to become a normal boy again. Yassen then leaves in a helicopter after saluting Alex.

Critical reception

Homeschool Buzz says, "...mostly there is a plenteous amount of violent action. It's too bad the author included so much brutality. The book would have been fine without it." CommonSense Media says, "...while the books are incredible sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat action, the book is not for readers who look for logic, commom sense, or good dialogue in their readings." Yet, Shvoong.com said that Stormbreaker was, "A Must Read! Stormbreaker is a fast, exciting and action-packed novel that you will never regret reading!" The School Library Journal said, "With short cliff-hanger chapters and its breathless pace, it [Stormbreaker] is an excellent choice for reluctant readers." VOYA says, "Although it [Stormbreaker] offers little that a B movie does not, sophisticated readers will find it simplistic."

Awards

• New York Times #1 Bestseller (children series)

See also

• Alex Rider

External links

• Official website of the books
• Stormbreaker at Walker Books