Stormbreaker: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
==Plot summary== |
==Plot summary== |
||
{{Plot|date=March 2008}} |
{{Plot|date=March 2008}} |
||
[[Alex Rider (character)|Alex Rider]] learns of the death of his [[uncle]] and adopted [[parent]], Ian Rider. |
[[Alex Rider (character)|Alex Rider]] learns of the death of his [[uncle]] and adopted [[parent]], Ian Rider. Told that Ian died in a car accident, Alex investigates. He finds his uncle's car at a [[wrecking yard]] with bullet holes on the [[windshield]]. Alex is asked to visit Ian's former [[employers|employer]], a bank called "Royal & General", a front for [[Secret Intelligence Service|MI6]]. They inform him that a successful [[Demographics of Lebanon|Lebanese]] ([[Egyptians|Egyptian]] in the US version) computer entrepeneur, [[Herod Sayle]], has built a revolutionary computer, the Stormbreaker, and will give one free to every secondary school in the UK, accompanied by an activation ceremony in the Science Museum (London). MI6 got suspicious and had sent Ian to investigate. Trying to report to MI6, he was assassinated by Yassen Gregorovich. MI6 forcibly recruit Alex and put him send him to an [[Special Air Service|SAS]] training camp. Shortly afterwards, he is sent to [[Herod Sayle]]'s base in [[Cornwall]]. He's equipped with gadgets given to him by a man named [[Smithers (Alex Rider)|Smithers]], disguised as a [[yo-yo]], acne cream, and a [[Game Boy Color]]. |
||
Alex visits Sayle's house. Sayle shows |
Alex visits Sayle's house. Sayle shows him around the house, which has a jellyfish [[aquarium]] containing a [[Portuguese Man o' War]] jellyfish. Alex meets Mr. Grin, who had an accident which left him with scars in his mouth, forming a "smile." |
||
Alex finds a cryptic diagram made by Ian. While investigating, Alex sees Sayle's men unloading metal cases from a [[submarine]]. Alex heads to a [[library]] to further investigate. He searches the library, finding a map which matches the Ian's diagram. 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 [[biological weapons]]. Alex is then caught. |
|||
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. |
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. |
||
Revision as of 05:49, 15 August 2008
| 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) Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
| 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[1]
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
 | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (March 2008) |
Alex Rider learns of the death of his uncle and adopted parent, Ian Rider. Told that Ian died in a car accident, Alex investigates. He finds his uncle's car at a wrecking yard with bullet holes on the windshield. 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) computer entrepeneur, Herod Sayle, has built a revolutionary computer, the Stormbreaker, and will give one free to every secondary school in the UK, accompanied by an activation ceremony in the Science Museum (London). MI6 got suspicious and had sent Ian to investigate. Trying to report to MI6, he was assassinated by Yassen Gregorovich. MI6 forcibly recruit Alex and put him send him to an SAS training camp. Shortly afterwards, he is sent to Herod Sayle's base in Cornwall. He's 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 him around the house, which has a jellyfish aquarium containing a Portuguese Man o' War jellyfish. Alex meets Mr. Grin, who had an accident which left him with scars in his mouth, forming a "smile."
Alex finds a cryptic diagram made by Ian. While investigating, Alex sees Sayle's men unloading metal cases from a submarine. Alex heads to a library to further investigate. He searches the library, finding a map which matches the Ian's diagram. 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 biological weapons. Alex is then caught.
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."[2] 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."[3] 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!"[4] The School Library Journal said, "With short cliff-hanger chapters and its breathless pace, it [Stormbreaker] is an excellent choice for reluctant readers."[5] VOYA says, "Although it [Stormbreaker] offers little that a B movie does not, sophisticated readers will find it simplistic."[5] The Bibliophage said, "Horowitz makes us feel suspenseful as we wonder what Alex's next move will be. It is an interesting story to which the recent movie does not do much justice. Stormbreaker is very good."[6]
Awards
- New York Times #1 Bestseller (children series)Cite error: A
<ref>tag is missing the closing</ref>(see the help page).
See also
External links
- ^ "Stormbreaker" (PDF). Walker Books website. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
- ^ Stormbreaker (Alex Rider adventure book 1): Homeschool Review
- ^ Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Adventures, Book 1) by Anthony Horowitz - Book Review
- ^ Stormbreaker Book Review
- ^ a b Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Series #1), Alex Rider Series, Anthony Horowitz, Book - Barnes & Noble
- ^ The Bibliophage: Mission: Accomplished