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Alex Rider #11.5
Secret Weapon
An alternate cover edition of this ISBN can be found here.
An essential collection of seven explosive Alex Rider stories by number one bestselling author, Anthony Horowitz.
Ever since MI6 recognized his potential, Alex Rider has constantly been thrust into the line of danger. From a routine visit to the dentist that turns into a chase through the streets of London, to a school trip with a deadly twist, no day has ever been ordinary for the teenage super-spy. This collection of seven thrilling adventures features familiar and new assailants from the best-loved world of Alex Rider, and also includes three, brand new and action-packed adventures.
An essential collection of seven explosive Alex Rider stories by number one bestselling author, Anthony Horowitz.
Ever since MI6 recognized his potential, Alex Rider has constantly been thrust into the line of danger. From a routine visit to the dentist that turns into a chase through the streets of London, to a school trip with a deadly twist, no day has ever been ordinary for the teenage super-spy. This collection of seven thrilling adventures features familiar and new assailants from the best-loved world of Alex Rider, and also includes three, brand new and action-packed adventures.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2019
340 people are currently reading
3122 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Horowitz
345 books20.9k followersAnthony Horowitz, OBE is ranked alongside Enid Blyton and Mark A. Cooper as "The most original and best spy-kids authors of the century." (New York Times). Anthony has been writing since the age of eight, and professionally since the age of twenty. In addition to the highly successful Alex Rider books, he is also the writer and creator of award winning detective series Foyle’s War, and more recently event drama Collision, among his other television works he has written episodes for Poirot, Murder in Mind, Midsomer Murders and Murder Most Horrid. Anthony became patron to East Anglia Children’s Hospices in 2009.
On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled the House of Silk.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/anthon...
On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled the House of Silk.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/anthon...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
July 30, 2022
"Alex Rider was in need of a vacation. But it was the last thing he was going to get."
I'll never stop reading these books Ya'll this series is one where I can re-read them front to back and never get tired. Witty, smart, butt-kicking action, and some well placed puns, you can never go wrong with Alex Rider (he was also my first fictional crush so that's an extra point there ;D). The only complaint is that these aren't in chronological order so it was a little difficult to see when these took place in the series, but you get there eventually.
So read without worry or strife my friends!
So read without worry or strife my friends!
April 21, 2019
After twelve highly enjoyable adventures, featuring the indestructible teenage spy Alex Rider, here is a collection of seven equally entertaining short stories. There are four previously published stories & three new adventures for this collection.
Every story here is a huge amount of fun & they are told at a breakneck pace. I was especially pleased to read in the introduction that Anthony Horowitz is currently writing a new Rider novel entitled Nightshde....that's one I'm already looking forward to reading.
For anyone who enjoys the Alex Rider adventures I can highly recommend the excellent novel The Boy Who Knew Too Much by Jeffrey Westhoff. It's fast paced fun with plenty of James Bond references & as good as any Horowitz story.
I was just thinking that when I was a teenager I read a huge amount of spy fiction by Ian Fleming, Len Deighton, Alan Williams etc. Now, at the age of 54, here I am reading YA spy fiction. Funny old world.
Every story here is a huge amount of fun & they are told at a breakneck pace. I was especially pleased to read in the introduction that Anthony Horowitz is currently writing a new Rider novel entitled Nightshde....that's one I'm already looking forward to reading.
For anyone who enjoys the Alex Rider adventures I can highly recommend the excellent novel The Boy Who Knew Too Much by Jeffrey Westhoff. It's fast paced fun with plenty of James Bond references & as good as any Horowitz story.
I was just thinking that when I was a teenager I read a huge amount of spy fiction by Ian Fleming, Len Deighton, Alan Williams etc. Now, at the age of 54, here I am reading YA spy fiction. Funny old world.
April 1, 2019
I'm a huge fan of Alex Rider books. The imagination runs wild, with fourteen year old Alex Rider who is a spy. He has the best of gadgets and weapons, but are the kind of non-lethal. Alex Rider is back in this new book full of short stories with exclusively three brand new stories. Novels in the past have taken Alex Rider to UK, France, Italy, America, Russia and even outer space. The last book was Never Say Die that was released in 2017. I can reveal that there's going to be a thirteenth book coming out soon called Nightshade. Thank goodness that Alex Rider is back with author Anthony Horowitz who still has plenty more ideas for escapes, fights, and them brilliant gadgets that I just love reading about. Anthony Horowitz has written James Bond novel, Trigger Mortis and Forever and a Day. I have liked Alex Rider books so much that I bought the DVD Stormbreaker, with Alex Pettyfer playing the part of Alex Rider. Here's a bonus true opportunity I don't know if they are still auditioning male actors but for Alex Rider fans they were looking for a 16-20 year old male actor available from late February to August 2019 for a new Alex Rider movie. Perhaps if you are interested you could visit Anthony Horowitz website or Alexrider.com.
July 24, 2019
Me and Alex Rider have an interesting history. I first read about the series in the pages of Nintendo Power; the celluloid adaptation of the premiere novel promoted the big N's new dual-screen system. However, as any fan of the franchise knows, that flick was a flop, particularly Stateside. Still, when I saw the first novel in audiobook format, my curiosity was piqued, and I decided to give it a listen. It actually enthralled me in a way books on compact disc or audio tape rarely do, unless they're Bibles; the action moved at a fast clip, and the narrator did a great job with the various voices. As someone who grew up on media from the UK--particularly Britcoms, of which my family members are big fans--the series seemed right up my alley. Over the next few months, I devoured all of the books, and rented the movie from Blockbuster; it was easy to see why it bombed at the box office.
Recently, I was at a library in a neighboring city, and saw a new volume in the saga of the teenaged boy working for MI6; I had thought that Mr. Horowitz was done with the franchise, but, he apparently isn't. Collections of short stories aren't my favorite kind of literature; every time I read one, I think of the Disney film Belle's Magical World, a mere cash-in attempt on the beloved Beauty and the Beast franchise. Still, just for giggles, I checked it out, and finished reading it today; it was actually surprisingly great. Most of the stories had amazing action sequences and were true to the spirit of the original novels. Of particular note is one that takes place before Ian's death, which gives us a rare glimpse of Alex's life pre-Stormbreaker. Though this franchise has never really been comedic, the mention of the villain's badly spelled tattoo had me laughing.
My complaints about this volume are minor. As you'd expect, there's violence, but it's rarely bloody and never gory. Profanity occasionally comes up; mostly uses of the h-word. Drugs are mentioned, but their use is vilified. The most disappointing part was about a villain's body piercings; talk about too much information!
My actual favorite part, though, was on the back cover flap, where it mentions that an Alex Rider television series is in production. If they don't flub it up like they did the movie, seeing Alex in action on the small screen should be fun! Let's hope they refrain from jumping the shark on day one this time.
Recently, I was at a library in a neighboring city, and saw a new volume in the saga of the teenaged boy working for MI6; I had thought that Mr. Horowitz was done with the franchise, but, he apparently isn't. Collections of short stories aren't my favorite kind of literature; every time I read one, I think of the Disney film Belle's Magical World, a mere cash-in attempt on the beloved Beauty and the Beast franchise. Still, just for giggles, I checked it out, and finished reading it today; it was actually surprisingly great. Most of the stories had amazing action sequences and were true to the spirit of the original novels. Of particular note is one that takes place before Ian's death, which gives us a rare glimpse of Alex's life pre-Stormbreaker. Though this franchise has never really been comedic, the mention of the villain's badly spelled tattoo had me laughing.
My complaints about this volume are minor. As you'd expect, there's violence, but it's rarely bloody and never gory. Profanity occasionally comes up; mostly uses of the h-word. Drugs are mentioned, but their use is vilified. The most disappointing part was about a villain's body piercings; talk about too much information!
My actual favorite part, though, was on the back cover flap, where it mentions that an Alex Rider television series is in production. If they don't flub it up like they did the movie, seeing Alex in action on the small screen should be fun! Let's hope they refrain from jumping the shark on day one this time.
July 7, 2019
There’s something so exciting about Alex Rider and Jason Steed novels. I just love them!!
This is a collection of 7 more Alex Rider short adventures ranging from 80 pages to just 14 pages, so make sure you look at the contents page before you think you are diving into to a long story.
The style is sharp and continuous as the hero goes from action to action. Only the young can keep up the pace at which the plot progresses. Just when you think our hero has run out of options the author reveals a secret event that was previously unwritten that allows Alex to survive and win the day.
It was good to read some of the background, especially with Ian Rider. The short-story concept was perfect for the little ‘reveals’ and a great teaser for the new novel.
What I liked about the collection is that they are set early on in Alex’s adventures, you don’t need to have read ALL the adventures to be able to read these.
Really looking forward to watching the New TV series when it comes out.
This is a collection of 7 more Alex Rider short adventures ranging from 80 pages to just 14 pages, so make sure you look at the contents page before you think you are diving into to a long story.
The style is sharp and continuous as the hero goes from action to action. Only the young can keep up the pace at which the plot progresses. Just when you think our hero has run out of options the author reveals a secret event that was previously unwritten that allows Alex to survive and win the day.
It was good to read some of the background, especially with Ian Rider. The short-story concept was perfect for the little ‘reveals’ and a great teaser for the new novel.
What I liked about the collection is that they are set early on in Alex’s adventures, you don’t need to have read ALL the adventures to be able to read these.
Really looking forward to watching the New TV series when it comes out.
December 29, 2019
Probably my least favorite Alex Rider (teen MI-6 spy) book. Not a big fan of short stories. I also think it would have been helpful for the stories to be arranged in chronological order or at least annotated as to when they took place in the sequence of novels. The best story was about Alex's infiltrating a terrorist hideout in Afghanistan, with a number of twists where it was a challenge to tell the good guys from the bad guys and a very daring, but somewhat unrealistic, escape.
June 19, 2024
This book is a total game-changer, trust me. The plot twists will make your head spin, the characters feel like old friends, and the writing is just pure magic. It's a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. You won't be able to put it down, I guarantee it.
This book is a thrilling rollercoaster ride from start to finish! From Alex's daring mission in space to the heart-pounding action sequences, Anthony Horowitz once again delivers a gripping story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The intricate plot twists and the introduction of new characters add an exciting dimension to the series, making it a must-read for any Alex Rider fan.
This book is a thrilling rollercoaster ride from start to finish! From Alex's daring mission in space to the heart-pounding action sequences, Anthony Horowitz once again delivers a gripping story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The intricate plot twists and the introduction of new characters add an exciting dimension to the series, making it a must-read for any Alex Rider fan.
December 7, 2024
I loved being back in the world of Alex Rider. It was a journey full of nostalgia, and although I haven't read one of the Alex Rider novels in over a decade; I was able to jump right back in. Secret Weapon is a collection of seven short stories scattered throughout the gaps between the main ten-book series.
Of the seven stories, the standouts were Christmas at Gunpoint (because we got to see a glimpse of uncle Ian alive and in action) and The Man With Eleven Fingers (because of its great/cute concept of Alex being more afraid of the dentist than murderers).
Of the seven stories, the standouts were Christmas at Gunpoint (because we got to see a glimpse of uncle Ian alive and in action) and The Man With Eleven Fingers (because of its great/cute concept of Alex being more afraid of the dentist than murderers).
July 17, 2019
This is a collection of short Alex Rider stories set in the earlier part of his spy career. Each is stand alone, and each gives more back ground into Alex's young lofe and it's many hazards and adventures. Highly recommended for all.
July 25, 2024
3.5⭐️
How is this boy still 14???? We’re on book 12 now mate has the passage of time just stopped?
How is this boy still 14???? We’re on book 12 now mate has the passage of time just stopped?
January 9, 2024
When I started the book, I had no idea that this would be a collection of 7 short stories and, upon aforementioned realization, was extremely skeptical. This is an important lesson in not letting your pre-conceived notions/preferences blind your judgments.
This book was AMAZING. Alex Rider's adventures in a short-story format have just the right amount of story, script, and action. To all those who don't know: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate gave Anthony Horowitz rights to pen down a couple of Sherlock Holmes books, and these short stories have a very Sherlockian vibe. A must-read, for even those who aren't die-hard fans of the series.
This book was AMAZING. Alex Rider's adventures in a short-story format have just the right amount of story, script, and action. To all those who don't know: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate gave Anthony Horowitz rights to pen down a couple of Sherlock Holmes books, and these short stories have a very Sherlockian vibe. A must-read, for even those who aren't die-hard fans of the series.
January 24, 2023
Nice collection of 7 short stories in the always-fun Alex Rider universe. Three of them are brand new to this collection. It's a nice mix with some simple and relatively benign, slice-of-Alex's-life sorts of stories while others are filled with dangerous and perilous adventure akin to the regular series novels. Regardless, I enjoyed them all.
April 29, 2019
And Alex Rider is back.
I had no idea how much I missed the character of Alex Rider, until I picked up the twelfth installment in the series, Secret Weapon. Though it is compilation of seven short stories, I was immediately transported back into the world of MI6 and Britain’s need for the talented and charismatic teenage super-spy.
As I read the short stories in order of publication, I could sense my mind seeking out all the connections to the other stories in the series, especially Point Blanc and Eagle Strike. I loved reading about Alex’s companionship and friendship with Jack Starbright and Derek Smithers.
I thoroughly enjoyed the combination of the mundane (Alex’s attendance at school, and his trip to the dentist) with the pressure of successfully completing high stakes missions. Horowitz’s style has evolved and still has the high level of technical jargon woven into his storytelling.
Though I don’t have the time, I believe a complete re-read of the series is in order.
I had no idea how much I missed the character of Alex Rider, until I picked up the twelfth installment in the series, Secret Weapon. Though it is compilation of seven short stories, I was immediately transported back into the world of MI6 and Britain’s need for the talented and charismatic teenage super-spy.
As I read the short stories in order of publication, I could sense my mind seeking out all the connections to the other stories in the series, especially Point Blanc and Eagle Strike. I loved reading about Alex’s companionship and friendship with Jack Starbright and Derek Smithers.
I thoroughly enjoyed the combination of the mundane (Alex’s attendance at school, and his trip to the dentist) with the pressure of successfully completing high stakes missions. Horowitz’s style has evolved and still has the high level of technical jargon woven into his storytelling.
Though I don’t have the time, I believe a complete re-read of the series is in order.
February 19, 2024
I've been reading the Alex Rider books since I was 11 - 23 years on and I still love them! As long as Anthony Horowitz keeps writing them, I will keep reading them.
May 27, 2019
International bestselling author Anthony Horowitz’s short story collection expands the universe of teen spy Alex Rider with more thrilling action, espionage, and pulse-pounding heroics.
Inspired by Horowitz’s millions of fans worldwide, Secret Weapon expands the world of Alex Rider with more thrilling action and pulse-pounding heroics. Follow Alex as he infiltrates a terrorist hideout in Afghanistan, fights to prevent an assassination attempt at a ski resort over Christmas, and much more! The #1 New York Times bestselling Alex Rider is back with more exciting, edge-of-your-seats adventures!
Contains a combination of new and previously published material, together for the first time!
Alright, y’all. Alex Rider is a book series that I have always known about but never got a chance to try. I was 8 years old when the first book came out almost 20 years ago so it’s taken me a little while to dive into the high velocity world of the teen spy extraordinaire but I am so glad that it finally happened. Reading Secret Weapon was such a delightful way to spend an afternoon. The stories are fast paced and action packed so I was finished in no time and desperately wanted to live in that spy world a bit more.
Horowitz definitely knows how to craft a fantastic action sequence that draws you in and doesn’t let you go until Alex is back safe at his home in London. He also does well diving into the psychology of what it means to be a teenage spy who has lost nearly every important person in their life. These are the moments that I looked forward to the most as the book of short stories progressed. Alex is such a fascinating character so any glimpse into his psyche was a nuanced treat.
Before reading this, I picked up the first in this 11+ book franchise and found myself completely blown away. Alex’s explosive first mission, Stormbreaker, after finding out his beloved late uncle wasn’t actually a banker but a spy for the British government was fabulous. That being said, I don’t think you necessarily have to read any of the other books to be able to enjoy the collection of short stories that are in Secret Weapon but having done so absolutely raised the stakes for me and helped me to care that much more about Alex and his journey.
These books are intended for young teens but they are so great that I believe anyone can sit down and disappear into one of these fast-paced spy thrillers for a few hours and enjoy it. Alex might be fourteen but the trauma he has gone through in his short life has aged him greatly. While he definitely has his angsty moments, he has to make mature and sometimes dark decision in order to complete his missions and make it out alive.
I’ve already ordered the second and third books in the series and I can’t wait to go on a few more adventures with Alex Rider.
I received a copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher as part of the Kids Know Best Blogger Campaign. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Find more out about the author at http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com
Inspired by Horowitz’s millions of fans worldwide, Secret Weapon expands the world of Alex Rider with more thrilling action and pulse-pounding heroics. Follow Alex as he infiltrates a terrorist hideout in Afghanistan, fights to prevent an assassination attempt at a ski resort over Christmas, and much more! The #1 New York Times bestselling Alex Rider is back with more exciting, edge-of-your-seats adventures!
Contains a combination of new and previously published material, together for the first time!
Alright, y’all. Alex Rider is a book series that I have always known about but never got a chance to try. I was 8 years old when the first book came out almost 20 years ago so it’s taken me a little while to dive into the high velocity world of the teen spy extraordinaire but I am so glad that it finally happened. Reading Secret Weapon was such a delightful way to spend an afternoon. The stories are fast paced and action packed so I was finished in no time and desperately wanted to live in that spy world a bit more.
Horowitz definitely knows how to craft a fantastic action sequence that draws you in and doesn’t let you go until Alex is back safe at his home in London. He also does well diving into the psychology of what it means to be a teenage spy who has lost nearly every important person in their life. These are the moments that I looked forward to the most as the book of short stories progressed. Alex is such a fascinating character so any glimpse into his psyche was a nuanced treat.
Before reading this, I picked up the first in this 11+ book franchise and found myself completely blown away. Alex’s explosive first mission, Stormbreaker, after finding out his beloved late uncle wasn’t actually a banker but a spy for the British government was fabulous. That being said, I don’t think you necessarily have to read any of the other books to be able to enjoy the collection of short stories that are in Secret Weapon but having done so absolutely raised the stakes for me and helped me to care that much more about Alex and his journey.
These books are intended for young teens but they are so great that I believe anyone can sit down and disappear into one of these fast-paced spy thrillers for a few hours and enjoy it. Alex might be fourteen but the trauma he has gone through in his short life has aged him greatly. While he definitely has his angsty moments, he has to make mature and sometimes dark decision in order to complete his missions and make it out alive.
I’ve already ordered the second and third books in the series and I can’t wait to go on a few more adventures with Alex Rider.
I received a copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher as part of the Kids Know Best Blogger Campaign. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Find more out about the author at http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com
October 1, 2019
Alex Rider: Secret Weapon: Seven Untold Adventures from the Life of a Teenaged Spy is an anthology of seven short stories which was written by Anthony Horowitz. This anthology collects seven short stories pertaining to the Alex Rider series from different moments in the series.
For the most part, I really like most of these contributions. Alex Rider: Secret Weapon: Seven Untold Adventures from the Life of a Teenaged Spy is an anthology collecting seven short stories, which takes place during various points in the time span of the series:
"Alex in Afghanistan" and "High Tension" takes place after "Point Blank" (Book Tw0), "The Man with Eleven Fingers" and "Secret Weapon" takes place after "Stormbreaker" (Book One), "Tea with Smithers" possibly takes place after "Never Say Die" (Book Ten), "Christmas at Gunpoint" takes place before the series, and "Spy Trap" takes place after "Skeleton Key" (Book Three).
Like most anthologies there are weaker contributions, but Alex Rider: Secret Weapon: Seven Untold Adventures from the Life of a Teenaged Spy seems like an exception. They were all rather well written and balance thrilling adventures rather evenly throughout the anthology and they were all written rather well.
All in all, Alex Rider: Secret Weapon: Seven Untold Adventures from the Life of a Teenaged Spy is a well written fun anthology about moments in-between the novels. This collection of short stories expands the wonderful world that Anthony Horowitz had created.
For the most part, I really like most of these contributions. Alex Rider: Secret Weapon: Seven Untold Adventures from the Life of a Teenaged Spy is an anthology collecting seven short stories, which takes place during various points in the time span of the series:
"Alex in Afghanistan" and "High Tension" takes place after "Point Blank" (Book Tw0), "The Man with Eleven Fingers" and "Secret Weapon" takes place after "Stormbreaker" (Book One), "Tea with Smithers" possibly takes place after "Never Say Die" (Book Ten), "Christmas at Gunpoint" takes place before the series, and "Spy Trap" takes place after "Skeleton Key" (Book Three).
Like most anthologies there are weaker contributions, but Alex Rider: Secret Weapon: Seven Untold Adventures from the Life of a Teenaged Spy seems like an exception. They were all rather well written and balance thrilling adventures rather evenly throughout the anthology and they were all written rather well.
All in all, Alex Rider: Secret Weapon: Seven Untold Adventures from the Life of a Teenaged Spy is a well written fun anthology about moments in-between the novels. This collection of short stories expands the wonderful world that Anthony Horowitz had created.
March 22, 2020
Full review: https://inkandplasma.wordpress.com/20...
I’m not usually a huge fan of short story collections, but I’m giving them a try in 2020 after reading a couple of incredible ones. The stories were fun (and I’ve broken them down below) but they did contradict the main stories a little which was my biggest criticism. I think I would have liked most of these stories a lot more if I wasn’t constantly aware of the fact that they were jilting canon with every line. The timeline for Alex Rider is so tight, with only weeks between some of the books, how am I supposed to believe Alex got sent to Afghanistan in those weeks and it wasn’t mentioned in the original story? The timelines are just screwy.
Rating: 3.5 stars!
Alex in Afghanistan
It was a little weird to have a mission tucked in between Point Blanc and Skeleton Key that obviously hadn’t been mentioned in any of the original books, but I’m suspending my disbelief because I know that these were written afterwards and that the gap after PB when Brooklands was closed is the easiest place to fit another story in.
Altogether this was a pretty entertaining short story. It was compact but with all the hallmarks of an excellent Alex Rider novel, just cut a lot more tightly. The action sequences were still engaging, and after being elbow deep in Scorpia Rising and Never Say Die, it was nice to have a flashback to a happier and lighter-hearted Alex. This short story was well-balanced too, which is hard to do with a low word count, it wasn’t focused on just character or just action but had a nice blend of both. I liked the flash of depth this gave to the series, with more visceral proof of the way MI-6 has been using Alex from the start. In the first few books we got hints but no actual proof that MI-6 were more nefarious than they seemed, but here we’re shown that they never pull their punches. As a final note, I think I will literally have nightmares about the snake scene so thanks very much for that gory imagery.
The Man with Eleven Fingers
This was set after Stormbreaker, and I honestly found this whole thing hilarious. Alex was at his best, even with his toothache, and it was funny the whole way through. Like the previous story, it was a lighter kind of Alex story. There was a moment when Alex recognised someone, and for a full paragraph I thought it was a Yassen story. Alas, no Yassen here. The plot was interesting and mostly harmless (although reading it in the midst of COVID-19 chaos made it hit differently) and Meadows was genuinely hilarious. Give me more wacky Alex Rider one-shots, honestly.
High Tension
This was a weird one. Good, but weird. Alex is on holiday, though that’s obviously never going to work out, and there’s actually no bad guy for once. Instead, this was a really good show of Alex’s creativity and character. He’s brilliant, and I have to respect it. I don’t have the brain cells to react to things like he does, so I’m constantly impressed. All the Alex Rider plots are usually so complex and dangerous that I’m used to Alex being hit by malicious and nefarious plots. I’m surprised he didn’t assume there was something wrong beyond the norm, because I was totally waiting for Scorpia to parachute out of the sky with machine guns or something.
Secret Weapon/b>
Having Skoda back was a treat, because I wasn’t expecting it at first. I liked the idea of a cameo from a side-character from an earlier story, but this seemed a little too outlandish. The security seemed a little… lax, for Skoda to be able to kidnap a kid and steal a sword and generally cause chaos without any full-scale security response. Having MI-6 shadow Alex makes sense logically, though it doesn’t fit with the fact that every time anyone’s targeted Alex before they’ve gotten him in on it and used it as an excuse to drag him into a mission. I think more than anything including Tom in this story just made it baffling. Yes, absolutely he’s Alex’s best friend and therefore the best leverage but we’ve already read a story where Tom finds out Alex is a spy and has no inkling whatsoever about it. I’m just saying that if I got kidnapped at sword point by a man out for revenge against my best friend, only to be rescued by an MI-6 operative shadowing said best friend – I would have a lot of questions.
Tea with Smithers
Whyyyy did Smithers get ruined in Scorpia Rising? He’s so wild, and I would have loved this story a lot if it wasn’t for the fact that I know it’s all fat-phobic as hell. I do really enjoy the gadgets. I feel like the gadgets in every Alex Rider book are always a highlight because they’re so wacky and creative, and I love that ‘Tea with Smithers’ explored that further and gave Smithers a chance to really show all of his ridiculous gadgets and inventions by taking away the sense of danger and urgency and setting it on Smither’s own turf. It’s just a shame that I reflexively cringe every time I read his name.
Christmas at Gunpoint
This one was… not my favourite. The principle of it was really cool, and I liked seeing a snippet of Alex’s life before MI-6 got involved. It was also the first real time we’ve seen Ian Rider in any Alex Rider stories, and he’s more bad-ass than even I anticipated. But I physically cannot get over the idea that this would all happen and Alex wouldn’t question his uncle over it for a second? In Stormbreaker he was so surprised to find out Ian was a spy, which I thought was fair until I found out that apparently their holiday got interrupted by chaotic spy nonsense. Also, if Alex had literally saved the day like this, it would have been in Ian’s reports and MI-6 wouldn’t have been shocked to meet Alex Rider, teenage spy-to-be. It just felt a little like it didn’t work in the wider chronology. Next time maybe just a cool Ian story would be fun.
Spy Trap
There were some very cool moments in this. The truth serum stuff was creepy as hell, and Alex working it out and fighting back subtly was really interesting. Usually we just see Alex going loud so to see him taking it a little more stealthily here was fun. This story wasn’t hugely memorable, honestly, but it was a nice little read and made for an interesting adventure. Considering it came out during a bit of an Alex Rider drought, I think I would have loved to get my hands on it. I’m a little less thirsty for new content given that I’ve been marathon reading Alex Rider stories for weeks, so I was more critical of it.
I’m not usually a huge fan of short story collections, but I’m giving them a try in 2020 after reading a couple of incredible ones. The stories were fun (and I’ve broken them down below) but they did contradict the main stories a little which was my biggest criticism. I think I would have liked most of these stories a lot more if I wasn’t constantly aware of the fact that they were jilting canon with every line. The timeline for Alex Rider is so tight, with only weeks between some of the books, how am I supposed to believe Alex got sent to Afghanistan in those weeks and it wasn’t mentioned in the original story? The timelines are just screwy.
Rating: 3.5 stars!
Alex in Afghanistan
It was a little weird to have a mission tucked in between Point Blanc and Skeleton Key that obviously hadn’t been mentioned in any of the original books, but I’m suspending my disbelief because I know that these were written afterwards and that the gap after PB when Brooklands was closed is the easiest place to fit another story in.
Altogether this was a pretty entertaining short story. It was compact but with all the hallmarks of an excellent Alex Rider novel, just cut a lot more tightly. The action sequences were still engaging, and after being elbow deep in Scorpia Rising and Never Say Die, it was nice to have a flashback to a happier and lighter-hearted Alex. This short story was well-balanced too, which is hard to do with a low word count, it wasn’t focused on just character or just action but had a nice blend of both. I liked the flash of depth this gave to the series, with more visceral proof of the way MI-6 has been using Alex from the start. In the first few books we got hints but no actual proof that MI-6 were more nefarious than they seemed, but here we’re shown that they never pull their punches. As a final note, I think I will literally have nightmares about the snake scene so thanks very much for that gory imagery.
The Man with Eleven Fingers
This was set after Stormbreaker, and I honestly found this whole thing hilarious. Alex was at his best, even with his toothache, and it was funny the whole way through. Like the previous story, it was a lighter kind of Alex story. There was a moment when Alex recognised someone, and for a full paragraph I thought it was a Yassen story. Alas, no Yassen here. The plot was interesting and mostly harmless (although reading it in the midst of COVID-19 chaos made it hit differently) and Meadows was genuinely hilarious. Give me more wacky Alex Rider one-shots, honestly.
High Tension
This was a weird one. Good, but weird. Alex is on holiday, though that’s obviously never going to work out, and there’s actually no bad guy for once. Instead, this was a really good show of Alex’s creativity and character. He’s brilliant, and I have to respect it. I don’t have the brain cells to react to things like he does, so I’m constantly impressed. All the Alex Rider plots are usually so complex and dangerous that I’m used to Alex being hit by malicious and nefarious plots. I’m surprised he didn’t assume there was something wrong beyond the norm, because I was totally waiting for Scorpia to parachute out of the sky with machine guns or something.
Secret Weapon/b>
Having Skoda back was a treat, because I wasn’t expecting it at first. I liked the idea of a cameo from a side-character from an earlier story, but this seemed a little too outlandish. The security seemed a little… lax, for Skoda to be able to kidnap a kid and steal a sword and generally cause chaos without any full-scale security response. Having MI-6 shadow Alex makes sense logically, though it doesn’t fit with the fact that every time anyone’s targeted Alex before they’ve gotten him in on it and used it as an excuse to drag him into a mission. I think more than anything including Tom in this story just made it baffling. Yes, absolutely he’s Alex’s best friend and therefore the best leverage but we’ve already read a story where Tom finds out Alex is a spy and has no inkling whatsoever about it. I’m just saying that if I got kidnapped at sword point by a man out for revenge against my best friend, only to be rescued by an MI-6 operative shadowing said best friend – I would have a lot of questions.
Tea with Smithers
Whyyyy did Smithers get ruined in Scorpia Rising? He’s so wild, and I would have loved this story a lot if it wasn’t for the fact that I know it’s all fat-phobic as hell. I do really enjoy the gadgets. I feel like the gadgets in every Alex Rider book are always a highlight because they’re so wacky and creative, and I love that ‘Tea with Smithers’ explored that further and gave Smithers a chance to really show all of his ridiculous gadgets and inventions by taking away the sense of danger and urgency and setting it on Smither’s own turf. It’s just a shame that I reflexively cringe every time I read his name.
Christmas at Gunpoint
This one was… not my favourite. The principle of it was really cool, and I liked seeing a snippet of Alex’s life before MI-6 got involved. It was also the first real time we’ve seen Ian Rider in any Alex Rider stories, and he’s more bad-ass than even I anticipated. But I physically cannot get over the idea that this would all happen and Alex wouldn’t question his uncle over it for a second? In Stormbreaker he was so surprised to find out Ian was a spy, which I thought was fair until I found out that apparently their holiday got interrupted by chaotic spy nonsense. Also, if Alex had literally saved the day like this, it would have been in Ian’s reports and MI-6 wouldn’t have been shocked to meet Alex Rider, teenage spy-to-be. It just felt a little like it didn’t work in the wider chronology. Next time maybe just a cool Ian story would be fun.
Spy Trap
There were some very cool moments in this. The truth serum stuff was creepy as hell, and Alex working it out and fighting back subtly was really interesting. Usually we just see Alex going loud so to see him taking it a little more stealthily here was fun. This story wasn’t hugely memorable, honestly, but it was a nice little read and made for an interesting adventure. Considering it came out during a bit of an Alex Rider drought, I think I would have loved to get my hands on it. I’m a little less thirsty for new content given that I’ve been marathon reading Alex Rider stories for weeks, so I was more critical of it.
April 8, 2019
A collection of seven short stories set in the Alex Rider series. Anthony Horowitz describes this himself as a series of new adventures which came to mind as he revisited Alex’s world, some of which had been edited somewhat from previous publications in well-known newspapers or online. The originality definitely shows - the adventures are indeed new and can be read entirely ignorant to Alex Rider, so may be a good introduction for potential readers and a nice addition for fans.
As a “potential reader” I found myself HUGELY disappointed. Some of this could be attributed to the lack of familiarity with the wider series, I suppose, but having spent quite some time reading this collection I’m confident I won’t enjoy the series at all.
The writing style just does not work for me. Of the seven stories, only one felt like it had a more developed plot (difficult to achieve anyway with short stories, but still...) and the remaining six felt very superficial, especially implausible and actually quite hard to read. I expected fast paced, allegedly “explosive”, stories but in actuality they were pretty dry. I won’t be reading any further into the series, but I can see that this would be great for fans who want to revisit Alex one last time.
ARC provided free from Walker Books in exchange for an honest review.
As a “potential reader” I found myself HUGELY disappointed. Some of this could be attributed to the lack of familiarity with the wider series, I suppose, but having spent quite some time reading this collection I’m confident I won’t enjoy the series at all.
The writing style just does not work for me. Of the seven stories, only one felt like it had a more developed plot (difficult to achieve anyway with short stories, but still...) and the remaining six felt very superficial, especially implausible and actually quite hard to read. I expected fast paced, allegedly “explosive”, stories but in actuality they were pretty dry. I won’t be reading any further into the series, but I can see that this would be great for fans who want to revisit Alex one last time.
ARC provided free from Walker Books in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2021
Alex Rider short stories.
Alex in Afghanistan
Continue with the Falcon Edge storyline when MI6 used Alex to climb into one of the pipe too small for any adult. He got in but there is betrayal that put Alex in danger.
The Man with Eleven Fingers
Alex is going to the dentist when he was handed a Cadbury's Choco Bar. The misspelling got his attention and he followed the guys who did the distribution and found out something more serious.
High Tension
Alex has a chance to try parasailing when something went terribly wrong.
Secret Weapon
Alex and his classmates go on a field trip to the museum when someone trying to harm him.
Tea with Smithers
Alex relation with the alternative version of doctor Q.
Christmas at Gunpoint
Alex remember spending Christmas with his uncle Ian Rider.
Spy Trap
Alex woke up in a hospital and he tried to find out what's happened.
All in all good stories and they are entertaining.
Alex in Afghanistan
Continue with the Falcon Edge storyline when MI6 used Alex to climb into one of the pipe too small for any adult. He got in but there is betrayal that put Alex in danger.
The Man with Eleven Fingers
Alex is going to the dentist when he was handed a Cadbury's Choco Bar. The misspelling got his attention and he followed the guys who did the distribution and found out something more serious.
High Tension
Alex has a chance to try parasailing when something went terribly wrong.
Secret Weapon
Alex and his classmates go on a field trip to the museum when someone trying to harm him.
Tea with Smithers
Alex relation with the alternative version of doctor Q.
Christmas at Gunpoint
Alex remember spending Christmas with his uncle Ian Rider.
Spy Trap
Alex woke up in a hospital and he tried to find out what's happened.
All in all good stories and they are entertaining.
May 28, 2019
I have to confess, I have never read an Alex Rider book before, but chose it based on different things I have heard from young readers, who are fans of the series. So far, there are 11 books in the Alex Rider series, not counting Secret Weapon, which is a book of 7 short stories.
For those like me who don't know, 14-year-old Alex has been well trained to be a spy by his uncle, Ian Rider, who was a secret agent for MI6. After his uncle was killed, MI6 approached Alex, recognizing his potential, talent, and training. Now, Alex is working for MI6 and having some incredible adventures.
In the first story, "Alex in Afghanistan," Alex is sent to a remote area in the Herat Mountains, where Darcus Drake is holed up in a ancient citadel, hoping to get an old Soviet calutron working again, so he can quickly produce the uranium needed for bombs and offer it to every terrorist group in the Middle East. All Alex has to do is find it to prove it exists. Why Alex? The back way into the citadel is through some narrow ventilation pipelines.
In "The Man with Eleven Fingers," Alex's trip to the dentist for a sore tooth turns into a exciting day when he is given a free chocolate bar being handed out to passersby. But when Alex notices something wrong with the wrapper, he begins to follow the man who gave the candy out. He recognizes the driver that picks up the candy man, and decides to punt on the dentist and follow them to see what's up. No sooner does Alex figure out what's going on, then people all over London start dropping in their tracts. This was an interesting story and the ending really surprised me.
The third story is called "Secret Weapon" and involves a drug-dealer named Skoda, whom Alex had a run in with in an earlier book. Skoda has finally figured out how to sneak out of prison and take care of Alex. And his plan works, until it doesn't. This story also has a surprise at the end, and again, I didn't see it coming.
"High Tension" is a little different, as it doesn't involve any spy activity. Alex is on vacation with a friend in the South of France. When he finds himself with some free time, his host, Andrew Hale, insists that he go parasailing and enlists his wife Celestine to drive Alex to the beach. Not really wanting to parasail, Alex reluctantly agrees and is not sooner in the air, then the driver of the motorboat to which he is harnessed passes out. Getting out the air safely may require readers to really suspend their disbelief more than in other Alex Rider stories, but it's still a tense, action-packed story.
The fifth story, "Tea with Smithers" is not action-packed or a spy story, but rather a look at Alex's 'quieter' side of life. After a debriefing at MI6, Alex runs into Smithers, the man who invents and then disguises all of Alex's James Bond-like gadgets for fighting off bad guys. Smithers invites Alex to tea and when he shows up, he learns all about Smithers' life and how he became an inventor/disguiser for MI6. But when he challenges Alex to try to find his brand-new gadget, one sitting right in front of Alex, the ace 14-year-old is totally stumped. This was a fun story, and there are lots of hints as to what the new gadget is, but if you, like Alex, can't figure it out, it is a fun, surprise ending.
"Christmas at Gunpoint," the sixth story is the only one in which Ian Rider appears. During a ski trip to Gunpoint, Colorado, Alex meets Sahara Sands, a fellow teen, there with her dad, who does "something in government" The two teens have lots of fun skiing and snowboarding, but one night, he catches his uncle fighting with a man over a gun with a silencer, then he sees Sahara looking scared and being escorted into a gondola by two rather sketchy men. This is an exciting story, and Ian's lesson for Alex here is to closely observe the people he meets - how they dress, how they speak, what they eat and drink, and where they carry their guns: "You have to notice these things, Alex...all the details. People tell a story the moment they walk into a room. You can read them." (pg. 227) What does this advice have to do with the story - only everything.
The seventh and last story, "Spy Trap," Alex wakes up in what appears to be an MI6 hospital in an old abbey, and is told he was in an accident. Kept confined to bed, except for visits to a Dr. Feng, who claimed to be a therapist, Alex quickly suspects that things aren't what they appear to be. Yet, when asked questions about his life with MI6, Alex can't stop himself from speaking the truth. When he suspects his food is drugged, he stops eating and drinking and begins to control what he tells Dr. Feng. As Alex's memory returns, he begin to plan his escape, then discovers he isn't the only MI6 agent being held hostage.
To call these short stories thrilling and action-packed is an understatement. More than once, I found myself shaking my leg to release the nervous energy as the tension of a story built. I actually thought these stories all quite good. They are well-written, there is plenty of excitement, and even though it is pretty improbable that a 14-year-old would ever be allowed to be a spy, it is still fun reading about Alex Rider's adventures. I really liked that Alex is so detail oriented, as I am as well, so I enjoyed reading all the descriptions he relates about his surroundings and the people he encounters. And Alex is quite personable. I also found that not knowing anything about the Alex Rider series, there was enough information in these stories so I never felt lost.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I definitely do. Would I read another Alex Rider book? Well, I do have Book 1, Stormbreaker on a hold at the library.
This book is recommended for readers age 11+
This book was provided to me for review purposes
For those like me who don't know, 14-year-old Alex has been well trained to be a spy by his uncle, Ian Rider, who was a secret agent for MI6. After his uncle was killed, MI6 approached Alex, recognizing his potential, talent, and training. Now, Alex is working for MI6 and having some incredible adventures.
In the first story, "Alex in Afghanistan," Alex is sent to a remote area in the Herat Mountains, where Darcus Drake is holed up in a ancient citadel, hoping to get an old Soviet calutron working again, so he can quickly produce the uranium needed for bombs and offer it to every terrorist group in the Middle East. All Alex has to do is find it to prove it exists. Why Alex? The back way into the citadel is through some narrow ventilation pipelines.
In "The Man with Eleven Fingers," Alex's trip to the dentist for a sore tooth turns into a exciting day when he is given a free chocolate bar being handed out to passersby. But when Alex notices something wrong with the wrapper, he begins to follow the man who gave the candy out. He recognizes the driver that picks up the candy man, and decides to punt on the dentist and follow them to see what's up. No sooner does Alex figure out what's going on, then people all over London start dropping in their tracts. This was an interesting story and the ending really surprised me.
The third story is called "Secret Weapon" and involves a drug-dealer named Skoda, whom Alex had a run in with in an earlier book. Skoda has finally figured out how to sneak out of prison and take care of Alex. And his plan works, until it doesn't. This story also has a surprise at the end, and again, I didn't see it coming.
"High Tension" is a little different, as it doesn't involve any spy activity. Alex is on vacation with a friend in the South of France. When he finds himself with some free time, his host, Andrew Hale, insists that he go parasailing and enlists his wife Celestine to drive Alex to the beach. Not really wanting to parasail, Alex reluctantly agrees and is not sooner in the air, then the driver of the motorboat to which he is harnessed passes out. Getting out the air safely may require readers to really suspend their disbelief more than in other Alex Rider stories, but it's still a tense, action-packed story.
The fifth story, "Tea with Smithers" is not action-packed or a spy story, but rather a look at Alex's 'quieter' side of life. After a debriefing at MI6, Alex runs into Smithers, the man who invents and then disguises all of Alex's James Bond-like gadgets for fighting off bad guys. Smithers invites Alex to tea and when he shows up, he learns all about Smithers' life and how he became an inventor/disguiser for MI6. But when he challenges Alex to try to find his brand-new gadget, one sitting right in front of Alex, the ace 14-year-old is totally stumped. This was a fun story, and there are lots of hints as to what the new gadget is, but if you, like Alex, can't figure it out, it is a fun, surprise ending.
"Christmas at Gunpoint," the sixth story is the only one in which Ian Rider appears. During a ski trip to Gunpoint, Colorado, Alex meets Sahara Sands, a fellow teen, there with her dad, who does "something in government" The two teens have lots of fun skiing and snowboarding, but one night, he catches his uncle fighting with a man over a gun with a silencer, then he sees Sahara looking scared and being escorted into a gondola by two rather sketchy men. This is an exciting story, and Ian's lesson for Alex here is to closely observe the people he meets - how they dress, how they speak, what they eat and drink, and where they carry their guns: "You have to notice these things, Alex...all the details. People tell a story the moment they walk into a room. You can read them." (pg. 227) What does this advice have to do with the story - only everything.
The seventh and last story, "Spy Trap," Alex wakes up in what appears to be an MI6 hospital in an old abbey, and is told he was in an accident. Kept confined to bed, except for visits to a Dr. Feng, who claimed to be a therapist, Alex quickly suspects that things aren't what they appear to be. Yet, when asked questions about his life with MI6, Alex can't stop himself from speaking the truth. When he suspects his food is drugged, he stops eating and drinking and begins to control what he tells Dr. Feng. As Alex's memory returns, he begin to plan his escape, then discovers he isn't the only MI6 agent being held hostage.
To call these short stories thrilling and action-packed is an understatement. More than once, I found myself shaking my leg to release the nervous energy as the tension of a story built. I actually thought these stories all quite good. They are well-written, there is plenty of excitement, and even though it is pretty improbable that a 14-year-old would ever be allowed to be a spy, it is still fun reading about Alex Rider's adventures. I really liked that Alex is so detail oriented, as I am as well, so I enjoyed reading all the descriptions he relates about his surroundings and the people he encounters. And Alex is quite personable. I also found that not knowing anything about the Alex Rider series, there was enough information in these stories so I never felt lost.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I definitely do. Would I read another Alex Rider book? Well, I do have Book 1, Stormbreaker on a hold at the library.
This book is recommended for readers age 11+
This book was provided to me for review purposes
June 30, 2019
As a teen, I was obsessed with the Alex Rider books. I can remember a week’s holiday to Majorca where I read the then latest seven books in the series back to back. Coming to the realisation that I could revisit this world in the form of short stories released the last 15 years, plus a newly published short story collection - I was thrilled. I really thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m really annoyed that I’ve finished it already. I think a reread of the series is completely overdue... This is a series for YA lovers, who like a bit of suspense and action in their books!
May 28, 2020
Will I always marvel at Anthony Horowitz and the way he sets up his Alex Rider stories? Seems like the answer is yes.
Even though I've considerably grown up since I first started the series, the Alex Rider books still pull me in with their great pacing and action sequences aas well as the plotlines and twists. I have to admit that I've been catching onto more and more plot twists but nevertheless, the books still fascinate me and I honestly can't think of a day where I wouldn't want to read an Alex Rider book ❤️
Even though I've considerably grown up since I first started the series, the Alex Rider books still pull me in with their great pacing and action sequences aas well as the plotlines and twists. I have to admit that I've been catching onto more and more plot twists but nevertheless, the books still fascinate me and I honestly can't think of a day where I wouldn't want to read an Alex Rider book ❤️
December 18, 2019
This book is action packed because it’s a collection of lots of short stories
I’d recommend it to people who don’t have much time to read.
It is an action and a spy book. It is set around all the other 12 or so books.
It was exciting and thrilling. It was easy to read and the ending was quite predictable.
I’d recommend it to people who don’t have much time to read.
It is an action and a spy book. It is set around all the other 12 or so books.
It was exciting and thrilling. It was easy to read and the ending was quite predictable.
October 23, 2020
Some entertaining short stories
January 10, 2021
Different unconnected adventures.
April 28, 2024
4.5 stars
August 18, 2019
Wie immer ist alex rider wirklich toll. Allerdings ergeben die anderen Bücher weniger Sinn wenn man die Kurzgeschichten kennt.
October 14, 2019
3 and a half stars. I’m not usually a fan of short stories but I liked this!
June 20, 2021
For story one, ‘Alex in Afghanistan,’ there were a couple mistakes early on made by Horowitz, which made me wince a little. However, the story was a lot of fun with intense action scenes, cool gadgets and a setting we haven’t seen Alex in before. Overall, a cracking story. 4 stars.
The second story was ‘The Man With Eleven Fingers.’ It was pretty cool. Ex-soldiers wanting to exploit a corrupt banker - definitely an interesting idea. It was incredibly quick, with cause and effect taking place seemingly instantly, and Alex taking down the bad guys once again. Not as good as the first one, and one element of the story was a bit too ambitious, but definitely an enjoyable short story. 3 stars.
Story three, ‘High Tension,’ was ridiculously short. But it was fun. What was supposed to be a simple parasailing ride turned into something that could’ve been deadly, but Alex managed to stop it. Typical Alex Rider fashion. 3 stars.
Story four, ‘Secret Weapon,’ was the perfect short story. I absolutely loved how it was connected to a small event that took place in in the very iconic first novel of Stormbreaker. The prison escape was cool, the action and final showdown was brilliant and most of all, I loved seeing Tom Harris again. He is such a great character and his connection with Alex is unrivalled. I don’t think you can have a better short story than this. As a short story I give it 5 stars.
‘Tea With Smithers’ was also ridiculously short. It was interesting to read it in the first person from Alex’s perspective. It was a cool story with an invention that I certainly didn’t see coming, and neither did Alex! Typical Smithers!! 3 stars.
Another story in first person, ‘Christmas At Gunpoint’ was pretty epic. I loved the imagery of the ski resort as I have never been to one myself. It was interesting to see Alex and Ian together in a dangerous situation, and how naive Alex was, hehe. The skiing climax was brilliant too. I enjoyed it. In the past I wished we had seen more of Ian Rider, so I’m glad we saw a little more of him here. 4 stars.
The last story was ‘Spy Trap,’ and I have to say that it was a little boring. Not too much happened until it got to the end, and to be fair, the ending was well done. “Alex Rider needed a holiday, but that was the last thing he was going to get” - absolutely badass. 3 stars.
The second story was ‘The Man With Eleven Fingers.’ It was pretty cool. Ex-soldiers wanting to exploit a corrupt banker - definitely an interesting idea. It was incredibly quick, with cause and effect taking place seemingly instantly, and Alex taking down the bad guys once again. Not as good as the first one, and one element of the story was a bit too ambitious, but definitely an enjoyable short story. 3 stars.
Story three, ‘High Tension,’ was ridiculously short. But it was fun. What was supposed to be a simple parasailing ride turned into something that could’ve been deadly, but Alex managed to stop it. Typical Alex Rider fashion. 3 stars.
Story four, ‘Secret Weapon,’ was the perfect short story. I absolutely loved how it was connected to a small event that took place in in the very iconic first novel of Stormbreaker. The prison escape was cool, the action and final showdown was brilliant and most of all, I loved seeing Tom Harris again. He is such a great character and his connection with Alex is unrivalled. I don’t think you can have a better short story than this. As a short story I give it 5 stars.
‘Tea With Smithers’ was also ridiculously short. It was interesting to read it in the first person from Alex’s perspective. It was a cool story with an invention that I certainly didn’t see coming, and neither did Alex! Typical Smithers!! 3 stars.
Another story in first person, ‘Christmas At Gunpoint’ was pretty epic. I loved the imagery of the ski resort as I have never been to one myself. It was interesting to see Alex and Ian together in a dangerous situation, and how naive Alex was, hehe. The skiing climax was brilliant too. I enjoyed it. In the past I wished we had seen more of Ian Rider, so I’m glad we saw a little more of him here. 4 stars.
The last story was ‘Spy Trap,’ and I have to say that it was a little boring. Not too much happened until it got to the end, and to be fair, the ending was well done. “Alex Rider needed a holiday, but that was the last thing he was going to get” - absolutely badass. 3 stars.
January 22, 2022
This was just bad, bad, and bad on so many levels. An Alex Rider short story collection could be fun enough, but this was completely unecessary.
I mean it starts of bad, with a story called Alex in Afghanistan. Who approved this? Why do we need this? Did Anthony Horowitz try to write that as a full length book at some point? Why did he think that was a good idea?
The Man with Eleven Fingers was decent, probably the best story, but mostly because it had a little bit of humor that none of the other stories had.
The main problem is of course that big, important things happen in these stories, Alex goes through a whole lot of dangerous missions and travel all over the place, yet none of it is ever mentioned in the main books. So are these stories not canon? I guess it's not important in a middle grade/young YA series, it's all about the fun action-packed stories and coherency is less important, but it just felt completely meaningless. In addition to this, the stories in the collection aren't even in chronological order! A chronological order could have saved this at least a little bit, the stories could have felt like little sneak peeks into Alex Rider's life and his character development (not that he has any), but instead every story was just disappointing and irrelevant.
I mean it starts of bad, with a story called Alex in Afghanistan. Who approved this? Why do we need this? Did Anthony Horowitz try to write that as a full length book at some point? Why did he think that was a good idea?
The Man with Eleven Fingers was decent, probably the best story, but mostly because it had a little bit of humor that none of the other stories had.
The main problem is of course that big, important things happen in these stories, Alex goes through a whole lot of dangerous missions and travel all over the place, yet none of it is ever mentioned in the main books. So are these stories not canon? I guess it's not important in a middle grade/young YA series, it's all about the fun action-packed stories and coherency is less important, but it just felt completely meaningless. In addition to this, the stories in the collection aren't even in chronological order! A chronological order could have saved this at least a little bit, the stories could have felt like little sneak peeks into Alex Rider's life and his character development (not that he has any), but instead every story was just disappointing and irrelevant.
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