Alex Rider is now an IMDb TV/Amazon Original Series! Alex Rider is an orphan turned teen superspy who's saving the world one mission at a time--from #1 New York Times bestselling author! The sniper's bullet nearly killed him. But Alex Rider managed to survive . . . just in time for more trouble to come his way. When kidnappers attempt to snatch a fellow patient from the exclusive hospital where Alex is recovering, he knows he has to stop him. But the boy he saves is no ordinary patient: He is the son of Nikolai Drevin, one of the richest men in the world. The eccentric billionaire has been targeted by Force Three, a group of eco-terrorists who claim his project Ark Angel--the first luxury hotel in outer space--is a danger to the environment. Soon Alex discovers that Force Three will stop at nothing to destroy Ark Angel, even if it means sending four hundred tons of molten glass and steel hurtling down to Earth and killing millions . . . unless Alex can stop them. From the author of Magpie Murders and Moriarty. Editorial Reviews Gr 5-10-Alex Rider is giving it up. Being a teenage secret agent is just too dangerous. He wants his old life back. As he lies in the hospital bed recovering from a gunshot wound, he contemplates the end of his career with MI6, the British secret service. But then he saves the life of Paul Drevin, son of multibillionaire Nikolei Drevin, and once again he is pulled into service. This time his mission involves eco-terrorists, rockets to space, maniacal killers, and a less-than-idyllic tropical island. Is it all in a day's work, or will this truly be Alex Rider's last mission? The action-filled plot develops quickly and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The over-the-top characters, with their exaggerated quirks and personalities, work well in this James Bond-like novel. Detailed background, technical, and political information, essential for any spy story, is uncomplicated and easy for most readers to understand. Though there are some references to previous missions, this title can certainly stand alone. Recommend it to your reluctant readers and get ready for them to line up for the rest of the series.-Heather E. Miller, Homewood Public Library, AL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal Horowitz carefully builds the tension as 14-year-old spy extraordinaire Alex Rider reluctantly takes on his sixth mission. MI6 and the CIA have asked Alex to infiltrate a suspected criminal's household. Somehow Alex must discover how the suspect's criminal activity is connected to his revolutionary hotel in space, Ark Angel. Simon Prebble's pacing stays torturously steady as Alex encounters terrorists, potentially fatal go-cart races, and underwater murder attempts. Prebble wrings every moment of suspense from the story. The British setting of this spy novel is continually in evidence in Prebble's delivery, but his American accent is a bit off. Despite this small flaw, Prebble easily entertains Alex Rider fans. W.V.S. 2007 Audies Award Finalist © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine - DEC 06/JAN 07 - AudioFile