Stormbreaker

Stormbreaker is a young adult action-adventure book written by British author Anthony Horowitz, and is the first novel in the Alex Rider series. The book was released in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2000, and in United States release on 21 May 2001, where it became a New York Times Bestseller.[1] Since its release, the book has sold more than nine million copies worldwide,[2] been listed on the BBC's The Big Read, and in 2005 received a California Young Reader Medal.[3][4]

This article is about the 2000 novel. For other uses, see Stormbreaker (disambiguation).

Stormbreaker
First edition (UK)
AuthorAnthony Horowitz
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
SeriesAlex Rider series
GenreAdventure, spy, thriller
Publisher
Publication date
  • 4 September 2000 (UK)
  • 21 May 2001 (US)
Media typePrint (hardback and paperback)
Pages240 (first edition, paperback)
ISBN0-7445-5943-X (first edition, paperback)
OCLC44562574
Followed byPoint Blanc 

A film adaptation, starring Alex Pettyfer as Alex Rider, was released in 2006, which underperformed at the box office and earned lukewarm reception.

Plot summary

The protagonist, Alex Rider, after the suspicious death of his uncle, secretly becomes a teenage spy for MI6. He is sent undercover to Port Tallen, Cornwall. There he discovers the Stormbreaker computer factory where millions of computers were being filled with biological weapons which would give smallpox to the user. The aim of the attack was to kill hundreds of thousands of British schoolchildren and their teachers.

Critical reception

Critical reception for Stormbreaker was mixed to positive, with the book being placed on multiple ALA lists.[5] Common Sense Media praised Stormbreaker for its action sequences, but criticised its dialogue and logic.[6] Kirkus Reviews also commented that the book's plot was "preposterous" but stated that the readers "won't care".[7] Publishers Weekly wrote "The ultimate mystery may be a bit of a letdown, but that won't stop readers from racing through Alex's adventure.".[8]

Awards

Adaptations

Graphic novel

In 2005 a graphic novel adaptation of Stormbreaker was released in the United Kingdom and the United States.[9] The graphic novel was an adaptation of the screenplay written for the movie released the year after,[10] and was intended as a tie-in for the film.

Film
Main article: Stormbreaker (film)

In 2006 a film adaptation of Stormbreaker was released to theatres starring Alex Pettyfer as Alex Rider with Geoffrey Sax directing.[10] Critical reception for the film was average, with Stormbreaker holding only a 33% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus being that the film was "strictly children's fare, as it lacks originality, excitement, and believabiltity".[11]

Video game
Main article: Alex Rider: Stormbreaker

A video game adaptation of the film was released in 2006 under the name of Alex Rider: Stormbreaker for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS.[12] The game received mixed reviews, with IGN criticising the game and giving it a rating of 4/10.[13]

References
  1. "New York Times Bestsellers" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  2. Variety Staff (24 July 2006). "'Stormbreaker' no B.O. whirlwind". Variety. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  3. "BBC – The Big Read". BBC. April 200bbc3. Retrieved 1 December 2012
  4. "California Young Reader Medal".
  5. "Top Teen Titles #35–39". School Library Journal. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  6. "Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Adventures, Book 1) by Anthony Horowitz – Book Review".
  7. "Review: Hi Stormbreaker". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  8. "Review: Stormbreaker". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  9. Horowitz, Anthony (18 October 2005). Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel. Philomel Books.
  10. "Stormbreaker filming finishes". BBC News. 14 August 2005. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
  11. "Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  12. "DS Gets 'Stormbreaker' Movie Product Placement". Gamasutra. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  13. "Review: Alex Rider: Stormbreaker". IGN. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
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