In this James Patterson Daniel X installment, the ultimate superpower world saver has his work cut out for him -- and it's all being filmed. An alien usurper has set his targets on Holliswood, a quiet, unpretentious little town not accustomed to acts of mass mayhem. This terrifying intruder is not only killing the innocent Holliswooders, he's filming for the monsters back home. To defeat this brute, Daniel X creates his own warrior squad, setting the stage for a battle royal. Another good example of how "the king of page-turners" earned his name.
Publishers Weekly
Patterson jumps on the superheroes bandwagon with contributor Ledwidge and delivers the adventures of Daniel X, a superpowered alien whose mission is to defend Earth from more malignant, threatening aliens. In his first adventure, listeners hear the typical origin story (parents killed by the most vile alien on Earth), his early adventures (growing up on his own with amazing powers) and his first real step into manhood (facing off against another alien). The story throws in a few interesting twists, but isn't particularly dynamic as superhero narratives go. The production is sparsely sprinkled with sound effects, which work quite well and add to the story, but there is a lack of consistency to their execution. However, Milo Ventimiglia makes it worth the listen. His timing and inflection match perfectly with Daniel, the first-person protagonist. He sounds youthful enough to be believable as Daniel and easily transitions to other character voices within the story. A Little, Brown hardcover. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From the Publisher
PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON:
"Patterson never, and I mean never, disappoints."—Larry King, USA Today
"The Man Who Can't Miss."—Lev Grossman, Time
"James Patterson is king of the bestseller hill."—Publishers Weekly
Lev Grossman - Time
"The Man Who Can't Miss."
Larry King - USA Today
PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON:
"Patterson never, and I mean never, disappoints."
Lev Grossman
The Man Who Can't Miss.
— Time
AUGUST 2009 - AudioFile
James Patterson's latest release for young adults chronicles the adventures of 14-year-old Daniel X, who is chasing down intergalactic aliens who are trying to destroy the human population. Milo Ventimiglia is convincing as a teenage boy with superpowers except for the times when he slows down his reading to a maddening pace. Music, blasts from ray guns, and other sound effects will appeal to younger listeners, but the pervasive references to popular culture will date this story quickly and will drive off some listeners. Ventimiglia creates a believable character in Daniel as he argues with his little sister, adopts a stray dog, develops a crush, and tries to make the world a better place. R.A. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
