Watch the Skies (Daniel X Series #2)

by James Patterson, Ned Rust

Overview

It's a dangerous time for Daniel X-and when he's cast in an evil director's TV show, he must fight to stay alive.


Daniel X thought he'd seen it all in his dangerous days of hunting outlaws-but there's no business like show business, and Number Five on his list of deadly targets is the most appalling criminal yet. An intergalactic reality television producer has orchestrated the extermination of millions, with a soundtrack and laugh track to accompany it. The evil entertainer's catching it all on film, and he's looking for a big-ticket draw. Who better to star than the Alien Hunter himself? Daniel finds himself cast in the lead role of a terrifying season premiere . . . of the gravest show on Earth.


Can Daniel X stop this deranged outlaw-or will he find himself on the cutting room floor?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316119696
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	06/15/2010
Series:	Daniel X Series , #2
Pages:	239
Sales rank:	514,263
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 7.65(h) x 1.15(d)
Lexile:	950L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

James Patterson has had more New York Times bestsellers than any other writer, ever, according to Guinness World Records. Since his first novel won the Edgar Award in 1977 James Patterson's books have sold more than 300 million copies. He is the author of the Alex Cross novels, the most popular detective series of the past twenty-five years, including Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. He writes full-time and lives in Florida with his family.

Hometown:

Palm Beach, Florida

Date of Birth:

March 22, 1947

Place of Birth:

Newburgh, New York

Education:

B.A., Manhattan College, 1969; M.A., Vanderbilt University, 1971

Website:

http://www.jamespatterson.com

Editorial Reviews

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.

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)

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Publishers Weekly

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

From the Publisher

"The Man Who Can't Miss."

Lev Grossman - Time

PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON:
"Patterson never, and I mean never, disappoints."

Larry King - USA Today

The Man Who Can't Miss.
— Time

Lev Grossman

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

AUGUST 2009 - AudioFile