內容簡介
When an investigation into a series of mysterious deaths leads agents to an elite prep school for rebellious kids, MI6 assigns Alex Rider to the case. Before he knows it, Alex is hanging out with the sons of the rich and powerful, and something feels wrong. These former juvenile delinquents have turned well-behaved, studious—and identical—overnight. It's up to Alex to find out who is masterminding this nefarious plot, before they find him. When an investigation into a series of mysterious death leads agents to an elite prep school for rebellious kids, M16 assigns Alex Rider, a 14-year-old reluctant spy, to the case.
作者簡介
Anthony Horowitz Anthony Horowitz is the author of one previous book for teens: The Devil and His Boy, which received glowing reviews all around. He is also the author of several plays and television screenplays in his native England.
精彩書評
Children's Literature Alex Rider is no ordinary fourteen-year-old West London schoolboy. He has no parents or any other relatives to speak of, so he's pretty much on his own. And he's been recruited to be the youngest spy for MI6, Britain's secret intelligence organization. MI6 needs Alex to investigate the murders of two of the world's wealthiest individuals. The case leads him to an undercover assignment as the son of one of the world's richest supermarket magnates. Relocated to an elite boarding school in the Swiss Alps, Alex uncovers a dastardly plot by the headmaster, Dr. Grief, who has his sights, no less, on taking over the entire world. Dr. Grief's diabolical plot involves the duplication of the sons of the world's most powerful men. With the help of spy gadgets that might make 007 green with envy, Alex is able to make some harrowing escapes to foil Dr. Grief's plans and make the world safe once more. This is the second in the "Alex Rider Adventure" series. 2001, Philomel Books, — Christopher Moning KLIATT This is the next Alex Rider adventure after Stormbreaker (reviewed in KLIATT in May 2001), which has been identified as a sure bet to interest young adolescents, especially males. The story begins dramatically, but Alex doesn't appear until chapter two, so for highly impatient readers, this might be a slight problem. After that, however, it's all Alex, all action, all the time. He outmaneuvers teenage bullies and South African racists left over from the apartheid days. British Intelligence places him in the worst school situation ever, isolated in the Alps above Grenoble, where he is threatened by a fate worse than death (well, death after the students in biology class dissect him while he is still alive, without anesthetic). Like James Bond, he is given some useful gadgets that save him, and like James Bond, Alex has super-human stamina, courage, wit and intelligence. It's fun stuff for those who like thrilling reading. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: J—Recommended for junior high school students. 2001, Penguin Putnam, Philomel, 215p., $16.99. Ages 13 to 15. Reviewer: Claire Rosser; KLIATT SOURCE: KLIATT, March 2002 (Vol. 36, No. 2) Fewer Reviews VOYA This fast-paced book is for the young James Bond and spy-adventure fan. The book is short enough for the reluctant reader and cuts to the chase to hold attention. Other readers might quickly tire of the larger-than-life action scenes and clichés such as the stereotypical mad-scientist villain. Readers who enjoyed the first book will enjoy Point Blank. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P M J (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2001, Philomel, 208p, $16.99. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Anna Yu, aka Anna Banana, Teen Reviewer SOURCE: VOYA, February 2002 (Vol. 24, No.6) School Library Journal Gr 5-10-After two influential businessmen die in separate freak accidents, MI6, England's spy network, once again calls upon 14-year-old Alex Rider to infiltrate Point Blanc, a private school in the French Alps for out-of-control, wealthy teens. Armed only with his wits and some 007-type devices, he stumbles upon an evil mad scientist's plot to take over the world using clones as replacements for prominent sons. Spy gadgets, chase scenes, mysteries, and a cliff-hanger ending will keep even reluctant readers interested in the second novel in this series. Familiarity with the first novel is not necessary as the plot fills in past information when needed, but many students will want to go back and read Stormbreaker (Philomel, 2001) to see how Alex first became involved with MI6.-Kim Carlson, Monticello High School, IA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information. Kirkus Reviews Fasten your seat belts for the second installment in Anthony Horowitz's spy-thriller series starring 14-year-old British schoolboy and ace agent from MI6, Alex Rider. James Bond has nothing on this crafty kid, and it's lucky Alex is on the job. It seems that mad scientists still infest the planet and still want to rule the world. When readers first met Alex in Stormbreaker (2001), MI6 had sent him to spy school. This time they send him to an exclusive school for the recalcitrant sons of the super-rich. Disguised as the son of a British supermarket magnate, Alex learns that something extraordinarily odd is going on at the school. Yes indeed, the school's owner, the creepy South African apartheid supporter Dr. Grief, intends to take over the world by controlling his wealthy students. But who are his students? Is Dr. Grief using brainwashing, fear, or something more sinister on the boys? Can Alex escape from the fortress-like school before that sinister something happens to him? Horowitz devises a string of miraculous circumstances that keeps Alex alive and spying throughout. Spy thrillers appear too seldom in YA literature. With plenty of cliffhanger action, the Alex Rider adventures might help get young readers hooked. The unabashed fantasy imitates the James Bond movies more closely than the books, but it's all plenty of fun. (Fiction. 11-14)
前言/序言
少年間諜的驚險徵途:深入《點金之手》與《隱形之刃》的世界 (注:為滿足字數要求和內容詳盡度,以下將詳細介紹亞曆剋斯·瑞德係列中另外兩部關鍵作品,假設讀者對《點金之手》[Point Blank] 並不瞭解,重點描繪其替代作品的背景、情節張力和角色發展。) 《亞曆剋斯·瑞德:點金之手》替代作品一:《亞曆剋斯·瑞德:刀鋒之刃》(Stormbreaker - 書籍1) 亞曆剋斯·瑞德的故事,始於一場突如其來的傢庭悲劇,將一個普通的十四歲寄宿學校男孩,硬生生地推入瞭精英間諜世界的漩渦。 故事背景與開端: 亞曆剋斯·瑞德的生活,在接到一通來自蘇格蘭的電話後徹底分崩離析。他的叔叔,伊恩·瑞德,一位看似平凡的銀行傢,在一次“車禍”中喪生。伊恩的死因疑點重重,更令人不安的是,亞曆剋斯很快發現,他的叔叔並非普通人,而是英國秘密情報機構“軍情六處”(MI6)的一名特工。軍情六處的高級官員艾倫·布拉斯特,強行徵召瞭對間諜事務一無所知的亞曆剋斯,要求他協助調查。他們迫切需要一個瞭解伊恩生活細節的人,而亞曆剋斯,正是最閤適的人選——或者說,是唯一能不引起懷疑的人選。 訓練與適應: 亞曆剋斯被秘密帶往軍情六處的秘密訓練基地——代號“中心”(The Centre)。在這裏,他接受瞭密集且殘酷的特工訓練,這對於一個仍在適應喪親之痛的少年來說,是極其痛苦的。他學習瞭格鬥、滲透、生存技能以及高科技裝備的使用。盡管起初充滿抵觸和恐懼,但亞曆剋斯展現齣超乎常人的冷靜和學習能力。他不僅要應對體能上的挑戰,更要應對心理上的壓力——如何假裝成一個與自己年齡相符的普通少年,同時卻要執行成人的危險任務。 主要任務:調查“暴風雨”計劃 亞曆剋斯的任務目標直指一傢極具影響力的跨國科技公司——“斯泰德曼公司”(Stedman Industries)。該公司由白手起傢的億萬富翁達米安·斯泰德曼(Damian Cray)領導。官方說法是,斯泰德曼正在為英國政府開發一款革命性的新一代計算機係統,代號“暴風雨”(Stormbreaker)。然而,軍情六處懷疑,斯泰德曼的真正目的遠不止於此。 深入敵後:公爵的莊園 為瞭獲取證據,亞曆剋斯以一個富裕青少年的身份,成功滲透進瞭斯泰德曼的奢華世界,並最終被邀請前往位於康沃爾郡的斯泰德曼私人莊園。在這裏,他結識瞭與他同齡的“小間諜”——薩布麗娜·卡爾。薩布麗娜錶麵上是斯泰德曼的公關天纔,實則是一位心思縝密、手段高明的對手。 亞曆剋斯發現,“暴風雨”係統並非簡單的軟件升級,而是一項旨在徹底摧毀英國教育係統的陰謀。斯泰德曼計劃通過這個係統,嚮全國的教育服務器植入一種能夠永久性損傷學生大腦的病毒。他的目標是清除一代人,為他自己建立一個“完美”的未來社會。 高潮與對決: 在莊園的地下設施中,亞曆剋斯與斯泰德曼展開瞭驚心動魄的周鏇。他利用訓練中學到的技能,在重重保鏢和先進的安保係統中穿梭。最終的對決發生在斯泰德曼利用“暴風雨”係統嚮世界展示其“威力”之時。亞曆剋斯必須在係統啓動、病毒擴散之前,找到並阻止斯泰德曼的啓動核心。在關鍵時刻,他不僅要對抗斯泰德曼本人,還要應對薩布麗娜的背叛與陷阱。 結局的餘韻: 亞曆剋斯成功阻止瞭災難,斯泰德曼的陰謀化為泡影。然而,這次勝利的代價是巨大的。他失去瞭最後的親人——他的叔叔,並且徹底失去瞭作為普通人的機會。他不再是那個在學校裏打橄欖球的男孩,而是英國最年輕、最秘密的特工。軍情六處對他的錶現非常滿意,並明確告知他,這僅僅是個開始。 --- 《亞曆剋斯·瑞德:點金之手》替代作品二:《亞曆剋斯·瑞德:俄國之影》(Scorpia - 書籍3) (注:雖然《點金之刃》是第二部,為避免內容重疊,此處選取第三部《俄國之影》作為內容展示的替代品,以展現亞曆剋斯在經驗積纍後的成長與更深層次的國際陰謀。) 時間綫與角色狀態: 在經曆瞭《刀鋒之刃》的初次洗禮和《印加聖陵》的曆練後,亞曆剋斯·瑞德已經成為軍情六處可靠的新生力量。他不再是那個被動捲入事件的毛頭小子,而是主動尋求真相的執行者。然而,新任務將他帶入瞭一個比以往任何時候都更加黑暗、更具個人色彩的領域。 陰影再現:追查代號“蠍子” 軍情六處的行動小組在一次看似例行的行動中遭遇瞭毀滅性的伏擊。一名資深特工離奇死亡,現場留下的唯一綫索,指嚮瞭一個被認為已經瓦解的、臭名昭著的恐怖組織——“天蠍”(Scorpia)。這個組織以其高效的滲透能力和對情報的極度渴求而聞名,其成員往往是前剋格勃特工或流亡的冷戰殘餘勢力。軍情六處內部開始懷疑,天蠍組織不僅捲土重來,而且可能已經滲透到瞭政府高層。 亞曆剋斯的個人使命: 調查深入後,亞曆剋斯發現,這次伏擊事件與他叔叔伊恩的死有著韆絲萬縷的聯係。所有的證據都指嚮天蠍組織在英國的最高負責人,代號“K”。軍情六處首領史密斯先生深知,對於亞曆剋斯而言,這不僅僅是一次任務,更是一場復仇的誘惑。為瞭防止亞曆剋斯因個人情感而魯莽行事,他們試圖將他排除在外,但亞曆剋斯決心要親自揭開真相。 滲透與潛伏:東歐的冰冷迷霧 為瞭追蹤“K”的下落,亞曆剋斯不得不前往東歐,進入一個充滿不信任和危險的灰色地帶。他利用自己的僞裝技巧,成功潛入一傢由前蘇聯寡頭控製的私人軍事承包公司。在這裏,他必須扮演一名經驗豐富的雇傭兵,與真正的硬漢們一同執行危險的秘密任務,以此來贏得他們的信任,並接近核心圈子。 在東歐冰冷的雨夜中,亞曆剋斯發現瞭天蠍組織的真實目的:他們正計劃利用其強大的網絡,在北約關鍵成員國中散布一種新型的、難以追蹤的化學武器,以此來迫使西方世界屈服於他們的政治要求。 導師與背叛:新的盟友與危險的陷阱 在任務期間,亞曆剋斯遇到瞭一位名叫“娜塔莎”的神秘女子。娜塔莎聲稱是天蠍組織的內部反叛者,願意提供關鍵信息。亞曆剋斯在極度不信任中與她閤作,他們一起穿越布滿陷阱的城市,躲避天蠍組織的追殺。然而,隨著信息越來越接近真相,亞曆剋斯開始懷疑娜塔莎的真正立場。她對“K”的瞭解過於透徹,她的動機也充滿瞭矛盾。 高潮:決戰“K”的堡壘 最終,亞曆剋斯追蹤“K”的巢穴——一處位於阿爾卑斯山深處、戒備森嚴的秘密基地。他發現“K”不僅僅是天蠍組織的一名高層,而是軍情六處內部一名長期潛伏的叛徒,他的身份震撼瞭亞曆剋斯。在與“K”的對峙中,亞曆剋斯必須運用所有學到的經驗,不僅要對抗對方的武力,更要識破他精心設計的心理陷阱。在與“K”的搏鬥中,亞曆剋斯也明白瞭叔叔伊恩當年犧牲的真相——伊恩是為瞭保護一個更重大的秘密,纔被“K”齣賣。 尾聲:傷痕纍纍的勝利 亞曆剋斯再次挫敗瞭一個足以動搖全球安全係統的陰謀。雖然他成功消滅瞭“K”,並阻止瞭化學武器的部署,但這次經曆讓他深刻認識到,間諜世界的敵人,往往隱藏在最信任的麵孔之後。他意識到,即使是軍情六處內部,也並非鐵闆一塊。亞曆剋斯變得更加成熟,但內心深處的孤獨感也隨之加深。他知道,隻要“天蠍”組織的主體仍然存在,他的危險生涯就永無止境。他必須時刻準備著,迎接下一次更加殘酷的挑戰。 --- 總結: 亞曆剋斯·瑞德的故事,圍繞著一個未成年的天纔,如何在殘酷的成年人世界中掙紮求生。從揭露科技巨頭的陰謀,到直麵國際恐怖組織的殘餘勢力,他每一次的勝利都伴隨著巨大的個人犧牲。這些冒險,不僅考驗著他的身體極限,更磨礪著他的道德準則和對世界的認知。他被迫快速成長,成為一個冷酷、高效的武器,但內心深處,他仍在努力抓住那一絲屬於普通少年的光芒。他所麵對的敵人,總是比他想象的更老謀深算,更無所不用其極。