Daniel X Watch the Skies

By James Patterson and Ned Rust

Lights: All's quiet in the small town of Holliswood-television sets, computers, and portable devices are alglow in every home, classroom, and store. But not all is perfect. Evil is lurking, just out of sight, behind the screen.

Camera: From the darkest depths of James Patterson's imagination flickers the most terrifying character yet: a villain with more ambition than the world can withstand, dead set on throwing a sleepy town into chaos and documenting the destruction of every person in it, including Daniel.

Extermination: Daniel X is the only person who can stop this made-for-TV tyrant from wiping out the city and everyone living there. This devilish director assembles an all-star team of his own creation, and not even Daniel can imagine the enormity of his plans. Can Daniel X stop this deranged outlaw before he stages the most spectaular finale the world has ever seen? Or will Daniel find himself on the cutting-room floor?

This is the second book in the Daniel X series, and I just can't figure why I like them so much. To be honest, the plot is kinda obvious, the villian is pretty cheesy, and the banter is just over-the-top sometimes. I know! It's like a cartoon-book, that's why I like it so much! No, seriously, if this were made into a cartoon, it would rank top on the airwaves. It's got Alien Hunter action and adventure, it's got the teen drama angle, it's got the very funny (sometimes witty) dialogue and the entertainment value it pretty high. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely serious, I love cartoons (I know I'm in my twenties, so sue me) so I'm not bashing the book at all or being duplicitous. I really like the characters and the story that has been set up, its unique in so many ways that it makes me just happy to read it. Of course, at the end of the day it's still fantasy, but it's a fun way to spend your day- it only takes me about two hours to read a book-and I think kids who like comic heroes and such would like Daniel X. It's right down their superpowered alley.