Book cover: Satellite City, Northern Hemisphere, soon: Cosmo Hill is a human guinea pig in an orphanage used by corporations to test new products. Statistics say he has about a year left to live – unless he escapes. But escapes to what? To a world of high-tech gang warfare, swat teams of paralegals and a plague of four-fingers parasites who are invisible to everyone except three misfits who call themselves the Supernaturalists. Could Cosmo be one of them? Are they the family he’s always wanted? And if he does become a Supernaturalist, will his life get any longer – or a whole lot shorter?

This tears along at a good fast pace, as always with Eoin Colfer’s writing, so one is sucked in easily and glued to the story till it’s done. There is a core of convincing detail that brings this world into close-up technicolour focus, though too there were also some irritating broad brush strokes that make some of the secondary developments implausible. However, a few great nasty twists in the plot really stir things up, locking ones attention to the story line so the unlikely bits can be glossed over. I wonder if there is going to be a follow up to this, I could certainly see that being very effective. The story so far would also work as an action packed movie, with at least one game spin-off? I do enjoy the plots and set-ups Eoin Colfer creates though I sometimes, truth to be told, am hoping for more clear depth in the interactions, or in any of the reflective moments than I feel is achieved. I would love to hear what other readers think about that.

RELEASE NOTES:

To be released at a Edinburgh Festival Bookcrossing Meet-up about 7o'clock this eve.

I grabbed this one off Rainbow and hid it in my bag before it even hit the table. I love the Artemis Fowl books and have read a couple of his others.

I've promised to send this out as a ring after I've finished it, with Kinedi and Scotsbookie up first as I stole it from under their noses.

This is a cracking wee story and Rainbow3 has already managed to put most of my feelings about it into words beautifully.

It bounces along with a life of its own, I love 'The Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys' and the twists on lawyerese. But there were strange throw-away comments which made me pause and wonder if I had missed something.

My 100th book read in 2006. Thanks for sharing Rainbow :-)

BookRay Participants

scotsbookie (UK)
weebly & weebly-boy (UK)
auglaise(UK)
kinedi(UK)
asterw(Spain)
Cyzaki(UK)
YowlYY(UK)
billhookbabe(UK)
lightwavz(USA)
babsdotter(USA)

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Posted to Scotsbookie this afternoon.

Arrived with me this morning. #2 on Mount TBR.

A great read, fast paced & full of action & adventure. I love the way Eoin Colfer creates a world that draws you in completely. Looks like this could be the start of a series & would welcome more about the Supernaturalists!

I have weebly & weebly-boy's address so will get it on its way again asap.

Popped in the post to weebly & weebly-boy this morning.

Arrived safe and sound - many thanks.

Mum let me read this book first as she is reading a really big book. It was really good.

I read this book in less than 24 hours, a complete change from the in depth 900 page book I had just finished - and just what I needed. A fast paced and funny in places, sad in others book which just kept the pages turning - excellent. And room left for sequals about Cosmo Hill in the future.

Posting to Auglaise first thing tomorrow.

Apologies for not journalling when this arrived - it completely slipped my mind.

This is a wonderfully written book, and I really enjoyed reading it. One of the things that I like best about Eoin Colfer is that, while he doesn't necessarily write books for adults, you don't get a sense of that from the book. They're always excellently written, with strong, interesting, and believable characters, in great settings, doing things that anyone can relate to.

I was completely surprised by the twist near the end, and wasn't expecting it at all.

Thank you so much for sharing this, and I'll be passing it on as soon as I have any address!

Heading off to Scotland today!

Arrived safely in Scotland. Superdooper ! Looking forward to another Eoin Colfer one !! Cheers

Quick read on rainy and windy Sunday afternoon on the couch. I whizzed through it as well and even though I did like it, I must admit that I prefer the Artemis Fowl series a lot better.Thanks for sharing this book with us and as soon as I have asterw address it can travel on to sunny Spain

RELEASE NOTES:

Happy reading

The book arrived two days ago to a really, really sunny Spain -more sunny than it would be expected for a December! I´ve already started reading it, thank you kinedi for mailing me the book

I finished reading it last night. I really enjoyed it, a quick read, although the truth is that I do prefer Artemis Fowl books, they are funnier ;o)

Cyzaki seems to have changed nickname, because I get a message that this member is not in the database, so I guess I have to PM the next in the list?