The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description

The greatest superpower of all isn't to be part spider, part man, or to cast magic spells -- the greatest power is the power to create.

Daniel has that power.

Daniel's secret abilities -- like being able to manipulate objects and animals with his mind or to recreate himself in any shape he chooses -- have helped him survive. But Daniel doesn't have a normal life. He is the protector of the earth, the Alien Hunter, with a mission beyond what anyone could imagine.

From the day that his parents were brutally murdered in front of his very eyes, Daniel has used his unique gifts to hunt down their assassin. Finally, with the help of The List bequeathed to him in his parents' dying breath, he has located the killer.

Now, on his own, he vows to take on his father's mission--and to have vengeance in the process.

Customer Reviews: Read 76 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Strange and Delightful July 21, 2008
27 out of 31 found this review helpful

Daniel X is just your average fifteen year old, but only if your average fifteen year old is a bona fide Alien Hunter. When Daniel was three his parents were killed by The Prayer, a ruthless praying mantis-like creature from another world. Since then Daniel has made it his life's mission to hunt down The Prayer and all the other evil aliens that are determined to destroy Earth. Armed with nothing more than his unique powers, three not so imaginary friends, and his charming wit, Daniel sets off on whirlwind journey to kick some major alien butt.

James Patterson has most recently left his mark on the young adult market with his smash hit Maximum Ride series. This time around he shifts gears and brings us a strange and delightful science fiction tale that is loads of fun for all ages. Daniel X is a memorable and endearing character that is constantly full of surprises. Patterson and Ledwidge have collaborated to give us not only a fantastic new character, but also a fantastic story that is impossible to put down.

After sloshing my way through Patterson's mediocre Sail, I was beginning to wonder if he had indeed lost his edge. Daniel X is a refreshing reminder that Patterson still has what it takes to craft page turning fiction. After this engaging new offering fans both young and old will be begging for more Daniel X.

1 out of 5 stars

DERIVATIVE DAYS OF DANIEL X July 29, 2008
18 out of 22 found this review helpful

This is an ok little book that should hook young readers. On the back cover there is an attempt to attract older readers (it reads something to the effect of "whether your are 9 or 90...") The problem is that if you are over 12, you will likely feel like this is a rough draft inspired by Harry Potter and Men in Black (without the quality of either.) The story is short enough that there is not one but TWO potential follow-up stories at the end of the book. This is clearly set up as a cash-making series, and DEFINIETLY falls short. Not much happens with Daniel in this 1st episode of his Men In Black life. The book may be potentially good for young readers as a gateway to the idea of reading. If you are a teen or older SKIP IT.

For the grown up crowd Patterson is the master of the summer read. He is the Michael Bay of books. If you are in a slump and having a hard time reading, pick up Along Came a Spider and start off the Alex Cross series. Then switch on over to reading real books. This is NOT to discriminate or even critique the low quality of a Patterson book. This guy KNOWS how to spin a story. There is a place for his books - absolutely. They are like popcorn movies, that's all.

2 out of 5 stars

Only borrow it July 23, 2008
16 out of 18 found this review helpful

it's a pretty weak premise overall; daniel x is a 15 year old boy who seeks revenge for his parents. at first, you think it's interesting because the antagonist is this creature that looks like a 6 foot praying mantis, named the "prayer". but then, it gets worse. daniel's powers don't make complete sense and they have some pretty inconsistent limitations. his ability is to create. often times, he "creates" his long dead parents who comfort him, talk to him, give him advice and it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. A lot of times, daniel creates friends and he even can recreate himself. if you think my description is vague, try reading the book. it's a pretty vague power overall.

there are many pop culture references, a lot of juvenile jokes, and a whole lot of strange interactions between teenagers. the book really is childlike and i wouldn't consider buying it; just read it at a bookstore or something. patterson's books are usually pretty quick reads and this one is no different.

i think patterson really underestimates young readers at with this story. overall, i'd say the book is geared towards 9-12 year olds, except patterson himself probably thinks it's genius and believes anyone of any age can read it. I'd say no. Once you read it, you realize that the book is really for younger readers and tries a little too hard to make it "kid friendly". don't think it's a "Dark" book or something. i had a decent amount of fun reading it, but i wasn't really impressed.

2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed July 23, 2008
9 out of 12 found this review helpful

This book is not for adults. Sorry, but it just isn't. The dialogue is very childish, as is the plot resolution. Also, the plot is extremely predictable and the author seems to just simply make up unnecessary things about his world at particular convenience points. The only reason this is getting a 2 star is because the premise is promising, the book was just very poorly written.

3 out of 5 stars

"Dangerous Days" Like Old Times August 7, 2008
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I should start off this review with a couple of notes.

First, I'm not familiar with James Patterson's past works, though I have probably seen movies inspired by his books. So unlike many of the prior reviews I've seen, I didn't bring any expectations based on past experience into the reading of this book. Also worth noting is that I am a kid at heart, although I tend to read (and write) darker, more adult-oriented fair more often than not. But when this book came to my attention the day of its release, I felt strongly compelled to read it, and so I downloaded it to my Kindle and began reading it soon after. And yes, I am happy I did.

Daniel X is the story of a 15-year-old boy who is an alien hunter, the orphan of parents who themselves were alien hunters, but who were murdered when he was three by the number one target on the List of aliens, who goes by the name "The Prayer." While Daniel's ultimate goal is to find The Prayer and make him pay for murdering his family, in this book Daniel is searching out alien number 6, a particularly nasty child stealing, drug dealing, bad movie producing being named Ergent Seth. Daniel, who has the power to literally create out of thin air and frequently conjures up his dead family or his quartet of teenage friends, usually for either emotional support of for help in a tight spot, goes after Seth, the most powerful foe he's yet to face. At first Daniel seems to have everything under control, but as the best laid plans are wont to do, things quickly go awry, and the hunter suddenly becomes the prey.

"The Dangerous Days of Daniel X" is a fun and quick read, and the writing is clearly targeted for the young adult market, and I'd say even younger. Although 15 years old, Daniel often sounds and thinks more like an 8-year-old, so the book is a pretty safe read for most ages. In some ways it may even appeal to the younger kids more, given that today's young adult books usually cover more mature subjects and the issues of love and angst that are part of today's teen life. And therein lies both the strength and the weakness, such as it is, of this book. When reading the book, I can't help but feel that the book is almost too simplistic, that it was like a white wall scrubbed so hard to make it squeaky clean that the paint came a hair's breadth away from being peeled right off. While I personally enjoyed the book, which reminded me of some of my favorite childhood books like "The Forgotten Door" by Alexander Key and "Have Spacesuit, Will Travel" by Robert A. Heinlein, books that each beautifully capture the sense of childhood wonder that I remember so fondly, I just didn't buy that this teenage boy, who's presumably been on his own since the age of three and therefore grew up really fast, remains as sweet and innocent as Opie Taylor and Richie Cunningham with wings and a halo thrown in for good measure. Patterson may have been better served to make Daniel younger, perhaps ten or so, just to more convincingly fit into the childlike mentality which he's bestowed upon this boy. While I think the book should be judged on its own merits, and not compared to past works by Mr. Patterson, I can see why the book is disappointing to some. It has neither the maturity nor the complexity of the king of Y/A fiction, Harry Potter, and yet it seems to aim for an audience more mature than the writing itself speaks to.

Having said all of that, I enjoyed the book, and will probably read the sequels that are previewed at the end of the book. It'll be interesting to see where Mr. Patterson takes this series, because it has the potential of getting better with subsequent books, if the author decides to age Daniel so that he better fits into a teenager's shoes. If you have young kids, or prefer to read clean, wholesome kid fiction, this is the book for you. If you are looking for more, then I'm afraid you may find this book a let down.

Let's hope that like a fine wine, Daniel X gets better with age.

- Gregory Bernard Banks, author, reader, reviewer

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