The Supernaturalist

by Eoin Colfer

Book Overview

Unwanted by his parents, Cosmo Hill is put to work by the state, testing highly dangerous products. Cosmo realizes he must get away, and escapes with the help of the Supernaturalists, a group of kids... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786851481
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Hyperion
• Length: 265 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.1" x 1.1" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Surprising and intelligent

Usually I don't enjoy science fiction novels yet this one caught my eye. The first chapter was a little boring, but the action quickly heated up. The characters have great personality's that fit in perfectly with the plot. All the character's past's get twisted in with why they do things in the story and it's as if the characters link together to form a chain that is the plot. The futuristic setting only adds to the fascination you will feel while reading this book. This action packed psychedelic novel is something you HAVE to read if you are a lover of science fiction or realistic fiction. The author is very intelligent in the things he makes his characters do and feel. He also lets the character's seem partly mysterious because you don't know everything about their life and how they feel which adds to the excitement. This book is filled with excellent characters and an intelligent story line that everyone can understand!

Sometimes I've felt parentally challenged...

The story begins with Cosmo Hill at the Clarisa Fayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys, and this Institute makes Oliver Twist's orphanage look like a day spa. No-sponsors live here - children without biological or adoptive parents. And here they conduct scientific experiments on these "expendable" children, the same experiments that our society currently conducts on animals. It's a gruesome, heart wrenching sight. A chance comes for escape, and Cosmo breaks free of Clarissa Frayne, although suffering terrible injuries while doing so, and before he is found by anyone that would deliver him back to the testing lab, he is rescued and healed by the self-titled Supernaturalists. They can see "Parasites", blue creatures who thrive on energy, and who are believed to suck the life source from humans. The sole purpose of Supernaturalists is to eradicate this strangely listless, supposedly evil species. Not many people can see these Parasites, but Cosmo can, and delighted to have found purpose, and finally something resembling a family, Cosmo joins forces with the Supernaturalists. And then the story moves from a simple fight against these Parasites to a remarkable, breathtaking series of twists and turns. Some may be predictable, but many are not, and all are exhilarating. During one such twist I found myself staring at the page thinking, "I should have known", smiling, and impressed with Colfer's seemingly boundless creativity. The only complaint I have is that during action sequences I had to pay very close attention to make sure that I was understanding what was happening, and even doing so, wasn't certain that I had it right. Also, some of the physical descriptions were lacking - again, I had to struggle to see them, and even so, wasn't certain that the image I was supposed to see was what my mind formed. Also, Cosmo was functioning fairly well for a child who had only one year left to live - given that the life expectancy of kids at Clarissa Frayne was 15 years. But Colfer excels in other ways. He has a razor sharp wit which had me laughing on nearly every page, and an excellent feel for the emotions of teenagers. And his ability to create unique and fully realized universes within a bare minimum of pages is beyond compare. If there were 10 stars, I would give this a 9. It's not a perfect work. There are only 5, and I think it's closer to "I love it" than "I like it", so I'm giving this a 5.

One of Colfer's best

When i first picked up the book i thought that it was another badly written book that was all about what things in the future would have. IT IS NOT. While this does take place in the future (the darker side of the future) it focuses on so many other things. The plot kept me involved from the start, from the exciting and dangerous escape of Cosmo and Ziplock, to the climactic and plot-twisted ending of the book (which just kept me having to tell somebody about). The characters are so well represented, and i loved reading about how the Supernaturalists were like an immune team. Cosmo is the perfect character to focus on, because of his constant curiosity and charming nature, while Mona, Ditto and Stefan all have traits that are just too much to include here. The plot is definitely the most exciting and creative part of the story. I don't think i've ever read a book with a plot that built up to the climax so well and left me as surprised at the plot twists (The first one I kinda saw coming, but the one near the end that leads to the climax took me completely by surprise)this book definitely goes up there with Colfer's other masterpieces - Artemis Fowl 1 + 3 (the second one i found a little boring. The wish list was well written, but i didn't really like the characters or the story)BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF READING IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER And over and over......BRAVO COLFER!!!!!

Please spend your money on this!

Okay, maybe it is just me, but I love Eoin Colfer. Artemis Fowl was cool, The Wish List was good too, but The Supernaturalist was GREAT!Cosmo Hill is a great main character and its just keeps getrting better after the first chapter. Believe me, this is not a waste of time.If Eoin Colfer keeps on writing, heck he could be the greatest author in American history. Artemis Fowl, GREAT, GREAT novel. Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident GREAT GREAT novel. Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code The best one yet, The Wish List, maybe if you are not a Catholic you won't like the whole religious thing, but hey I'm Hindu and I like it and The Supernaturalist is a great book too!Sequels would be awesome to this book, even though it sets up to one, but hey I'm glad it did. Its climax is not poor and it has great exposition about Satelite City, and everything is just great!Please buy this book, listen to me from a TRUE Eoin Colfer fan, get this book it is not a waste of time.