Alexander Rider
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| Alexander John Rider | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Name | Alexander John Rider |
| Alias | Cub |
| Title | -- |
| DOB | February 13, [1] 1996 (Book)
1987(Movie) |
| Age | 15 |
| Physical Information | |
| Status | Active |
| Nationality | British |
| Gender | Male |
| Hair | Light Brown (fair) in the books/
Blonde in the movie and graphic novels |
| Eyes | Brown |
| Skin | Caucasian |
| Relationship Information | |
| Family | John Rider (father); Helen Rider (mother); Ian Rider |
| Affiliations | Jack Starbright (friend); MI6 (employer) |
| Occupation | |
| Series Information | |
| First Appearance | Stormbreaker; Stormbreaker film |
| Last Appearance | Scorpia Rising |
| Mentioned | |
Alexander "Alex" Rider is the main character of the popular Alex Rider series of novels by British author Anthony Horowitz.[2] He is also the main character of several short stories by Horowitz that are considered canon in the series.[3]
Alex is a young agent for MI6, the British international intelligence service. At no more than fourteen years of age, Alex was forced into this occupation after MI6 noticed Alex's many talents. He has also worked for the CIA, SCORPIA and, Snakehead, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (the ASIS).[2]
He was played in the film Stormbreaker, based on the novel of the same name, by Alex Pettyfer.[4]
Contents |
Background and Personal Life 
Edit
(See ‘Timeline’)
Alexander John Rider was born on 13th February 1987, in East London, England, to John Rider, an MI6 agent, and Helen Beckett, at the time working as a nurse in radiology.
Alex was three months old when his mother and father were killed in an airplane "accident."[5] Later, it is revealed that Alex’s godfather, Anthony Sean Howell (Ash, acronym of his three first initials), placed a bomb on their plane and denonated it under orders from SCORPIA. Fortunately Alex was not on the plane, having been left behind with a nanny due to an ear infection. He would have been flown out to them when he had recovered.[6]
From then, Alex’s paternal uncle Ian Rider raised Alex in his house in Chelsea, London. Ian and Alex had a close friendship, doing practically everything together when Ian was home. They often went travelling, Ian taking Alex around the world to educate him about other cultures. Among other places, Alex visited and stayed in the Marais district of Paris, France, and once even lived abroad for the best part of a year in Barcelona, Spain.[5][7] Ian Rider also taught him many things, which were later revealed in Stormbreaker to be part of his spy training.
Because Ian was away from home quite often, he allowed Jack Starbright, a young American girl to move in with them for free when Alex was seven years old in exchange for babysitting and keeping the house in order. Alex and Jack became great friends over time, and when Ian died Jack became the guardian of a fourteen year old Alex.[2]
Alex currently attends Brookland Comprehensive School and is now in Year 10. Alex’s best friend there, Tom Harris, knows about Alex’s involvement with MI6 but unlike Alex’s other friend Sabina, is very supportive of him and covers for him whenever he needs it.[8][9] Raised in a somewhat different environment than most other boys his age, Alex tends not to relate much to his peers and does not have many close friends in the school. However, as he is not the type to seek popularity, Alex doesn’t mind this much.
Before Alex was forced to join MI6, he wanted to be a professional footballer, but is now unsure of what he wants to do when he finishes school, once jokingly stating he wanted to be a train driver. He still does not express any interest in following in his father’s and uncle’s footsteps in becoming a full-time MI6 agent.[2]
School life Edit
Though he normally attends Brookland School in London, Alex’s education has been interrupted several times due to his involvement with MI6. Jack Starbright has been seen worrying about his academic life in the novels, and even hires a tutor to help Alex catch up on the work he had missed while on errands for MI6.
From Alex’s hobbies, his favourite subjects in school are likely to be Physical Education and Language, and it is mentioned that he finds Physics boring. Alex once showed remarkable skill in a Mathematics class by solving a problem on the blackboard after just glancing at it, despite having been distracted most of the lesson.
It is mentioned that the school secretary, Jane Bedfordshire, has always had a soft spot for Alex.
Relationships Edit
Since arriving in Alex’s life when he was seven years old,[2] Jack has been an important person in his life, becoming one of his closest friends over time. After Ian died, she became Alex’s guardian, and though only hired to care for Alex, they have grown attached and their relationship has deepened. However, Alex’s MI6 life places a strain on their relationship, as Jack is always worried and upset that Alex’s life is constantly being put in danger. When she was killed in the last book, it seriously pushed Alex over the edge. He was empty, and more cold afterwards.[9]
Alex met Sabina at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in Britain, the two quickly becoming friends. Sabina takes Alex back to her house. After she grows suspicious and Alex tells her the truth about his disappearances, she refuses to believe him and grows angry at him when he insists it’s the truth. After they are kidnapped by Damian Cray, however, she apologises to him before soon leaving with her family to live in America. She shows some romantic feelings for Alex, kissing him a couple of times and telling him more than once that she thinks he is attractive.[8]
Alex first met Mrs. Jones when she briefed him for his first mission.[2] Mrs. Jones is very sympathetic to Alex, and offers reassurance when Alex is uneasy about what is required to do for his missions. Mrs. Jones shows great concern for Alex's situation - often protesting that he is not be used again, but all the while admitting that he is useful to MI6. She shows signs of great attachment to Alex, of an almost motherly kind. Mrs. Jones also has hinted that she has had children (at least two) and that they were taken from her, which could contribute to why she has so much sympathy for Alex. It is revealed in Scorpia that her first name is Tulip, as her parents were keen gardeners.[10]
Alex first met the Russian contract killer who killed his uncle on Herod Sayle's ground during his mission in Stormbreaker.[2] At the time, Alex originally vows to kill him. Later, during the events of Eagle Strike, it is revealed that Gregorovich worked with Alex's father John 15 years prior. When Gregorovich's friend captures Alex, Gregorovich is able to arrange for Alex to do bullfighting instead of being shot directly, leading to Alex being able to escape. At the end of the novel, when Damian Cray (the man who hired Gregorovich) orders him to kill Alex, he refuses, because he loved Alex's dad after he saves him from a black widow, and is shot and killed. Before dying, Gregorovich tells Alex that he worked with his father, and if Alex does not belive him to go and find Scorpia, terrorist group that killed Alex's parents.[8]
Talents Edit
Alex is fluent in several languages - as well as his native English, he speaks fluent French and Spanish, and some German. He also speaks basic Italian and Japanese.[11][2]
Alex is highly skilled in many activities, including extreme sports - martial arts (Alex is a black belt in karate), scuba diving, absailing, mountain climbing, rifle shooting and snowboarding. He also plays football and is captain of his school's football team. Alex is also skilled in snooker, and represents the junior team at his local snooker club.[12]
Alex is a very capable fighter. Through a combination of his variety of skills and using whatever is around him as a weapon gives Alex an advantage against dangerous opponents, notably him being able to defeat Nile and Conrad through using his surroundings and their own weaknesses to defeat them, even when they've gained the upper hand and are close to killing him.
While on a trip to Prague in the Czech Republic, Alex learned the "art" of pickpocketing from his uncle, who showed him the techniques of the Artful Dodger, from Oliver Twist. He puts this skill to use when he needs a V.I.P pass to enter a conference during his investigation of Damian Cray, though he feels remorse about doing so. Alex's athletic talents also greatly assist him during his missions many times: for example, in Stormbreaker, he rides a four-wheeler to elude guards;[2] in Point Blanc he snowboards down a mountain on an ironing board to escape the Point Blanc Academy;[13] in Skeleton Key he scuba dives in order to find his partners;[14] in Scorpia he BASE jumps into a factory,[10] in Ark Angel he walks between two skyscrapers on a tightrope[15] and in Snakehead, he successfully kayaks down a dangerous river on a makeshift kayak.[6]
As the series progresses, Alex becomes exceptionally more skilled at spying, to the point that he sometimes investigates and pursues some enemies by himself while not on an MI6 mission. The first of these was in Eagle Strike.[8]
Alex has repeatedly shown himself to be highly strategic, able to calmly assess a situation and work out the best way to adapt to it. He's frequently thwarted the plans of the many antagonists he's encountered in his missions, prevailing through his own talent, his gadgets, luck and sometimes his enemies' overconfidence. It's because of his talents that many intelligence agencies seek to use him as a spy due to him always being able to complete a mission, regardless of how much the odds are against him.
Physical Appearance Edit
Alex is described as being a strikingly good looking 15 year old boy, with fair hair (as said in Stormbreaker) or light brown hair (as said in Crocodile Tears and Scorpia Rising) and a handsome slender face that would “attract plenty of girls.” He also has serious brown eyes and a slightly hard, narrow mouth.
Well built and slim with a slight tan, Alex is described as having “the body of an athlete”. He is 5’7” tall and he weighs 120 pounds (around 8.6 stone). By the time of Scorpia Rising, however, it states that he's grown to be 5'10", and while still slim, it also mentions that he's filled out considerably. It is mentioned that he has a birthmark on his left shoulder, and he mostly wears casual clothing such as baggy jeans and hoodies. He often wears a wooden bead necklace, and in Snakehead, it is revealed that Alex wears boxer shorts.[2]
In the summer he tends to wear reefer sandals.[citation needed]
As time passes through the novels, although Alex stays fourteen, he is described as looking older than he actually is – although he is also going through puberty, this is mainly due to the difficulties and pain he endures because of his involvement with MI6: It is said in Eagle Strike by Jack that every time Alex arrives back from a mission he appears "more scuffed up".[8][5]
Personality Edit
Alex has become quite independent in his character as a result of having no parents. Quick-witted and good at assessing the dangers ahead of him, particularly on missions, he has a very strong level of intuition. Though he is prone to extreme emotion at times (such as fear and panic) he never lets it get the better of him. Shown to be a mature teenager, Alex is good at analysing situations, before then often going on to handle them better than most adults would be able to.
He has a good-hearted personality and maintains this even after being exposed to death and danger on a regular basis because of his involvement with MI6. He is shown to have a good sense of humour, often aiming bits of snarkery and dry mockery at his enemies despite the danger that he is in. He purposefully does this because he knows that people make more mistakes when they're angry.
After each and every mission, Alex is severely traumatized. By the end of Scorpia Rising, he's profoundly emotionally damaged. Losing his housekeeper, the only adult who really cared about him, was a major blow, but shooting Julius was also a contributing factor. Not only did he kill another human being, he killed a person who looked just like him. Essentially, he killed himself. Because of this, he is mostly quiet and brooding after it's all over. The head of CIA, Joe Bryne compared it to "As if he had aged ten years."[5]However, Edward Pleasure is hopeful and determined to help Alex recover and heal.
Contradictions Edit
- Alex's official year of birth is stated as being 1987, with Alex stating in Point Blanc that he was two years old in 1989.[13] However, in Snakehead Alex remembers the Boxing Day Tsunami (2004).[6] Then in in the US version of Crocodile Tears, it mentions Obama as being the President of the United States.[9] Considering these events, his birth year would more reliably be February 13, 1987.
- Alex Rider is originally stated as being "tall for his age" in Stormbreaker. Snakehead, however, claims him to be 5'7" and short for his age.[2][6]
Trivia Edit
- Alex is onychophagiac (bites his nails). This is a common habit associated with anxiety due to nervousness and stress, revealed in Point Blanc.[13]
- Alex does not like horse riding. This is a notable irony about Alex, as his name is Rider - and riding is the only sport he hates.[13]
- Alex's favourite soft drink is Coke - whenever offered a drink, Coke is what he usually chooses, as shown in various times throughout the series.[13] When Alex is in Italy, his favorite dessert is granita, as mentioned in Scorpia.[10] When in France, Alex enjoys sirop de grenadine, a type of bright red fruit juice with ice. This is first mentioned while Alex is in France with Jack Starbright in Eagle Strike.[8]
- To date, Alex has been hospitalized six times: in Point Blanc after a snowboarding accident; in Skeleton Key after Sabina gave him CPR when he nearly drowned; again in Skeleton Key after he was injured in Murmansk; in Scorpia after he was shot by a sniper; in Snakehead, Alex was hospitalised to be used as a transplant donor against his will, and in Crocodile Tears, he was hospitalized after having fractured his ankle and receiving burns from an exploding fuel drum.[13][14][10][6][9]
- Alex's blood type is A positive, as mentioned in Snakehead.
- Alex always wears mud shoes, although they don't seem muddy on the outside.
- Alex once shot a worker at Sayle Enterprises. It is unknown exactly who he murdered, because they don't mention this in the novel Stormbreaker or show this happening in the movie.
Also, out of the first 6 books, MI6 only used him twice, in Stormbreaker and Point Blanc.
Skeleton Key - It was the CIA Eagle Strike - They didn't want to know Scorpia - He wasn't with them Ark Angel - CIA again
Stormbreaker: The Film Edit
In the 2006 Stormbreaker film directed by Geoffrey Sax, Alex Rider is played by Alex Pettyfer, a rising British actor. Pettyfer was chosen from 500 hopefuls for the role of Alex.
Anthony Horowitz, who was the scriptwriter for the film as well as the author of the novels, recommended Pettyfer to play Alex Rider after seeing him in Tom Brown's Schooldays. Horowitz gave Pettyfer intense guidance on becoming the character of Alex Rider, expressing him and bringing his athletic talents, intellect and charm to the screen.
The role of Alex Rider was said to be the most physically demanding ever taken by a child actor. Pettyfer undertook martial arts training with Hong Kong martial arts choreographer Donnie Yen, as well as horseback riding. Pettyfer did most of his own stunts in the film, and underwent major physical preparation for the role.
Pettyfer was fifteen years old at the time of the film's shooting, just one year older than his character.[4]
Useful Links Edit
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/alexrider/faq/index.html
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz (primary)
- ↑ http://alexrider.wikia.com/wiki/Short_Stories
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1641117/
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://www.alexrider.com/alex-rider/Who-is-alex-rider
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz
- ↑ http://www.alexrider.com/Alex-Rider/Who-is-Alex-Rider/Holiday-destinations
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Eagle Strike by Anthony Horowitz
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Scorpia by Anthony Horowitz
- ↑ http://www.alexrider.com/Alex-Rider/Skills/Languages
- ↑ http://www.alexrider.com/Alex-Rider/Skills
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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| Stormbreaker Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
|---|---|
| Alex Rider • Alan Blunt • Tulip Jones • Jack Starbright • Herod Sayle • Yassen Gregorovich | |
| Other Key Characters | |
| Ian Rider • Smithers • Nadia Vole • Mr. Grin • Wolf • John Crawley | |
| Point Blanc Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
|---|---|
| Alex Rider • Alan Blunt • Tulip Jones • Jack Starbright • Hugo Grief • Eva Stellenbosch | |
| Other Key Characters | |
| David Friend • Smithers • James Sprintz • Michael J. Roscoe • Wolf • John Crawley • Fiona Friend • Julius Grief | |
| Skeleton Key Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
|---|---|
| Alex Rider • Alan Blunt • Tulip Jones • Jack Starbright • Alexei Sarov • Sabina Pleasure | |
| Other Key Characters | |
| Joe Byrne • Smithers • Belinda Troy • Tom Turner • Conrad • John Crawley • Boris Kiriyenko | |
| Eagle Strike Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
|---|---|
| Alex Rider • Alan Blunt • Tulip Jones • Jack Starbright • Damian Cray • Sabina Pleasure • Yassen Gregorovich | |
| Other Key Characters | |
| Edward Pleasure • Smithers • Liz Pleasure • Marc Antonio • Charlie Roper • John Rider • Henryk | |
| Scorpia Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
|---|---|
| Alex Rider • Alan Blunt • Tulip Jones • Jack Starbright • Julia Rothman • Nile | |
| Other Key Characters | |
| Graham Adair • Smithers • Mark Kellner • George Adair • Tom Harris • Jerry Harris • Harold Liebermann | |
| Ark Angel Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
|---|---|
| Alex Rider • Alan Blunt • Tulip Jones • Jack Starbright • Nikolei Drevin • Paul Drevin • Magnus Payne | |
| Other Key Characters | |
| Joe Byrne • Smithers • Tamara Knight • Max Webber • Ed Shulsky • John Crawley | |
| Snakehead Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
|---|---|
| Alex Rider • Tulip Jones • Jack Starbright • Ethan Brooke • Ash • Winston Yu | |
| Other Key Characters | |
| Smithers • Ben Daniels • Sabina Pleasure • Bill Tanner • Anan Sukit • Hermann De Wynter • Marc Damon | |
| Crocodile Tears Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
|---|---|
| Alex Rider • Alan Blunt • Tulip Jones • Jack Starbright • Desmond McCain • Sabina Pleasure • Leonard Straik | |
| Other Key Characters | |
| Edward Pleasure • Smithers • Liz Pleasure • John Crawley • Ravi Chandra • Harry Bulman • Myra Beckett • Rahim | |
| Scorpia Rising Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
|---|---|
| Alex Rider • Jack Starbright • Alan Blunt • Abdul-Aziz al-Razim • Julius Grief | |
| Other Key Characters | |
| Smithers • Tulip Jones • Joe Byrne • Erik Gunter • Zeljan Kurst • Yannis Ariston Xenopolos | |
