Product Description

Terror-filled eyes. Lungs choked with water. A pounding heartbeat.
For Sydney Bristow, it’s a typical day in her not-so-typical after-school job–she’s an agent for SD-6, a top-secret division of the CIA. Or so she thinks.

This prequel is the first in a new series based on the smash ABC show Alias–it’s Sydney’s life before she discovers she’s working for the bad guys, juxtaposing normal college life against her fabulous exploits as a working spy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #383924 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-08
• Released on: 2002-10-08
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 224 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up-This work of contemporary suspense is a prequel novel, based on the enormously popular Alias TV series. Brainy but socially inept Sydney Bristow is a freshman at UCLA, where she plans to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a teacher. It's not long, however, before she begins questioning her reasons for wanting to teach. Meanwhile, she strikes out with a cute guy, gets fired the first day on a job, and spends a lot of time pitying herself. Then, a recruiter mysteriously appears from an organization Sydney believes is the CIA. With an offer to become a secret agent, she can move in a different, and far more exciting, direction. She is not quick to give up her old life, however. Half the book is over before she decides to accept the offer. It's understandable: the penalty for deserting, should she want out, is certain death. Also, she is not allowed to tell anyone about the offer. Readers are into the final quarter before Sydney becomes embroiled in heart-stopping danger, but they should feel that the payoff is worth the wait. While the prose and the plot development are workmanlike, the intended audience won't care. Because of its connection to the TV show, even reluctant readers should devour this one.
Catherine Ensley, Latah County Free Library District, Moscow, ID
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
This "prequel" novel for the TV series tells the story of how Sydney Bristow first became involved with SD-6, what she believes to be a top-secret division of the CIA. The story itself has a typical teen plot: A brainy and socially inept girl finds a way to be tough and gorgeous, a transformation that leads to inevitable romance and adventure. Amanda Foreman reads with a light touch, conveying Sydney's emotions but making no attempt to distinguish among characters. The production features a funky, bass-heavy musical track that serves as filler between chapters and plays too loudly and obviously during important scenes. Even so, the production is good fun for "Alias" fans. A.F. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Inside Flap Copy
Terror-filled eyes. Lungs choked with water. A pounding heartbeat.
For Sydney Bristow, it?s a typical day in her not-so-typical after-school job?she?s an agent for SD-6, a top-secret division of the CIA. Or so she thinks.

This prequel is the first in a new series based on the smash ABC show Alias?it?s Sydney?s life before she discovers she?s working for the bad guys, juxtaposing normal college life against her fabulous exploits as a working spy.

Customer Reviews

Acceptable
The reading level for this book is quite low. I was disappointed that it was written at such a remedial level.

Nevertheless, because I am a fan of the show, I wanted to know what brought Sydney into SD-6. This book was an acceptable book to answer those questions.

The APO series is written in a much better tone and reading level for adults.

Good intro
I'm a big fan of the show and most people that read this book probably are as well. It's not a series like Lord of the Rings but it's not a bad book either. It's not real long, you can read it over a weekend and get a little bit of an Alias fix quickly. It's geared toward young adults so if that's not you don't expect something else. It's a good book if you want a good story, geared toward young adults, that's all about Alias and discovering life before the tv series.

I love it and have read others as well. I'm planning on reading most, if not all of them. I like to know what others think life for Syd was like before we all starting watching her on tv!

Not much substance...
I love the show Alias and had hoped the books would fill in some holes about Sydney's past, her recruitment, etc. The books do provide some details but the books stay pretty general. It's obvious they cannot provide too much detail or it might conflict with the writing for the show (which frequently draws from the past to explain the present) The books focus on getting to know Sloane, her strained relationship with her dad, etc. The writing is pretty bland--this is one situation where the show is BETTER than the book. My final irritation with the books (and I've read several) is that they tend make Sydney look dumb and naive. She will "save the day" and then we the reader see the final "secret email" proving she helped the bad guy, etc. She comes off looking really dumb. Read the books if you must but get them from the library....