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I am not a good person.
My purpose is to show you the truth about me, and to prove that I am not the hero that everyone says I am.
In the Hushlands — those Librarian-controlled nations such as the United States, Canada, and England—this book will be published as a work of fantasy.
Do not be fooled! This is no work of fiction, nor is my name really Brandon Sanderson.
I know the events of my life may seem wondrous and mysterious.
I will do my best to explain them, but please remember that my purpose is not to entertain you.
My purpose it to open your eyes to the truth.
This is my story—the story of a selfish, contemptible fool.
The story of a coward.
The story of Alcatraz Smedry.
My purpose is to show you the truth about me, and to prove that I am not the hero that everyone says I am.
In the Hushlands — those Librarian-controlled nations such as the United States, Canada, and England—this book will be published as a work of fantasy.
Do not be fooled! This is no work of fiction, nor is my name really Brandon Sanderson.
I know the events of my life may seem wondrous and mysterious.
I will do my best to explain them, but please remember that my purpose is not to entertain you.
My purpose it to open your eyes to the truth.
This is my story—the story of a selfish, contemptible fool.
The story of a coward.
The story of Alcatraz Smedry.
759 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2012
32 people are currently reading
1022 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Sanderson
473 books280k followersI’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
November 22, 2020
Rating: 4 stars
I was absolutely stunned when I heard Sanderson say in a recent interview that Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians is his least successful series (honestly, I would have expected The Reckoners trilogy to fill this spot because, though I've only read the first book, it isn't the best). This is seriously the closest any book has ever come to matching the combination of humour, action, wit, and pure creativity of the Percy Jackson series, which I love partially due to nostalgic reasons. I read this Alcatraz bind up over the course of a month, and it was a perfect palette cleanser between the more intense books. I would recommend this series to anyone and everyone.
I was absolutely stunned when I heard Sanderson say in a recent interview that Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians is his least successful series (honestly, I would have expected The Reckoners trilogy to fill this spot because, though I've only read the first book, it isn't the best). This is seriously the closest any book has ever come to matching the combination of humour, action, wit, and pure creativity of the Percy Jackson series, which I love partially due to nostalgic reasons. I read this Alcatraz bind up over the course of a month, and it was a perfect palette cleanser between the more intense books. I would recommend this series to anyone and everyone.
February 24, 2019
I got this bundle of four books in the Alcatraz series, by Brandon Sanderson, and since I loved all of his books so far, I enthusiastically started to read them. First, you need to understand that there are five books in the series, with The Dark Talent just published. I think it pays to wait until you have it before you read the whole thing, since it pretty much reads as one long story (unless you read the beginning and then immediately skip to the end of each book, heh heh heh!). Second, you need to know that at the beginning the writing will appear waaaay too silly and under par compared to the author's other works. After a while it kind of grew on me, but be aware that it is written mostly for kids. Sanderson even says so in the story itself.
So at first I kind of thought this will be the series that breaks the rule, the one that I would not enjoy reading, and it took some time to shake off this feeling. It feels like the author could not make up his mind on what to write: the obligatory book about writers (after all, the rule says "write what you know", so in the end it's inevitable) or the recently obligatory Harry Potter spoof (which fantasy authors are peer pressured into writing). In the end he wrote something that has both: a story about a boy discovering he has magical powers and also a book filled with meta comments and breaks in the Fourth Wall (the character has the Breaking Talent, see) that shows some of the tools and processes in the writing business.
In fact, the more I read, the more I enjoyed the books. The characters are as always incredibly (annoyingly) positive and there is that Sanderson smartness behind even the silliest of exchanges. He references future scenes, with book and page number (which is amazing if you think about it), he hooks you to a scene then berates himself on using hooks in the book, he uses really silly and out of context details only to use them at full effectiveness a book later. In the end, you get something that children will undoubtedly read with giggling pleasure and that adults (especially those interested in writing) will see as a deconstruction of the writing process.
Now, I still feel the Alcatraz series is one of the lesser Brandon Sanderson books. The silliness sometimes feels forced and the way he writes each book changes slightly, as he experiments with the crazy shenanigans that he started with this series. It's still very entertaining, though. Give it a try, or give it to your children so they can get into writing themselves and make your life a living hell when they grow up :)
So at first I kind of thought this will be the series that breaks the rule, the one that I would not enjoy reading, and it took some time to shake off this feeling. It feels like the author could not make up his mind on what to write: the obligatory book about writers (after all, the rule says "write what you know", so in the end it's inevitable) or the recently obligatory Harry Potter spoof (which fantasy authors are peer pressured into writing). In the end he wrote something that has both: a story about a boy discovering he has magical powers and also a book filled with meta comments and breaks in the Fourth Wall (the character has the Breaking Talent, see) that shows some of the tools and processes in the writing business.
In fact, the more I read, the more I enjoyed the books. The characters are as always incredibly (annoyingly) positive and there is that Sanderson smartness behind even the silliest of exchanges. He references future scenes, with book and page number (which is amazing if you think about it), he hooks you to a scene then berates himself on using hooks in the book, he uses really silly and out of context details only to use them at full effectiveness a book later. In the end, you get something that children will undoubtedly read with giggling pleasure and that adults (especially those interested in writing) will see as a deconstruction of the writing process.
Now, I still feel the Alcatraz series is one of the lesser Brandon Sanderson books. The silliness sometimes feels forced and the way he writes each book changes slightly, as he experiments with the crazy shenanigans that he started with this series. It's still very entertaining, though. Give it a try, or give it to your children so they can get into writing themselves and make your life a living hell when they grow up :)
January 28, 2015
I know it is supposed to be a children's book, but I loved it. In a way it is like Harry Potter's books, but not like it at all at the same time. Brandon Sanderson is the best...
January 10, 2022
I didn't really know what to expect going into this series but I really ended up liking it.
February 11, 2024
Loved. So cute and funny.
March 4, 2014
While reading this book, I almost died ... from laughter.
See what I did there? I started with a slightly deceptive hook that drew you in, made you want to keep reading, and then I dropped the truth like a loaded baked potato.
Splat.
Hilarious, isn't it?
That my friends, is what it's like to read The Complete Alcatraz by Brandon Sanderson. He breaks every single rule there is, cracks jokes about the writing profession, famous books, and authors in general, and reveals all the secrets of the novel writing world ... not to mention the cult of the Evil Librarians.
It's awesome. You gotta love someone who doesn't take himself too seriously.
Like this quote:
"I hear hitting yourself on the head with a blunt object can be very effective. You should try using one of Brandon Sanderson's fantasy novels. They're big enough, and goodness knows, that's really the only useful thing to do with them." (Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones)
I could quote this book till Ragnarok rolls around again. It has so many hilarious lines, stuff that really sets you thinking. Check this out:
"Some people assume that authors write books because we have vivid imaginations and want to share our vision. Other people assume that authors write because we are bursting with stories and therefore must scribble those stories down in moments of creative propondity.
Now, actual torture is frowned upon in civilized society. Fortunately, the authorial community has discovered in storytelling an even more powerful - and even more fulfilling - means of causing agony in others. We write stories. And by doing so, we engage in a perfectly legal method of doing all kinds of mean and terrible things to our readers.
Take for instance the word I used above. Propondity. There is no such word - I made it up. Why? Because it amused me to think of thousands of readers looking up a nonsense word in their dictionaries." (Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians)
And that's pretty much how the whole book goes. With the addition of a high action plot, great characters (like Alcatraz and Bastille!), and yet another of Sanderson's brilliant and complex magical systems: Oculary (something to do with sands and glass and magical lenses).
Like to know the actual premise of the book historical account?
You and I live in the Hushlands, a world controlled by the cult of Evil Librarians who are determined to monitor all the information in the world, teaching us only what they want us to believe: simple things like swords are more primitive weapons than guns, or that there are seven continents instead of ten, or that sand is a fairly worthless substance.
In the Free Kingdoms, people know better. And there are some who are determined to fight against the Evil Librarians and see knowledge shared with all. Enter Alcatraz, a boy raised in the foster system in the Hushlands with only one talent - the ability to break things - and no knowledge of his royal heritage until the year he turns thirteen. Then he discovers that he's not actually named after a prison but after a great Oculator (after whom the Librarians named the prison to give a bad connotation to a noble name). Oh, and he's got some family too. And he's supposed to join them in their fight against the Evil Librarians.
And from there, well, the rest is history!
This book is a definite must read. It's fun and goofy, but oh so witty, and well worth the purchase - as the author will remind you multiple times throughout the course of the novel.
If you haven't read The Complete Alcatraz, I suggest you pick up a copy. If you live in the Hushlands, you might just enjoy it as a fun fantasy read. Or you might just learn that everything you have ever been told is a lie.
Don't say I didn't warn you!
See what I did there? I started with a slightly deceptive hook that drew you in, made you want to keep reading, and then I dropped the truth like a loaded baked potato.
Splat.
Hilarious, isn't it?
That my friends, is what it's like to read The Complete Alcatraz by Brandon Sanderson. He breaks every single rule there is, cracks jokes about the writing profession, famous books, and authors in general, and reveals all the secrets of the novel writing world ... not to mention the cult of the Evil Librarians.
It's awesome. You gotta love someone who doesn't take himself too seriously.
Like this quote:
"I hear hitting yourself on the head with a blunt object can be very effective. You should try using one of Brandon Sanderson's fantasy novels. They're big enough, and goodness knows, that's really the only useful thing to do with them." (Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones)
I could quote this book till Ragnarok rolls around again. It has so many hilarious lines, stuff that really sets you thinking. Check this out:
"Some people assume that authors write books because we have vivid imaginations and want to share our vision. Other people assume that authors write because we are bursting with stories and therefore must scribble those stories down in moments of creative propondity.
Now, actual torture is frowned upon in civilized society. Fortunately, the authorial community has discovered in storytelling an even more powerful - and even more fulfilling - means of causing agony in others. We write stories. And by doing so, we engage in a perfectly legal method of doing all kinds of mean and terrible things to our readers.
Take for instance the word I used above. Propondity. There is no such word - I made it up. Why? Because it amused me to think of thousands of readers looking up a nonsense word in their dictionaries." (Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians)
And that's pretty much how the whole book goes. With the addition of a high action plot, great characters (like Alcatraz and Bastille!), and yet another of Sanderson's brilliant and complex magical systems: Oculary (something to do with sands and glass and magical lenses).
Like to know the actual premise of the book historical account?
You and I live in the Hushlands, a world controlled by the cult of Evil Librarians who are determined to monitor all the information in the world, teaching us only what they want us to believe: simple things like swords are more primitive weapons than guns, or that there are seven continents instead of ten, or that sand is a fairly worthless substance.
In the Free Kingdoms, people know better. And there are some who are determined to fight against the Evil Librarians and see knowledge shared with all. Enter Alcatraz, a boy raised in the foster system in the Hushlands with only one talent - the ability to break things - and no knowledge of his royal heritage until the year he turns thirteen. Then he discovers that he's not actually named after a prison but after a great Oculator (after whom the Librarians named the prison to give a bad connotation to a noble name). Oh, and he's got some family too. And he's supposed to join them in their fight against the Evil Librarians.
And from there, well, the rest is history!
This book is a definite must read. It's fun and goofy, but oh so witty, and well worth the purchase - as the author will remind you multiple times throughout the course of the novel.
If you haven't read The Complete Alcatraz, I suggest you pick up a copy. If you live in the Hushlands, you might just enjoy it as a fun fantasy read. Or you might just learn that everything you have ever been told is a lie.
Don't say I didn't warn you!
April 5, 2013
I knew I wanted to read this book when I opened to the title page to find the first book was called Alcatraz verses the evil librarians but I put off reading it because it has a really, really bad cover. Finally I sat down one night to read it and didn't expect to get very far. But I was wrong and the very first line proved this to me. "So, there I was, tied to an altar made from outdated encyclopaedias, about to get sacrificed to the dark powers by a cult of evil librarians." And it just got better from there.
I found out what types of books I should be reading and more importantly what books I shouldn't be reading. "These books are invariably described as important- which in my experience, pretty much means that they're boring...In fact, the lad will not go on an adventure or fight against anything at all. Instead, his dog will die. Or, in some cases, his mother will die. If it's a really meaningful book, both his dog and his mother will die. (Apparently, most writers have something against dogs and mothers.)
I also found out that authors don't write for my benefit, they write because they like to torture people. "Take, for instance, the word I used above. Propondidty. There is no such word - I made it up. Why? Because it amused me to think of thousands of readers looking up a nonsense word in their dictionaries."
And finally I learnt just what it means to be a librarian. " You may, therefore, have assumed that all librarians are evil cultists who want to take over the world, enslave humanity, and sacrifice people on their alters. This is completely untrue. Not all librarians are evil cultists. Some librarians are instead vengeful undead who want to suck up your soul."
The Alcatraz Omnibus by Brandon Sanderson is one of the funniest books I have ever read and while it is aimed at young adults there is plenty there for the rest of us. What is the story actually about? Read it and find out for yourself but I'm warning you, don't read the last page first...
I found out what types of books I should be reading and more importantly what books I shouldn't be reading. "These books are invariably described as important- which in my experience, pretty much means that they're boring...In fact, the lad will not go on an adventure or fight against anything at all. Instead, his dog will die. Or, in some cases, his mother will die. If it's a really meaningful book, both his dog and his mother will die. (Apparently, most writers have something against dogs and mothers.)
I also found out that authors don't write for my benefit, they write because they like to torture people. "Take, for instance, the word I used above. Propondidty. There is no such word - I made it up. Why? Because it amused me to think of thousands of readers looking up a nonsense word in their dictionaries."
And finally I learnt just what it means to be a librarian. " You may, therefore, have assumed that all librarians are evil cultists who want to take over the world, enslave humanity, and sacrifice people on their alters. This is completely untrue. Not all librarians are evil cultists. Some librarians are instead vengeful undead who want to suck up your soul."
The Alcatraz Omnibus by Brandon Sanderson is one of the funniest books I have ever read and while it is aimed at young adults there is plenty there for the rest of us. What is the story actually about? Read it and find out for yourself but I'm warning you, don't read the last page first...
September 27, 2015
I thought that this book was exciting and daring. This a perfect book for people who don't want to get all the books just one. This books is all the books in one.
Alcatraz Smedry is a regular boy but he breaks any thing he touches. Then he find out that his talent is breaking. and his grandpa tells him and brings him home. On the way home he runs into the evil librarians and he has to save the world. Once at home will he become a legend or will he crash and burn.
Alcatraz Smedry is a regular boy but he breaks any thing he touches. Then he find out that his talent is breaking. and his grandpa tells him and brings him home. On the way home he runs into the evil librarians and he has to save the world. Once at home will he become a legend or will he crash and burn.
December 15, 2015
Humorous and well written.
October 2, 2023
Wow, I am actually surprised to find myself enjoying this book.
At first, I was a bit sceptical because the book seemed weird. But, as I continued reading, it was pretty good. The narration reminds me of Percy Jackson but it was more chaotic. For one second, it was about how the author confronted the enemy and when you turned to a new chapter, he suddenly talked about Bazooka Bunny. Or about he was actually a fish. Totally unrelated.
I like the approach that the author used to write this book. I love how he talked about how writers often end a chapter with a cliffhanger so we readers will continue the book even though it is pretty late. Or what a character does during the chapter break. Quoting myself again, it was chaotic but it was interesting.
Anyway, onto the plot of the story. Despite how lighthearted the book seemed to be, there was a lot to discuss about the theme. One of them was how dangerous knowledge is. Yes, it is important to gain and share knowledge but some knowledge is just too dangerous to learn. There has to be a limit somehow.
As usual in Sanderson's book, there was a twist at the end. It may not seem surprising but it makes me think how easy it was to be manipulated to believe in a cause only to realize in the end that you might be wrong.
At first, I was a bit sceptical because the book seemed weird. But, as I continued reading, it was pretty good. The narration reminds me of Percy Jackson but it was more chaotic. For one second, it was about how the author confronted the enemy and when you turned to a new chapter, he suddenly talked about Bazooka Bunny. Or about he was actually a fish. Totally unrelated.
I like the approach that the author used to write this book. I love how he talked about how writers often end a chapter with a cliffhanger so we readers will continue the book even though it is pretty late. Or what a character does during the chapter break. Quoting myself again, it was chaotic but it was interesting.
Anyway, onto the plot of the story. Despite how lighthearted the book seemed to be, there was a lot to discuss about the theme. One of them was how dangerous knowledge is. Yes, it is important to gain and share knowledge but some knowledge is just too dangerous to learn. There has to be a limit somehow.
As usual in Sanderson's book, there was a twist at the end. It may not seem surprising but it makes me think how easy it was to be manipulated to believe in a cause only to realize in the end that you might be wrong.
April 30, 2019
The most bizarre series I have read. Brandon Sanderson constantly broke the narrative, three in stuff just for heck's sake and to throw you off, or just to plain be silly. Still, even with all that, including British soaking dinosaurs, it was very will written and is one of mine and my son's favorite series.
February 21, 2023
This is a fun, tongue-in cheek, series of books compiled into an omnibus edition. Silly in parts, nerdish in others, those with an extensive interest in sci-fi and fantasy will get lots more from the obscure references than the reader age-group this is ostensibly targeted at. NCC-1701 anyone?
Highly enjoyable!
Highly enjoyable!
August 25, 2021
One of favorite books of all time. As the cover suggests it's goofy, weird, random, unexpected, and just all around fun. It's a lighthearted read that pokes fun at authors and "writing" while being exceedingly entertaining. Truly a Brandon Sanderson classic.
April 21, 2022
I’m not the intended audience for this book, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Actually,it’s the type of book I’d have loved in my childhood because it’s fast paced, full of sarcasm, and it has the brilliance of Sanderson’s plot.
December 30, 2017
Grabbed it at the library and re-read the first four books all as one. Fantastic!
February 28, 2019
keren banget
August 22, 2019
J'ai adoré! C'est barré à souhait.
December 31, 2021
I love this book I will never not reread it when I'm sad its so funny.
October 30, 2015
Ma chronique : http://freelfe.blogspot.fr/2015/10/al...
Dans ce livre qui ne paraît pas si épais mais qui fait pas moins de 984 pages, sont réunis les quatre tomes de la tétralogie Alcatraz Smedry de Brandon Sanderson. En vente aux Editions Le Livre de Poche à 16,90€ cette intégrale n’est donc pas très épaisse grâce à ses pages très fines. Si fines qu’on voit même les traces de ce qui est écrit de l’autre côté. Ça, c’est le petit bémol avec le fait que vous tourniez plus souvent deux pages en même temps plutôt qu’une. Mise à part ces petits défauts, j’ai beaucoup apprécié l’objet livre en lui-même : les pages sont agréables, le livre est souple et léger.
J’ai donc découvert la plume de Brandon Sanderson avec cette lecture et autant vous dire que j’ai été très surprise !
Je suis entrée dans l’univers d’Alcatraz Smedry avec le premier tome : Alcatraz contre les infâmes bibliothécaires. Déjà, rien que l’idée que ce soit les bibliothécaires qui soient méchants m’a fait sourire. Cette découverte a été très positive. J’ai ouvert un livre présentant un univers très original et décalé. J’ai beaucoup souri voire ri durant ma lecture.
Tout d’abord, Alcatraz, qui est aussi notre narrateur, est un personnage atypique. Sa proportion à casser les choses autour de lui est assez marrante. C’est un personnage auquel on s’attache rapidement étant donné qu’on est toujours avec lui. J’ai beaucoup apprécié le décalage entre le lui jeune et le lui plus âgé. Il a un côté cynique et sarcastique qui m’a beaucoup plus. Dans ce premier tome, il se retrouve lui-même projeté dans cet univers complètement tordu.
L’univers proposé par l’auteur est très complexe. J’ai été plus d’une fois perdue. C’est loufoque, décalé et très étrange. Au fur et à mesure, on finit par saisir comment ça marche mais au départ, j’ai eu beaucoup de mal avec les histoires de Talent et des lunettes… Mais je ne vous en dirais pas plus !
Ce roman se lit vraiment rapidement ! Il y a pas mal de dialogues, les actions avancent bien et c’est très agréable à lire. L’univers m’a largement conquis, tout autant que les personnages et cette première aventure. Celle-ci, dans son déroulement, est un peu déstabilisante au départ mais on s’y intègre très rapidement.
C’est assez compliqué de vous raconter cette lecture. Mais les mots qui me viennent pour décrire ce livre sont : loufoque, décalé, humour, magie… Franchement, ce premier tome se conclut sur un avis très positif et j’ai hâte de voir ce que l’auteur nous réserve pour la suite ! Je ne peux que vous encourager de vous pencher sur cette série !
Le second tome de cet intégral, Alcatraz contre les ossements du scribe, s’est conclu par un coup de cœur. L’univers et les personnages sont toujours aussi loufoques mais on y est moins perdus. L’évolution des personnages m’a beaucoup plu, ainsi que l‘avancée dans l’univers. J’aime toujours autant l’humour que nous réserve l’auteur. L’aventure de ce tome est encore plus captivante que la précédente et j’ai immédiatement été emportée.
Le troisième tome, Alcatraz contre les traîtres de Nalhalla, est celui qui m’a le moins plu. Il n’est pas pour autant décevant car j’ai été aussi captivée que les autres mais je n’aurais sûrement pas dû l’enchaîner au tome 2 car je l’ai fait traîner (ce qui a sûrement influencé mon avis). Cependant, il y a une grande avancée au niveau de l’univers puisque nous découvrons enfin Nalhalla. Univers que j’ai beaucoup apprécié, avec des idées toujours aussi marrantes et tordues. Les nouveaux personnages sont sympathiques et les anciens sont toujours aussi attachants. J’ai hâte de voir ce que donnera le quatrième et dernier tome, voir comment toutes ces aventures vont se conclure.
Le quatrième tome, Alcatraz contre l’ordre du verre brisé, vient apporter une conclusion à cette série… Mais une conclusion incomplète, comme on pouvait s’y attendre. Un tome 5 ne serait pas de trop ! En tout cas, ce quatrième tome a aussi été un coup de cœur ! L’univers est toujours aussi déroutant mais arrivé à ce tome, on s’y est vraiment bien intégré et on ne s’étonne plus des idées farfelues de l’auteur (même si je me demande bien où est-ce qu’il va chercher ces idées !) Ce tome-ci est aussi addictif que les autres et je l’ai dévoré !
Je recommande vraiment chaudement cette intégrale, qui m’a fait passer un excellent moment ! L’univers est certes déroutant et pourra perdre plus d’un lecteur, mais il vaut vraiment le coup d’être découvert. Beaucoup d’humour, beaucoup d’imagination… A lire de toute urgence !
Conclusion de la série
Par cette intégrale, j’ai découvert un auteur renommé de fantasy et je n’en suis pas du tout déçue. Cette intégrale est vraiment un délice, plein d’humour, d’idées innovantes et loufoques mais on ne peut qu’applaudir la créativité de l’auteur. Une tétralogie que j’aurais dévorée et que je vous recommande grandement !
Dans ce livre qui ne paraît pas si épais mais qui fait pas moins de 984 pages, sont réunis les quatre tomes de la tétralogie Alcatraz Smedry de Brandon Sanderson. En vente aux Editions Le Livre de Poche à 16,90€ cette intégrale n’est donc pas très épaisse grâce à ses pages très fines. Si fines qu’on voit même les traces de ce qui est écrit de l’autre côté. Ça, c’est le petit bémol avec le fait que vous tourniez plus souvent deux pages en même temps plutôt qu’une. Mise à part ces petits défauts, j’ai beaucoup apprécié l’objet livre en lui-même : les pages sont agréables, le livre est souple et léger.
J’ai donc découvert la plume de Brandon Sanderson avec cette lecture et autant vous dire que j’ai été très surprise !
Je suis entrée dans l’univers d’Alcatraz Smedry avec le premier tome : Alcatraz contre les infâmes bibliothécaires. Déjà, rien que l’idée que ce soit les bibliothécaires qui soient méchants m’a fait sourire. Cette découverte a été très positive. J’ai ouvert un livre présentant un univers très original et décalé. J’ai beaucoup souri voire ri durant ma lecture.
Tout d’abord, Alcatraz, qui est aussi notre narrateur, est un personnage atypique. Sa proportion à casser les choses autour de lui est assez marrante. C’est un personnage auquel on s’attache rapidement étant donné qu’on est toujours avec lui. J’ai beaucoup apprécié le décalage entre le lui jeune et le lui plus âgé. Il a un côté cynique et sarcastique qui m’a beaucoup plus. Dans ce premier tome, il se retrouve lui-même projeté dans cet univers complètement tordu.
L’univers proposé par l’auteur est très complexe. J’ai été plus d’une fois perdue. C’est loufoque, décalé et très étrange. Au fur et à mesure, on finit par saisir comment ça marche mais au départ, j’ai eu beaucoup de mal avec les histoires de Talent et des lunettes… Mais je ne vous en dirais pas plus !
Ce roman se lit vraiment rapidement ! Il y a pas mal de dialogues, les actions avancent bien et c’est très agréable à lire. L’univers m’a largement conquis, tout autant que les personnages et cette première aventure. Celle-ci, dans son déroulement, est un peu déstabilisante au départ mais on s’y intègre très rapidement.
C’est assez compliqué de vous raconter cette lecture. Mais les mots qui me viennent pour décrire ce livre sont : loufoque, décalé, humour, magie… Franchement, ce premier tome se conclut sur un avis très positif et j’ai hâte de voir ce que l’auteur nous réserve pour la suite ! Je ne peux que vous encourager de vous pencher sur cette série !
Le second tome de cet intégral, Alcatraz contre les ossements du scribe, s’est conclu par un coup de cœur. L’univers et les personnages sont toujours aussi loufoques mais on y est moins perdus. L’évolution des personnages m’a beaucoup plu, ainsi que l‘avancée dans l’univers. J’aime toujours autant l’humour que nous réserve l’auteur. L’aventure de ce tome est encore plus captivante que la précédente et j’ai immédiatement été emportée.
Le troisième tome, Alcatraz contre les traîtres de Nalhalla, est celui qui m’a le moins plu. Il n’est pas pour autant décevant car j’ai été aussi captivée que les autres mais je n’aurais sûrement pas dû l’enchaîner au tome 2 car je l’ai fait traîner (ce qui a sûrement influencé mon avis). Cependant, il y a une grande avancée au niveau de l’univers puisque nous découvrons enfin Nalhalla. Univers que j’ai beaucoup apprécié, avec des idées toujours aussi marrantes et tordues. Les nouveaux personnages sont sympathiques et les anciens sont toujours aussi attachants. J’ai hâte de voir ce que donnera le quatrième et dernier tome, voir comment toutes ces aventures vont se conclure.
Le quatrième tome, Alcatraz contre l’ordre du verre brisé, vient apporter une conclusion à cette série… Mais une conclusion incomplète, comme on pouvait s’y attendre. Un tome 5 ne serait pas de trop ! En tout cas, ce quatrième tome a aussi été un coup de cœur ! L’univers est toujours aussi déroutant mais arrivé à ce tome, on s’y est vraiment bien intégré et on ne s’étonne plus des idées farfelues de l’auteur (même si je me demande bien où est-ce qu’il va chercher ces idées !) Ce tome-ci est aussi addictif que les autres et je l’ai dévoré !
Je recommande vraiment chaudement cette intégrale, qui m’a fait passer un excellent moment ! L’univers est certes déroutant et pourra perdre plus d’un lecteur, mais il vaut vraiment le coup d’être découvert. Beaucoup d’humour, beaucoup d’imagination… A lire de toute urgence !
Conclusion de la série
Par cette intégrale, j’ai découvert un auteur renommé de fantasy et je n’en suis pas du tout déçue. Cette intégrale est vraiment un délice, plein d’humour, d’idées innovantes et loufoques mais on ne peut qu’applaudir la créativité de l’auteur. Une tétralogie que j’aurais dévorée et que je vous recommande grandement !
March 18, 2017
A fun book to read
October 15, 2016
A little strange but really rather enjoyable. looking forward to the final instalment.
April 4, 2017
Nothing like any other Sanderson book (he almost has too much fun with this one but it really grows on you) It has been a fun read and one that I will let my kids read.
September 30, 2015
Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians: This story had all the elements that a book should not have, which made my niece and I want to just keep reading. The "author" talked to the reader, pointed out facts, made up things, used the word blah as a filler and we just giggled! Can't wait to see where book 2 takes us.
Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones: This book is cracking me up. In fact my nephew heard the niece and I giggling so much that he had to come in and listen. Again, this book had all the elements that a book should not have including random stories in the middle of the book. But, we laughed and enjoyed the story and the seriousness of the book all as it was dealt out. Book 3, here we come! ;)
Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia: This book takes the cake. So funny and so much more depth as I read this series. There are a lot of things one could take from this series, but the biggest take for me is that everyone is unique and should be celebrated. Enjoy the little things in life and appreciate what you have. Count those blessings,but help where you can. Book 4 is bound to be another adventure!
Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens: This book was so much fun! I loved watching my nephew and niece get so excited over the story. They giggled so hard over the many ways that Alcatraz uses "stoopid". They loved the titles of each of the chapters except the one that had me singing. They acted out a few parts of the story as prescribed (yes, that is the correct word) by Alcatraz. They were devastated at the end of this book and cannot wait for book 5. Brandon Sanderson, if my niece gets a hold of your ear you may just get an earful!
Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones: This book is cracking me up. In fact my nephew heard the niece and I giggling so much that he had to come in and listen. Again, this book had all the elements that a book should not have including random stories in the middle of the book. But, we laughed and enjoyed the story and the seriousness of the book all as it was dealt out. Book 3, here we come! ;)
Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia: This book takes the cake. So funny and so much more depth as I read this series. There are a lot of things one could take from this series, but the biggest take for me is that everyone is unique and should be celebrated. Enjoy the little things in life and appreciate what you have. Count those blessings,but help where you can. Book 4 is bound to be another adventure!
Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens: This book was so much fun! I loved watching my nephew and niece get so excited over the story. They giggled so hard over the many ways that Alcatraz uses "stoopid". They loved the titles of each of the chapters except the one that had me singing. They acted out a few parts of the story as prescribed (yes, that is the correct word) by Alcatraz. They were devastated at the end of this book and cannot wait for book 5. Brandon Sanderson, if my niece gets a hold of your ear you may just get an earful!
March 17, 2020
I already reviewed each of the four books in this series on their own, but I figured I'd review this one too, because this is the edition I ended up buying. So at first, I was not a fan. I did not really love Alcatraz at first, and there's so much absurdity! I just didn't totally get it at first. And then it suddenly all clicked and I found the rest of the series really smart and really fun and really hilarious. This series is certainly not one of Sanderson's more popular ones, but...it's definitely among my all-time favorites for middle-schoolers. And it's good for grown-ups as well! At least, for grown-ups like this one.
On a side note, I went to meet Brandon Sanderson at the Austin Teen Book Festival today and he was so excited to see this book (since I guess nobody really brings the Alcatraz books for him to sign) that he signed my copy four times (since it's technically four books). Plus wrote that I'm #1--ha! Thanks, Brandon!
On a side note, I went to meet Brandon Sanderson at the Austin Teen Book Festival today and he was so excited to see this book (since I guess nobody really brings the Alcatraz books for him to sign) that he signed my copy four times (since it's technically four books). Plus wrote that I'm #1--ha! Thanks, Brandon!
June 28, 2014
This Omnibus contains:
Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians
Alcatraz vs the Scrivener's Bones
Alcatraz vs the Knights of Crystallia
Alcatraz vs the Shattered Lens
Imagine Douglas Adams and Jasper Fforde could SOMEHOW conceive a child, and that child could become a writer with exactly half of his/her' respective fathers writing style - this would be the book they would write.
While this book technically consists of 4 books, I ripped through them as if they were one. I NEEDED to know what happened next. I loved every single thing about these books, except....
1] at the start of each chapter the 'author' [Alcatraz] waffles on about writing, which takes you out of the narrative. To start with it's funny and charming, but after a book's worth, it becomes annoying. I found myself skipping these bits just to get on with the story.
2] It's huge, I can't read it in bed or on the bus without getting sore arms!
Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians
Alcatraz vs the Scrivener's Bones
Alcatraz vs the Knights of Crystallia
Alcatraz vs the Shattered Lens
Imagine Douglas Adams and Jasper Fforde could SOMEHOW conceive a child, and that child could become a writer with exactly half of his/her' respective fathers writing style - this would be the book they would write.
While this book technically consists of 4 books, I ripped through them as if they were one. I NEEDED to know what happened next. I loved every single thing about these books, except....
1] at the start of each chapter the 'author' [Alcatraz] waffles on about writing, which takes you out of the narrative. To start with it's funny and charming, but after a book's worth, it becomes annoying. I found myself skipping these bits just to get on with the story.
2] It's huge, I can't read it in bed or on the bus without getting sore arms!
August 27, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Actually, it is 4 books in an omnibus.
Yes, they are technically kids' stories. Yes, some of the humor is corny, simplistic and juvenile. But the books are fun, full of smart references and in-jokes, and there are kernels of very deep and confronting truth about people and the world embedded in there. The world in which the events of the story are played out is very well conceived and feels genuine, the implications all thought out. Plus, the author loves playing tricks on the reader and while some are predictable and silly, at others you can't help but grin.
This is a book that adults can enjoy as much as any kid. I really hope to see more Alcatraz Smedry books come along to close out the series. Even grown-ups can do well out of a holiday into smart, snappy young adult fiction.
Yes, they are technically kids' stories. Yes, some of the humor is corny, simplistic and juvenile. But the books are fun, full of smart references and in-jokes, and there are kernels of very deep and confronting truth about people and the world embedded in there. The world in which the events of the story are played out is very well conceived and feels genuine, the implications all thought out. Plus, the author loves playing tricks on the reader and while some are predictable and silly, at others you can't help but grin.
This is a book that adults can enjoy as much as any kid. I really hope to see more Alcatraz Smedry books come along to close out the series. Even grown-ups can do well out of a holiday into smart, snappy young adult fiction.
March 3, 2015
Written in a totally different style then most Sanderson novels this one reads more like a Terry Prachett or Douglas Adams novel with its weird tangents and unique writing style. As one person who I was talking to put it "Brandon Sanderson just put all his writing angst into one book." (or really a series of books) If you are reading this series for the first time I would not read the Omnibus because skipping to to last page in one of the books is pretty impossible (yes that is really needed to read this book) and in one of the books they make reference to the cover art of book two so if it is your first time reading this series read the individual books first also in case you were wondering this is not a finished series. I'm not sure if this kind of a joke on the authors part just to leave us hanging or if it is intended to be finished.
April 1, 2016
Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians: Four stars.
This book was so funny and fun in general. Brandon Sanderson took everything we thought we knew about storytelling and threw it out the window.
Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones: Four stars.
This book just got straight into it, and I loved the whole Library of Alexandria plot line. Once again the writing was extremely clever and hilarious.
Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia: Four stars.
While this one was a bit slower getting into, I thoroughly enjoyed myself by the end, and continued to be amused by Sanderson's humour.
Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens: Four stars.
This instalment was really intense, and I love where the story is going and all the development that happened with Alcatraz and the plot itself.
This book was so funny and fun in general. Brandon Sanderson took everything we thought we knew about storytelling and threw it out the window.
Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones: Four stars.
This book just got straight into it, and I loved the whole Library of Alexandria plot line. Once again the writing was extremely clever and hilarious.
Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia: Four stars.
While this one was a bit slower getting into, I thoroughly enjoyed myself by the end, and continued to be amused by Sanderson's humour.
Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens: Four stars.
This instalment was really intense, and I love where the story is going and all the development that happened with Alcatraz and the plot itself.
February 22, 2016
Alcatraz is wonderfully funny and witty set of books, as soon as I read the first chapter I didn't want to stop.
Sanderson goes though the books breaking all sorts of fantasy writing rules and I love the book for them, and again with Sanderson the magic system in these books is just amazing, taking things that we would consider a curse like breaking things when you touch them or arriving late to everything becomes the most powerful gifts a person can have. But its not only the way gifts are used that is amazing in the books but also way that Sanderson uses glass.
I recommend these books to anyone who enjoy a light funny MG books
Sanderson goes though the books breaking all sorts of fantasy writing rules and I love the book for them, and again with Sanderson the magic system in these books is just amazing, taking things that we would consider a curse like breaking things when you touch them or arriving late to everything becomes the most powerful gifts a person can have. But its not only the way gifts are used that is amazing in the books but also way that Sanderson uses glass.
I recommend these books to anyone who enjoy a light funny MG books
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