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Alpha Force #1
Survival
Five kids: Alex, Li, Paulo, Hex and Amber bond on board a sailing ship. When they are marooned on a desert island, they must face the ultimate test - survival! Killer komodo dragons, sharks and modern day pirates are amongst the dangers they face. The team is born. The first in an exciting new series for children from ex-SAS officer and bestselling adult author Chris Ryan.
298 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
70 people are currently reading
1365 people want to read
About the author
Chris Ryan
342 books1,019 followersColin Armstrong (b. 1961), usually known by the pen-name Chris Ryan, is a British author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
January 2, 2016
Not quite Alex Rider, but similar. Started slow but improved towards the end.
July 4, 2019
This was a very fun survival book! Though it's a YA book and I am no longer a YA it was still enjoyable. The action was well paced. It didn't fall into that tropey trap of either unbelievable good or bad luck and I even learnt a few facts about animals (which I Google checked)
October 15, 2023
2022 52 Book Challenge - 11) A book with less than 2022 Goodreads ratings (at time of reading, it had 1749 ratings)
This was a fun read. I quite enjoyed it. The characters were decent for the first book in the series, and they all felt distinct and separate from each other, with their own skills and you could see clearly across the book how the five of them would work well as a team.
That being said, the situations they end up in are a little unbelievable and require a lot of suspension of belief, from the Komodo Dragons to the random pirates. The main characters running around going "nobody will find us, we're in the middle of nowhere" and then half a chapter later, there are pirates with prisoners in cages and boats galore.
What I did really like about the book is that Chris Ryan clearly knew what he was talking about when it comes to survival, and the little guide at the back of the book was really cool.
This was a fun read. I quite enjoyed it. The characters were decent for the first book in the series, and they all felt distinct and separate from each other, with their own skills and you could see clearly across the book how the five of them would work well as a team.
That being said, the situations they end up in are a little unbelievable and require a lot of suspension of belief, from the Komodo Dragons to the random pirates. The main characters running around going "nobody will find us, we're in the middle of nowhere" and then half a chapter later, there are pirates with prisoners in cages and boats galore.
What I did really like about the book is that Chris Ryan clearly knew what he was talking about when it comes to survival, and the little guide at the back of the book was really cool.
September 8, 2017
This is a great book. Lots of interesting situations. Maybe could have been more realistic in. Not having Komodo Dargons.
September 26, 2024
A fun read.
June 1, 2015
I felt that this book had a very good storyline. At the beginning of the book the 5 kids, Li, Paulo, Alex, Hex, and Amber have never met before and are having problems with their attitudes. The worst of them all, Amber. Amber is a girl who's parents who were owners of a billion dollar software company have died and she has inherited all of their money. Soon they get shipwrecked and are stuck on a island where they have to bond as a team in order to survive. Alex with his skills in survival, becomes the leader of the group. Soon they encounter pirates who have some prisoners. As they work together, they rescue the prisoners and get off the island. After this bonding experience, they will continue to get together for more adventures.
September 15, 2013
This is a very good book that is both entertaining and informative, as it has many good survival tips in the book and in an extra section at the end.
It is very well written and you can really imagine being there with the characters. The story is exciting, sometimes scary, and sometimes funny. The characters are interesting and I like their interactions and the way they start to work together and overcome the dangers they face.
I think the book is best suited to children and teenagers but anyone would enjoy it.
It is very well written and you can really imagine being there with the characters. The story is exciting, sometimes scary, and sometimes funny. The characters are interesting and I like their interactions and the way they start to work together and overcome the dangers they face.
I think the book is best suited to children and teenagers but anyone would enjoy it.
November 5, 2015
Survival is a great novel and part of a very globalized series and a decent story background. The ideas and creativity used to create a story that taught the meaning of teamwork and gave a stabilized idea on how to survive in condition where all you have is yourself and your wits to escape danger and against all odds survive. Survival was such a read and kept me intrigued the entire way. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has a bit of spare time on their hands and would love a entertaining read.
July 2, 2021
What a lovely nostalgic read. I absolutely loved this series when I was younger and coming back to the world and characters was so fulfilling. The writing was a bit young sometimes but then again this is catered for teenagers. But I can’t believe I forgot so much about the character’s personalities and it was amazing to learn all about them again!
June 1, 2019
2.5 Stars
June 3, 2019
The Alpha Force series by Chris Ryan is a set of books for adventurers, nature-lovers or for those people who love the wilderness and the aspect of survival. This book is the first in the series and is the story about five kids: Alex, Li, Paulo, Hex and Amber, who are marooned on an island where they must face the ultimate test to survive killer komodo dragons, sharks and modern-day pirates. Testing their physical strengths and mental durability to the limits in a place where the five of them are forced to work as a team. It displays the challenges of collaboration, the fierce face of mother nature and applicable tips and tricks to use in a real survival situation.
January 23, 2019
Survival is a good book. It is about 5 teenagers forced to work together and become friends with each other while stranded on an island. They will have to go through a lot, from fighting Komodo Dragons to surviving shark attacks, these five friends will have to help each other out until they find a way to get off the island.
February 9, 2022
I was unsure when I started this. This book is thriller. I don’t think you have to read it in the series for it to make sense. It is amazing I love Chris Ryan’s creative writing. I would recommend this to year 7 and above as it has gruesome parts but it can be really exiting.
July 4, 2017
Okay, this was a very good survival book with believable situations. I liked it and may even continue reading some of the other books in the series.
January 14, 2019
This author is brilliant! I am definitely reading more from Chris Ryan.
April 23, 2019
I read this a few years ago and absolutely LOVED IT! I want to re-read it sometime soon. Highly recommend, it's an intense but fun survival that you can't put down!
January 24, 2020
Amazing book!
July 21, 2021
A good book for teenagers, not just a story, but you can actually pick up a few useful things along the way.
November 10, 2022
Alpha fforce is one of my all time chris ryan favorites <333
January 20, 2023
Best in the Alpha Force series
July 26, 2024
Read this for work. Always a good time.
November 13, 2024
Reread
I loved this book when I was younger and it’s the first time I’ve reread it since reading it then and I still love it. It’s got pirates, sharks, snakes and KOMODO DRAGONS
10/10
I loved this book when I was younger and it’s the first time I’ve reread it since reading it then and I still love it. It’s got pirates, sharks, snakes and KOMODO DRAGONS
10/10
May 6, 2025
Decent book for teens
June 29, 2025
2.75/5
August 11, 2024
Yes, this does in fact live up to the hype of 12 year old Raph’s obsession with this series. 10/10
November 6, 2021
A pretty good read. Has great survival tips if I ever get started in a island Ill think about it 😅.
October 11, 2015
This was the first book in Chris Ryan's Alpha force series.
The five group of teenagers were know as A-watch on a boat-camp and they knew little to nothing about each other.
The main part of the story all started when Heather the boat camp coordinator came to the group of teenagers and told them of because of there attitudes and unwilling to be a team and stated to them you're sleeping on deck.
A-watch then used their creative thinking to steal some food and blankets and sleep in the marooned boat tied up to the main one.
In the middle of the Paulo woke up Alex and the group stating the tied up knot must have got disconnected from the main boat causing it to get adrift.
After a series of shark attacks on the boat the crew spotted an inhabited island and after a rough landing on the island the team finially managed to set foot on land.
While on their routine stop at the small waterfall Hex got too curious and didn't abide Alex's instructions of not going in the cave but Hex ignored and went inside the cave.
Hex than woke up a Komodo dragon and its claws dug deep into Hex's leg taking its flesh with it.
The very next day at their makeshift camp Paulo inspected the leg and it wasn't good his leg had got infected.
Li stated to the team they should go on the other side of the island to look for supplies and maybe people.
They started they're trip and Amber and Paulo held Hex in the stretcher which proved to be a very hard hike.
When they reached they're destination they saw modern day pirates who stole a yacht from a family who discreetly Amber communicated to them in French stating that if you tell us where your medical treatment bag was they would help make your family escape.
Finially after Amber swam to get the supplies and also found a phone and called home on the answering machine which later proved greatly and came back the team made a break for the beach where they were saved by the rescue team and then Alpha Force was born.
The five group of teenagers were know as A-watch on a boat-camp and they knew little to nothing about each other.
The main part of the story all started when Heather the boat camp coordinator came to the group of teenagers and told them of because of there attitudes and unwilling to be a team and stated to them you're sleeping on deck.
A-watch then used their creative thinking to steal some food and blankets and sleep in the marooned boat tied up to the main one.
In the middle of the Paulo woke up Alex and the group stating the tied up knot must have got disconnected from the main boat causing it to get adrift.
After a series of shark attacks on the boat the crew spotted an inhabited island and after a rough landing on the island the team finially managed to set foot on land.
While on their routine stop at the small waterfall Hex got too curious and didn't abide Alex's instructions of not going in the cave but Hex ignored and went inside the cave.
Hex than woke up a Komodo dragon and its claws dug deep into Hex's leg taking its flesh with it.
The very next day at their makeshift camp Paulo inspected the leg and it wasn't good his leg had got infected.
Li stated to the team they should go on the other side of the island to look for supplies and maybe people.
They started they're trip and Amber and Paulo held Hex in the stretcher which proved to be a very hard hike.
When they reached they're destination they saw modern day pirates who stole a yacht from a family who discreetly Amber communicated to them in French stating that if you tell us where your medical treatment bag was they would help make your family escape.
Finially after Amber swam to get the supplies and also found a phone and called home on the answering machine which later proved greatly and came back the team made a break for the beach where they were saved by the rescue team and then Alpha Force was born.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 1, 2013 Alpha Force, Survival is the first book in the alpha force series by Chris Ryan. Five completely different children are sent to work on a sailing ship as deckhands to improve their life experiences. Each child with different talents to help them out later. Alex is a quiet boy from Northumberland and aspires to join his father in the SAS. Li is a half Asian half English girl who is an expert in climbing and martial arts. Paulo is an Argentinian boy who is very laid back and loves that sort of lifestyle. Amber is outspoken and her navigation skills are exceptional. Originally the children don't get along that well, but when they're stranded on a deserted island, they have to work together or die. At first survival is easy, but as they explore the island they discover killer Komodo dragons, and that it's a pirate gang's secret hideout. As they race to call the authorities and save a French family from death at the pirate's hands, the five have to join forces and merge talents to become the ultimate team. A-Watch or as they are known later ALPHA Force.
November 22, 2013
Alpha Force, Survival is the first book in the alpha force series by Chris Ryan. Five completely different children are sent to work on a sailing ship as deckhands to improve their life experiences, by their parents. Alex is a quiet boy from Northumbria and aspires to join his father in the SAS. Li is an Anglo-Chinese girl who is an expert in climbing and martial arts. Paulo is a laid back Argentinian lad who is as good at fixing engines as broken limbs. Rich-girl Amber is outspoken and her navigation skills are exceptional. Originally the children don't get along that well, but when they're stranded on a deserted island, they have to pull together or die. At first survival is easy, but as they explore the island they discover that it's a pirate gang's secret hideout. As they race to call the authorities and save a French family from death at the pirate's hands, the five become a close-knight team and eventually, friends.
May 2, 2013
I see some very high scores for this book. I found it to be all to simple in how the author builds up the characters and just seems to fling up some piece of plot to make something happen.
Very repetitive and simplified patterns of communication in the group and description of how they communicate. Example how the teenager comes cross and how the others feel about her. If felt like a bit of stiff young adult lit, although some of the best books I've read have been YA, in my adult life so I suppose that's not an excuse.
One reviewer said that the author knew his stuff and that really came through, so that was good.
Very repetitive and simplified patterns of communication in the group and description of how they communicate. Example how the teenager comes cross and how the others feel about her. If felt like a bit of stiff young adult lit, although some of the best books I've read have been YA, in my adult life so I suppose that's not an excuse.
One reviewer said that the author knew his stuff and that really came through, so that was good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews