The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

The Supernaturalist Reviews

• 
  Mitchel Broussard

  Time to review another oldie:D
  
  This is one of those books that I absolutely LOVE but am terrified to re-read and find out it's not as great as my 12 year old naive mind remembers it.
  
  But, anyway, it is epic, with great stories, lovably mean characters, cool sci fi/cyberpunk elements and an AMAZING finale (it's on this giant floating weather baloon/space station thing, i really dont remember much just that i was drooling all over myself). I swear the first thing i remember thinking upon finishing this book was "no director could ever do justice to this book." I just loved it that much.
  
  I've always wondered if you could have a favorite song from a band who isn't your favorite band. I recently realized, of course you can. Because you can have a favorite book by someone who is not your favorite author. Case in point, I'm not the hugest fan of his Artemis Fowl series, so i've never read any of Mr. Colfer's other works. But this is hands down, no contest, that's a wrap, my favorite book ever. and it's not even 300 pages. go figure.
• 
  Ahmad Sharabiani

  The Supernaturalist, Eoin Colfer
  
  Fourteen-year-old Cosmo Hill longs to escape from the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys.
  
  The Supernaturalist takes place in Satellite City, a large city in an unspecified location in the Northern Hemisphere, in the third millennium.
  
  Much of Satellite City is controlled by the Satellite, owned by Myishi Corporation. By the time of the novel, however, the Satellite is losing links to the surface, causing disasters that range from mild to catastrophic.
  
  The book opens with an introduction to Cosmo Hill, an orphan at the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys.
  
  At the Institute, the boys are used as human guinea pigs for various products.
  
  However, on a trip back from a record company, the truck transporting them crashes.
  
  Cosmo and a friend, Francis (aka "Ziplock") manage to escape the wreckage, but are pursued by a warden from the Institute.
  
  The chase takes them to the rooftops, where Cosmo and Ziplock fall into a wrecked generator.
  
  Ziplock is electrocuted but Cosmo survives, albeit with multiple critical injuries, including several broken bones and a heart which begins to shut down.
  
  He begins seeing small blue creatures around him.
  
  When one lands on his chest and begins sucking his life out, three figures appear out of nowhere and kill the creature.
  
  Although the teens want to leave him, Cosmo begs them to take him with them, pleading to not be left to be eaten by the strange blue beings.
  
  The group labels him a "Spotter" and, after some argument, take him with them before he passes out. ....
  
  تاریخ نخستین خوانش
  
  عنوان: فوق العاده؛ نویسنده: یون کالفر؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان ایرلند - سده 21م
  
  بزرگترین پیروزی «یون کالفر» در سال 2001میلادی انتشار کتابهای «آرتمیس فاول» بود؛ که از پرفروش‌ترین کتاب‌های سال شدند؛ با چاپ کتابها «یون» از کار آموزگاری استعفا دادند، و تمام وقت به نوشتن دلمشغول شدند؛ تا کنون هشت جلد از کتاب‌های «آرتمیس فاول» منتشر شده و به بسیاری از زبان‌ها ترجمه شده‌ اند؛
  
  داستان علمی تخیلی کودکانه ی «سوپرنچرالیست (فوق العاده)» در هزاره سوم و در شهری ماهواره ای، که شهری بزرگ در نیمکره شمالی است، رخ میدهد؛ بخشی از شهر ماهواره ای، با ماهواره کنترل میشود، مالکش شرکت «میتیشی» است؛ در زمان رویداد رخدادهای رمان، ماهواره ارتباطش را، با زمین از دست میدهد، و باعث ایجاد بلایای نگونبار میگردد؛ آغاز داستان با پسری چهارده ساله به نام «کاسمو هیل» است، که دی.ان.ای او توسط ماهواره شناسایی نشده؛ او آرزو دارد از «انستیتوی کلاریسا فراین (نوعی یتیم خانه و پرورشگاه)»، فرار کند؛ این پرورشگاه با یتیمان همانند موش آزمایشگاهی رفتار میکند؛ از آنها برای آزمایش داروهای تازه سود میجویند؛ و ...؛ این کتاب به گونه ای یادآور «اولیور تویست» و «ماتریکس» است
  
  تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 24/03/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
• 
  Lisa

  **Spoiler Alert**
  
  I liked the beginning of this book, however near the end there were way too many 180 degree turns.
  
  Stefan is one unlucky guy. First his mother dies - because of him. Then he starts his vengeance on the blue creatures by "destroying" them. Then he finds out he's not destroying them, only helping them reproduce. He thinks he's getting help from Ellen Faustino, only to find out that she used him, and she's responsible for his mother’s death. He's just destroyed thousands of blue creatures, and finds out that the blue creatures are good and actually helping people. Ditto lied to him (for 3 years!) and then Stefan dies. How messed up is that.
  
  Too many twists/turns for me. One second he's doing everything "right" and the next he finds out that all the things he was doing "right" were wrong. And the next second it switches back.
  
  I still don't understand why Ditto didn't tell Stefan in the beginning about the blue creatures. 3 years he kept that a secret!! Geesh!
  
• 
  Anne Bogel

  I read so many books because my kids tell me to. This is the latest urgent recommendation from my fourth grader, who fell in love with Eoin Colfer novels this year because—funny thing—our
  What Should I Read Next producer Brenna suggested them. When Brenna recommends books, we sit up and listen.
  
  The Supernaturalist is a middle grade standalone novel about a 14-year old orphan named Cosmo Hill living in the dystopian world of Satellite City, where his assigned societal role is to serve as a guinea pig for food and drug testing—which is exactly as scary as it sounds. But then he discovers he possesses a rare gift, and joins up with a team of vigilantes who share his gift and dedicate themselves to using it to do a little bit of good in their crummy world. But their mission changes when they discover they've all been lied to.
  
  This isn't my typical genre, but I'm glad I read it.
• 
  Danielle The Book Huntress *Pluto is a Planet!*

  The Supernaturalist is intriguing dystopian science fiction that would appeal to a younger reader or even older readers who aren't looking for a story that's highly sophisticated. Overall, I liked it, although I was dissatisfied with some elements.
  
  British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor (one of my actor crushes) narrates this book very capably, using diverse accents for the characters. I am glad I chose to listen to this even though I have a paper copy. I liked hearing it, which stimulated my imagination in a way that I don't think reading would have done. I have an issue with science fiction in that I can't visualize technical things very well. In the auditory form, I found it a little easier to conceptualize the content.
  
  The story is interesting. Cosmo Hill, young orphan who grew up in a group home that was nothing if not rampant neglect, victimization and abuse, has a near death experience, and he starts to see creatures that seem to sap the life force from people. He also comes into contact with a group who works to kill these creatures, which they have called 'parasites.' Throw in a deeper conspiracy and other elements from your standard dystopian world and you have a pretty good science fiction novel.
  
  However, I found the end unsatisfying. I think that the twist that Colfer gives us in the story called for a richer ending than the one we got. I also think more thought could have gone into the world-building and the story plotting as far as the science fiction elements. It felt a bit superficial. On the other hand, I will say that Colfer is excellent at writing tense action scenes and his fast-paced writing style keeps a reader's interest.
  
  The characters could have been better developed. I liked the secondary characters of Mona, Stefan and Ditto, but I wanted more from them. I feel as though their characterization barely scratched the surface. I realize that I'm being a bit hard on this book. Probably because I am huge fan of this author's Artemis Fowl books and I've read dystopian teen young adult books this year that went deeper in a way that was more satisfying.
  
  Overall rating: 3.25/5.0 stars.
  
  I think this could make a pretty good movie. I'd definitely watch it!
• 
  Nicholas Perez

  Read this back in school. Was one of the first cyberpunk novels I ever read. I think the dialogue was a bit juvenile at times, but this book was a lot of fun!
• 
  Nicky

  The Supernaturalist is very like Artemis Fowl in tone. It's fun and quick, but I didn't get into it as much as Artemis Fowl -- the characters, I guess, are the problem. I liked Stefan, and maybe Ditto, but the others were kinda 'meh'. I didn't get much idea of what drives anyone, apart from Stefan.
  
  Plot-wise, it's okay, but everything feels too easily. The group are too easily tricked, they escape too easily... There are fun ideas in the background, like the paralegals being pretty much like cops in this world, etc. But. It didn't feel like it had much substance, really.
• 
  Sara ♥

  Dec 1, 2009
  Eoin Colfer TOTALLY needs to write a sequel! Does he expect me to just keep reading this one over and over again? Really?
  
  Nov 21, 2008
  It was cute. I couldn't help but wonder if Eoin was going to write a sequel or not. I don't know that he's planning to, but it would work! It ended really well, and the whole thing was REALLY INTERESTING! And the twists in the plot! This author has a gift! :)
• 
  Jen

  I loved Wish List by this author, so I decided to pick this one up too. BIG mistake. I don't remember much about this book, most likely because I blocked it out. The premise of the book wasn't bad, but it was executed rather poorly. Read The Wish List and pass this one by.
• 
  Martin Patrick

  Despite the lack of compelling characters or compelling ideas, I found myself unable to stop reading it until I was done. The ending was a little unsatisfactory though, as the central conflict was resolved, but the peripheral conflict was not and was left wide open.
  
  Characters: Meh. The main character, an orphan, didn't even pull on my heartstrings that much. Maybe I'm a cold-hearted jerk. The dialogue for each character fits with their backstory, but they all talk the same, except for the obvious character of Hispanic descent who uses Spanish words at cliched intervals. The character of Russian descent does not use Russian words, though, and so I found that aspect of the Hispanic character annoying. The characters just really were not interesting or compelling.
  
  Central Conflict: Intriguing, but underdeveloped. The obvious compelling needs of the characters really did not play into the plot or the resolution of the plot.
  
  It's an adequate read, and as this is my first foray into literature for teens, maybe my expectations were too high.
• 
  Jessica (Goldenfurpro)

  Don't hate me, but I had to DNF this book.
  For some reason I just couldn't get into the book. I loved the world-building, but I didn't feel a connection with any of the characters at all. I honestly don't know why, I just didn't care. I was just so bored by this book (this small book!). There were plenty of events happening, but since I didn't care about the characters, it didn't interest me.
  Sorry guys, maybe I'm just in a weird slump.
• 
  cc

  I asked my sister to loan me three good books, and this was one of them. While definitely better than Splintered, it was nothing compared to Such a Rush and I almost didn’t finish it. My sister is going to be the death of me.
  
  It took me almost two months to read this book.
  
  Admittedly I started it and stopped reading it for two months before giving it one last chance and finishing it in one day. And all because she promised me it got better, that the second half was the part everyone liked, that it was one of her favorite books. “Fine, I’ll try to finish it…”
  
  My problem with the book is that, honestly, I found it boring and couldn’t connect with a single character. Stefan was too much of an ass, Mona kept reminding me of Fast and the Furious, Cosmo almost felt absent most of the time, and Ditto was a medical professional … if there’s anything less relatable to you than that, you probably met Osama bin Laden. That never really improved for me throughout the story and I feel like there was no real character development, just a few discoveries of truths and secrets that had been existent the entire story but weren’t brought to light until the second half.
  
  What really drew me back in and allowed me to finish the story was the Parasites. Un-spec 4. The blue blobs. The realization that they didn’t suck your life-force, that Ditto had known the truth the whole time and never told anyone, that the Parasites feed on pain. Their whole purpose in life is to take away your pain to ease your passage into death … or to help you survive until you can heal. Ditto shared the same power.
  
  That’s when things got interesting. Not when Cosmo was rescued from near-death and brought to the Supernaturalists’ hideout. Not when they snuck into Booshka for the drag race. Not when Myishi Corp captured them and dragged them back to headquarters. And definitely not when Cosmo and Stefan snuck into Clarissa Freyne’s to take out the Parasites’ nest. The moment Mona followed Ditto across the rooftops, videoed him saving the life of an Un-Spec 4, and he finally told the truth was the one in which I decided I had to finish the book.
  
  That’s also when things truly went to hell, which is usually when things do get interesting. You mean the Un-Spec 4 are neither malicious nor responsible for the death of Stefan’s mother? You mean the creepy woman who just happened to work for a corrupt company was lying to you? You mean the bomb you set off underneath Clarissa Freyne Home for Parentally Challenged Children didn’t actually kill the Parasites? You mean that everything you’ve ever thought you’d known was wrong?
  
  Thank heavens, because those little blue guys sounded adorable!
  
  But that didn’t take away from my issues with the story and my complete and utter lack of sympathy when Stefan finally dies from the sniper’s bullet. I still thought the book was slow most of the way through, lacked any character development, and had a cast of unrelatable characters fighting against a group of creatures they knew nothing about and that the paramedic on their team never bothered to tell them were “killing” people who never would have been capable of surviving their injuries anyway. This book, even with the satisfying ending, was still only a solid 2.5 stars for me.
  
  Three things bumped up the rating:
  
  1) The utilization of Ditto’s status as a Bartoli Baby – never grew beyond the size and appearance of a 4-year-old – and the constant jokes at his expense. Among my favorites “Ditto, one of these days I'm gonna sign you up for kindergarten, so help me.”
  
  2) The consistent utilization of humor in the novel. I especially enjoyed the vat man’s interactions with Cosmo in Myishi Headquarters after Cosmo’s drug-induced admission of affection intended for Mona, initiating the most romantic collection of encounters I’ve ever read in a book as the vat man gave Cosmo the nickname “sweetie.” His loyalty was unwavering and he was always there to soak Cosmo in a pool of acid. I can’t just quit you!
  
  3) The compassion shown by the Parasites at the end of the novel. I expected them to flee, maybe absorbing some of Stefan’s pain as a quick energy boost, before disappearing. Reading about the creatures taking Stefan’s pain and then going back to their weaker kin to share the energy with them to allow them to escape as well, though? I had the biggest smile on my face and the warmest feeling in my harsh little heart.
  
  Now, this book is a solid three stars. I don’t love it, but it’s definitely a story I can see myself reading to my kids before bed or when they’re stuck inside on a rainy day. Admittedly, I don’t yet have children, but I’m looking to their well-rounded lives in the future. And I can see The Supernaturalist in it.
  
• 
  Michelle

  This book gets three stars, because I did like it, but I did not think it was breathtaking or earth shattering. Some of it felt . . . rushed, maybe. I'm not sure. My main question the whole book really doesn't completely relate to the book. The question is why are all of the books that I find to read about future societies always so . . . depressing? Why have we always ruined the planet or had massive nuclear wars or have one unified government and lots of downtrodden, unhappy people? Am I just reading the wrong books? Am I naive to think it might be enjoyable to read about a happy future where we have corrected the mistakes we are making now? What about a book where we figured out a way to cut down on our pollution and have fewer wars, but without giving up emotions, families, love, etc.? It seems like a really creative writer could think up some impossible solution that leads to a better place. That's what we're always urge to create right? A better place?
  
  Anyway, back to the novel. The main character's name was Cosmo, and that is my cat's name, so I kept thinking about my cat the whole book. Again, I know, not a flaw of the book's.
  
  The protagonist has been mistreated and ill used his whole life and knows very little of the outside world. He has a chance to escape and join a unit of people who include him like a family. Part of his new activities are fighting parasitic creatures. All is not what it seems, and all are not who they seem in the book. A lot of interesting side stories were introduced (I thought) but not fleshed out. Granted that would have made the book a lot longer, but I for one have never been bothered by long books.
  
  The book is 100% set up for a sequel, so I didn't really feel like there was much resolution. I mean the main conflict of this story was resolved, but the characters were left in such a manner that you know there is much more coming and new conflicts to be dealt with.
  
  I would have liked more information on the backgrounds of the side characters, specifically the other Supernaturalists. I wouldn't have minded more from their points of view, even some flashbacks.
  
  It is an interesting book with a new take on what our future could be like, and I do recommend this book. It just wasn't a five star book.
• 
  San To

  Fun book, it's cyber punk for middle schoolers.
  
  Fun use of Paul Verhoeven techno-capitalism tropes.
  
  The book had a really strong start, I wish the momentum could've have gone all the way through. I wouldn't say it's a must read book from Eoin like Airman is, but if you want a fun super natural cyberpunk adventure, this might hit the spot.
  
  I liked the great world building, I think Paul Verhoeven would have a fun time adapting the book, though the plot would need to deviate significantly from the book.
  
  From the reviews, it definitely seems like one of those books that gets better the younger you are when you read it. Reading it as an adult, I had a hankering for something more, characters with more depth, action that challenges the character's temperment/morals/nature/identity/pyche/ego/spirit/soul/subconscious/conscious/courage/heart/love/sympathy/tendency/impulses/propensities/susceptibilities/dispositions/ethos/outlook/understanding/insight/judgement/intuition/yearnings/friendships/good will/tolerance/altruism/drive/resolve (sorry, I just went into a thesaurus rabbit hole). It was a lot of action for the sake of action.
  
  It seems like he wanted to make it a series, but since it's been a decade since the graphic novel I don't think it'll happen.
  
  Despite the longing for more depth, I still gave it a 4 since I resonated with the good stuff I liked about it.
  
  
• 
  Brenda-Jean Shephard

  (2004) This fast-paced futuristic novel features 4 young characters who have banded together to fight creatures that are invisible to the rest of the world. The protagonist, 14-year-old Cosmo Hill, has spent his entire life in an orphanage--more like a prison camp--which is so harsh he does not expect to survive another year. Severely injured while escaping, he first becomes aware of the blue life-sucking "parasites," and is rescued by a vigilante team devoted to their destruction. Stephan, Mona, and Ditto assimilate Cosmo into their dark and dangerous lifestyle in Satellite City. Cutting-edge technology, drag-racing street gangs, and ninja-like "paralegal" operatives are all part of the action. Painful connections to the past and a bleak outlook for the future are the scenery. The Supernaturalists constantly risk their lives in their fight against the evil creatures, only to discover that maybe they are fighting the wrong enemy. The drama that unfolds is told in Colfer's clever narrative, which is the literary version of watching an animated film. The book is, in fact, available in graphic novel format, ebook, and audiobook, as well as the traditional 267-page hard copy version with no illustrations at all. Not the sort of novel that "grown-ups" will embrace as a classic in the making, this book is a big hit with the younger generation, with its gritty heroes battling idealistically (if unrealistically) in an essentially depressing world with just a hint of potential romance.
  target audience: 4th-8th grade
• 
  Rawan

  Have you ever felt that you're reading a book that's alive !
  
  This book was like that for me, a living breathing book that spilled words and characters into real life.
  
  It took me from being sitting calmly and reading to actually being there with the supernaturalists for real.
  
  I loved them all so much, especially Stefan and his dedications which left a real mark in my bookworm loving heart,
  
  The Supernaturalist took a special seat in my favourite book list and I don't think I'll be able to forget a single detail from it , I was never bored, always intrigued to know more and excited to delve into another adventure in satellite city.
  
  Forever wishing for a: The Supernaturalist 2
  
  5 stars
• 
  Natalie

  Blast from the past. Got the kindle edition because the paperback is propping up the wi-fi. Not as much excitement as when I was a kid. There was always one scene that stuck with me on this one and that was Cosmo using his head in the tank. That's actually the only thing I had remembered about this one. Poor Stephen.
• 
  Jelena

  3.5
  Fun, unexpected. Would recommend, especially for younger audience.
• 
  Angie Jean

  Honestly, I was a little disappointed. Some parts were really good and I especially liked the ending but some parts just seemed slow and I was super confused a lot of the time 😅
• 
  Mist Pl

  It was my first time reading this author's book . I remember I liked this one when I read it . But now that I came to write a review I thought I would try reading the sample at least once again . But then I realized I'm not liking it as much as I did . I guess my tastes changed. My rating is from my old reading experience.
• 
  M.J.

  Great Sci-fi to help turn teen reader into an adult reader.
  
  I was torn between 4 and 5 stars, let's call it 4.5; being an author I fully support rounding up.
  
  This book seems to be heavily influenced by Snow Crash (which it just happens I am also reading now)--not the story, just the world. Then again, Snow Crash was influenced by other dystopian novels.
  
  The book is about a band of characters, most teens, who are fighting creatures that only they can see. The MC has just escaped certain death at a local orphanage and is trying to find a place in the world. The story takes lots of twists and turns. It sets you up for the next book in the series, but still wraps events up nicely.
  
  There's a mild romance, but nothing to serious, mostly just a couple kisses on the cheek. The female MC (the MC's "love" interest) is a highlight of the book, she's bold and brash, but down-to-earth.
  
  Where this book really shines, at least for me, is that it's a great 'YA Sci-fi-boys-book' and there aren't many of those. I think, this would make a great book to help bridge those tough years when a kid goes from reading MG sci-fi to adult sci-fi. Once the appeal of books like a Wrinkle in Time, Artemis Fowl (which is also by Colfer), or Bruce Coville's, I Was a Sixth Grade Alien series wears off, point your 14 y.o. to this series.
  
  Follow up with an accessible adult Sci-fi title like Ender's Game, and, with a little luck, you just might turn your cranky teen into a reader for life (albeit he'll be cranky for the next few years).
• 
  Maninee

  the book was good though not really the best of colfer's works. even the wish list was better, here are the reasons why i thought that the book could have been better.:
  
  1) sense of humour(or rather the lack of it): i know that many people will disagree but having read the artemis fowl series and the wish list, i must say that eoin colfer has a much much better a sense of humour. i really miss those witty dialogues that filled every page of the fowl series.
  
  2) the plot: fighting the parasites was a good motivation, but not a great one. sure it was better than most plots, but i think that it would have been better if colfer had thought up of a slightly more terrifying creature to fight with.
  
  buy inspite of all this, the book is still definitely worth a read(anyone who's seen that i gave this book four stars would know). for a good number of reasons:
  
  1) the story telling: here is one thing eoin colfer surpasses himself in. the way the story was told was brilliant. absolutely wonderful. just like the artemis fowl books.
  
  2) the descriptions of the future: the smog in place of the sky, the abscence of trees in the countryside, yes, eoin colfer did a grwat job in desrcibing the future, i must admit.
  
  oh yes, and did i forget to mention mona vaquez? well... she's another reason why you shuold read the book. she and stefan bashkir that is.
• 
  Ave

  Satellite city is a place in our future it has everything the body needs and nothing what the soul wants. Steel builings, high tec for everything, multibillion corporation terror, polluted air - the list goes on.
  
  The main character is 14 year old Cosmo Hill, named by the place where he was found in, escaped "prisoner" from the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys. Escaped and saved from the blue creatures who seem to be sucking the life out of you by a group called The Supernaturalist. Whos leader is Stefan an 18 year old ex-cop, helped out by ex-gang member Mona and former doctor called Ditto who could easally pass off as a 6 year old but actually is almoust 5 times the age.
  
  The book was easy to read. Especially because I found it to be interesting and waiting to find out what happends in the end. The characters werent that complicated but i found them intriguing. And if you ignore some of the silly references in the book (and somewhat sometimes leaving me wonder why they were even there). All in all I hope one day he might write a sequel to it, because im very interested to hear more of them.
  
  read: in english
• 
  Raina

  A team of minors hunting down invisible creatures in a dystopian world in a story filled with fun sci-fi technology.
  
  This is pretty much a story before its time.
  
  I booktalked this to middle schoolers (alongside the graphic novel adaptation) in January 2014 and even though it's ten years old, it's taking off in my community.
  
  I remember having trouble following the descriptions of technology and the world over audio, but I imagine reading it with more attention would cover that. There are some very interesting characters in this band of outsiders, and the invisible creatures are creepy, in the way that locust swarms are creepy. The twists and turns are unpredictable. I liked the way the criminal gangs and street racing were integrated into the plot. And there are plenty of fun action battles. My middle schoolers are sad it's not a series. It's the kind of book that could go places. Colfer has built a very full world, and he could have focused on many different aspects of it. Leaving the reader wanting more is a sign of a good book.
• 
  Rohit Goswami

  This is a legacy review. 3.5 stars rounded up. A long long time ago I checked this out of my middle school library and it affected me deeply. It was also one of the books I borrowed from a close friend ^_^ I vividly remembered in surprising detail the bleak picture painted by the book. Nowadays I'd probably round my rating down. This is unnecessarily depressing. No good character wins. The pacing is breakneck, but also evocative of a rat in a maze. The protagonists manage to get some impressive breaks but the bleak futility of their reality is very much the main focus.
  
  It's short and the characters are moderately well developed given its length. The book feels more like a study in despair, in spite of switching to non lethal primary weapons, death is very much front and center. Still. A much better introduction to misery than say, the kite runner.