| Title | : | Recruited (Alias Prequel #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 075221537X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780752215372 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 224 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2002 |
For Sydney Bristow, it’s a typical day in her not-so-typical after-school job–she’s an agent for SD-6, a top-secret division of the CIA. Or so she thinks.
This prequel is the first in a new series based on the smash ABC show Alias–it’s Sydney’s life before she discovers she’s working for the bad guys, juxtaposing normal college life against her fabulous exploits as a working spy.
Recruited (Alias Prequel #1) Reviews
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Sydney Bristow will always hold a special place in my heart. ALIAS has been one of my favorite shows since 2001. This just revitalized that love.
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This book was worth reading because it went more in depth of how they recruited her while she was in college.
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I love the tv show Alias and just now discovered the books that tie in to it. This book was interesting because it goes into depth about Sydney's freshman year of college and her recruitment into SD-6.
The story was a bit slow at times, but on the whole I enjoyed it and loved learning more about Sydney's early days - such as how Francie and her met.
I planning to read more in the series and recommend this book to any fan of the show. -
Not bad at all. I was looking for a quick read and so I picked this up. I really like the TV show Alias and so this was great to see how this all began. The only dowener in no Micheal Vartan...he's so dreamy :)
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It was a quick read and it kept me interested the whole time! Can't wait to read the rest of them
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Quick and easy read. I absolutely loved the show Alias so reading the books has been super fun to me. While not exactly related to the show, this book gives a good understanding how Sydney ends up in SD6 and begins working for the CIA. I finished this book in a matter of a few hours and it definitely kept me interested all the way through!
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3.5 stars
As the blurb on the cover of the book states, this is an original prequel novel based on the TV series, with the action taking place about six months to a year before the pilot of the show (I'm estimating). We see Sydney Bristow, a freshman at UCLA, doing exceptionally well in her classes yet feeling lost, without a purpose. We know she has issues with her distant father and has had ever since her mother died when she was a little girl; all Sydney wants to be is a teacher, like her mother, both to honor her mother's memory and to, perhaps, win her father's approval and affection. Yet her classes don't inspire her, even though she's passing each course with flying colors (especially the foreign languages as Sydney has a gift for linguistics). All that changes when a mysterious man makes her an offer that she almost refuses: join the CIA. As she rises from a low-level grunt to an agent in record time, Sydney finds a new sense of purpose. She finds she's actually happy and knows exactly what she wants from life. At the end of the book, after her "initiation," we meet a Sydney completely different from the one we met at the beginning of the story. We meet a Sydney ready and eager to embark on her new life.
Yes, Sydney, as she's portrayed in the novel (and, to some extent, in the TV show), is a bit of a Mary Sue. She's sweet, she's innocent, she excels at any activity you throw at her. However, I didn't find this aspect quite as annoying as I would've had this been a regular novel for two reasons: one, realizing this is an origins novel, it's easy to shrug off any liberties taken because, basically, she's just getting started as a character so there's bound to be some one-dimensionality to her; two, as I was reading, I saw Jennifer Garner as Sydney and saw Jennifer's quirks, her dimples, her personality, which helped overpower any particular Mary Sue-ishness in the novel's character (if that makes any sense).
The one really interesting facet of the novel, and I don't know if this was the author's intent, if she was working from J.J. Abrams' notes, or if it was a complete coincidence, was the obvious use of Sydney's desire for her father's approval in her recruitment (using the knowledge gleaned from my recent Psychology 150 class). The agent who acts as her handler/mentor, Wilson, is middle-aged, with a young daughter in whose life he takes an active interest (thus being the father to his daughter Sydney desires for herself, allowing her to trust Wilson more readily). Sloane, the head of SD-6, whom we meet only briefly in the novel, plays an amiable, downright avuncular role in Sydney's life, although we don't see this in the novel, setting himself up as a father substitute for Sydney, thereby tying her loyalty to him and the agency. Even Sydney's eventual partner, Dixon, whom we also meet (very briefly) in the novel, is set up in the show as someone Sydney could turn to for advice and comfort when her father lets her down. While Sloane and Dixon don't play major roles in the novel, it's easy to see the manipulation. Very sneaky and very clever. (Then again, I could totally be seeing something that's not there, which means I've been talking out of my ass...which would not be a surprise. At all.)
This is a quick read. It's not perfect and it's not quite the origins story I would've given to Sydney, but it was entertaining. -
I absolutely loved this book. I never saw the TV show, but if it is as good as this book I'd sure love see it.
Sydney is new college student at UCLA at the start of the book. She's wanting to be a teacher like her mom was before she died when she was six. Sydney's feeling like she doesn't belong and over-whelmed. If not for her roommate Francie she'd be alone and possibly want to quiet. She can't keep job and she's not a social person either. She tried ask out guy she liked and he didn't know she was. I felt so bad for her in that moment.
However, that all changes when she's approached by guy named Wilson. He says that he's with the CIA and wants her. She's back and forth on to go or not to see the guy. When she calls her dad just to talk he thinks she's wanting money. He's been a cold hearted person since her mom's car accident. He sent her to boarding school and didn't want anything to do with her. She gets upset that he just wants give money and is too busy to talk. She tells him off and slams phone down saying she no longer wants anything from her.
That seals the fact she's going to see Wilson. When she does she gets the job and starts at the ground floor so speak with desk job for the CIA. I'm little fishy about them though something seems off with things in the book. Also there is email sent from Wilson to someone saying they were right she did come in.
It fast forwards after that and Sydney had done a complete change. She's not the person she was at all. She's training hard and the paper work she's given she finishes and spits back out fast. She starts spotting tails too. One she went up to and Wilson told her not to blow her cover. They are undercover inside the CIA. That one reason I'm fishy about it.
She passes all her tests and is still doing great keeping it a secret with Francie. Wilson gives her a sold out concert and tells her that he'd like her take pictures for his daughter Claire who's 11 and can't go. She agrees and goes to the concert. Sydney's having a blast til the very end. She's asked back stage and told she go to the hotel with the other groupies.
Sydney knows that something is up and boy is it. The guy singing ends up being connected with drug dealers. She uses all the training that she has had in the last 6-8 months to take the guy down. She fights him thinking that she's alone. She didn't know that SD-6 the part the CIA she works for was using the bracelet that Wilson gave her to do more than take pictures. Just takes little longer when the tracker falls off.
She gets free and is picked up by the other SD-6 agents. What she told Francie was she'd gone to party and got burnt when her hand was wrapped up after getting free from guitar string restraints.
Sydney defiantly changed and I loved her both ways, but the kicking butt taking names Sydney was more confident with herself. Hope to read more later. -
Sydney Bristow 90210
When it comes to my favorite tv shows, I'm not really that into novelizations or prequels written by third parties – rarely do they live up to the standards set by the series' writers and production crews. Even so, when I spotted an audiobook version of ALIAS: RECRUITED at a garage sale, I decided to give it a try.
As you can probably surmise, ALIAS: RECRUITED is a prequel to ALIAS – essentially, the novel is author Lynn Mason's imagining of how Sydney came to work for SD-6. The story takes place during Syd's freshman year in college, which finds her a shy, nervous wreck. By school year's end, she's been recruited by SD-6, trained in Krav Maga and weaponry, worked her way up from a desk job to field work, successfully completed her first mission, even killing a man – and spurned the hot guy from her English class who spurned her back in September. All in just 192 pages (or two short CDs)!
Overall, the writing is so-so. The book's Amazon listing says that it's for grades 8 and up, which might explain some of the juvenile focus on hot dudez (as mentioned above). In addition to the Beverley Hills 90210-like college scenarios, I found Mason's portrait of a younger, less self-assured Sydney to be a stretch – an unbelievable stretch. College freshman Sydney has never dated, never had a boyfriend, is in fact an utter tool around guys, and seems to have no social skills whatsoever. While this is attributed to the stress of losing her mother at a young age, I don't buy it. Certainly, I agree that absentee father Jack Bristow might have deflated her self-esteem – and the loss of Laura/Irina only added to Sydney's stress – but she's also smart (a genius, actually), athletic, and beautiful. She'd be able to get a date wearing nothing but a potato sack and speaking in tongues. I understand why Mason painted such a sorry picture of young Syd – in order to contrast her with secret agent Syd, thus illustrating the changes she undergoes under the tutelage of SD-6 – but still, the whole thing comes off as hackneyed. Meh.
I probably wouldn't have wasted my time with ALIAS: RECRUITED had I not been able to find an audio version of the book. It's a fun enough listen – it made my vacuuming fly by, at least. My only complaint with the audiobook is that narrator Amanda Foreman's Francie imitation makes Francie sound like an annoying, idiotic Valley Girl. Seriously, you wonder why Syd would hang out with such a ditz. Ditto the college-age guys – Foreman tries to masculinize her voice, but she just sounds like a dumb surfer, or an even dumber Valley Dude. Quite annoying.
I probably won't go out of my way to buy any of the other prequels on CD, but at its best, ALIAS: RECRUITED made me want to break out Season 1 on DVD.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2009/04/12/... -
A nice prequel that explained how Sydney Bristow was recruited into SD-6. However I actually expected the book to be a novelization of the pilot TRUTH BE TOLD. Still im glad how the story had turned out.
In fact it actually reminded me what was it like reading CHARMED few years back then.
Favourite quote: I'm nineteen, and I'm going to die.
Bottomline is, I prefer to watch the show rather than reading this book. Still im going to give it a 3 stars. Because ALIAS still rocks. Forever =D -
The TV show, Alias, is my all-time favorite series. This first book, however, could not even begin to compare to the show’s high adrenaline rush. Maybe it was S-L-O-W and lacking action because it was setting the story up. I’m hoping that the books that follow are quicker paced. This had very little content with substance. Overall it was a bland read.
I liked the CIA file on her, particularly the analysis of her handwriting. “Graphology analysis reveals strong independent streak, generosity, high originality, theatrical skills, insecurity, cautionary approach toward people, and high need for solitude.”
An internal observation of another female agent "At times, Sydney wondered if Maxine might be more than human. She looked more like a top-secret cyber-creation than a real person, with her permanent smile and perfect outfits. [She] wouldn't have been surprised to discover the Mattel logo stamped across her backside."
In action, defending herself from a BIG bouncer: "Without thinking, Sydney jabbed him in the breastbone with her free elbow. An expression of surprise crossed his features-and hers. ‘I just freaking hit a guy the size of Schwarzenegger!’ she thought wildly as his hand automatically released its grip on her arm. Before he could do anything further, she whirled her right leg around and kicked him in the ribs." -
I was a big fan of ALIAS back in the day, and the idea of a prequel series appeals to me. However, this particular novel does little more than flesh out what we already know about Sidney's recruitment to SD-6. Honestly, I hadn't realized there were two different series of ALIAS novels (one for adults and one for teens), which explains why I ended up going with the version aimed at high school girls. Considering it's based on a show that was all about plot twists and cliffhangers, there's nothing clever or thrilling to be found here, just the output of a working writer-for-hire simply going through the motions. Looking at the author's other credits, it's clear she gravitates toward teen romance, so don't be surprised when Sydney spends more of the book thinking about boys than kicking bad guy butt.
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Disappointing.
While most tie-in novels take advantage of the longer form and unlimited budget of the imagination, this one ties itself down to the lowest stakes and absolute minimum amount of character development, feeling more like a mediocre YA novel than an on ramp for an intelligent, adult spy drama. -
I went into this book with expectations of a quick light read. I was right. It took me less than a day. The writing is mediocre and the story right out of the series. Only fans of the series will have any interest in this book and even then, will probably be a little disappointed.
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5 stars
It was nice to find out when Sydney had been recruited to SD-6. Wonder if she will get together with Noah Hicks.
Can't wait to read Alias: A Secret Life!!!!! -
Decent book, short and not extremely flushed out, but enjoyable. Looking to obtain the rest of the books to read as I’ve never seen the show.
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The best mystery I have ever read yet!! I think this book is in desperate need to be read all over the U.S. I know you'll love it.
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Although it was entertaining I wasn't able to become completely hooked.
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I loved this book! Different than the first episode we see on the show as we have more details on her life before being recruited and then her training...
Really good! -
book was too short haha.but it was good to see how it all started.i wonder if thats how the CIA really recruits people
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Para fans de la serie y de Sidney Bristow. Si no lo eres, yo ni me molestaría.
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Promo copy from station?
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cotton candy - fun read, no substance
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I have watched the movie but expected more from books.
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Recruited (Alias)
An Original Prequel Novel Based On The Hit TV Series Created By J.J Abrams
Written By Lynn Mason
Published 2002 By Bantam Books
I love the TV series Alias in fact I fan-girl hard core for all things Alias (and all things Jennifer Garner). I watched the series beginning to end and even though I never got all my questions answered during the series ( umm hello "Deep Throat") it was so good it really didn't matter. So when I stumbled upon a couple of Alias books at my local goodwill I snapped them up without even reading the back. I found books 1 and 2 in this particular prequel series. Book #1 Recruited takes place when Sydney Bristow is a Freshman at UCLA and has only been friends with Francie for what seems to be less than a year. Recruited is all about Sydney's life right before and shortly after she is recruited by SD-6. The only series regulars that make an appearance in this book besides Sydney are Francie, and Sloan (although he is only in the book for a very brief scene). Jack Bristow Sydney's father is mentioned throughout the book but never makes an actual appearance and Will is not on the scene yet. To me this is a book for serious Alias fans. Fans who have imagined what things were like before Sydney learned that SD-6 wasn't really the CIA. I did have some problems with the way Sydney was written. In the TV show Alias Sydney is a confident and self assured and can take out almost anyone without help and with no hesitation. I think because I am so used to confident butt kicking Syd I didn't exactly know if I bought the shy, confidence lacking Syd that was in the first 1/2 of the book. However as the book progresses and Sydney begins to move up with in SD-6 you see her confidence grow and I began to accept the depiction of Syd before SD-6. This first book is short on action which is what Alias is known for but that is understandable considering most of the book takes place before she is an official SD-6 agent. There is one action scene at the end of the book and it was pretty well played out. Of course you know Syd is going to make it out so there isn't any suspense but it does a good job of showing what newbie agent Sydney would be like. Overall I enjoyed the book and I plan to read book 2 fairly soon and I will be trying to get my hands on the other books in the series.
http://booksandbackstreetboys.blogspo... -
Recruited is the first book of the Alias prequel series. It tells the story (as the title of the novel suggests) of how Sydney was recruited as an SD-6 agent and also deals with her very first mission out in the field. The television series does not go into too much detail regarding how Sydney was recruited, as it begins with Sydney already having been an agent for several years, so this background information is enjoyable to any fan. It also briefly recounts how Sydney and Francie met and became such good friends. It was a really enjoyable read for me as a hardcore Alias fan, but I definitely would not recommend the book to someone who is not a fan of the series. Even though it is totally comprehensible even without having seen the series (especially since it is a prequel novel), there are little nuggets that you won't properly appreciate without having seen the series. Sloane, for example, is in the novel briefly, and that will mean very little to you if you haven't seen the series. There is also a part when Sydney briefly has an encounter with the character Dixon, but you won't even know that unless you know who he is from the series. It's also definitely intended for a juvenile audience (as are all of the prequel novels), which I find a bit odd because the television series definitely has a lot of mature content (such as sexual content, murder, torture, terrorism, etc.). I don't mind YA literature at all; in fact, I quite enjoy some of it, but it does seem somewhat odd to read a YA Alias novel. Something else that seems pretty odd is that Sydney does not seem to suffer from any guilt about having to lie to Francie about where she's going and what she's doing (something that the covert nature of her job requires her to do), yet having to lie to people for whom she cares is an ongoing struggle in the television series and even causes a major problem in the pilot episode, so I guess that that did seem a little bit inconsistent to me. It isn't a bad novel, but a lot of it is pretty predictable, and I probably wouldn't have anywhere near as much appreciation for it if it were just a standalone novel that had no affiliation with a personally beloved television series. It's about time that I finally read all of the Alias novels, though, so that's my plan.
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I enjoyed it.
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I was a huge fan of this television series but just now picked up this first novel based on the series, because I got it for about 15 cents at a library sale. For 15 cents it wasn't a waste, but I certainly wouldn't buy any others. I might see if my library has others I can borrow. The book felt like fanfiction. Trust me when I say I have no disrespect for fanfiction writers; I think there are a ton of supremely talented writers out there. However, Lynn Mason is not one of them. The book was simplistic, compared to the intriguing twists and turns of the television series. Sydney did not feel anywhere near as true as the way Jennifer Garner portrayed her. While I believed every minute of the show, no matter how fantastic it got, I bought into very little of the book. My biggest fascination was with the appearance of "Raul Sandoval". There is a real Sandoval musician and rock star (with the other references to real entertainment, I looked him up out of curiosity) and I wonder if it was intentional or pure coincidence and if the former, how they could get away with not only including him in the book but turning him into a criminal.
