Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens (Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians #4)

Let me be honest here for a moment. I am only half way through this book. But you see today is the fifth, the fifth book is released on the sixth and today is a holiday so shipping is going a little late by a day or two. The dilemma: do I finish this book right now to finish the story, or do I drag it out until the next book? I choose the second to avoid withdrawal. So what to due but write a review on a book I have not finished. Man, am I going to get those upside down thumbs up all over this. But I have learned from Alcatraz great things in life. Such if a person gives you a thumbs down, just turn your screen upside down to get a thumbs up.

The book:
I have the expander glass edition. I am on chapter 70706, but it really has been a quick read. The Way of the Kings is only 72 chapters long but have you seen the size of that book and it is in small print now. Thus a great tool of authors that “Brandon Sanderson” has learned is to break the same long story over lots of books. Look at Mistborn. Great story, lots of books and probably longer then both stormlight books. I have, am, reading Mistborn series but Stormlight sits on my shelf mocking me.

I also have learned also to combat evil authors such as “Brandon Sanderson”. He tricked me with those other books like Mistborn and Reckoners by having picked those up early and waited patiently for the next book. But not this time you evil author, I learned about Alcatraz in 2016 so I did not have to wait for years for the books only a few more days for that last one. Actually that was just luck, because I’m still waiting for that next Mistborn book.

So why write a review early? Because it is the Smedry way, and I’ve read the last page so I know how the story ends. Although for some reason my Halo skills have dimished by roughly 45% for some reason. Plus it would be stupid to do it this way.
That right, stupid, and this book is that just so you know. I mean there are mispelling, things that do not make sense, and words between the pictures. And all of it makes this book great, just stupid.

I also have a theory that “Hayley Lazo” is none other then Bastille. Think about it, the pictures mock Alcatraz and paint Bastille in a good light. And most notes on the pictures in all the books are from Bastille and mocking. To make a theory I have to write it before I know if that is true so I clearly cannot finish a book completely just in case the answer is revealled.

As a “P.S.”, Mr. “Brandon Sanderson” it is 2016 and so probably been a few years since telling your story, so if you want to continue it I am almost to the end so a book six is due now. Mistborn got it’s second series, so I think it is only fair if we learn what has been happening these last few years. Thanks C.J. Bramlett

Reader thoughts: The author I talk about the most (other than myself) is Brandon Sanderson. Of his books, the ones I fangirl over the most are the Alcatraz books, and for good reason.

The cleverness: The good guys are clever (use bad math skills to equip an army), and the bad guys are cleverer (tunnel under indestructible dome), and the dialogue is even cleverer (Shakespeare quotes to confuse everyone and allow MC to slip past).

The humor: I don’t mean just the witty comebacks or the way Alcatraz pokes fun at everything in the hushlands. I mean the situations are hilarious. Teddy bears explode. Swallowed by a dragon. A weapon that lets you punch yourself to hurt the enemy. Even besides all that, I still laugh when Alcatraz tells the reader to act out the entire book (except that one scene with the anti-fiber explosion).

The magic: It’s not wave-your-wand-and-hope-something-cool-happens kind of magic. It’s we-know-exactly-what-each-character-can-do sort of magic. And it’s the let’s-come-up-with-clever-new-ways-to-use-these-skills magic.

Writer thoughts: Alcatraz breaks the fourth wall as well as Ferris Bueller, but in book form! Most of the time, authors should not do this. Reminding the reader that they are reading a story and not experiencing the story would be a bad idea. Here, however, Sanderson not only gets away with it, he uses the technique to make the series even better. What can we learn?

Don’t use it once or twice. It will feel accidental and cheating. The reader will not expect it and will become annoyed.

If you do intend to talk to the reader, it has to fit the story. A journal-like story (see The Diary of a Young Girl), or interactive tales (like Choose Your Own Adventure or Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!), or comedies (like Alcatraz) make this technique fit. If you have an immersive tale meant to transport the reader, you shouldn’t remind them that they’ll eventually have to return to reality.

Brandon Sanderson is an awesome author. This book is a 4th-5th grade reading level, and excellent for readers in those grades, but even adults will find the story funny. This is book 4 about the young boy, Alcatraz, who runs afoul of librarians intent on keeping people misinformed for their own nefarious purposes. The story is not your typical boy-saves-world scenario, and totally unexpected things happen on every page. Thankfully, book 5 has finally been released for publishing– another ploy of the evil librarians to prevent this story from being told??– so Alcatraz’s fate will finally be revealed.

So this was my least favorite of the series so far. This went a little into the dark side and except for some of the stuff at the beginning and a spectacular chapter with a bunch of Hamlet Quotes in a chase. It is more serious as discoveries are made as to what Alcatraz’s father has planned, what the librarians are doing and that sometimes being the hero doesn’t work out quite like you think it will.

But I will say that the chapters headings (which followed no traditional naming convention what-so-ever) were either funny or intriguing. Some of them I had to look up to see what they might have went to. Such as a shout out to Avogadro’s number, Pi, the call sign for the Star Ship Enterprise and a few other gems.

Still the audio is done very well and before I knew it I was at the end of another fun read with a small cliffhanger.

The Alcatraz series is hilarious, for adults as well as kids. I’m not sure exactly how to explain its genius, but I think it mainly lies in how witty, intelligent, and fun the books are while also covering serious and perilous situations. I love the characters as well, they are all very complex and well-realized. And of course, you can’t forget the magic system which is completely unique and makes for a lot of fun guessing as to how anti-superpowers can be actually used. The short version is that you should start reading these books right away!

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