The Supernaturalist

By: Eoin Colfer

Narrated by: Chiwetel Ejiofor

Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

In the future, in a place called Satellite City, 14-year-old Cosmo Hill enters the world, unwanted by his parents. He's sent to the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys. Freight class.

At Clarissa Frayne, the boys are put to work by the state, testing highly dangerous products. At the end of most days, they are covered with burns, bruises, and sores. Cosmo realizes that if he doesn't escape, he will die at this so-called orphanage.

When the moment finally comes, Cosmo seizes his chance and breaks out with the help of the Supernaturalists, a motley crew of kids who all have the same special ability as Cosmo: they can see supernatural Parasites, creatures that feed on the life force of humans. The Supernaturalists patrol the city at night, hunting the Parasites in hopes of saving what is left of humanity in Satellite City. Or so they think. The Supernaturalists soon find themselves caught in a web far more complicated than they imagined, when they discover a horrifying secret that will force them to question everything they believe in.

Eoin Colfer has created an eerie and captivating world (part Blade Runner, part futuristic Dickens) replete with nonstop action, humor, and a spellbinding cast of characters.

©2004 Eoin Colfer (P)2004 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

oldie but goodie

I remembered almost nothing of this book from when I was a kid, other than the main character has a rubbage life, and one of the plot twists. 💚💚💚💚 I'm not much for sci-fi, preferring fantasy, but this book has me hooked. It's dystopian for sure, with a fair balance of humor and skepticism. It was clearly written for the kids that grew up with Artemis Fowl, and have hit the teenage Angst years. The character development is strong, and the characters, though in an extreme we have not reached (yet) have layers of relatability. I'm so happy to be riding the nostalgia train in my reading lately.

Needs a sequel…

I absolutely love this and the Artemis Fowl series, & both need a sequel! (it’s cool.😎)

Cool

Add me to the list of the many grownup Colfer fans. I disagree with those who say this is so different from the Artemis Fowl books. Like those, it's technically slick and environmentally conscious without being preachy, and lots of fun. I think the story of The Supernaturalist was a bit more mature, dark and involved compared with the Fowl series, but still accessible. I will keep coming back to Colfer for a quick, fun, clean listen.

A bit slow

While it was definitely an interesting concept for a story, I just found it was a bit slow and too drawn out. Loved the narrator though with all of the different voices. Sometimes the accents could be hard to understand, but I feel like that was part of the experience of this amalgamated futuristic city. Overall, I'd recommend the story to a lover of sci-fi, especially if they're looking for something with lots of new world surroundings!

Better than Artemis

The reviewer who said you'd be disappointed in this if you're a fan of the Artemis books is wrong. I fell in love with this book when I was a teenager, and rereading it now at age 33 is even better. The world is creative, the characters are diverse and lovable, and there's something to be said for the family you choose, vs the family you're born into. I'm so heartbroken he never made a sequel.

Great book

This was an amazing book, the narrator wasn't great though the first time a listened to it I couldn't understand him that much. I really liked the reference to the fowl twins (maybe the fowl twins reference this?) with the miishy corp. although the whole book would have been better if it was artimises space suit

lots of conflict, good pace

This was a pretty enjoyable listen for a family road trip (including my 11 yr old daughter and 14 yr old son). There is plenty of conflict, the usual good and evil stuff. A little too much moodiness in some of the main characters, but it kept all of us listening. The reader did a nice job differentiating the players, and it has a good mix of fantasy, sci fi, & drama.

so great! just neat story!and great reader

fun, interesting and fantastical story. very enjoyable, very cool sci fi. reader is top notch

Still one of my favorite stories of all time

I've read this book at least seven times and this performance brought the story to life perfectly. Absolutely amazing

Brings me back

I read it as a young kid and was just as good as I remember