Alex's birth day date revealed...in the USA version only!

[arrowsong]

Two quick things...

One: there's a whole thread for CHERUB, stay on topic here please guys!!!

Two: The difference in the versions isn't a major crisis, you can all calm down!! The US versions of all the books are slightly different. There's a thread about it here - http://anthonyhorowitz.com/msgboard/index.php/topic,5109.0.html - that could use some reviving, if you want to have a discussion about it there

@explosive eagle - The UK version ends with Alex in hospital and Jack coming and talking to him. I would be very very surprised if the US version was drastically different - most likely the birthday is just an extra line added in there (which must be kinda weird, what do they say, 'Its your birthday in a couple of days because it's the 13th of February.' 'Oh yeah! I forgot my birthday was on the 13th of February!' ??!??! How do you make that NOT sound obvious?). I'd be very interested in knowing the context the date is dropped in, actually. If anyone feels like posting the line...

And I dont know why AH put the date in one version and not the other: my guess would be, he adjusted/edited it for his American audience after having finished the UK version and sending it to publishing, and during that time, decided (it must have been quite a decision!) to add the date in. So did, in the US one.

And (for the bagillionth time!) YES, the series finishes on AR's 15th birthday. YES, that means even with the Yassen book, we still have one whole AR novel to get through in two days, and with Alex rather worse for wear. No, we have no idea how this is going to be done!! O.O
There's a lot of discussion of this in the other CT threads.

[AlexRider:Afterwards]

*strolls in humming*  "♩♪♫ do do-doo, do doo, doo-do doo-doo ♫♪♩"   "ahh, whats this?"  *picks up excerpt from Crocodile tears off of the floorand reads aloud*
"...Jack stoped herself. "When can you come home?" she asked.
     "I was talking to the nurse just now.  She says that if all goes well, it should only be a couple of days.  Tuesday.  Wednesday at the latest."
     "Well, thank goodness for that," Jack said.  "You know what Thursday is."
     "No." Alex had no idea.
     "Alex!" Jack stared at him.
     "Tell me..."
     "Thursday, February thirteenth.  It's your birthday, Alex.  You're going to be fifteen."
     "Am I?" Alex laughed.  "So, what are you going to buy me?"
     "What do you want?"
     "I want to go home.  I want peace and quiet.  And I want that new version of Assassin's Creed... it's just came out on PlayStation."
     "I'm not sure those violent computer games are good for you, Alex."
     Jack didn't tell him that she had already bought it and that a few of his closest friends were waiting for her call, hoping to come around."

"oh what's this on the back? 'exploding birthday cake' ?  hmm..." *litters the slip of paper on the floor and strolls along.*

[Tai]

meh, why was it assassin's creed 2? seriously i could see him liking that game but maybe a video game that was...better?

[AlexRider:Afterwards]

hey, Assassin's creed is an awesome game.  yeah, there are better ones, but I think he chose that one because of the irony involved with it. (and possible foreshadowing)

[Tai]

yeah but i mean games with more epic involved in them you know versus an assassin/vengefull person kinda is odd

[zakeeyak]

GUYS!!! STAY ON TOPIC!!!!

sorry.

In the UK version (which is what they sell to us) It's almost identical, except there's no date.

" tell me"

"it's your birthday, Alex. you're going to be 15"

But it's kinda strange that the date got put in one version and not the other. I mean, why? There seems no logical reason.

[arrowsong]

As I said before, it could just be that he decided to add it in after the UK version had gone to print.

And LMAO, that was great - when I wrote my above post, and the comment about it sounding rather odd for them to randomly mention the date, I paused a moment to really think it through and consider possibilites - and that exact line is what came to mind. I was going through ways they could say, aloud, the date, with it not sounding forced, and yeah, that line is exactly what I came up with!!!!

tee hee. *feels a little psychic. Or at least gratified to know she thinks right, for a writer.*

[forthegreatergood93]

 Wow! My birthday is on Feb.12; only a single day's difference! By the way, I so enjoy watching witty and hilarious conversations develop. I wish it were allowed to carry those kinds of conversations.... I also think its amazing that a boy (Alex) so young ( 15- almost!) can be so mature. Still, its not that unheard of, I got my first marriage proposal when I was 12 and one every year after that!!! Don't worry, I'm almost 17 and still single! Hope I haven't gone way off topic 

[MadCatta]

Hey GreaterGood! Welcome to the board, wonderful to meet and greet you, wonderful you found us. I understand the door can mislead you.... we aren't Bingo Buddies, they're all gone now. Rest their souls... or is it bless? we haven't the heart to change the door though.

Oooh! Wow, if you were almost anti-aging and blond and almost fifteen and a guy and a spy (I doubt you are all of them) you'd be Alex! And of course, called Alex Rider...
Sorry, that kind of comes out in a mean tone, I mean it whilst smiling and welcoming you and being very nice and all!

He has had a lot of help maturing... he gives off a very strong odour now... Jokes, Al, you smell like a daisy!

o.O Whoa.... that's young.... must be persistent! Not to worry, as long as we ignore that and you talk in the attic/lounge about it, all is ok.

Anyway. I feel Arrow is right.

[forthegreatergood93]

Hey don't worry. I've got it in check  . Alex Rider is supposed to be 15 btw, and I'm almost 2 years older. The age confusion in the books is not very surprising, I've noticed it in other books as well. Still, I suppose a person such as AH could have kept matters more in order. We should go with what he says though: 15. Still, if he was keeping up with the years and Alex was born in1989, than he'd be 15 before the Assasin's creed came out. Oh well, by the way, it's funny how you ( MadCatta) seem to be patronizing me- I don't mind - but I was wondering if you were older than me? Not that you have to be; Alex rider acted bigger than his age too...

[MadCatta]

...We try to ignore the age mix up. Makes it easier for all of us...

And no, no honey... I'm not patronising you at all... *pats head*
I'm fifteen. And short. And hilariously witty and pure genius and modest and and all that jazz, of course. xD

Anyhoo, BOT.

[forthegreatergood93]

Hahahaha!  You're my younger sister's age. Well, guess what, maybe if you were Alex Rider, I'd stay clear of you. But I guess since you're not, I can do some patronizing of my own., huh?   And if you're short, all the better!   It's easier to patronize a short guy; my brother is 13 years old and taller than me, so I can't do much in the way of patronizing to him  Sorry, I'll get back on topic, Ahem, Alex Rider, your birthday is finally revealed! Keep your hair on though, you'll survive!

[arrowsong]

LOL. Nice save, um, ftgg? (for the greater good... *has random Hot Fuzz flashbacks*)

Sure it isnt technically correct, but AH has kept Alex at 14 through all the books, and kept him interested in stuff that modern in-the-minute teens would be into. If he stayed with Alex's official birthdate, you'd get modern teens picking up the books and finding Alex talking about, um... *tries to think of stuff boys were into when she was 14* I dont know. Age of Mythology? That was popular about then I think...

Whatever, the point is, for NOW-14-year-olds to connect with AR, AH needs to keep AR... well, now.

You probably already got that... oh well =)

On a slightly divergent note, I TOTALLY agree with AR:A that Assassin's Creed II is a foreshadowing/pun in the making!! ("I know I said I wanted Assassin's Creed for my birthday, but I didnt think it came with a real assassin..." *sniggers*) It's too hilarious not to be

[Wandrin Dreamer]

Well, I suppose there is one 'good' thing about his birthday being on a Thursady.  He misses the friday the 13th thing.  Although a quick check on my pc reveals that the next time 13 Feb falls on a Thursday is in 2014.  I just hope AH doesn't decide to make us wait that long for the next one!  Haha.
(Not that I put any stock in using dates like that.  I was just curious.)

[AlexRider:Afterwards]

haha yeah I looked it up on and put it on here one day when we were discussing it but I didn't think about if AH made us wait a long time.  and it could easily be that way because of the Yassen book in between them.  haha omg I bet he totally will