I adore the cover, right down to the tagline: AND HE'S THE GOOD GUY.
From Chapter Two:
Life in the Edgely household had always been fairly uneventful. Stephanie's mother worked in a bank, and her father owned a construction company, and she had no brothers or sisters, so the routine they had settled into was one of amiable convenience. But even so, there was always the voice in the back of her mind telling her that there should be more to life that this, more to her life than the small town of Haggard, which was tucked quietly into the east coast of Ireland. She just couldn't figure out what that something was.
Then her uncle dies and leaves almost everything to Stephanie, much to the surprise and dismay of her father's other brother. During her first night alone in her uncle's house, a man breaks in and attacks her, demanding that she give him some sort of key.
In the nick of time, the front door explodes open and in bursts Skulduggery Pleasant, a suit-wearing, Bentley-driving, walking, talking, shooting, boxing detective skeleton.
Stephanie joins him, and is introduced to a whole new world -- a world of magic and secret wars and politics, of murder and more magic and a whole new version of history. And, yes, you guessed it. Between the two of them, they have to Save The World.
Skulduggery Pleasant is an action movie of a book*. As with most action movies, I didn't really get attached to any of the characters. I LIKED them, and lots of them (especially, of course, Skulduggery) were really COOL, but I was never particularly worried about who'd live and who'd die. But remember -- it's an action movie of a book. All that really matters is whether or not it's fun.
It is.
I enjoyed Stephanie's ongoing introduction to the world-behind-our-world (within, really, we just don't notice it), the magic system is easily explained but has real potential to be flashy and fun, and I loved the Lovecraft bit, especially since the mentions of "The Faceless Ones" him on my brain anyway. The dialogue is mostly pretty snappy, with lots of fun buddy-action-movie-type squabbling, but Landy doesn't seem to go for the guffaws too much -- he goes for the 'heh' laugh, which I tend to prefer:
"Funny. I wouldn't have thought that a living skeleton would be such a skeptic. So what's our next move?"
He was silent for a bit. "Right, well, we've got to work out what we need. We've got to work out what we need, how we get it, and what we need to get to get what we need."
"I think I actually understood that," Stephanie said slowly. The car went over a bump. "No, it's gone again."
It's very violent -- you've got your torture, your multiple murders -- deaths galore, really. That said, I think there are a lot of middle-schoolers out there who'll like it a whole lot. Specifically Artemis Fowl fans, maybe Looking Glass Wars and Death Collector fans. And, wow. It looks to me like HarperC is pushing it pretty hard**. As it's apparently the first of a nine-book series, I'm not surprised.
__________________________
*Warner Brothers already bought the movie rights, so I doubt I'm the only one who thinks so.
**The website is fun, but the video is just bizarre. I mean, I like the dancing skeleton, but it seemed a bit too playful for Skulduggery's character.
My sixth-grade daughter loved it. As in LOVED IT. As in "oh-my-God-mommy-this-is-the-best-book-ever" loved it. Of course, she says that about a lot of books, but still.
Posted by: Kelly Fineman | 30 May 2007 at 06:53 PM
And there you have it, folks! Middle school GIRLS will also like it!
Rock on, Kelly. Have you read it yet?
Posted by: Leila | 30 May 2007 at 07:01 PM
I'm going into High School, and I absolutely adore this book. I've read it over and over again, and Im not done yet!
Posted by: Jessica | 17 June 2007 at 08:51 PM
i loved this book! im really exsited about the other books and now know that the secound one is called Raising Cain and im also exsited bout the movie it sounds like it will b really good and should b out in 2010. and this was THE BEST BOOK EVER!!! in my strange little world of mine amyway.
Posted by: Cassidy | 04 July 2007 at 11:11 PM
yes! after i was done reading this book i said to myself "there better be a movie comin' out". i'm super pumped and am gonna be super old when it finally comes out...but who cares :)
Posted by: Vikki | 17 September 2007 at 11:19 PM
This is thrilling and all characters were magnificent!I can't wait to see the movie!
Posted by: Chelsea | 31 October 2007 at 02:09 AM
This is just the best book I have read for a good time. I just LOVE IT! I am trying to get my friends to read it... Not working that well.
I think Skulduggery is the best character. But you don't need to say that.
Posted by: Sylvía O. Arnardóttir | 16 November 2007 at 06:32 PM
After reading this book, almost every other book seems RUBBISH! I almost
SCREAMED when I heard it was going to be a nine-book series!
Posted by: Aisling | 04 March 2008 at 02:27 PM
I LOVED THIS BOOK
Posted by: hope cates | 10 April 2008 at 07:11 PM
OMG I thought the automatic detective was the best book i ever read but this is just...cant explain...i have read it more then once...AWSOME BOOK EVA!
Posted by: hope cates | 11 April 2008 at 10:16 AM
I was just wondering if anyone could tell me the details of the auditions in the movie because I ABSOLUTELY ADORED the book and might wanna auition. Thanks!!!
Posted by: Helena Davies | 15 April 2008 at 04:17 PM
I've read it four times. I'm such a geek.
But honestly, best book ever written. I'm running right to Borders when Playing with Fire comes out on May 6th.
Posted by: Savannah | 23 April 2008 at 05:00 PM
This book is by FAR the BEST book EVA!!!!!!!! My mum practically had to drag me away from it to have tea!! I give it a definite 10/10!!!!
Posted by: Angela Whitson | 01 May 2008 at 01:18 AM
Skulduggery Pleasant was a book i'd only discovered about 2 weeks ago, and I've already read it twice! My mum is reading it now, too!! I got the 2nd book today, and was SO excited to hear there is more books coming AND a movie!!
Posted by: Angela Whitson | 01 May 2008 at 01:21 AM
i liked this book alot i especially liked the part when skulduggery and stephanie go to the museum with the vampires, im 12 years and i tried to get 1 of my friends to read it but no luck, he has the second book and i really want to borry it off him.
Posted by: patrick | 08 May 2008 at 03:30 PM
I am in 7th grade and this is the BEST book I have ever read, and the best book I ever will read. I got attached to the characters, and it was exciting, funny, and I never wanted to put the book down. My favorite character is Skulduggery, and I am really looking forward to the second book, Playing With Fire. Also the movie, I LOVE this book!
Posted by: Shelby | 17 May 2008 at 10:38 AM
Skulduggery is kinda cute...sorry, what were you saying?
Posted by: me | 17 May 2008 at 08:49 PM
Seriously, the guy's a genius! It's got it's own genre. Screwball Fantasy! I've read both of them at least twenty times each. Hey, does anyone know about auditions to the movie? It's supposed to be out in 2010. Not a very popular book over here in the states, but here comes the next harry potter. *fanfare!* New book due out April of '09! YAY! Skulduggery! (Does anyone think that him and Tanith should totally go out)
Posted by: Hannah Banana | 18 May 2008 at 10:37 PM
I absolutely LOVE Skulduggery Pleasant! I am hanging out for the third book and now I here that theres going to be a movie!! I am a year nine student at the moment and I really can't see myself getting tired of waiting on the next book...right down to number nine! Go Skulduggery!!
Posted by: Mez | 24 May 2008 at 07:38 AM
Hey, has anyone here chosen a name? :)
Posted by: angie w | 25 May 2008 at 02:27 AM
Yes! :-P How bout you?
Posted by: Mez | 26 May 2008 at 05:29 AM
certainly have! wouldn't miss that chance for the WORLD!! (well, maybe, but you get what i mean)
Posted by: angie w | 29 May 2008 at 02:14 AM
i think the title of the 3rd book is called Skulduggery Pleasant: Raising Cain, but i'm not sure. but i hear that Derek Landy was half-way through the 3rd book ages ago though, so hopefully it'll be on the shelves sooner then expected!!
Posted by: angie w | 30 May 2008 at 02:28 AM
Okay, I was just wondering when the auditions 4 Stephanie are because I'm very interested in being her. Hope to hear back from someone soon!
Posted by: New Stephanie Edgley | 06 July 2008 at 12:24 AM
hi every one!!!
i asked wiki anwser when the audisions were and it said to write fan mail to Derek Landy and ask so i asked what his address was and they didnt know. Sorry new Stephani Edgley but i dont know your anwser but dont give up. i was genna ordision to but then i remembered im from london and Stephani Edgley is from ireland. :) :) :)
Posted by: i love chocolate | 07 July 2008 at 11:45 AM
hiya,
i thought that the third book was called saving Cain but then again raising Cain does sound a bit more sencable (i cant spell that well so sorry if you cant understand what im writing :( ).
bye bye :)
Posted by: i love chocolate | 07 July 2008 at 04:09 PM
Does anyone know how to contact Derek Landy?
Posted by: Mez | 08 July 2008 at 11:36 PM
I think that whoever will play Stephanie will be Irish. I don't think that they will have an American Stephanie. Shame.
Posted by: SP Mad | 09 July 2008 at 07:36 AM
hi,
im hoping that there'll be an english person with short brown hair in the other books so i can be in one of the SP films. Theres genna be 9 books so if 1 comes out every year then stephain or valkeri cain will be 21 when the last book comes out. ive only read the books 1ce and now im genna read them again. goodbye SP fans. :):):):) BYE!!!
Posted by: i love chocolate | 09 July 2008 at 04:35 PM
has every one else apart from me stopped using this website or somethin. the last commet was posted by me on the 9th of July and its now the 15th. i dont think anyone likes me on this website. ah well it dont matter. see ya !!! :):):):):):):)
Posted by: i love chocolate | 15 July 2008 at 05:50 PM
Hey again.
Has anyone heard that Derek Landy might like Johny Depp to play Skulduggery?? I thought that would be awesome! Oh and, again, does anyone know how to contact Derek Landy? :)
Thanks!
Posted by: Mez | 15 July 2008 at 10:32 PM
hi i would have thought that skulduggery would be computerised coz he's a skeleton. well i suppose Johnny depp could play him but u wouldnt see johnny coz he would just do the movements and they'd computerise the actor 2 make him look like a skeleton. and also i new johnny depp could put on a london acsent but i didnt know he could put on an irish acent. bye
Posted by: i love chocolate | 17 July 2008 at 07:13 AM
hey Sen i can't wait till the SP movie comes out in 2010!!
Posted by: Cat9 | 31 July 2008 at 07:32 AM
i am getting impatient waiting for the 3rd book and the movie, but i guess it's pretty lucky there's more stuff coming at all! (as for auditions, i have NO idea when they are!)
Posted by: sen | 31 July 2008 at 07:35 AM
hey ilovechocolate. i love skulduggery pleasant i just thought i would tell u.
Posted by: Cat9 | 31 July 2008 at 07:38 AM
also, don't worry about my friend cat9. she's got skulduggery pleasant on the brains! (cant blame her, he IS pretty cool)
Posted by: sen | 31 July 2008 at 07:39 AM
hey sen, u can't talk u love SP just as much as i do. oh, and by the way, sp rox my sox!!!
Posted by: Cat9 | 31 July 2008 at 07:47 AM
hey its cat9 does anyone know who is going to play Valkyrie in the movie?
Posted by: Catalina | 31 July 2008 at 08:55 AM
hey has anyone out there chosen a name?
Posted by: Catalina | 31 July 2008 at 05:48 PM
How awesome would it be if the world really WAS magic? but i 'spose Valkyrie didn't know at the start, either!
Posted by: Senedy | 01 August 2008 at 04:03 AM
yes i have chosen a name! how about you? :)
Posted by: aliens attack | 01 August 2008 at 04:06 AM
yea if there was magic then that would be so awesome!! : )
Posted by: Catalina | 01 August 2008 at 04:09 AM
yea i have chosen a name what is yours?
Posted by: Catalina | 01 August 2008 at 04:11 AM
Sarino Polana! i know its wierd but most names are! :)
Posted by: aliens attack | 01 August 2008 at 04:19 AM
how bout you
Posted by: aliens attack | 01 August 2008 at 04:21 AM
cool mine is Catalina Sterling
Posted by: Catalina | 01 August 2008 at 04:22 AM
nice name. you sound like u could be skulduggerys asistant in no time!
Posted by: aliens attack | 01 August 2008 at 04:37 AM
aw thanks lol i wish i could be his assistant. r u a guy or girl?
Posted by: Catalina | 01 August 2008 at 04:40 AM
offended! (not really) im a boy and SPs big fan!
Posted by: aliens attack | 01 August 2008 at 04:44 AM
lol sorry about that. i am sp's biggest fan!! but i have to say, Valkyrie is my fave cos chicks rule!
Posted by: Catalina | 01 August 2008 at 04:51 AM
they are prety cool. i know! lets b chat buds! (sorry i cant spell!!!)
Posted by: aliens attack | 01 August 2008 at 04:55 AM
cool u r my new friend lol what country r u from?
Posted by: Catalina | 01 August 2008 at 05:03 AM
i am aussie! are you from skulduggerys country?
Posted by: aliens attack | 01 August 2008 at 05:05 AM
nope i'm aussie r u from sa?
Posted by: Catalina | 01 August 2008 at 05:10 AM
yeah! you?! (tanith rules)
Posted by: aliens attack | 01 August 2008 at 05:11 AM
yea what town do u live in
Posted by: Catalina | 01 August 2008 at 05:15 AM
mt. gambier! it is funny if u live there 2! (i have my own army of cleavers!)
Posted by: aliens attack | 01 August 2008 at 05:32 AM
u r evil
Posted by: Catalina | 01 August 2008 at 05:35 AM
i haven't read SP for a while and i'm going CRAZY!! I gotta read it again!
Posted by: sen | 01 August 2008 at 05:37 AM
so has anyone out there chosen a name? can you tell me if you have
Posted by: Catalina | 01 August 2008 at 06:13 AM
hey sen r u awake?
Posted by: Catalina | 01 August 2008 at 08:50 PM
forget about that
Posted by: Catalina | 03 August 2008 at 03:47 AM
Wow!
I mean....wow.
I read the First one (above) before anyone in the SouthWest had heard of it.
I thought it was a really good book, but I never expected a sequel and as such, forgot about it slightly.
Then aroung Easter '08, I saw the sequel in an Airport WHSmith's on the way to Egyot.
I loved it more, an dnow I can't wait for the 3rd one(there WILL be a 3rd one...if i have anything to do with it)
Posted by: Holly | 03 August 2008 at 04:39 AM
hi cat9 thanks 4 sayin hi 2 me. sos i didn't say hi earlyer but i havent bin on this website in yonks. hi 2 everyone else 2!!!!! :):):):):) byebye
Posted by: ilovechocolate | 08 August 2008 at 08:29 AM
THERES 9 BOOKS IN THE SERIES!!!!! Can i be friends with everyone 2?! tanith & stephani(valkeri) rule. ByeBye!!!!!!
Posted by: ilovechocolate | 08 August 2008 at 08:34 AM
hey its cat9 (catalina) yea we can be friends : )
Posted by: Catalina | 08 August 2008 at 09:06 AM
thanks cat9,
were u from? im from london england. :):):):)
Posted by: ilovechocolate | 11 August 2008 at 03:38 AM
hello!
I'm a 15-years-old girl and I LOVE SKULDUGGERY'S BOOKS!I'm from Málaga (Spain) and that's a problem... the second book isn't here yet...
anyway, I ordered the book in English because I can't wait more! I'll try to read it.... =D
good luck with the auditions, "new stephanie" ;)
bye!!
Posted by: celeste | 12 August 2008 at 09:32 AM
hey ilovechocolate, cat9 and everyone here! if u r on this site, u have good taste!
Posted by: sen | 13 August 2008 at 08:49 AM
england? cool i'm an australian! :) have you chosen a name?
Posted by: Catalina | 15 August 2008 at 07:31 AM
hey celeste! the second book is really good read it as fast as you can!
Posted by: Catalina | 15 August 2008 at 07:36 AM
if they're going to make a movie of the 2nd book it will probably be rated M for violence!
Posted by: elemental | 16 August 2008 at 08:16 PM
Hey!! my name is skyler. i lurrrrrve skulduggery pleasant and next year i am auditioning to be valkyrie!! whoot whoot!!
i like this site.
Posted by: Skyler Starrling | 20 August 2008 at 05:55 AM
hey skyler! hey my last name (chosen one) is Sterling, is skyler starrling your chosen name?
Posted by: Catalina | 22 August 2008 at 04:36 AM
hey can i be friends with every1 too?! im new to this site!!!!! :)
Posted by: elemental | 24 August 2008 at 04:12 AM
if i had cleavers on my side, i wouldn't be trusting them. if they're as sinister and evil looking as Valkyrie says they are, you can't be too careful!!
Posted by: sen | 26 August 2008 at 08:17 AM
yea of course you can elemental. i want a pet Cleaver, how awesome would that be?? Does anyone out there know where the auditions are held? Wait, what country are they in?
Posted by: Catalina | 28 August 2008 at 11:21 PM
hey where have you gone ilovechocolate? im still here. where is everybody? i dont want to be a loner!!! at least you are still here sen :)
Posted by: Catalina | 28 August 2008 at 11:24 PM
hi everyone
sos that ive not wrote for ages!!!!! yer i have choosen a name its Qatar Queeny! its such a rubbish name but good anouth. ive never been to australia (sos about my spelling) i'd love to go though.
Posted by: ilovechocolate | 06 September 2008 at 03:50 PM
thanks Catalina! oh and by the way ilovechocolate, your name is not rubbish it's so cool!
Posted by: elemental | 18 September 2008 at 01:35 AM
Hey everyone! If none of you has checked out the official Skulduggery Pleasant site yet, you should soon! It's got a cool game and other extras, and it's worth a visit for any SP fans!
Posted by: Senedy M | 19 September 2008 at 07:57 AM
HI EVERY 1
I WAS JUS
Posted by: | 21 September 2008 at 11:23 PM
Hey everyone! Does anyone know about the audition details for the movie?
Posted by: Mez | 26 September 2008 at 11:41 PM
I am up in Melbourne right now, and I think the bookshop up here is just getting the 3rd Skulduggery book!! It is a pre-release copy though, and might not be available to buy for quite a while, but that's not the point! It's finally in, Skulduggery Pleasant fans! (if it's not, it will be soon!)
Posted by: Angie W | 30 September 2008 at 07:40 AM
omg really? yay! i hope that its out in time for christmas : )
Posted by: Catalina | 05 October 2008 at 02:31 AM
serious?! wow! they took their time! :)
Posted by: elemental | 17 October 2008 at 09:27 AM
Oh, my god... I read the first book when I was 12, and I was E-mazed! I have to admit that for the few first pages I was a bit bored, but ever since the action started, I couldn't put the book down (literally speaking, I was so into it I had a headache for 2 weeks because I'd been reading instead of sleeping... Man that wasn't pleasant). I'm 13 now and I read the second book, Playing with Fire. Great book, I mean, just brilliant. I know this might be like the longest comment ever but still... And no Angelha Whitson, 10 out of 10 is an insult... It should be ATLEAST 13 out of 10 LoL. And Hannah Banana, I'm not sure... Coz Tanith's like I dunno, in her 50s... But Skulduggery's like in his... I dunno... 800s? LoL
...
!!!?
There's a movie!~~??????????????
Why didn't I know about this sooner!?
And it's gonna be a 9 book series!?
Why doesn't anyone tell me these things!?
They better make it good. I mean the movie, like "better-than-Harry-Potter-good", like the Lemony Snicket series: great books, awful movie. No offense.
Does anyone know when Ghastly's coming back? I think Valkyrie's growing out of her clothes... LoL
Posted by: Ry | 18 October 2008 at 05:48 AM
That is so cool. I'm in VIC, I'm going straight to Melbourne right now to get the 3rd book LoL
Posted by: Ry | 18 October 2008 at 05:51 AM
Guys, you should totally check out this website:
http://bookwitch.wordpress.com/interviews/%E2%80%9Cvalkyrie-cain-hit-the-parapet-and-tumbled-unable-to-stop-herself-and-with-a-panicked-gasp-she-disappeared-off-the-edge%E2%80%9D/
It has like questions and answers about future books. Like my question: is Ghastly coming back. LoL
Posted by: Ry | 18 October 2008 at 06:00 AM
Did you know Derek Landy was expelled during school?
Posted by: Ry | 18 October 2008 at 06:02 AM
nope i do now tho. have u chosen a name?
Posted by: Catalina | 29 October 2008 at 06:40 AM
Now Ry, 13 out of 10 is an insult! It should be INFINITY out of 10!!
Posted by: angie w | 14 November 2008 at 12:03 AM
yea, it should be infinity! its a great series!!!!
Posted by: elemental | 14 November 2008 at 12:05 AM
If they are going to get someone Irish to play Stephanie, I could still do it, even though I'm australian! I can do an Irish accent!
Posted by: Senedy M | 14 November 2008 at 12:08 AM
no i wanna do the role!! ME! ME! MMEEE!! ps the hobomonocus is awesome :D
Posted by: catalina | 14 November 2008 at 09:53 PM
Said like a true pro, Cat! :D Yeah, the Hobomonocus is rad! (you know, no-one knows what we're talking about!)
Posted by: Sen | 15 November 2008 at 07:38 PM
Hey, I saw an interview with Derek Landy, and he said Ghastly's coming back in the 3rd or 4th book, I can't remember which... but the 3rd book is done, and Derek's a third of the way through the 4th one! :)
Posted by: Sen | 15 November 2008 at 07:44 PM
i bet they do know what we are talkin bout. hey pplz, have u guys heard of the hobomonocus??
Posted by: catalina | 28 November 2008 at 05:57 AM
Everyone, the Hobomonocus is a radical dance that me and Catalina made up. It's kind of like the Macarena, but SO much better! Oh, yeah, we're supposed to be talking about Skulduggery Pleasant, aren't we? :) Yeah, he rocks!
Posted by: Senedy M | 02 December 2008 at 04:37 AM
yea he does! sen, i reckon everyone has ditched us ha ha
Posted by: catalina | 13 December 2008 at 04:47 AM