About the Book
Alex's second attempt to break out of Furnace Penetentiary has failed. This time his punishment will be much worse than before. Because in the hidden, bloodstained laboratories beneath the prison, he will be made into a monster. As the warden pumps something evil into his veins--a sinisterly dark nectar--Alex becomes what he most fears . . . a superhuman minion of Furnace. How can he escape when the darkness is inside him? How can he lead the way to freedom if he is lost to himself?
About the Author :
Alexander Gordon Smith is the author of the Escape from Furnace series, including Lockdown and Solitary. Born in 1979 in Norwich, England, he always wanted to be a writer. After experimenting in the service and retail trades for a few years, Smith decided to go to University. He studied English and American Literature at the University of East Anglia, and it was here that he first explored his love of publishing. Along with poet Luke Wright, he founded Egg Box Publishing, a groundbreaking magazine and press that promotes talented new authors. He also started writing literally hundreds of articles, short stories and books ranging from Scooby Doo comic strips to world atlases, Midsomer Murders to X-Files. The endless research for these projects led to countless book ideas germinating in his head. His first book, The Inventors, written with his nine-year-old brother Jamie, was published in the U.K. in 2007. He lives in England.
Review :
Praise for the Escape From Furnace series:
"Jay's massive appetite for luxury items and his spectacular understanding of food, chefs, and dining combine to make this a hilarious and insightful journey into the world of restaurant meals. I may have been the bad seed at the root of this journey, but I take no credit whatsoever for his final realizations. I do wish he had invited me along though, for the great meals, for some sense of chef perspective, and to savor a couple of bottles of vintage Krug."--Mario Batali
In this third installment of the Furnace series, Gordon-Smith has pulled out all the stops. It is a tour de force of action and adventure Honestly, this reviewer could not put this book down, having thoroughly enjoyed all of the novels in this series, and will anxiously await the release of Fugitives: Escape from Furnace 4 due winter 2012. Please continue to wow us, Mr. Gordon Smith--your books are a pleasure to read. VOYA
Fresh and ferocious, Lockdown will hook boys with its gritty, unrelenting surprises. James Patterson
Furnace is hotter than hell and twice as much fun! Sign me up for a life sentence of Alexander Gordon Smith! Darren Shan, author of the Demonata series
This nightmarish start to a new series is unrelentingly bleak, uniquely horrifying, and strangely compelling. Realms of Fantasy magazine on the Escape from Furnace series
A great next choice for fans of The Maze Runner, The Grassland Trilogy. . . or Lord of the Flies . . . Recommended for dystopia, thriller, and horror fans, or anyone looking for a fast-paced, spine-chilling ride. Jennifer Robinson's Bookpage on the Escape from Furnace series
Readers will be turning pages without pause, and the cliff-hanger ending will have them anticipating the next installment. Most appealing is Smith's flowing writing style, filled with kid-speak, colorful adjectives, and amusing analogies. Fans of James Patterson's Maximum Ride' and Darren Shan's The Demonata' series will find this satisfying fare. School Library Journal on the Escape from Furnace series
Not for the faint-hearted, this dramatic British import is both a page- and stomach-turner. . . The pacing is superb, building on the tension as each horror is revealed while saving the ultimate monstrosity for the cliffhanger ending. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books on the Escape from Furnace series
Lockdown is a beautifully written book that builds itself up on violence, suspense, and mystery. A YALSA YA Galley Teen Reader
"
In this third installment of the "Furnace" series, Gordon-Smith has pulled out all the stops. It is a tour de force of action and adventure Honestly, this reviewer could not put this book down, having thoroughly enjoyed all of the novels in this series, and will anxiously await the release of "Fugitives: Escape from Furnace 4" due winter 2012. Please continue to wow us, Mr. Gordon Smith--your books are a pleasure to read. "VOYA"
Fresh and ferocious, Lockdown will hook boys with its gritty, unrelenting surprises. "James Patterson"
Furnace is hotter than hell and twice as much fun! Sign me up for a life sentence of Alexander Gordon Smith! "Darren Shan, author of the Demonata series"
This nightmarish start to a new series is unrelentingly bleak, uniquely horrifying, and strangely compelling. "Realms of Fantasy magazine on the Escape from Furnace series"
A great next choice for fans of The Maze Runner, The Grassland Trilogy. . . or Lord of the Flies . . . Recommended for dystopia, thriller, and horror fans, or anyone looking for a fast-paced, spine-chilling ride. "Jennifer Robinson's Bookpage on the Escape from Furnace series"
Readers will be turning pages without pause, and the cliff-hanger ending will have them anticipating the next installment. Most appealing is Smith's flowing writing style, filled with kid-speak, colorful adjectives, and amusing analogies. Fans of James Patterson's Maximum Ride' and Darren Shan's The Demonata' series will find this satisfying fare. "School Library Journal on the Escape from Furnace series"
Not for the faint-hearted, this dramatic British import is both a page- and stomach-turner. . . The pacing is superb, building on the tension as each horror is revealed while saving the ultimate monstrosity for the cliffhanger ending. "The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books on the Escape from Furnace series"
Lockdown is a beautifully written book that builds itself up on violence, suspense, and mystery. "A YALSA YA Galley Teen Reader""
"In this third installment of the "Furnace" series, Gordon-Smith has pulled out all the stops. It is a tour de force of action and adventure... Honestly, this reviewer could not put this book down, having thoroughly enjoyed all of the novels in this series, and will anxiously await the release of "Fugitives: Escape from Furnace 4" due winter 2012. Please continue to wow us, Mr. Gordon Smith--your books are a pleasure to read." --"VOYA" Praise for the Escape From Furnace series:
"Fresh and ferocious, Lockdown will hook boys with its gritty, unrelenting surprises."--James Patterson
"Furnace is hotter than hell and twice as much fun! Sign me up for a life sentence of Alexander Gordon Smith!"--Darren Shan, author of the Demonata series
"This nightmarish start to a new series is unrelentingly bleak, uniquely horrifying, and strangely compelling." --"Realms of Fantasy" magazine
"A great next choice for fans of The Maze Runner, The Grassland Trilogy. . . or Lord of the Flies . . . Recommended for dystopia, thriller, and horror fans, or anyone looking for a fast-paced, spine-chilling ride." --Jennifer Robinson's Bookpage
"Readers will be turning pages without pause, and the cliff-hanger ending will have them anticipating the next installment. Most appealing is Smith's flowing writing style, filled with kid-speak, colorful adjectives, and amusing analogies. Fans of James Patterson's 'Maximum Ride' and Darren Shan's 'The Demonata' series will find this satisfying fare." --"School Library Journal"
"One of those leave-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat thrill rides that will grab the reader right from the start. Teens will appreciate Smith's vivid imagery. His writing is extremely fluid, and he makes the reader feel for the characters, especially the young protagonist, Alex. Readers will be cheering him on from start to finish. Look for the sequel, Solitary, forthcoming in 2010. Readers will be anxious to see where Alex's adventures take him next." --"VOYA"
"Not for the faint-hearted, this dramatic British import is both a page- and stomach-turner. . . The pacing is superb, building on the tension as each horror is revealed while saving the ultimate monstrosity for the cliffhanger ending." --"The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"
"Lockdown is a beautifully written book that builds itself up on violence, suspense, and mystery." --A YALSA YA Galley Teen Reader
"Jay's massive appetite for luxury items and his spectacular understanding of food, chefs, and dining combine to make this a hilarious and insightful journey into the world of restaurant meals. I may have been the bad seed at the root of this journey, but I take no credit whatsoever for his final realizations. I do wish he had invited me along though, for the great meals, for some sense of chef perspective, and to savor a couple of bottles of vintage Krug."--Mario Batali
“Jay’s massive appetite for luxury items and his spectacular understanding of food, chefs, and dining combine to make this a hilarious and insightful journey into the world of restaurant meals. I may have been the bad seed at the root of this journey, but I take no credit whatsoever for his final realizations. I do wish he had invited me along though, for the great meals, for some sense of chef perspective, and to savor a couple of bottles of vintage Krug.”—Mario Batali
