The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey (hardcover 2005)
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary boys, or at least ordinary boys willing to embark on extraordinary adventures like Alfred Kropp is. At fifteen, Alfred Kropp has struggled his share in life—he gets teased incessantly for his struggles academically and athletically. And it’s not like Alfred can blend into the background—Alfred has unusually large proportions of which his mom tells him just mean he’s “a big boy meant for big things”. Then his mom dies, and Alfred is sent to live with his uncle, and those “big things” come to pass.
Alfred’s uncle convinces Alfred to be an accomplice in sword-stealing. Despite Alfred’s half-hearted protests, he goes along with his uncle’s get-rich-quick sword-stealing scheme. This scheme goes horribly awry and deadly events ensue. Before Alfred can say “ordinary” (or anything else for that matter), his uncle is dead and Excalibur (yes, that Excalibur) is in the wrong hands—Mogart’s hands. Mogart, also known as “The Dragon” or the ex-knight with a chip on his shoulder, has diabolical plans for the sword.
Alfred, overcome with guilt for his role in Excalibur’s sword-napping, pledges to risk everything to atone for his mistake and rescue the sword. He finds himself joining Bennacio, the last Knight of the Round table, on a quest to wrestle the sword away from Mogart. As Alfred is something of “this century’s Pandora”, the journey is not without its difficulties. Along the journey, Alfred and Bennacio interact with many helpers and hinderers such as the Office of Interdimensional Paradoxes and Extraordinary Phenomena (OIPEP) who claim to deliver aid and Mogart’s henchmen who deliver only death and destruction.
After an adventure or two along the quest’s path, death finds Bennacio, and it is left to Alfred to stop Mogart. Alfred and Mogart are left to duel out the fate of the world–with Excalibur being the additional crucial player in the duel. As Bennacio told Alfred early on, “The sword has the power to heal as well as to rend.”
Not to give too much away, but the quest does come to an end and the world does get saved. However, the story does not end there, for now Alfred must face his future. As Alfred recuperates in a hospital, he ponders–to join OIPEP or to return to normalcy, that is the question.
Realistic fiction readers will identify with Alfred’s feelings of inadequacy, academic woes, typical high school humdrums, and yearning for family and a place to belong; adventure fiction readers will thrill to sensational swordplay, high-speed car chases, and soaring helicopter battles; mystery fiction readers will grapple with questions surrounding Alfred’s lineage; romance readers will embrace the scenes depicting Bennacio’s lovely daughter Natalya; paranormal fans will latch onto Alfred’s dreams and the soothsayer’s words; epic readers will recognize Alfred’s quest as part of the ongoing ancient battle between good and evil. In other words, there’s a little something for every reader to be found in Alfred Kropp’s extraordinary adventures.
And for fans who cannot get enough of Alfred’s extraordinariness, Alfred’s second adventure has been released, so they can head out and pick up Alfred Kropp: The Seal of Solomon (May 2007).
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Listen to the tale below to hear the story of how a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster find freedom from mistreatment (and the axe) by using their wit, their talents, and the strength of friendship.
