The Alien Hunter is playing with fire... Daniel X is on an impossible mission: to eliminate every intergalactic criminal on the face of the Earth. Using his incredible superpower to create objects out of thin air, he's taken on some of the most fearsome and fiendish aliens in the universe. Now Daniel has travelled to England in search of his next target: the explosive demon of fire Phosphorius Beta and his army of flame-weaving henchmen.

But it's going to take a whole new level of mojo to destroy this villain. Beta's strength has been growing since he arrived on Earth more than a millennium ago, and he's finally ready to turn the blue planet into his own fiery wasteland. The only way to stop him is by jumping back in time to the Dark Ages to end Beta's blistering reign before it has a chance to begin. But can Daniel X take the heat? Or will the Alien Hunter finally get burned?

JAMES PATTERSONis one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. He is the author of two other popular series for young readers: Maximum Ride and Witch&Wizard. This is as well as writing three of the top detective series around - the Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club and Detective Michael Bennett novels - and many other number one bestsellers including romance novels and stand-alone thrillers. He lives in Florida with his wife and son.

James is passionate about encouraging children to read. He was inspired by his own son, who was a reluctant reader, to write books specifically for young readers. James has also formed a partnership with the National Literacy Trust, an independent, UK-based charity that changes lives through literacy. In 2010, he was voted Author of the Year at the Children's Choice Book Awards in New York.