Russian Roulette (Alex Rider)

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before finally falling into the hands of Scorpia, who train him to become a skilled assassin. But in spite of everything that has happened to him, Yassen resists actually becoming a killer - until an encounter with someone very close to Alex Rider changes everything for good. Before Yassen was born, his father invented a deadlier version of anthrax which was highly contagious - the perfect biological weapon for military use, and which was capable of eliminating enemy troops and even entire villages and cities within days. Because of his unwillingness to utilize the properties of the virus for military use, he and his wife were exiled to the remote village of Estrov and forced to create transferable quantities of the virus for the Russian military; under the facade of producing pesticide for farmers. The actor who plays him in the film, Damian Lewis, coincidentally shares his first name with the character who eventually kills Yassen, Damian Cray. It is one of two books where Alex does not find out the antagonist's plan directly, instead he overhears details about it. The first is Scorpia. Well, I’m still going to write about Yassen and I do have one surprise up my sleeve, several years down the line – but this is the last in the series.) I’m really pleased with the way it’s turned out. I think it’s the best of the lot – perhaps the best book I’ve ever written." -- In a post on Scorpia Rising Expected Reception [ ]

Russian Roulette: The Story of an Assassin: 10 (Alex Rider)

What makes us choose evil? Why did one boy choose to kill while another chose to risk his life to save others? In some ways, Alex Rider and Yassen Gregorovich are mirror images of each other. Yet the paths they traveled turned them into mortal enemies. This is Yassen’s story. A journey down a darkened path.Yassen Gregorovich is killed when Damian Cray shoots him in Eagle Strike. Yassen tells Alex that he knew his father, and that he was working with him. His last words are, "Go to Venice. Find Scorpia. And you will find your destiny." For the first time in over three years, and contrary to my expectations, I found myself revisiting my character, Alex Rider. And I realized how much I had missed him.'

Russian Roulette - Anthony Horowitz - Google Books Russian Roulette - Anthony Horowitz - Google Books

Yassen Gregorovitch • Vladimir Sharkovsky • Ivan Sharkovsky • Julia Charlotte Glenys Rothman • John Rider As he contemplates his mission, the assassin - one Yassen Gregorovitch - reflects on his own journey from an ordinary schoolboy, growing up in rural Russia, to becoming a deadly assassin for hire. We follow the young Yassen from his peaceful childhood, dramatically disrupted an anthrax explosion and a government cover-up, through his time as part of Moscow's criminal youth and working for a ruthless crime lord, Yassen's reputation throughout the series is one of a man who makes no mistakes. He is considered an active threat by MI6. It is suggested that his training included, as is demonstrated on a single occasion when he convinces Alex not to shoot him by describing what will happen when he pulls the trigger, basic psychological warfare. He was also an expert with conventional weaponry and terrorist technique, though both are demonstrated only once throughout the series. Never Say Die is the 11th book in the Alex Rider series by British author Anthony Horowitz. The book was an unexpected release, as Horowitz stated that Russian Roulette was going to be the final Alex Rider book.

When Ian Rider died at the hands of the assassin Yassen Gregorovich, Alex, ready or not, was thrust into the world of international espionage--the world's only teenage spy. Alex vowed revenge against Yassen and the two have battled ever since. Yet, years ago, it was none other than Alex's own father who trained and mentored Yassen, turning him into the killer he would eventually become.