Smithers (Alex Rider)
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In the fictional Alex Rider teenage spy book series written by Anthony Horowitz, Smithers is the gadget expert at MI6, a role similar to Q's in James Bond films. He is described as balding, extremely overweight and always wears the same suit.
His name is in some dispute: Alex calls him Mr. Smithers, while Smither's co-workers Alan Blunt and Mrs. Jones call him "Smithers." It is uncertain whether Smithers is his first name, as Blunt and Jones appear to call him by, or if they call him by his last name for internal reasons. In addition to the similarities with Q, Smithers was the name of an assistant played by Jeremy Bulloch in two James Bond films. See Smithers for more details. In the Stormbreaker movie, he is played by Stephen Fry. His first name is possible to be Derrick.
[edit] Gadgets
In Stormbreaker, he gives Alex a black yo-yo (containing thirty yards of advanced nylon which can lift weights of up to 100 kilogrammes); a tube of "Zit Clean" spot cream (in reality, an ultra-strong solvent which dissolves metal); and a Game Boy (Nintendo DS in the movie adaptation). The DS was a minuscule (supercomputer) with four games: "Nemesis" (which converted the Game Boy into a fax machine and photocopier), "Exocet" (an X-ray machine and an audio function), "Speed Wars" (a bug finder), and "Bomber Boy" (a smoke bomb, activated by pressing START three times on the games console).
In Point Blanc, he gives Alex a pair of ski goggles (with an infrared function); a bulletproof ski suit; a Sony Discman (when a diamond-tipped Beethoven CD is inserted, it becomes an electric saw; and also a built-in distress beacon activated when fast-forward is pressed three times); an ear-stud (a powerful explosive device); and a hardback copy of the book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (when the author's name on the spine is pressed, a potent stun dart is deployed).
In Skeleton Key, Alex receives a special "model five" mobile phone; which has a direct link to the headquarters from anywhere in the world and works underwater and in space. The pads are fingerprint-sensitive so only Alex can use it. It also has a built-in stunner needle: When Alex presses 999, a (drugged) aerial shoots out. Smithers also gave Alex a wad of bubblegum (humorously dubbed "Bubble 0-7") which, upon being chewed, expands and shatters virtually any substance. Lastly, he received "The Striker," which was a small keyring which was a facsimile of a famous person. In the United States release, it was Tiger Woods; in the U.K release, it was of footballer Michael Owen. When the toy's head was twisted round twice clockwise and once counterclockwise, a stun grenade with a ten-second fuse was armed.
During the events of Eagle Strike, Smithers goes AWOL and gives Alex a bicycle at the risk of losing his job. To date, this is Alex's most complex gadget: the bicycle pump was a smokescreen, the headlamp contains a magnesium flare, the handlebar ejects missiles, the water bottle spurts oil, the seat ejects, the trailraider jersey is bulletproof, and the bicycle clips are magnetic. It also comes with a note on the underside of the seat signed by Smithers: If you can read this, you need a new bicycle.
Alex receives a retainer for his teeth with an in-built panic button and tracking device from Smithers during the events of Scorpia.
In Ark Angel, Alex receives a fingerprint-sensitive inhaler that puffs out knockout gas and acts as a grenade. He also receives an iPod with microwave technology, enabling him to hear distant noises. Additionally, he gets a Bottle of "Stingo", mosquito lotion (a clear liquid), but in reality it attracts mosquitoes (and about every other insect on the island too).
