Mr Browser and the Mini-Meteorites
by Philip Curtis; ill. Tony Ross (Andersen, 1983)
Though Spiky Jackson is nominally the protagonist, Curtis treats the entirety of Chivvy Chase School as one communal character. In this instance the alien invasion threat is thwarted due to adult intervention—inherently something of a let-down. Tony Ross’s illustrations add pep.
The Revenge of the Brain Sharpeners
by Philip Curtis; ill. Tony Ross (Anderson, 1982)
This direct sequel lacks the one-against-many tension of the original. The cast is the same but the protagonist viewpoint is diluted and the Brain Sharpeners have become ineffectual background threats, not menacing subverters lurking in the fog. Fun enough but relatively disappointing.