Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, Book 1)
by Eoin Colfer (Author)
Review
Release on April 16, 2001
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Amazon review about this book:
"Eoin Colfer describes his new book, Artemis Fowl, as "DieHard with fairies." He's not far wrong.Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is the most ingenious criminal mastermind inhistory. With two trusty sidekicks in tow, he hatches a cunning plot to divestthe fairyfolk of their pot of gold. Of course, he isn't foolish enough tobelieve in all that "gold at the end of the rainbow" nonsense. Rather, he knowsthat the only way to separate the little people from their stash is to kidnapone of them and wait for the ransom to arrive. But when the time comes to puthis plan into action, he doesn't count on the appearance of the extrasmall,pointy-eared Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements PoliceReconnaisance) Unit--and her senior officer, Commander Root, a man (sorry, elf)who will stop at nothing to get her back.Fantastic stuff from beginning to end, Artemis Fowl is a rip-roaring,21st-century romp of the highest order. The author has let his imagination runriot by combining folklore, fantasy, and a fistful of high-tech funk in anoutrageously devilish book that could well do for fairies what Harry Potter hasdone for wizardry. But be warned: this is no gentle frolic, so don't be fooledby the fairy subject matter. Instead, what we have here is well-written,sophisticated, rough 'n' tumble storytelling with enough high-octane attitude tomake it a seriously cool read for anyone over the age of 10. --SusanHarrison"
"Eoin Colfer describes his new book, Artemis Fowl, as "Die Hard with fairies." He's not far wrong.
Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history. With two trusty sidekicks in tow, he hatches a cunning plot to divest the fairyfolk of their pot of gold. Of course, he isn't foolish enough to believe in all that "gold at the end of the rainbow" nonsense. Rather, he knows that the only way to separate the little people from their stash is to kidnap one of them and wait for the ransom to arrive. But when the time comes to put his plan into action, he doesn't count on the appearance of the extrasmall, pointy-eared Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance) Unit--and her senior officer, Commander Root, a man (sorry, elf) who will stop at nothing to get her back.
Fantastic stuff from beginning to end, Artemis Fowl is a rip-roaring, 21st-century romp of the highest order. The author has let his imagination run riot by combining folklore, fantasy, and a fistful of high-tech funk in an outrageously devilish book that could well do for fairies what Harry Potter has done for wizardry. But be warned: this is no gentle frolic, so don't be fooled by the fairy subject matter. Instead, what we have here is well-written, sophisticated, rough 'n' tumble storytelling with enough high-octane attitude to make it a seriously cool read for anyone over the age of 10. --Susan Harrison"
Review By School Library Journal
"Gr 5-8-Twelve-year-old genius Artemis Fowl decides to reinvigorate his family fortunes by kidnapping a fairy and demanding its gold. Having obtained and decoded the Book, a tome containing all of the fairies' secrets, Artemis captures an elf named Holly Short and holds her captive at his family mansion in Ireland. However, he hasn't reckoned on the resources and cunning of the LEPrecon Unit, an elite branch of the fairy police force, whose members will stop at nothing to rescue Captain Short. It seems that the wicked ways of the Mud People (humans) have driven most of the magical creatures underground, where a gritty, urban fairy civilization is flourishing. The fairy characters are mouthy and eccentric, but Artemis is too stiff and enigmatic to be interesting; the story bogs down when the focus is on him. The combination of choppy sentences and ornate language will appeal to some readers, although not necessarily to Harry Potter fans; the emphasis here is more on action (some of it gory), technology, and deadpan humor than on magic, and only one character (Artemis) is a child.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc."
Review By AudioFile
"[Editor's Note: This is a combined review with THE ARCTIC INCIDENT and THE ETERNITY CODE.]--Colfer's series features two complex societies: the wealthy, if felonious, above-ground world of the human Fowl family and the elaborate, technologically advanced underground world of the fairies. Artemis Fowl, the 12-year-old scion of a famous Irish crime family, sets out to restore the ancestral fortunes depleted by his father's supposed death at the hands of the Russian mafia. The young criminal mastermind's plan rests on the kidnap and ransom of a fairy. The ransom demanded will be fairy gold. Into this world of adventure, corruption, and extraordinary technology comes narrator Nathaniel Parker, who has a distinct voice for everyone--from the young Master Fowl to the kidnapped LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police) Captain Holly Short and the astonishing computer genius of the fairy world, the centaur Foaly. Parker creates a complete pantheon of accents and pacing to complement Colfer's worlds. The sequels, in which Artemis--strangely developing what appears to be a conscience--invokes the help of the fairies to save his father (THE ARCTIC INCIDENT) and to rescue both the humans and fairies from the evil Jon Spiro (THE ETERNITY CODE) maintain the impeccable voicing and pacing developed in the first book. The recurring characters are instantly recognizable from one book to the next, encouraging the listener to suspend disbelief and become completely immersed in the escapades, often laced with humor, of Artemis and his various companions. While the pronunciation the Vietnamese surname "Nguyen" may startle some listeners, and the 1940s-style Asian accent is somewhat stereotypical, this does nothing to diminish the rip-roaring adventure. Parker's splendid narration should lead to family listening that might just encourage discussion of truth, friendship, and loyalty. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine"
Review By Publishers Weekly
"Colfer's (Benny and Omar) crime caper fantasy, the first in a series, starts off with a slam-bang premise: anti-hero Artemis Fowl is a boy-genius last in line of a legendary crime family teetering on the brink of destruction. With the assistance of his bodyguard, Butler, he masterminds his plan to regain the Fowls' former glory: capture a fairy and hold her ransom for the legendary fairy gold. However, his feisty mark, Holly, turns out to be a member of the "LEPrecon, an elite branch of the Lower Elements Police," so a wisecracking team of satyrs, trolls, dwarfs and fellow fairies set out to rescue her. Despite numerous clever gadgets and an innovative take on traditional fairy lore, the author falls short of the bar. The rapid-fire dialogue may work as a screenplay with the aid of visual effects (a film is due out from Talk/Miramax in 2002) but, on the page, it often falls flat. The narrative hops from character to character, so readers intrigued by Artemis's wily, autocratic personality have to kill a good deal of time with the relatively bland Holly and her cohorts [...]. Technology buffs may appreciate the imaginative fairy-world inventions and action-lovers will get some kicks, but the series is no classic in the making. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc."
Review By Booklist
"Gr. 6-8. Tell readers to suspend disbelief and read this wild and wacky story for the fun of it. Artemis Fowl is a 12-year-old genius and the scion of a legendary Irish criminal family whose fortune was diminished when Artemis Senior tried to horn in on the Russian Mafia. Determined to restore the family wealth, Artemis Fowl the Second concocts an elaborate plan to relieve the fairies of some of their magical gold by locating and tricking one of them into giving up the fairy's Book, which spells out the history and commandments that govern fairy life. Enter elf Holly Short, the first female officer in the underground LEPrecon (related to leprechaun, of course). Her assignment--to track a rogue troll on the loose in Italy--ends in disaster and leads to her being kidnapped by young Artemis and ransomed for a ton of small, unmarked, 24-karat gold ingots. The result is sheer mayhem, laced with high technology and magical goings-on. Characterizations and dialogue enhance a rollicking tale that will have readers rolling on the floor and eagerly anticipating the planned sequel as well as the movie in the works for 2002. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved"
Review By Inside Flap Copy
"From a strikingly original voice in fiction comes the story of Artemis Fowl, a very unusual hero. Artemis combines the astuteness of Sherlock Holmes with the sangfroid of James Bond and the attitude of Attila the Hun. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories. These fairies are armed and they're dangerous. Artemis thinks he's got them just where he wants them, but then they stop playing by the rules . . .
Full of unexpected twists and turns, ARTEMIS FOWL opens up a riveting world of magic, mystery, and humor."
Review By Alaria (England)
"Artemis Fowl is a twelve-year-old boy who just happens to be both a genius and a criminal mastermind. In a desperate attempt to restore his family's fortune, Artemis comes up with a plan to steal gold from the fairies. Along with his trusty butler sidekick "Butler", he travels to Vietnam on a quest to find a volume of fairy commandments. Once this is achieved and the book deciphered, the next logical step would be to kidnap a fairy and wait for the ransom money to arrive. However, when Artemis kidnaps Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon, it seems he's made a mistake. Because these aren't the cute little elves of bedtime stories. These fairies are armed, dangerous and ready to fight. And they will stop at nothing to get Holly back.
The book has often been claimed to be the "next Harry Potter", but while it shares the same fantastically imaginative storyline and colourful descriptions, this is far darker and more humorous than JK Rowling's books. The main characters are all unique and loveable, particularly Holly, Foaly and Root. Even the anti-hero, Artemis Fowl himself is strangely appealing, despite his more dubious characteristics. As the book goes on, you begin to see that he does indeed possess a conscience, he is just careful never to let it get in the way of his evil schemes.
Artemis Fowl is full of humour and action. The author has produced an imaginative, fast-paced adventure, which combines magic and technology. The style of narrative is fairly informal, making it easier and more enjoyable to read. Although the first chapter is quite slow, the action soon speeds up and never stops. The story was absorbing, exciting and I read it straight through in a couple of hours without stopping. Where the "Goblet of Fire" was quite frightening, Artemis Fowl is full of humour and the typical fairy magic is replaced with action and wit.
I think that this book would be less appealing to younger children in the way that Harry Potter managed to be, but older kids, teenagers and adults alike should enjoy the mix of fantasy, humour and adventure. Overall: five stars, and I will definitely be reading it again. This is no copy of Harry Potter; Artemis Fowl is a completely original work but is still deserving of all the hype. I am sure I will be buying any future books in the series."
Review By Sebastian Fernandez (Tampa, Florida United States)
"Artemis Fowl was the recipient of the accusation in the title of this review, but even though he is a thief, he is also much more. The twelve-year-old genius has decided to use his intelligence to pursue a life of crime, so we find an unusual situation. A story with an evil main character is not a completely new concept; Jean-Baptiste Grenouille in the outstanding "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" or Serge A. Storms in the series of books by Tim Dorsey come to mind. If we go into a different media, then Tony Soprano is one of the most famous examples in our time. What is novel though, is using this concept in a book targeted to young adults, and this is certainly a reason for controversy. I have to say though that the final product is so good, that the good aspects of this effort more than overcome this "drawback".
Artemis Fowl descends from a prestigious family of billionaires that a few years ago suffered a reversal of fortune. His father has disappeared and is presumed dead and her mother has gone crazy with grief. Artemis is decided to return his family to where it is supposed to be and crafts a plan designed to do just this. To try to accomplish his goal, he uses the help of Butler, a mountain of a man, expert in combat, and who as his name suggests is Artemis' butler, and Juliet, Butler's sister. The plan involves kidnapping a fairy and then getting a ransom in gold, which is a lot harder than it sounds.
The story involves a myriad of creatures besides fairies, such as goblins, elves, dwarves, centaurs and trolls. These variety allows the author to create several characters within each one of these groups that are interesting, peculiar and endearing. But the creative process does not stop there, since the author uses some of these peculiar characteristics, as well as some acute comments to make us laugh us loud in the middle of the action. In my opinion the funniest scene in the book involved Mulch, a dwarf, and Butler, you will know what I am talking about when you get there, you cannot miss it.
As I mentioned before, this book has many aspects worth of praise;the imagination in creating the story, the "logic" in the world in which it develops, and the finely tuned humor. But besides that, we get a glimpse at Artemis' mind. To others he is a calculating genius, but we get to understand that he has doubts about his choices and that there is still a scared kid behind the facade.
Except for the obvious similarity in terms of the creatures included in the story, I would not think of comparing this with Harry Potter in any level. I think both efforts are excellent in their own way. I would compare the humor though, with the one presented by Lemony Snicket in "A Series of Unfortunate Events"; I think that if you like this series you will probably like "Artemis Fowl" too. I am looking forward to read the next book by Colfer, which I already ordered."
Review By hiphopgirl_1000
"Ok, I read this book because I heard from various articles that this was the next big thing after Harry Potter and all fans of Harry should get this book and read it. Well, I think that this book was really very well written and had great imagination and magic in it...but it doesn't measure up to Harry Potter. I didn't feel the need to read on with this book as I did with Harry. Plus the plot lines are definitely very different. In this book 12 year old Artemis Fowl is a so called child genius. He and his sidekick/bodyguard Butler hatch a genius plan to steal some fairy gold so they can restore the Fowl dynasty. Well, Artemis made one big mistake by capturing Holly Short an LEP officer. Thus starts the battle of brains between the fairies and Artemis. Magic is throughout this book and I found the end to be very exciting and suspensful. I can't wait for Artemis Fowl: The Artic Incident...but this book did not measure up to Harry Potter. Even though it had great magic in this book the explanation for that magic at the end was kinda not what I expected. I wanted something much more creative. Something the so called genius Artemis would think up."
Review By E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA)
"Undoubtedly this will be constantly compared to Harry Potter, but for crying out loud, just because a book might become as highly-liked as HP doesn't mean that the plot has to amble along the same lines. Irish author Eoin Colfer makes an amazing debut in the US with this book.
Artemis Fowl is an astonishing criminal mastermind (he's also twelve), the end of a line of criminals, who now plans to rob the fairies/elves of their gold. The way that he plans to do so is kidnapping of an elf and subsequent ransom. Enter Captain Holly Short, a member of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance--a cute touch that had me laughing out loud) and elvish Commander Root. And Holly is just perfect for the scheme.
Though there are folklore, fairies and fantasy, this is no ancient-themed tale -- but wholly of the 21st century, with a bit of high-tech stuff thrown in. Forget the usual wands, cauldrons and spells: There's a magical Book, but also powerful computers and a digital camera (dare you to find one of those in other modern juvenile fantasies...)
The characters -- especially peppery Holly and intelligent, wily Artemis -- are full of pizzazz and sparkle. The appearances of the otherworldly characters -- done to death in conventional fantasy -- were tempered by the 21st century nature of the setting, and the natures of their jobs and interactions. All are given a slightly twisted, smiling slant.
The pace is high-speed, with few lags in the plotline. Occasionally I lost track of what was going on, but a backtrack of a few pages fixed that. The writing style is a little too stark and undescriptive for my personal taste, but I suppose it would not be high-speed if there were a great deal of description.
Will Harry Potter fans like this? I truly cannot tell, they might not like the vast differences between the two -- but fans of quirky, imaginative fantasy will love it for sure."
Review By Gail Cooke (TX, USA)
"Long a bestseller author in Britain and his native Ireland Eoin Colfer soon added America to his conquests with the introduction of his young hero Artemis Fowl. When we first meet Artemis his once wealthy family is in dire straights. Poverty did not appeal, so Artemis set out to rebuild the family fortune. He discovers the magic of fairies and hatches a plot.
The above is probably not news to many. What is news is that Artemis now has a voice - Nathaniel Parker. There's a hint of the British and a tinge of the Irish in the low, resonant Parker reading - perfect! His nuances and pauses are precise, drawing listeners into the adventure. I found myself leaning forward, not that I couldn't hear him quite distinctly but because I didn't want to miss one of his captivating inflections.
Nathaniel Parker's narration, rather than "reading" merits the word "performance." It also deserves and award.
- Gail Cooke"
Review By TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier."
"I've been trying to find a new series to hold me over until the next Harry Potter book--and I've finally found it. Meet Artemis Fowl the Second, a twelve-year old genius who doesn't want to go to school, is worried about his mother's fragile mental health, is preoccupied with his father coming back from the dead, and who is determined to add to his family's coffers by any means possible. In a word, Artemis is an evil genius, and you just can't help but love him. Or hate him. Or love to hate him. Or hate to love him. Or...well, you get the picture.
Artemis, along with his bodyguard/manservant/butler ironically named, of all things, Butler, Artemis sets out on his greatest, and most ambitious, scheme to date--discover the secrets of the fairy world, and relieve some of said fairies of their precious gold. After all, they have plenty to spare, and after Artemis Fowl the First lost a vast majority of their fortune, the Fowl family needs to pad the coffers.
So off Artemis sets on a world jaunt to discover the secrets of the fairies, and his ambitions and delusions finally pay off--he meets an alcoholic sprite who, in exchange for the return of her magic, lets Artemis get a good look at her Book. The Book, you see, contains all the mandates, rules, and regulations (along with a slew of secrets) of the fairy world--and now Artemis Fowl is able to hatch his nefarious scheme.
Artemis discovers that the fairies must adhere to very specific rituals to renew their powers, so along with Butler, he sets out on a stakeout to catch himself a fairy. Hoping, of course, that he can hold said fairy for ransom in exchange for some gold.
What Artemis didn't include in his calculations, however, was Captain Holly Short. A member of the LEPrecon Unit, Holly, although a small sprite, is very human looking--and can be extrememely wily and dangerous. As Artemis implements his evil plan, Holly uses her own military-type background to hatch her own plan of escape. The results are both disastrous and hilarious.
I read ARTEMIS FOWL in one sitting. Once you get started on this story of the human world of the Mud People mixing with that of the magical beings who live below ground, you just can't stop! The magical quality of the book is that it is all too believable--and so much fun! You envy Artemis his brilliance at the same time you can't believe how undenianably evil he is. You pity him, and you despise him. As for Holly Short, you love the fairy, admire her tenacity, yet hope at the same time that she spares the lives of Artemis, Butler, and Butler's sister, Juliet. I have to admit that I loved Foaly, the centaur in charge of computers and technical equipment. Actually, I loved ALL the characters of ARTEMIS FOWL, and can't wait to read the next book! Pick up a copy today!"
Review By islebyours (San Francisco, CA USA)
"My son has read all of the Potter tales to date, and like most children his age,(10)he enjoyed the magic and tone of the books. In the lull between arrival of the next Potter tale, I gave my son Artemis Fowl to read. I based my choice at the time on the similarity in subject. A charming young hero engaging in adventure and magic with quirky, fanciful characters. The fact that the hero, Artemis was actually a modern day Moriarity and not above thievery and deception seemed an interesting twist.
As my son's first taste of an "anti-hero" Artemis Fowl was a wonderful success. The author was neither patronizing to his young readers nor lacking in humor that was not only appropriate but also fresh. This is a superb addition to any youngsters burgeoning library, and though it may not topple Mr. Potter from his throne of popularity, it will certainly be enjoyed with the same enthusiasm. Perfect for strong readers of ages 8 and up. (yes, that can mean adults)"
Review By ProudBookWorm "jbt-wny" (Reynoldsburg, Ohio United States)
"I loved this book. It was funny, sarcastic, and interesting. I am an adult reader and this book reminded me of the old Bugs Bunny cartoons, the ones where viewers of all ages found something to their taste. Violence is a part of this story of a criminal mastermind, but just one part. I found it was used appropriately, and several characters in the book routinely demonstrate that a good intellect is superior to a weapon. The book does not drip with morality, which is precisley why I believe it is very effective at communicating the fact that Artemis is just a little boy who wants his mommy and daddy - regardless of what he says or does."
Review By Andrew Rasanen (San Francisco, CA)
"Artemis Fowl is an effective combination of Irish folk mythology and science fiction that accepts rather than rejects the violent world we live in. After a somewhat leisurely start, the story quickly accelerates into a breakneck pace that ought to keep most PS2-addicted youngsters interested. Colfer has a talent for carrying the plot along with a combination of action, humor, and likable characters. Even the minor players are all vividly sketched. There are original touches in the unusual dirt-digesting dwarf, Mulch Diggums, and the People's subterranean-to-surface transportation system. The tough-talking fairies of Colfer's imagination are also highly technologically advanced and militarily equipped, which should be just the thing for gadget-oriented readers. Colfer lightly inserts technical and historical details that help give weight to his imagined world, and his poop humor is clever and, well, clean. Despite the book's title, the 12-year-old "criminal mastermind" does not dominate the story, though the plot pivots around his actions. Artemis is determined to steal a fortune to replenish his family's depleted coffers, but he has a nagging conscience that humanizes him. The only element of the story that gave me pause is a graphic, gory battle with a bloodthirsty troll - but in this age of gut-spattering video games, it differs from what children are exposed to only in the level of detail, not in kind. In sum, for children who are aware of events in our warring world, Artemis Fowl is fun, fast, possibly even therapeutic entertainment with a heart."
Review By Sorrel (Canada)
"I really liked Artemis Fowl, it was interesting, exciting, funny, and it really kept you guessing as to what Artemis was going to come up with next.
It's not what I would call a children's book. It just like an action movie (Die Hard with fairies was a good way to explain it.) This is not to say I don't think kids will enjoy it, I think older kids (like 11-12) will probably love it, and anyone older than that who has an imagination, and who likes lots of action.
At times, it almost seemed like the author couldn't decide if he was writing for adults or children. For example, the description of weaponry and attack plans made me feel like I was reading a Clancy novel (or something similar.) Then, 3 pages later, when the Dwarf blasts someone with dirt he has recently "eaten and decomposed" it's pretty clear what age group that was intended for.
Alright...here it comes...you know it couldn't be avoided, the comparison to Harry Potter. They both have a violent troll in them. There, that's it.
Seriously, the two have nothing in common other than the fact that they deal with trolls, goblins, centaurs and fairies. But in all fairness, other than the troll, the characters are portrayed in entirely different ways. No, if you are looking for another Harry Potter, you won't find him here. (I'm not sure you'll find it anywhere.) Totally different stories, different types of characters, different writing.
But I still liked this book, it's a great read. At then end I wasn't sure if I wanted Artemis (the bad guy) to win, or if I wanted the fairies (the good guys) to win. Just start it with an open mind and keep waiting for Harry Potter book 5."
Review By Uhnghrid "Grope
"This is probably the best book I've read all year. I will tell you the reasons why.
First, ACTION. This book is full of action. There is something going on all the time. And furthermore, over the course of the book lots of DIFFERENT action occurs. It isn't, for instance, nothing but gunfights. Events are extremely varied, and you never know what either side is going to do next.
Second, the CHARACTERS. Everybody has a strong personality. Even though this book is a fight between two sides, Artemis's side and the fairies, both sides are represented equally. Neither side is really the "good" side. And both sides seem extremely intelligent. They both come up with fascinating plans!
Finally, the PLOT. The characters and the action together form one of the most interesting plots I've ever read in a story. I won't tell you anything about what happens, but it's all fascinating. And nothing is predictable. From the beginning it is impossible to know what direction the story will take.
Is it as good as Harry Potter? I won't even COMPARE them, because they are two entirely different genres. Harry Potter is definitely fantasy. Even though Artemis Fowl has fantastical elements, it is really more of a futuristic techno/sci-fi/action book. It combines magic and fictional advanced technology in a way I've never seen in any other book, and in this way it is VERY original.
In any case, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone of any age."
About the Author
"EOIN COLFER is a former elementary school teacher who became a publishing phenomenon with the New York Times bestsellers Artemis Fowl and Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident. Previously, he has written several other bestsellers in Ireland, including The Wish List."
If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, Book 1) (Hardcover) at amazon.com
