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Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, Book 1)

2008-09-15T01:26:00.000-07:00

Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, Book 1) by Eoin Colfer

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

The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, Book 2)

2008-09-15T00:59:00.000-07:00

The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, Book 2) by Eoin Colfer

The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, Book 2)
by Eoin Colfer (Author)

Review
Release on May 6, 2002
Reading level: Ages 9-12

Amazon review about this book:

"Book Two-Now available in mass market paperback Artemis is at boarding school in Ireland when he suddenly receives an urgent video e-mail from Russia. In it is a plea from his father, who has been kidnapped by the Russian Mafiya. As Artemis rushes to his rescue, he is stopped by Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon fairy police. But this time, instead of battling the fairies, he is going to have to join forces with them if he wants to save one of the few people in the world he loves. "A cracking good read."-Publishers Weekly "The world that Colfer creates is as vivid and fantastical as any shire, Gotham, or galaxy far, far away. . ."-Entertainment Weekly (review: A-)"

"Eoin Colfer's bestselling antihero is back in Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident--the superb sequel to the hyper-hyped Artemis Fowl, shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year. The Arctic Incident sees the slightly older, perhaps slightly more mellow arch-criminal Artemis recovered from his last adventure, richer now that he has his half of a hoard of fairy gold, and happier since the Clarice Starlingesque superfairy Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon returned his mother's ailing mind to full health.
But there is still much unfinished business: Artemis Fowl Sr. disappeared when a daring escapade designed to free his family from their criminal--not to mention deeply lucrative--past and move the family's assets into legitimate enterprises went horribly wrong. Held captive by the Mafiya (the Russian organized crime syndicate) for over two years, he has been declared officially dead, but Artemis Jr. knows in his heart (yes, he does have one) that his beloved father is still alive, and he is determined to find him. Meanwhile Captain Short is temporarily on assignment to Customs and Excise as punishment for letting Fowl separate her and her People from their gold and is finding her stakeout duties a little dull. It soon becomes obvious that the pair have need of each other's considerable skills, and before long they are on track for an adventure that will ultimately have far-reaching consequences for both of them.

If you enjoyed the first book, you won't be disappointed by the second. Initially the pace is a little slower, and the slightly more mellow Artemis is certainly a tad unnerving at first (particularly as one of the things that made him such an unusual character was the fact that there was something distinctly unlikable about him), but once the sparks between Holly and Artemis begin to fly, and the adventure that tests their endurance to their emotional, physical, and intellectual limits begins, the pages just keep on turning.

The high-tech hocus pocus, the complex underworld, and the James Bond-style storyline will keep even the most reluctant reader enthralled. Add to the mix a fair dollop of humor, the occasional sprinkling of right-on commentary about the state of the planet, and enough hooks in the story to ensure you will be clamoring for the next book. This chilling, thrilling adventure is a seriously cool (in more ways than one!) must-read for anyone age 9 and older. --Susan Harrison"

Review By School Library Journal

"Grade 5-8 In this entertaining sequel, Artemis Fowl tries to rescue his father from Russian Mafiya gangsters. Here, the criminal mastermind teams up with Captain Holly, the same leprechaun officer whom he battled in the first book. He needs her fairy magic and technology to help with his mission, while she and her friends enlist the boy to aid them in preventing a goblin revolt. The action is brisk, with fiendish plots, ingenious escapes, and lively battle scenes. Though still diabolically clever, Artemis loses some of his edge as the story proceeds, and even commits a few selfless acts along the way. His own bafflement at these sentimental lapses is amusing, and he develops into a more likable figure. His unbridled greed and ambition were essential to his antihero appeal in the first book, and a gentler Artemis is not quite as engaging. Still, it's fun to see him run rings around a school counselor, and his verbal jousts with his fairy allies keep some of that spark alive. Many characters from the first book return, though none develop much beyond their basic personality traits. The satisfying conclusion resolves the fate of Artemis's father and sets the scene for future sequels. -Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc."

Review By AudioFile

"[Editor's Note: This is a combined review with THE ARCTIC INCIDENT and ARTEMIS FOWL.]--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

"Rocketing readers back into a world of modern fairies (they pack heat and wear motorized wings), Colfer here reunites 13-year-old antihero Artemis with his former kidnap victim, Captain Holly Short, an elf officer with the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance) squad. As the erstwhile arch enemies join forces to squelch a power-hungry pixie's coup attempt in one world and to rescue Artemis's long-missing father in another (he's being held for ransom by the Russian Mafiya), the boy proves he has a heart after all, even as he builds his reputation as a world-class criminal mastermind. Once again, the roller coaster of a plot introduces a host of high jinks and high-tech weaponry as Colfer blends derring-do with snappy prose ("The broad grin disappeared like a fox down a hole") and repartee ("Hey, Mulch, if you listen really hard you can just about make out the sound of nobody giving a hoot"). The resulting fantasy hosts memorable characters, many of whom (such as the flatulent dwarf Mulch Diggums) reprise roles that helped attract fans to the first adventure. The author ratchets up the body count in this return engagement (perhaps too steeply for some tastes), and the high-concept premise may be a tad slick for others, but Colfer's finger is firmly on the pulse of his target market, and along with extra helpings of sly humor ("The sprite's breathing calmed, and a healthy green tinge started to return to his cheeks") he delivers a cracking good read. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc."

Review By Inside Flap

"Artemis is at boarding school in Ireland when he receives an urgent e-mail from Russia. In it is a plea from a man who has been kidnapped by the Russian Mafia: his father. As Artemis rushes to his rescue, he is stopped by a familiar nemesis, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon fairy police. But this time, instead of battling the fairies, he is going to have to join forces with them if he wants to save one of the few people in the world he loves."

Review By R. Chaffey "beckahi" (Chicago)
"I read the first book in the Artemis Fowl series last summer and sometimes wonder why it took me so long to read the second installment. Through the very first pages of "The Arctic Incident" I was instantly transported into Colfer's imaginative world, and underworld, peopled with fairies, goblins, and an evil boy genius, who seems to have matured. I was pleased to discover that the second book lived up to the impression that the first one made.
"The Arctic Incident" begins with a look at the young Artemis Fowl stuck in a dreadful boarding school, "killing off" counselor after counselor that tries to asses what is wrong with him. Meanwhile, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon police force has to deal with a smuggling problem that involves humans and the intelligence-challenged goblins. Believing Artemis to be the culprit, she kidnaps him and his mountain of a bodyguard Butler, to little avail. They are not the suppliers but they make a deal with Holly. They will help her discover who the smugglers are if she will help Artemis find his father, who is being held hostage in the Arctic Circle. Holly is not looking forward to helping Artemis after their encounter in Book One, but she has no other choice. Their journey to fulfill both of their missions is filled with tension and humor and further explores the inner-workings of these two fascinating characters.

Colfer has created an imaginative world that is peopled with rich and vivid characters, and witty asides to the reader. Artemis is a boy genius trying to surpress his evil ways in order to find his father and turn over a new leaf; his struggle is that of any teenager's angst. But the best characters are those who inhabit the lower elements; Foaly the centaur, Captain Short, Commander Root, and best of all, the returning Mulch Diggums, the thief dwarf. And while the Artemis Fowl books may be labeled as children's books, you don't have to be a child to enjoy the wry humor that Colfer dishes out. "

Review By TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier."
"I didn't discover the delight that is the Artemis Fowl series until a week ago, when I read Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, Book 1) in one day. So, of course, I had to pick up a copy of THE ARCTIC INCIDENT right away, to see if it was as good as the first. It definitely is, and in my own humble opinion, I think I liked it even better than the first book. There are points throughout the book where Artemis, now thirteen, shows a softer, more vulnerable side that I truly enjoyed. Don't get me wrong, he's still an evil genius, but he's an evil genius with heart, and you can't help but love him.

Now that Angeline Fowl is out of her depression, thanks to some fairy magic from Captain Holly Short, she's sent Artemis back to Saint Bartelby's School for Young Gentlemen in Ireland. Artemis is having quite a large amount of fun flumoxing the school's counselor, Dr. Po, when he gets an urgent message from Butler, his bodyguard/butler/majordomo--it seems that Artemis Fowl the First is alive in Russia, being held for ransom by the Russian Mafiya.

Young Artemis, of course, immediately sets out to devise a scheme to rescue his father. It's been almost two years since Artemis Senior was last heard from, and his son is most eager to bring him home. Before he can work out a devious scheme, though, he's visited by none other than Captain Short and her superior, Commander Root, and brought down to Haven City and into Police Plaza. It seems the goblin triad, the B'Wa Kell, have a human counterpart aiding in their smuggling, and Artemis the Second is, quite justly I believe, suspected of being that human.

The fairies soon realize, however, that this time Artemis Fowl isn't the bad guy in this problem. But now they'd like Artemis and Butler's help in figuring out who is behind the allaince between the goblins and the Mud Men--and Artemis is quite willing to help them out, in exchange for the fairies help in rescuing his father.

What follows is an action-packed story of good versus evil below ground, with deceptions, backstabbing, and revenge taking center stage. As Holly, Root, Butler, and Artemis race to save Haven City from being destroyed, some of the same characters from the first book make appearances--Foaly, Mulch Diggums, Cudgeon, and Captain Trouble. There's also a new foe in THE ARCTIC INCIDENT, Opal Koboi, to be dealt with.

I highly recommend the ARTEMIS FOWL series to anyone and everyone. Highly enjoyable, thoroughly entertaining, and not soon forgotten."

Review By Dawn Kessinger (Lima, OH United States)
"This excellent sequel had my rapt attention throughout - the writing is clever (even some of the names of the chapters are well-worded and funny), the story moved along well, the characters had depth and substance and were easy to get to know and love (or hate). Why did I title my review "Front and Centaur"? Foaly, the brilliant gadget and electronic whiz, who is the centaur on center stage, plays an interesting role here. Read the book and you'll understand. Reading the first Artemis Fowl will help, because Artemis's attitude in "The Arctic Incident" cannot be fully appreciated if the reader doesn't know where Artemis has been (in the first novel) or where he has come from. This story focuses not only on Artemis's attempt to rescue his father (aided by Holly Short and Commander Root), but also on Short and Root's mission (aided by Artemis and Butler, Artemis's bodyguard) of getting to the bottom of a strange goblin uprising.
Artemis and Butler, as well as Capt. Short and Commdr Root, all showcase a wide range of interactions, feelings, thoughts, plans... they make a fantastic team and work so well together! This doesn't mean that everything comes easily to them or that one of them doesn't get smacked at some point in the game or that they all sidestep danger without losing a step... oh no, I bet you'll be sitting on the edge of your chair (or couch) and wondering how the team will make it through the next disaster... "

Review By Nancy E. "Nancy" (USA)
"In this book Artemis Fowl, a thirteen year old criminal mastermind is on year older and one year wiser. He is living in an Irish boarding school when he receives a message about the man he thought he'd never see again, his father Artemis Fowl Senior. Meanwhile Captain Holly Short and Commander Root of the LEPrecon forces face a huge problem when they discover that goblins, one of the stupidest forms or fairy, have been receiving human help and are turning into a threat in the fairy world. Artemis, Butler, and the fairies are once again thrown together, but this time under different circumstances. They make a deal, if Artemis helps them with their problem, they'll help him find his father. Easy right? Well, if you think that you could be no further from the truth. The goblin's scheme is more complicated than anyone would have guessed. Artemis and co. soon find themselves fighting for their lives.

While I loved the first book, Artemis Fowl, I was blown away by the second. Eoin Colfer proves what a talented author he really is with the wonderfully three-dimensional and original characters you find in this book. Like the first book it was suspenseful, action packed, and very comedic. Unlike the first book you get to see Artemis use his powers for good and play the hero for once, something that Artemis isn't too keen on. If you're a fan of the first book in the series I highly recommend reading the second. The Arctic Incident is a prime example of why kids fantasy is such a great genre."

Review By Edward O'Neill (Arizona)
"I teach grades 6-8 and have read and own multiple copies of both Artemis books. I read the Artic Incident in a weekend, then my students kept it checked out for over 3 months passing it around and reading it. The story is well written and keeps the younger reader involved by having both a fast moving plot and a great deal of action. I believe many students would enjoy this book and as an adult I found the book enjoyable too. It is unfortunate that the series was only two books."

Review By Scott Schiefelbein (Portland, Oregon United States)
"The Arctic Incident gives fans of Eoin Colfer's smash mega-hit "Artemis Fowl" more to savor. More witty writing, more sarcastic characters, more over-the-top action, and more of everyone's favorite 13-year old criminal mastermind.

Set essentially a year after the first novel, Artemis is chafing from getting one of his heart's desires -- the return of his beloved mother's sanity. Who wouldn't rather have their mom lucid rather than delusional? Not Artemis, even though her return to normalcy has wiped out Artemis' beloved autonomy. So young Artemis opens the novel in boarding school with a hilarious encounter with an overmatched guidance counselor. (Really -- how much guidance does a criminal mastermind need?)

A counseling session is cut short when a ransom email arrives, hinting that Artemis' departed (and presumed, by many, to be dead) father is alive in the Russian Arctic. Young Artemis instantly commences a rescue mission . . . a rescue mission with a vengeance, to be sure.

But this would not be an "Artemis Fowl" novel without the faerie world. Our heroes, Captain Holly Short and Commander Root are back, as is the centaur computer genius Foaly, uncover what appears to be a goblin plot to smuggle contraband weapons. And this plot has a more sinister intent, one hidden even from the goblins . . .

And what else would an escaped dwarf thief, Mulch, do besides hang out in Los Angeles, stealing Academy Awards?

In many ways, none of the characters have changed. Short is still a derring-do pilot and field agent. Root is still in a perpetual fury. Butler, the bodyguard, is back, with a penchant for cracking skulls. Foaly is still as caustic as he is brilliant. And so on and so forth.

Outlandish plot twists, fueled by Colfer's astounding imagination, keep the pages turning fast and furious. Will the goblins be thwarted? Will Artemis save his father? Will the ultimate villain be caught?

Count on losing several hours of sleep as you read "just one more chapter." Count on laughing out loud at brilliant dialogue and terrible puns. And count on reading "The Arctic Incident" again.

Enjoy!"

Review By P. Luce
"The Artic Incident picks up right where the first Fowl book left off and does a great job of expanding on some of the lesser characters in the first Fowl adventure. The story seems a little more mature while keeping the charm of a book you can read with your kids. It is a great sequel and I found myself reading it as fast as I read the first one and enjoying it even more. Colfer has a great skill at writing fantasy and combing it with modern crime. I highly recommend this series to any parent who is looking for something that the whole family could enjoy reading."

Review By H. Mohammed-libert "Zeeda" (Miami, Florida United States)
"Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident is the second instalment in the Artemis Fowl series. Now, if you have yet to read the first, don't even think about reading this one first, as you will be totally lost. Well, not totally, but you'll not be able to fully appreciate some of the character emotions and actions. Here we find Artemis Fowl Jr. on a rescue mission to save his father from the Russian Mafiya. On his way, he is abducted by LEPrecon Captain Holly Short, taken in for questioning about illegal trading with goblins. He is, duhviously, innocent, but is nevertheless enlisted to aid the People, in exchange for help with his father. Sounds simple, right? What could possibly go wrong? How about everything?
A disillusioned LEP officer concocts an elaborate scheme to overtake the LEP and, eventually, the Upper World. While Captain Short, Commander Root, Artemis and Butler, Artemis'...butler, go to Russia, Haven is thrown into utter chaos, and only our heroes can save the Lower Elements.
What could possibly be bad with this book?
How about nothing?
The action is fast-paced, with many surprises, twists and 'eh?' moments, where you marvel at the utter coolness of this book. If you do not read this book, you are missing out on a GREAT literary experience. I also refuse to believe that Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code, is the last we'll hear of Artemis' hijinks.
Anyhows. Buy this book."

Review By John Humphreys (Downingtown PA USA)
"The first "Fowl" was a great book, peopled with well-drawn characters and a great imaginary world. The second book is an extraordinary advance on the first, with unputdownable sequences of rescue and danger and a much more complex plot. Eoin Colfer has an amazing imagination. The audio book is dazzlingly read by Adrian Dunbar and brings the text to life wonderfully."

Review By H. Mahoney
"Artemis Fowl and the Artic Incident
Ever faced a monstrous troll and biological bomb all in a half-hour, while you where in a time field that you couldn't escape from and still survive? Teenager, Artemis Fowl, and his gang of bodyguards have come back again to face his old enemies, an advanced empire of dangerous fairies, goblins, trolls, and warlocks for a second time in the book called Artemis Fowl and the Artic Incident. This time though, a 12-year-old criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl will be teaming up with his worst enemies to protect a secret underground civilization while intern for the help to rescue his kidnapped father. As the whereabouts of Artemis' long lost father come, they find out that Mr. Fowl is somewhere in the barren desert of Siberia, awaiting ransom of $5 million in an old nuclear sub. Soon though, Artemis develops a better plan; if he rescues his dying father, Artemis will have to stop all his illegal drudgery for good. Instead of paying the ransom, Artemis decides to shoot his father instead. Could Artemis really betray someone of his own blood? Especially all that he had to endure to get where he is now? Or is it just a cover-up for something better to come? This book, Artemis Fowl and the Artic Incident is the perfect book filled with suspense, humor, and outrageous technological advancements.

By JOHN"

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 The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, Book 2) (Hardcover) at amazon.com

The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, Book 3)

2008-09-15T00:30:00.000-07:00

The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, Book 3) by Eoin Colfer

The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, Book 3)
by Eoin Colfer (Author)

Review
Release on May 6, 2003
Reading level: Ages 9-12

Amazon review about this book:

"Book Three-Now available in trade paperback Artemis Fowl is going straight-as soon as he pulls off the most brilliant criminal feat of his career . . . but his plan goes awry, leaving his loyal bodyguard, Butler, mortally injured. Artemis's only hope of saving his friend is to employ fairy magic; so once again he must contact his old rival, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon fairy police. It is going to take a miracle to save Butler, and Artemis's luck may have just run out. . . . "Readers will burn the midnight oil to the finish." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

"In this third installment to Eoin Colfer's funny, fast-paced, fairy-filled adventure series, boy genius and arch criminal Artemis Fowl once again can't resist plotting the perfect crime--and, once again, he can't keep from stirring up so much trouble that the fate of the entire fairy world teeters in the balance.
The once hard-boiled Artemis has softened a bit between his bestselling debut and the seat-of-your-pants Arctic Incident, and that trend continues in The Eternity Code: He's still plotting for a billion-dollar-plus payoff for the Fowl family, but now his enemies are human (chiefly Jon Spiro, a ruthless businessman Artemis tries to blackmail using stolen fairy technology) and he has to turn to his old adversary-turned-friend Captain Holly Short and cutpurse dwarf Mulch Diggums for help. The dialogue and action prove as smart and page-turning as ever this time around, with Artemis struggling to bring his faithful bodyguard Butler back from the dead before racing Mission Impossible-style to triple-cross the double-crossing Spiro.

Colfer's young antihero might be getting more likeable all the time, but that hasn't taken the edge off the Tom-Clancy-meets-Harry-Potter action. Artemis has to agree to a memory-erasing "mind wipe" from the People after helping them recover their technology, but only a foolish fan would count Artemis out after this blockbuster "final heist." Book four can't come soon enough.... (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes"

Review By Booklist

"Gr. 6-9. Could this be Artemis Fowl's last caper? His father, who was rescued from the Russian Mafia in Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident (2002), seems to have turned over a new leaf. But Artemis resolves to do one last job, a job that involves a supercomputer cube he created with stolen fairy technology. Things go totally awry, however, when his proposed pigeon--a billionaire American businessman--turns the tables and Artemis' longtime bodyguard, Butler, is fatally shot. Artemis puts Butler on ice, literally, and calls on Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon fairy police for help. The existence of the cube is a threat to the fairy world, and Artemis concocts a convoluted scheme to recover it. As in the previous two books in the series, the action is fast and furious, the humor is abundant, characterizations are zany, and the boy genius works wonders--all of which add up to another wild ride for Artemis' fans. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved"

Review By AudioFile

"[Editor's Note: This is a combined review with ARTEMIS FOWL 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 School Library Journal

"Grade 5-8-Antihero Artemis Fowl, now 13 years old, is back. He has used stolen fairy technology to create a supercomputer known as the "C Cube," which will render all existing technology obsolete. He meets with Jon Spiro, head of "Fission Chips," with a proposition. For a price, he will suppress his cube, and allow Spiro time to sell his potentially worthless stocks and buy into Fowl Industries. Spiro double-crosses Artemis, and in the ensuing melee he steals the C Cube and Artemis's bodyguard, Butler, is murdered. The scene is totally out of James Bond; one fully expects to hear the familiar theme music and to see the credits as it concludes. The action does not let up as Artemis teams with the fairy policewoman Captain Holly Short and other companions to bring Butler back to life, and then to retrieve the Cube from Spiro's Chicago fortress. The plot is filled with crosses and double crosses, unmarked vans, and impenetrable security systems. It's exciting stuff, but the writing is often clich‚d at worst, and merely workmanlike at best. Butler's death scene is particularly hackneyed, echoing every overly dramatic death scene one can think of. Still, this latest adventure is sure to be popular with fans of the series.
Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc."

Review By Inside Flap

"After being held prisoner for years, Artemis Fowl's father has finally come home. He is a new man--an honest man, much to Artemis's horror. He makes his son promise to give up his life of crime, and Artemis has to go along with it. But not until he has completed one last scheme.

Artemis has constructed a super-computer from stolen fairy technology. Called the "C Cube," it will render all existing human technology obsolete. He arranges a meeting with a powerful Chicago businessman, Jon Spiro, to broker a deal for the C Cube. But Spiro springs a trap--he steals the C Cube and mortally injures Butler. Artemis knows his only hope of saving his loyal bodyguard is to employ fairy magic; so once again he must contact his old rival, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon fairy police.

It is going to take a miracle to save Butler, and Artemis's luck may just run out. . . "

Review By Sebastian Fernandez (Tampa, Florida United States)
"First of all let me say that this book saved me from a painfully long wait at the dealership where I took my wife's minivan for service. I expected this to take about an hour or so, and that is what I was told when I got there. I should know by now not to trust these estimates, since I ended up being there for three hours. It was the perfect amount of time to finish this book though, which I had started that morning at home. Colfer helped me feel as if the three hours were only one, and that is really something to applaud!

Artemis' father is recovering in a hospital in Helsinki, from his shipwreck in the Arctic and further kidnapping by the Russian mafia. More important, he is a changed man, that has stopped considering gold to be the ultimate goal and wants to focus on his family instead. This means that Artemis will have to lead a normal life, go back to school and forget about criminal activities. But there is still time for one more run around the block, and Artemis goes for broke. He has created, with the help of fairy technology, an impressive artifact he named the C Cube. This cube can perform an extensive list of unbelievable tasks, such as track satellite activity and crack security systems. And that is just the beginning.

Artemis' plan is fairly simple, he set up a meeting with the powerful Spiro and he will offer to keep the cube of the market in exchange for a vast amount of gold. This will allow Spiro to make a killing in the stock market and sell his company at a much higher rate than he could if a competitor had the cube. However, in an uncommon turn of events, Artemis is fooled, Spiro steals the prized possession and his bodyguard injures Butler with a fatal wound. Now Artemis will need, once more, the help of the fairies, in order to perform a miracle, or he will end up losing his bodyguard and best friend.

That is not the only complication, since the cube can among its many wonders detect fairy technology. Thus, all the sensors in the underground world went off when Artemis demonstrated the cube to Spiro. Foaly, the centaur that is master and commander of the fairy technology, has decided on a lockdown. With the help of Captain Short, he is trying to figure out how to prevent the humans from discovering the People. The situations with Butler and the cube will once again throw together the characters that readers of this series cherish: Artemis, Foaly, Holly Short, and even the dwarf Mulch Diggums. We will also get to see an almost unexplored side of Juliet Butler.

Colfer has done it again, with a fast-paced and enthralling book that can be read in one sitting. There is the usual humor to go along with the captivating story and keep it fresh. But also, the author introduces another element in this book, Artemis' diary. This is an important tool to allow the reader to peek into the psyche of the criminal genius, and understand that behind the Machiavellian mind there is a boy that seeks his father approval. I do not think I can wait long before reading the next book in this series, I hope the quality remains at this level."

Review By TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier."
"Artemis Fowl the Second has a brilliant plan--one last scheme to make his family some money, then he'll leave the crime life behind him and turn over a new leaf. Everything starts out fine, with Artemis meeting with billionaire businessman Jon Spiro to discuss a mutually agreeable arrangement. Artemis, you see, has developed the C Cube, a mini-supercomputer that can do almost anything. For the right price, Artemis will withhold releasing the Cube to the public to allow Spiro's company to catch up in the technology world. All seems well, until Spiro steals the Cube, his bodyguard, Blunt, fatally wounds Butler, and Artemis is left wondering how it all went wrong.

What follows is Artemis's desperate plea to the fairies to help heal Butler and rescue the C Cube from evil Spiro, before he becomes aware of the Fairy World and wreaks havoc on the creatures living below ground. As Captain Holly Short is once again drawn into one of Artemis's dangerous schemes, she does so, along with Commander Root, with one condition--when the C Cube is recovered, Artemis, Butler, and Butler's sister Juliet will all submit to mind wipes, erasing every trace of the fairies from their memories. Artemis agrees, desperate to save Butler's life, but already he has plans to avoid the erasure of a mind wipe.

THE ETERNITY CODE contains a lot more action-adventure than the two previous books, and a lot less of the world of Fairy. It is, though, still a very fast-paced, enjoyable read, and I'm left wanting to know what will happen next. Thoroughly entertaining, and highly recommended."

Review By MysteryLover231 "L.R"
"In the "Eternity Code" Artemis Fowl starts off with a bang (literally) when a supercomptuer (The C-Cube) he built out of fairy helmet components is stolen by Jon Spiro, a ruthless buisinessman, and his bodyguard Arno Blunt. Butler is mortally wounded, and the faries underground city of Haven is in danger of exposure. So, Artemis tricks a LEPrecon agent, none other than Captian Holly Short, into coming aboveground to heal Butler. That is the summary of the first few chapters. Not many faries actually take a large part in the story except for Holly and Mulch Diggums. Foaly only comes in near the end and he's only on the comlink, so I don't know if that's an 'appearance' or not. Anyhow, the seemingly grim book is humorous at times. I loved when Artemis scared the waitress (must read to appreciate), Mulch's attempt at driving, and the scene when Pex and Chips try to 'bury Mulch deep'. The ending was kind of depressing, and I wondered if this was the end of the series, but I read it when book 4 wasn't even an internet rumor yet, although newcomers have the benifit of not having to wait 2 years (or however long it took) for the next one. Read the first two though, or you will be EXTREMELY confused."

Review By bensmomma "bensmomma" (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
"There's no escaping it, Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code is a gripping, lightning-fast read. If you are a fan of the previous two books in this series, you'll definitely want to give it a try. This time child criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl's master creation - a tiny computer based on the fairy technology he stole in the last book - is hijacked by a Chicago mobster, Jon Spiro. Artemis teams up with the fairies to get it back.
Because "Eternity Code" revolves around Artemis vs. evil human adults more than Artemis vs. fairies, we lose some of the entertaining and creative descriptions of the Fairies' underground universe. The only fairy creatures who play much of a part in the action are Holly Short and Mulch Diggums. What's more, the human-vs-human violence is really R-rated: loyal bodyguard Butler gets a mortal gunshot wound to the chest in the first chapter (how will he survive?), and Spiro's henchman are constantly choking and destroying (or attempting to destroy) other characters.

It's an extremely well-plotted book. You won't be able to put it down. Still, as a reader and as a parent, I would have preferred more of the fairies and less of the mobsters."

Review By Randy Given (Manchester, CT USA)
"On a scale of 10, I would rate the first book a 9, the second book a 7 and this book a 6 (but lean toward 4 stars instead of 3). This book seems a bit rushed and thrown together. Not as creative as the other two and not as easy to read. We get the usual characters and it gets pulled off pretty well. Still, I would only read it after reading the other two."

Review By plasmaball3000 (Charlottesville, VA USA)
"Artemis Fowl is a criminal. At least he was before his father got back from a two-year imprisonment in Russia. The boy's father, a former criminal himself, has made Artemis promise give up his criminal schemes to help put the family back on the track a proper family should be on. But what fun is there in leaving the criminal world without a big finish?
So Artemis has invented the C Cube, out of fairy technology stolen from previous adventures of his, of course. But when a business deal involving this revolutionary object goes about as wrong as trusting a dwarf to keep his hands off a pile of gold, Artemis needs to call in fairy help, Captain Holly Short of the LEP, to be exact, in order to save his only friend.

Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code is a breathtaking adventure and the third book in the captivating Artemis Fowl series. Fans of the originals will be as amazed and drawn into this story as the first two."

Review By Nancy E. "Nancy" (USA)
"Thirteen-year-old Artemis Fowl is going straight. Now that his father is back and wishes the whole family to become nice and legal he's decided to stop all of his criminal activities and focus the rest of his energy on his education, that is right after he pulls off the crime of his career. It seems simple, blackmail one of the most powerful American businessman, get a metric ton in gold, then settle down at last. Unfortunately nothing goes to plan. The C Cube, a hybrid of fairy and human technology that Artemis was planning on using to revolutionize electronics has been stolen, by the worse person possible. Not only that but Artemis's bodyguard, Butler, is fatally wounded with nothing to save him. Now the human world and the fairy world is at his mercy. Fortunately Artemis has protected the C Cube with a special Eternity Code. For anyone else besides himself, cracking that code will take well ... an Eternity. Artemis knows that his life is endanger so he calls upon the help of Captain Holly Short of the LEP, a high-tech fairy police force, to help him fix his problems. Artemis knows that this is not going to be a simple plan, and more than likely, his last adventure with Holly and the LEP.
I didn't think it could get much better after the Arctic Incident. The scene where Artemis was finally reunited with his father seemed like it could never be topped. Boy was I wrong. In this book Artemis is up to his eyeballs in trouble that he never could plan for and chances are he won't make it out whole. At thirteen-and-a-half Artemis has finally begun to develop into gasp! A decent person! All of our old favorites return including Foaley, Mulch Diggums, and Juliet Butler, who finally has a decent sized role. The new villains are absolutely great as well. Add to all of this a shocker ending and you have a great book. I loved Artemis's diary entries where he talks about what it was like to hear that his father had changed. They really give you a good look into who Artemis really is.

Fans of the series will be happy to learn that this is not the last book in the series. I know for a fact that Eoin Colfer is at least planning on writing one more book, although originally The Eternity Code was the last planned book in the series. Eoin Colfer fans will also be happy to learn that The Wish List is going to be released in the United States in October. I can't wait to see what this talented author comes out with next!"

Review By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
"Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code tells of a father returned home from prison a reformed man - much to Artemis Fowl's horror. Artemis is determined not to give up his life of crime - until one last scheme is completed, anyway. His construction of a super computer is slated to change the world in this fast-paced story of teens at work, recommended for high school audiences."

Review By Adam Craig (Columbus, OH)
"The Eternity Code is a straightforward, action-packed, edge of your seat, amazing book. This volume in the series blew the previous two out of the water, in my opinion.

The Eternity Code starts out with Artemis deciding to go forward with his one last criminal job, even though his recently awakened father wants him to stop his criminal antics immediately, so the Fowl famliy can go legitimate, and be a real family. Artemis' last job is to meet with Jon Spiro, a dirty, feared CEO of a technology company and supposedly with a lot of connections to the Chicago mob. The meeting goes extremely wrong, with Spiro outsmarting Artemis and Butler ending up "dead." Spiro gets away with the C Cube, Artemis' computer based off of fairy technology. When this happens, Commander Root and Holly Short decided to get involved, given the ramifications if Spiro were to find out about the People's existence.

When the crew gets back together, including a surprise visit from Mulch Diggums, the book really takes off. The interaction between all the main characters is entertaining and hilarious, and the action is great to top it off. One of the best parts of this book were the brief flashbacks of Artemis via his "encrypted" diary of his talks with his father. Aiming at kids, you knew these books must have some good message to put forth, and Artemis Fowl I is the character who is going to be the "moral" one in future novels. At the end of this novel, Artemis almost seems truly ready to give up his life of crime, but then the epilogue throws everything on its head.

Can't wait to read the next one... "

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 had written several other bestsellers in Ireland, including The Wish List and Benny and Omar."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, Book 3) (Hardcover) at amazon.com

The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl, Book 4)

2008-09-15T00:16:00.000-07:00

The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl, Book 4) by Eoin Colfer

The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl, Book 4)
by Eoin Colfer (Author)

Review
Release on April 4, 2005
Reading level: Ages 9-12

Amazon review about this book:

"Criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl is back.and so is his cunning enemy from Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, Opal Koboi. At the start of the fourth adventure, Artemis has returned to his unlawful ways. He's in Berlin, preparing to steal a famous impressionist painting from a German bank. He has no idea that his old rival, Opal, has escaped from prison by cloning herself. She's left her double behind in jail and, now free, is exacting her revenge on all those who put her there, including Artemis."

Review By Booklist

"Gr. 6-9. The fourth book in the Artemis Fowl saga follows The Eternity Code (2003), in which Artemis' mind was wiped clean of any memories of the belowground world of elves, pixies, and dwarves. In this book, Artemis has reverted to his old life of crime. His archenemy, Opal Koboi, has been in a self-induced coma for a year, plotting revenge on all who thwarted her earlier evil doings. After cloning herself, she escapes and sets her plans in motion, going first to find LEPrecon Captain Holly Short and Commander Root, then taking on Artemis as she schemes to destroy the fairy world. As in all the books, this one has plenty of action as well as great humor and clever plot manipulations. Characters are once again fully realized, and fans will eagerly enter into the spirit of the action. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved"

Review By AudioFile

"The underground world of the fairies again confronts the evil genius of the nefarious pixie, Opal Koboi. Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police) needs the help of young mastermind Artemis Fowl to save both humans and fairies. But Artemis has been mind-wiped and has no recollection of his previous adventures with the LEP. Nathaniel Parker strides confidently into the worlds of fantasy and technology that unite humans and fairies. He unerringly re-creates the many voices from the first three installments, and his appropriately hurried pacing takes the listener from one breathless calamity to another. Parker's stereotyped Asian accent becomes a bit annoying, but this is a small complaint in an otherwise welcome revival of Colfer's panoply of characters. S.G. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine"

Review By School Library Journal

"Grade 5-7 -Identity fraud is at the heart of this fourth book in the series. To all appearances, Opal Koboi, pixie and archenemy of the fairies, is under close surveillance as she lies in a coma. Artemis Fowl, the brilliant 14-year-old criminal mastermind, has had his mind wiped clean of all knowledge of fairies, and, therefore, of all prior goodness he has learned. When the real Opal escapes and leaves behind a DNA-perfect clone of herself, her revenge against all those who opposed her commences with deadly fury. Among the barrage of high-tech gadgets and continuous action sequences and plot twists are moments that give even Artemis Fowl pause as he contemplates friendship, responsibility, and death. The prose is clunky and the characters speak in clichés, but those who enjoyed the earlier books won't care. The humor (heavily dosed with flatulence jokes) and creativity carry the narrative through the tight spots and impossible situations.-Farida S. Dowler, Mercer Island Library, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."

Review By Ms. Nadia Bashoo "Fleet UK"
"I've read and reread the Artemis Fowl books more times than I can count. The original ideas, the effortlessly gripping plots, the witty dialogue, and above all Colfer's unique characters make up a series that you can never tire of. I was hooked from the first book, and his latest offering was no exception. As the title implies, Opal Coboy of The Arctic incident is out for revenge against all those who have thwarted her, notably, Holly and Artemis. Holly seeks Artemis's assistance, but his loss of memory means they must get to know each other all over again, and time is short.
This book is more serious than its predecessors, mainly due to the tragic loss of one of the main characters. The new found friendship between Holly and Artemis is particularly well done, and the book moves with Colfer's usual fast pace that makes it impossible to put down. Like the Eternity Code, this book has a bitter sweet ending that leaves the reader crying out for more.
Nathaniel Parker once more gives an excellent performance. These books really could have been written for him. His voices and characterizations are simply superb. I hope the wait for the next instalment will not be a long one."

Review By bensmomma "bensmomma" (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
"If it were not for the occasional appearance of Mulch Diggums, the dwarf with f*rts so explosive they can propel him safely from an underwater submarine all the way up to the surface of the ocean, the adult reader would find this the equal of any thriller written for adult eyes.

In the present volume, the evil child genius Artemis Fowl has forgotten all about his friends the fairies, and is occupied stealing a famous painting from a bank vault in true Mission-Impossible style. His triumph is interrupted by his archenemy pixie Opal Koboi, who has a plot (perhaps this won't surprise you) to destroy the world. Without giving away any of the rapid-fire plot developments, let's just say that Artemis, accompanied by Holly Short the intrepid LEPrechaun, Foaly the tech-wizard centaur, Artemis' bodyguard Butler, and the strangely compelling Mulch, fouls her plans (ok, sorry).

The intriguing list of gadgets and devices author Eoin Colfer employs to move the plot forward includes: cloning, creatures who shed their entire skin and use it later as a disguise in a prison break, retinal imaging, 100 million tons of molten iron, heat-seeking missiles, spacesuits with helmets that carry biometric information back to the center of the earth, handguns that bond with their owners, etc.

The ending promises a change for Holly, but a future with lots of Mulch and Artemis in it - and possibly some romance in later volumes.

The excitement, pace, and humor would be precisely like the best PG-13 thriller you will see at the movie theatre this summer, were it not for the fact that many of the characters are fairies, pixies, trolls, and dwarfs. And just like those movies, a few parents will wish there were less, well, military hardware in this series. A few of the more humorless moms will wish there were fewer f*rts. If those things don't bother you, you should not let the kids keep it to themselves; it's a great fun read for all ages."

Review By Camille "at the BookMoot!" (Katy, TX)
"When we last saw our heroes, at the end of "The Eternity Code", Artemis and Butler had submitted to a fairy mind wipe and had no memory of their adventures with the Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance.

Now, arch criminal Opal Koboi has escaped but no one except the elf, Captain Holly Short, knows it. Koboi has set the human world and the fairy world on a collision course. The very existence of the Haven (the fairy realm) is threatened.

LEP Recon thinks Holly has gone mad and killed her commanding officer and they are coming after her. Holly knows she has one chance to capture Koboi but it means saving Artemis and restoring his memories.

Artemis's very cool bodyguard, Butler as well as the dwarf felon, Mulch Diggums are part of the team again. The Lower Elements have their share of bureaucrats and administrative incompetants which frustrate the centaur, Foley who is LEP's technology guru. His technological wonder gadgets give the books some of their "wow" factor.

One passage in the book made me laugh out loud knowing something about the Colfer's TV preferences.

...Holly walked rapidly into the cockpit and strapped herself into the pilot's chair, "Seven and a half hours to save the world. Isn't there some law that says we get at least twenty-four?"

Artemis strapped himself into the copilot's chair. "I don't think Opal bothers with laws," he said...

When Colfer was in town for a book signing recently, he shared that one of his favorite T.V. shows is "24."

The story has plenty of action and humor. Trolls REALLY are scary. Colfer described his Artemis Fowl books as "Die Hard with Fairies." I would agree. This is a fast paced and fun read that is NOT just for kids."

Review By A-M (Near D.C., USA)
"I just finished reading this fabulous book, completely unexpectedly, as I had no idea a new one was on the way. Very pleasant surprise to say the least. As usual the characters in this are fantastic!! We don't get as much from some of my favorites, like Foaly and Butler as we have in previous books, but they are still very strong presences. Colfer does a great job of telling one moment in time from various view points so the reader is always in the know (as much as anyone can be in regards to a criminal mastermind like Artemis Fowl, that is)

(Spoiler warning)

It does sadly have a character death, though it was handled very well. Artemis' thoughts and insights are great, and he and Holly share their special chemistry even with him not having his memories for most of the book. The last little blip in the book, an 'article' seems to promise alot more from my favorite 'reformed' child-mastermind, and the next book will be taking the characters in very different directions, it seems, than they have been traveling in the previous books. Not just the reformed Artemis, but Holly as well--and in some degree together.

Awesome read!!"

Review By Haley "knutty knightingale" (West of the Horizon)
"WARNING: spoilers ahead

I was hesitant to get into the Artemis Fowl series, if for no other reason than thief-as-hero stories tend to bore me. But after racing through the first, galloping off to Borders to buy the second and third, and buying the fourth in hardcover from Amazon, I have to say I'm hooked.

Right off the bat, the pixie Opal Koboi springs a trap that makes it seem as though Holly has killed one of her closest friends. Foaly remains certain she is innocent, despite the fact that everyone thinks this attitude is delusional (I've really liked Foaly all through the books for his sheer comic relief, but this book was when he really started to develop as a character.) Then there's Artemis, of course, whom Holly rescues directly after the death. However, Artemis is just as emotionless and, well, EVIL, as he was in the first book, having had his memories of the fairies -- and all the goodness he grudgingly learned from them -- wiped away in "The Eternity Code". He doesn't remember Holly, doesn't care in the least when she informs him that someone he knew well is dead, and is utterly heartless until he finally recovers those memories.

Well, I'm not going to give a detailed synopsis of the entire book, but I do have a suggestion. No, actually, less of a suggestion, more an outright order. If you've finished "The Eternity Code", and liked it, buy this book. Don't ask questions. If you've finished "The Eternity Code", and didn't like it, ditto. If you haven't read any of the Artemis Fowl books, get off this page, go to the first book's page, and buy it. You'll be glad you did.

Rating: Very Good"

Review By Y. Slayton (Washington)
Artemis Fowl; The Opal Deception

"In this book of the series, Artemis Fowl has forgotten his fairy friends due to a mind-wiping mesmer, and plans to steal an infamous painting called The Fairy Thief. But, when he steals the painting he is only pulled into a web of revenge and destruction weaved by only the one and only escaped Opal Kaboi. True Fun!
Artemis, Butler and Holly aswell as Mulch Diggums, a ...gifted gnome, must band together again and save the People's world from colliding from the Human one. But there is one thing; Holly is a fugitive from LEP, and they don't have their trusted Centaur Foaley to lean on. They must rely solely on Artemis' genius, Butler's strength, Holly's piloting skills, and Mulch's...talents.
This an extremely well written book, full of plot twists and turns, but it seemed to move almost too fast for the reader to get the full feeling of the book. Eoin Colfer did a wonderful job with characterization, as he always does, and wrote of the inner conflicts of the main characters as a dear friend dies in one of Opal Kaboi's traps very well, with almost a disturbing clarity."

Review By Dumdummuoi (Chicago, IL)
"i've read each of the first 3 Artemis Fowl books at least 4 times, and i loved the 4th one as well. read somewhere that Eoin Colfer's working on the 5th, and that a movie's being planned. i can't wait!

oh by the way, sure it's recommended for kids but i'm 19, in college, and i don't think i'm the only adult who enjoys a good "children's" book such as this one."

Review By Anna Wantz "LA8" (Miamisburg, Ohio USA)
"Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception is another outstanding book by Eoin Colfer. Mr. Colfer has done an exceptional job continuing on where he left off in the previous book in the series, Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code. Whether it's describing our own world or making up a whole new one, everything seems very real. Pictures of both worlds become painted in the reader's head as they read on and on about the characters and settings. As you read about what Artemis or Captain Short look like, it's as if you are right there with them. Eoin Colfer does a fantastic job with this book.

Along with this book comes excitement, tears, anger, and confusion. Whatever the character is feeling, you come to feel it as well. Mr. Colfer did an amazing job painting pictures in your head and feeding the reader emotions. When there is some new scenery to be introduced, you end up feeling like you are there. When characters experience happiness, pain, sadness, or anger, you feel it as well. I enjoyed reading this book because Mr. Colfer did a wonderful job continuing on. I felt as if I really were right there with Artemis, Butler, Captain Short, and whoever else was introduced. Mr. Colfer also did very well showing how Artemis and Butler slowly started to remember things. He slowly brought back the important magical creatures from previous books and reintroduced them to the human world. Through intricate schemes and evil plots, Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception is an outstanding book and one of my personal favorites.

Kerry Ward"

Review By Alice L. Hughes
"Eoin Colfer has done it again with this non-stop action novel. Comical and fast paced, this is a real page turner as boy genius Artemis, Holly, Butler, and Mulch try to stop the evil pixie Opal Koboi, who has awaken, broken out of prison, and is exacting her revenge on the 2 worlds and their inhabitants. But stopping her will be anything but easy for Artemis and his friends. Opal's evil plan is like the tangle of a spider's web. And then there's Artemis. His memories gone, Artemis wil have to remember his past in order to stop Opal and save both worlds from certain doom. Brilliant. Another book I've enjoyed: The alien invasion adventure "GAAK" by Darryl Hughes. Four "Goonies" like kids take on adolesence and kooky aliens to save the world. Too funny."

About the Author
"Eoin Colfer is the New York Times bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series; The Supernaturalist; Eoin Colfer’s Legend of Spud Murphy; Eoin Colfer’s Legend of Captain Crow’s Teeth; The Wish List; and his latest book, Half Moon Investigations. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl, Book 4) (Hardcover) at amazon.com

The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, Book 5)

2008-09-14T23:34:00.001-07:00

The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, Book 5) by Eoin Colfer

The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, Book 5)
by Eoin Colfer (Author)

Review
Release on September 12, 2006
Reading level: Ages 9-12

Amazon review about this book:

"Ten thousand years ago, humans and fairies fought a great battle for the magical island of Ireland. When it became clear to the fairy families that they could never win, they decided to move their civilization underground and keep themselves hidden from the humans. All the fairy families agreed on this, except the eighth family, the demons. The demons planned to lift their small island out of time until they had regrouped and were ready to wage war on the humans once more. However, the time spell went wrong, and the island of Hybras was catapulted into Limbo, where it has remained for ten thousand years. Now the tainted time spell is deteriorating and demons are being sucked back into the present space and time. The fairy council is concerned about this and is monitoring any materializations. But when the spells deterioration accelerates, the materializations become unpredictable. Even the fairy scientists cannot figure out where the next demon will pop up. But someone can. Artemis Fowl, teenage criminal mastermind, has solved temporal equations that no normal human should be intelligent enough to understand. So when a confused and frightened demon pops up in a Sicilian theater, Artemis Fowl is there to meet him. Unfortunately, he is not the only one. A second, mysterious party has also solved the temporal equations, and has managed to abduct the demon before Artemis can secure him. Once again, Artemis will have to pair up with his old comrade, Captain Holly Short, to track down the missing demon and rescue him, before the time spell dissolves completely and the lost demon colony returns violently to Earth."

Review By Booklist

"In this sequel to The Opal Deception (2005), 14-year-old Artemis discovers an unraveling time tunnel connecting demons with the earth. These imps have sworn revenge on humans, and their unpredictable appearances threaten to expose the entire fairy world. As always, Colfer delivers not only continuous action but also witty wordplay and dialogue, understated humor, and plenty of magical technology and gadgetry. A must for kids who have enjoyed Artemis' previous escapades. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved"

Review By AudioFile

"This follow-up to THE OPAL DECEPTION features an island stuck in time, an army of creatures bent on destroying humans, and teenaged genius Artemis, who must solve these problems against daunting odds (including a rival child genius). Artemis discovers a time tunnel used by demons who've sworn revenge on humans and whose "materializations" call potentially disastrous attention to the entire fairy world. Nathaniel Parker's narration highlights Colfer's action-packed drama, delivering the story's chilling implications of murder and deceit with a breathtaking accuracy of tone while highlighting the humor and sarcasm that the Artemis Fowl series is famous for. Fowl fans will be thrilled, and newcomers will race to catch up on what they've missed. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine"

Review By Amanda Richards "Modest to the extreme" (Georgetown, Guyana)
"This is the fifth installment of the Artemis Fowl series, with reportedly just one more to go. Most of the surviving characters are back, including of course Artemis, the teenaged criminal genius and Butler his bodyguard, as well as Holly, the former female LEPrecon official, Foley the Centaur and Mulch the amazing digging dwarf, but this time there are also new and exciting characters. There's Minerva Paradizo, a twelve year old French child genius who can give Artemis' brain cells a challenge, Doodah Day, a thief who's the Michael Schumacher of the Pixie world, Imp No. 1 the non-warping demon, and the megalomaniac Leon Abbot, but that's not all folks.

Way back when humans and fairies were fighting over the island of Ireland, the eighth fairy family, the Demons, refused to go live underground with the others, instead choosing to take their island home of Hybras into another time dimension until they were ready once again to attack the humans. Unfortunately, something went wrong with the transfer, and the whole island, demons and all ended up in Limbo. However, even time spells don't last forever, and as it unravels, demons begin appearing in the present, and even Foley can't work out exactly where the next one will pop up.

As you may have guessed, Artemis has already figured it out, and starts staking out the sites where demons are due to appear, but is thrown for a loop when he realizes that someone else has done the math, and that the demon he's been stalking has been demon-napped under his very nose. To make it worse, his new rival is a girl, albeit a very pretty one.

Book five has all the elements for an exciting read, including time travel, volcanoes, mercenaries, magical creatures (including a Yoda-like Warlock), and weapons - lots of weapons. There's also the code that runs along the bottom of each page, and I can tell you that it has to do with scrolls, demons and the slapping of rude body parts, but the rest is up to you to find out.

Another great addition to the Artemis Fowl series from Eoin Colfer, certified genius."

Review By T. Burger (Chicago)
"The Artemis Fowl series has always been superbly written and brilliantly conceived, with an astonishing array of humor, techno-gadgets, mind-bending plots, daredevil escapes and rescues...frankly, they have a tendency to leave one dizzy - but enchanted.

And this might be the best entry in the series to date.

There are many reasons for this. First, there were at least three places where Colfer could have stopped writing, wrapped the book up, given it a different title, and shipped it off to his publisher and wait to collect his (surely) generous royalty checks. But he didn't. He took us from climax to climax as if we rode a roller coaster, each one at least as exciting and breathtaking as the last - if not more so. Second, Colfer introduces a magnificent new character, Minerva, a 12-year old girl who is quite similar to the 12-year old Artemis we met in the first book. Artemis has a nemesis. Third, and perhaps most importantly, Artemis himself has changed. He is fully in possession of a conscience now, is 14-years old, and finds himself quite uncomfortably pubescent.

As always, Colfer writes in a very loose third-person omniscient voice, hopping from character to character. This is dangerous, unless the author has a firm grasp on all of the elements of his story. Luckily, Colfer does. It's a rare author that can take us into the enemy camp, show us who they are, how they live, their blueprints for whatever foul act they plan to commit, and still leave the pages of the book dripping with tension.

The demands that Colfer places on Artemis are staggering, and by extension the demands he places on himself as a writer are similarly so. To not violate Artemis' core-identity, yet have him find his way with the use of a moral compass, is virtually unthinkable. But Colfer did it. Artemis grew, he changed, but yet he was still Artemis at heart. Brilliant, conniving, and, when need be, ruthless. Ruthless...and still a good guy? Yup.

I'm thankful that Colfer didn't take the easy way out, and that he pushed himself harder and further than I've seen him do yet. If this book is any indication of what we can expect from the next - I'm holding my breath. Thankfully, Colfer writes quickly, so it shouldn't be too long of a wait, and I won't find myself in a morgue somewhere."

Review By The No Evil Killer "Know No Evil"
"Averaging one a year, Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series is no rush-job, I am increasingly enjoying and looking forward to every entry more than the Harry Potter series. Colfer's magical world just seems more accessible and imaginative. And he is constantly changing the type of story rather than just another labored part of a single massive arc.

Slightly longer this time around, the book has Artemis tracking demon activity on the time-displaced island of Hybras. The time spell which keeps Hybras stuck in oblivion is beginning to unravel and Artemis is busy investigating how to fix it when a 12-year-old French female rival (and love interest) kidnaps an insecure, classically educated demon, just as he manifests on Earth, right under Artemis' nose. Not knowing what trouble she has started, Artemis must break into her chatau, travel to Taiwan and match wits with her psychotic security in the Taipei 101 Tower to get the demon back before travelling to Hybras to fix the time spell with Captain Holly in tow.

I especially like the relationship between Artemis and Holly. Once enemies but now close friends. And the ending, not only including an imaginative and pretty damn cool twist, in which they become a part of each other forever (not giving anything away) was a nice touch.

As usual it's packed with ultra-technology that always seems realistic now matter how far-fetched, the typical amount of globe-trotting and the right amount of humor.

Artemis Fowl is definitely the best fantasy boy-hero. Harry Who?"

Review By Haley "knutty knightingale" (West of the Horizon)
"I went to the bookstore with my mom yesterday. She told me she would buy me ONE BOOK. Such a deal is precious, and I was deeply considering which lucky (hardcover, of course) book I would choose.

Moments after arriving in Borders and seeing the fifth Artemis Fowl, that privileged book slot had been filled.

And all I can say is...wow! I've always loved this series, ever since I discovered it about a year or so ago. But this is really incredible...I mean, how many authors can pull off a character that spouts synonyms during crises?

I was a bit shocked in the end, with the whole time-change...ah, but I shouldn't say anything. Goodness knows I've checked reviews on Amazon before buying a book and had a major plotline ruined...

Just buy this book. And while you're at it, get the others, too.

Haley

P.S. I've always wanted to make a list of books that SHOULD be turned into movies but AREN'T, and this seems like an okay place, especially since many Amazon browsers want more titles to read. So...

1. Underland Chronicles (Get Luxa and Ripred right)
2. Shadow Children (Get Trey and Jen right)
3. Artemis Fowl (Get Holly, Artemis, Root and Butler right)
4. Books of Pellinor (Get Cadvan right)
5. Young Wizards (Get Dairine right)
6. Prydain Chronicles (The Disney movie THE BLACK CAULDRON does NOT count.) (Get Gurgi, Eilonwy, and Fflewddur Fflam right)
7. The Dark Is Rising (um, actually, they ARE making this into a movie. Yay! Same studio that did Chronicles of Narnia, I think...)
8. The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy (Get Emily and Marak right.

And now, for books that have been (or will be) made into movies that you need to read anyway, if you haven't already:

1. Harry Potter
2. Lord of the Rings (any person who has not read this by their fifteenth birthday is severely deprived and should contact their local Social Services immediately.)
4. Chronicles of Narnia

Maybe that will help sustain you until the next Artemis Fowl book!

Rating: Very Good"

Review By T. J. Jones "TJ" (San Diego, CA United States)
"Eoin Colfer returns to his beloved Artemis Fowl series in "The Lost Colony" which sees old Arty, the kid genius who is now fourteen, dragged into saving the eighth faeirie family also known as Demons. The series needed to go into a new direction, and with puberty for Artemis comes new challenges and gasp ... girls! Colfer mixes the old with the new in this fifth outing and I am happy to say that it does not disappoint one bit!

The island of Hybras is falling apart. Its demons, which sent the island into limbo there ten thousand years ago when the faeires were forced underground by humans, are suddenly materializing on Earth at random places. Of course, this can only mean bad news for the faerie race as if humans discovered these demons, than their whole world could poetentially be exposed. And of course, who is there first to meet these confused demons but Artemis Fowl, who has somehow learned how to predict where and when these materalizatons will occur. But someone else has figured out the materalizations as well, a twelve year-old French girl named Minerva Paradizo; and when she kidnaps one of the demons, all "hell" breaks lose for Artemis and his friends. Now, it is up to Artemis and his old team to save the kidnapped demon and his race before Hybras's time spell collapses and the demons become extinct forever.

I have to admit, I thought Colfer should have stopped at book number three. "The Eternity Code" in my opinion was the best Artemis Fowl book and it ended with a perfect bang. I was surprised when book number four came out. "The Opal Deception" was entertaining and fun, but in my opinion it did not do much to move the story along. Oh, how glad I am to admit I was wrong now. "The Lost Colony" gives whole new breath and life to the series, adding new characters and new, interesting plots. Artemis has grown up and is no longer the the self-obcessed and stoic criminal mastermind he once was. He actually has feelings now and is battling the effects of puberty! Credit to Colfer for aging his hero along successfuly, for the series needed to go into a new direction if it hoped to retain the same quality it had before book four. The story is still however just as witty, fun, and full of all those cool gadgets and of course magic. The characters are all memorable and by the end, you'll be biting your nails in anticipation for their fates.

"The Lost Colony" closes with a bang, a real nail-biter of an ending that leaves the reader wanting more and sets up perfectly what I hear is sadly the last book in the series. Fun, original, magical, and always hysterical, I highly reccommend "The Lost Colony" to all those readers who love it when a bad guy goes good ... sort of."

Review By Y. Slayton (Washington)
"Eoin colfer is the author of Benny & Omar, Benny & Babe, The Supernaturalist, and of course the Artemis Fowl Books. In early 2006, Eoin Colfer spent several weeks touring the US and he'll beback in the US in October.

The Artemis Fowl series has five books so far

1 Artemis Fowl
2 The Artic Incident
3 The Eternity code
4 The Opal Deception
5 The Lost Colony

The Lost Colony came out in the UK in August and a friend who works at bookstores who got me a copy.

The Artemis Fowl books aren't popular for their depth or their detail, they are known for their fast pace and fun adventure. If you haven't read the previoius books, you may find this one tough as a starting point, but this isn't a deep book and there's no deep thought required, so you may be able to step right in. To catch you up, Artemis Fowl II is the son of a European crime lord, Artemis Senior. At the beginning of the first book, Artemis's father disappeared, along with the family's fortune, which sent his mother into a catatonic state.

When Artemis, along with his friend and bodyguard Butler, discovers the existence of fairies, he decodes their book in order to capture one. The fairie he eventually captures is Captain Holly Short, and capturing Holly is what gets the entire LEPrecon force after him.

In The Lost Colony, Artemis Fowl is dealing with another child prodigy, a new race of the fairy people and battling his own puberty. As a grown up reading Artemis Fowl, I enjoy it because it takes me a way to a new reality. The plot twists and turns as Artemis thinks on his feet to avoid another disaster - with the aid of Butler, Holly and Mulch along with some new characters."

Review By Jillian P. Phippen (Orem, UT USA)
"Artemis Fowl is growing and evolving. He's developed a conscience that even Foaly can't deprogram. I am consistently amazed at the plot jumps, high action, and character development, and I think the books do grow with the reader, but I think that a young reader will still read and enjoy the books and not be overwhelmed by the size of the book. A good young reader can read every book in the Artemis Fowl series and walk away feeling satisfied and pleased, unlike in the Harry Potter series where the reader really does need to grow and mature before he or she can tackle book 5 or 6. One SHOULD be 15 to read HP book 5, or else one can't imagine what the gloom and doom is all about!

Eoin Colfer's books are great. They will appeal to the young adult audience, and they are easily read and enjoyed. As an adult, I was delighted with the "Sherlock Holmes" feel of Artemis Fowl himself, and I loved the wide rage of characters in the novels. These are enjoyable at any age, but they are spot-on for the age-group they are targeted toward."

Review By Robert Schmidt (Honolulu, HI USA)
"I admit to being an Artemis Fowl fan. I love the characters, the plots, and the new worlds, beings, and technologies dreamed up by author Eoin Colfer.

The Lost Colony is the fifth book in the series. It covers about 3 years of Artemis' life (you'll learn what this means). In the meantime, this youthful EX-criminal mastermind sacrifices much to save one of the fairies from exploitation and destruction... the demons. Artemis travels from Europe to Taiwan, to a lost island in another dimension (the "lost colony" of the title), and to... another place and time.

Colfer continues to introduce his faithful readers to new characters, new technologies dreamed by by Foley, and levels of heroism worthy of the erection of statues. Be warned... a character you love will die in this book!

I don't know if you need to have read the previous four books to get the "flavor" of Artemis Fowl. I think it would help.

Enjoy this adventure... for all those readers with active imaginations!"

Review By C. Staff "and the Readers
"Artemis is back and better than ever!

When Artemis Fowl the Lost Colony came out I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. And as it turned out, it took a place on my list of Top Ten Books Ever Read. No don't get me wrong, the other books in this series are also very good but Eoin Colfer took this particular one to the next level.

The Characters:

Artemis: A teenage genius, the main character with a dry sense of humor and a boundless intelligence. He is always the mastermind behind the big schemes.
Butler: A hardened body guard who is Artemis's protector. Usually saves Artemis from situations he doesn't want to be in
Holly: A former lepRECON elf.
Foaly: A paranoid centaur who is addicted to technology. Without him the fairies would be defenseless.

For those of you who haven't read the first 4 books of the AF series I would highly recommend that you read those before you pick up this read, if you don't you'll miss out!

As demons start to pop up randomly around the globe, the fairies are getting nervous about loosing there cover underground. No one knows anyway of finding when the next demon is going to appear, not even Foaly the genius centaur. But as always Artemis has figured out a way to do the near impossible. Through the solving of highly complex equations he has found how to predict when the next demon will appear. He is not the only one though; there is someone else who has done the math and she is only twelve years old. It's a battle of wits between two kid geniuses including futuristic suits, weapons, more weapons, dry comebacks and some nice humor you will hardly be able to put this page turner down. Oh and I forgot something...there's a maniac killer by the name of Billy Kong who wants to end all fairies.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy/science fiction novels and people who like the Harry Potter Series. This is a must read, another perfectly formed and sculpted Artemis by Eoin Colfer. 10/10, Two Thumbs Up, 5 Stars, and what ever else you can think of that's a perfect rating. Dang I can't wait for this to become a movie... "

About the Author
"Eoin Colfer is the New York Times bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series; The Supernaturalist; Eoin Colfer’s Legend of Spud Murphy; Eoin Colfer’s Legend of Captain Crow’s Teeth; The Wish List; and his latest book, Half Moon Investigations. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, Book 5) (Hardcover) at amazon.com

The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, Book 6)

2008-09-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, Book 6) by Eoin Colfer

The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, Book 6)
by Eoin Colfer (Author)

Review
Release on July 15, 2008
Reading level: Ages 9-12

Amazon review about this book:

"Artemis's mother has contracted a deadly disease--and the only cure lies in the brain fluid of African lemurs. Unfortunately, Artemis himself was responsible for making the lemurs extinct five years ago. Now he must enlist the aid of his fairy friends to travel back in time and save them. Not only that, but he must face his deadliest foe yet...his younger self."

Review By TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier."
"As an ardent fan of Artemis Fowl from the first book onward, I was more than just a little excited to find out that THE TIME PARADOX was in the works. The previous book in the series, THE LOST COLONY, was one of my favorites, and it opened so many doors that I wanted desperately to see explored. After reading THE TIME PARADOX over the course of a single day, my reactions are mixed, but one thing's for sure: with Artemis Fowl in the mix, there's never a dull moment.

The storyline opens only a short while after the end of the previous book. Fourteen-year-old genius Artemis Fowl has been out of his home time for nearly three years as the result of the events of THE LOST COLONY, and the world has changed around him. But the presence of younger twin brothers at Fowl Manor is not nearly as surprising as the fact that Artemis has managed to retain some of the fairy magic that he stole while in the time tunnel, making himself part magical in turn. Early on in the story, the readers find out that Artemis has used this small magic to mesmerize his parents into forgetting all about his three-year disappearance, and is learning how to control it for specific purposes.

So when Artemis's mother develops symptoms of several deadly illnesses overnight, Artemis's first instinct is to use his fairy magic to save her. When that fails, draining all of the magic out of Artemis, his first call is to Holly Short, reinstated Captain in the Lower Elements Police. Holly arrives and diagnoses Artemis's mother with a rare disease known as spelltropy, usually passed between magic users by the use of power. The only cure is the brain fluid of a silky sifaka lemur--a species that became extinct nearly eight years ago, thanks to the work of a younger Artemis Fowl desperate for money to fuel the search for his then-missing father.

Artemis is convinced there's a simple solution to this problem: go back in time using the magic of demon warlock No. 1 and steal the lemur from his younger self before returning to his own time. Of course, with Artemis involved, nothing could ever really be that simple. Nonetheless, he and Holly both make the journey almost eight years back in time to outsmart the ten-year-old Artemis and a group of Extinctionists bent upon getting their hands on the lemur--not to mention a mysterious third player who may be manipulating everyone from behind the scenes.

The storytelling is vivid, the jokes are always funny, the puns are horrendous in the best of ways. The repartee between Artemis and Holly gets better in every book. But for whatever reason, I didn't enjoy this Fowl adventure as much as I did previous ones. It seemed somehow like there was less at stake. It was an interesting ploy, since the "villain" Artemis faces off against for the first half of the story is himself, but a lot of the major weight of the story felt psychological.

Of course, there were the requisite explosions and high-speed cross-country chases, but the focus of this book seemed to be more upon the minds of the characters involved, particularly Artemis and Holly, and their relationships to their own pasts. That's not to say the book wasn't good--it just had a different kind of depth from the others, one that I probably couldn't fully appreciate on a first reading. Some of the doors opened in THE LOST COLONY were closed rather suddenly, in my opinion, or led down passageways I hadn't thought they would explore, so that the main developments of this book were not what I thought they would be at all. But then, what would be the fun of a predictable book?

If Colfer is one thing consistently as a writer, it's unpredictable, and this book is no exception.

Reviewed by: Candace Cunard"

Review By Kidsreads.com (New York, NY)
"A lot has changed in the three years that Artemis Fowl was missing, battling demons in Limbo. In the sixth installment of Eoin Colfer's series about the teenage genius, we find that the ruthless Artemis has turned over a new leaf. He now has two little brothers to teach the ways of the world and friends he cares about. But his new and tranquil world is thrown into swirling chaos when his mother contracts a rare disease, a disease that can only be cured by the brain fluid of an extinct lemur --- an animal that was wiped off the face of the earth by a younger and desperate Artemis.

With the help of his fairy friends, Artemis and Captain Holly Short travel back in time where they must match wits with a younger Artemis. Colfer uses the battle of the Fowls to show just how much Artemis has changed over the course of five novels. The young boy genius is utterly ruthless. He will do whatever it takes to save his father, demonstrate his intelligence and, most importantly, win. Older Artemis is also desperate to save a parent, his mother, but he retains a basic humanity.

While the younger Artemis has the loyal super agent Butler on his side, Artemis the elder has a familiar cast of friends like Captain Short and the flatulent dwarf Mulch Diggums. Possession of the last lemur on Earth changes hands between the two Artemises until the younger Artemis is willing to let the lemur go. He's after bigger and even more rare prey, like a real-life fairy, that he can sell at a significant profit.

Dr. Damon Kronski is the leader of a new group of villains in the Fowl mythos. The Extinctionists are a cabal of super wealthy tycoons from around the world. All the traditional thrills and vices hold no more excitement for The Extinctionists. They get their kicks by extinguishing the last flame of life from an entire species. They are after the lemur for their yearly meeting, but Kronski knows that a new species of intelligent life will get even more attention and press coverage for the gathering. The younger Artemis is going to sell not only the lemur but Captain Holly Short herself to the lunatic Kronski. Only the future Artemis can save Captain Short, his mother and the entire planet. When Artemis infiltrates The Extinctionists, he realizes that Kronski is only the front man for an even more dangerous opponent.

Colfer is at his best here, with his trademark blend of sly humor, fairy magic and a dynamic and fast-moving plot. He is a master at keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Almost every chapter ends with a cliffhanger of sorts, as Artemis and friends continue to escape from a myriad of impossible situations. The book, humming along so nicely, falters a bit with the revelation that a hidden enemy is the secret mastermind behind the entire plot and Colfer isn't quite able to neatly tie together a very complicated conclusion. Some fans might also be disappointed in the new and more mature Artemis Fowl. Although we get treated to a vintage 10-year-old Artemis, the older Artemis has lost his trademark witticisms and smug manner.

Still, there is much to enjoy here for fans of the series, and Artemis continues to grow and mature right alongside his readership. Colfer has indicated on his blog that this may be the final installment in the series, and it is definitely the last Artemis Fowl book for at least three years as he concentrates on other projects.

--- Reviewed by Jonathan Snowden"

Review By Julie Neal "The Complete Walt Disney World" (Sanibel Island, Fla.)
"I couldn't put The Time Paradox down. Like the previous Fowl books, this one is brimming with sly humor, re-imagining fairies that pack heat and have super-cool gadgets. What kept the pages turning for me, however, was the idea of traveling back in time to interact with yourself.

In The Time Paradox, instead of plotting the perfect crime as in earlier installments, this time Artemis Fowl races to undo one of his previous criminal acts. This sets in motion a showdown between the teenage genius and his younger, more heartless self.

My favorite Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, dealt with the same intriguing situation. Harry and Hermione went back in time to right a terrible wrong, and had to save the day while occupying the same time and space as their earlier, clueless selves. They were successful in part because they never directly faced themselves. In The Time Paradox, Artemis Fowl doesn't have that good fortune.

Fans of the Fowl series will recognize many of the memorable characters here. Antihero Artemis Fowl himself, an autocratic teenage genius. Plucky elf Captain Holly Short of the elite LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance). The explosively flatulent dwarf Mulch Diggums. Evil pixie Opal Koboi.

This book has something for everyone. It's a fairy tale with high-tech James Bond gadgetry. The action is nonstop. Author Colfer handles the fledgling love story between elf Holly and human Artemis with delicacy. It's a bit of a tearjerker, with Artemis's beloved mom near death. It's a morality play, about the extinction of a sweet and curious lemur species.

It may be a bit hard to follow if you haven't read the previous books, but it's still plenty diverting. It will make you want to pick up the earlier installments.

Other Eoin Colfer books include Artemis Fowl, Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code, Artemis Fowl (The Opal Deception), The Lost Colony, Airman, Half Moon Investigations, The Supernaturalist and The Wish List.

Here's the chapter list:

Prologue
1. Espresso and Treacle
2. The World's Biggest
3. Echoes of Magic
4. Monkey's Uncle
5. I Now Pronounce You
6. I to I
7. Talk to the Animals
8. A Blob of Phlegm
9. The Prince Frog
10. A Fowl Mood
11. Pigeon Droppings
12. Gone Forever
13. The Hairy One is Dead
14. The Hole in the Ace
15. Murder Most Fowl
16. A Team of Hairdressers"

Review By Heather Babb
"I absolutely, completely, with every single fiber of my being adored this book. Really, there'e not much else to say. Although it was rather different from the others, I think it's charm still holds. The characters are as witty and lovable as ever, and I find the topic fascinating (SPOILER WARNING:Plus I have been a huge Holly/Artemis shipper since the dawn of Artemis Fowl, and I feel very vindicated after reading this) . A "Time Paradox" is an interesting theory that is explored well in this tale. Full of humor, adventure, and a few very clever twists and turns, this book easily deserves five stars, is a worthy addition to the excellent series, and I would recommend it to anyone no matter what genre of book they are into."

Review By Zandra Swift (Virginia)
"I began reading these books when I was Artemis's age and having more-or-less grown up with him, I adored Time Paradox more than the other recent additions to the series. Three years passed in our world while Artemis was in Limbo in book five, so even though he is physically 14, he should be almost eighteen. It was wonderful to see a more mature Artemis, one with hormones, especially when he was interacting with his more ruthless, cold-hearted, ten-year-old self. I enjoyed the romance the most, as in my opinion, it's the only element this series has been lacking, and the pairing was one I have waited for since book one (no Minerva or even mention of her in this book!). Though we didn't get to see as much of Butler or Foaly as I would have liked, Holly and Mulch as the main supporting characters were excellent as usual. The contrast Colfer presented in the two Artemis was well done, and Artemis the Elder's introspection was interesting to read and showed how the character has matured over the series. We even get to see Root again, which was lovely. Truthfully, I am a little sick of Opal Koboi, and my one complaint is that the epilogue doesn't make sense (time paradox issues). The Extinctionists were hilarious (and creepy) and were the epitome of cartoon-esque bad guys. This book had AF trademark wild escapades, witty dialogue, plot twists, and it made me laugh aloud many times, something that none of the previous books have done. I recommend it to anyone, young or old, who has ever been a fan of AF."

Review By WhiteSteel (California)
"I believe that this book was the best in the series. Many do complain that it didn't have the same feel, and I agree. This book gave the characters a slightly different personality that seemed different comaperd to the last books. Still, I think that Eoin Colfer did this on purpose; he wouldn't undermine his own characters. I believe the new characteristics of Artemis and Holly(who were basically the only characters that were really put in the spotlight) were to show increased character development..... at first it felt awkward reading about some of the choices the characters made, but then i got absorbed into the character's new personality and i think that it made the book better. Also, something to keep in mind is that the younger Artemis acted just like he would have in the really first book. This young Artemis had the personality that we knew of at the beginning of the series. This goes to show that Colfer knew what he was doing, and didn't just forget his own character's personality overnight. He WANTED to depict the older Artemis differently.

The only thing I disliked about this book was that it didn't depict Artemis as a smart kid. Though he retained his personality, he wasn't revisited as a "Mastermind" in this book. Not that he wasn't smart. Just not like the old books. There was no planning or anything like that. I feel as though at least that should have been added in this book.

Other than that, this book was great. As long as fans of the other Fowl books open their minds as they approach The Time Paradox they should find it as enjoyable as i did."

Review By M. Reinwald (California)
"This book was great! However, it did have a different feel from the others. Artemis has begun to mature from his criminal self, so obviously his character will be different from that of the first book. But this maturity can be seen throughout each book and was expected for this one. The general idea of facing one's self was very well written; Artemis' maturity can be seen very clearly. I greatly enjoyed this book, and look forward to any more that may be written!"

Review By BeforeDarknessFalls (California, USA)
"I've been reading Artemis Fowl since it first came out and it just seems like the books get better and better. My favorite used to be the Eternity Code. Then when Lost Colony (book 5) came out, that became my favorite and now this one is pretty darn good too.

Yay for Eion (pronounced Owen) Colfer!"

Review By Laura Mixon
Time Paradox Review

"I really enjoyed the Time Paradox, it was extremely amusing, the plot was very well thought out, and I would love to read more of Eoin Colfer.
My only disappointment was the fact that the French girl, Minerva Paradizo did not return. Otherwise the book reached all my expectations and more. The Time Paradox is exceptionally well written and most entertaining."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, Book 6) (Hardcover) at amazon.com

Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness Book by Suzanne Somers

2008-09-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness by Suzanne Somers

Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness
by Suzanne Somers (Author)

Review
Release on September 9, 2008

Amazon review about this book:

"Life-Altering Secrets from Today’s Cutting-Edge Doctors and the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Ageless

Today’s most trusted advocate of antiaging medicine, Suzanne Somers, deepens her commitment to helping people lead healthier, happier lives by opening their eyes to cutting-edge, proven remedies and preventative care that most doctors just aren’t talking about with patients: longevity medicine and the more progressive study of bioidentical hormones.

As we age, certain hormones diminish, creating an imbalance that can set off everything from perimenopause to cancer, beginning as early as our thirties. This hormonal imbalance is causing many to feel depressed, anxious, fatigued, sexless, sleepless, and ultimately ill, sometimes even terminally. What’s more, Somers and twenty doctors in the field of antiaging medicine argue that the processed chemicals in foods and pharmaceuticals we ply ourselves with are actually slowly eroding our bodies and minds. So we’re getting slammed twice. From estrogen dominance to deceptive thyroid problems, people are suffering, and most don’t have access to the treatment they truly need to get better and thrive . . . until now.

Breakthrough explores cutting-edge science and delivers smart, proactive advice on the newest treatments for breakthrough health and longevity.

In addition to being a pioneer in a rapidly growing health field, Somers is a passionate, caring individual whose own life was derailed by disease and brought back to unimaginable, feel good heights that she wants you, too, to experience."

Review By M. Ren
Give yourself a chance to break through

"Today's most trusted advocate of antiaging medicine, Suzanne Somers, deepens her commitment to helping people lead healthier, happier lives by opening their eyes to cutting-edge, proven remedies and preventative care that most doctors just aren't talking about with patients: longevity medicine and the more progressive study of bioidentical hormones.

As we age, certain hormones diminish, creating an imbalance that can set off everything from perimenopause to cancer, beginning as early as our thirties. This hormonal imbalance is causing many to feel depressed, anxious, fatigued, sexless, sleepless, and ultimately ill, sometimes even terminally. What's more, Somers and twenty doctors in the field of antiaging medicine argue that the processed chemicals in foods and pharmaceuticals we ply ourselves with are actually slowly eroding our bodies and minds. So we're getting slammed twice. From estrogen dominance to deceptive thyroid problems, people are suffering, and most don't have access to the treatment they truly need to get better and thrive . . . until now. Breakthrough explores cutting-edge science and delivers smart, proactive advice on the newest treatments for breakthrough health and longevity.

Another book, which I read this week along with Breakthrough, that's cutting edge and can help you breakthrough at work and with your family is Squawk!: How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results"

Review By J. Brian Watkins (San Dimas, CA United States)
Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness

"Another Great Book from Suzzzy!!!

Her books are very insightful and a easy read. The basics included eating healthy (organic when possible) food, avoiding pharmaceuticals and remove toxins from your home life. I love her daily plans. I would recommend this book for older and younger women. I also, recommend The Power of Postive Habits."

Review By juliejules (southwest)
"Suzanne walks the walk for sure. The only complaint I have is that her suggestions involve thousands of dollars and really are only for the rich. IV Chelation costs thousands and is not covered by insurance. Stem cell preservation ($7500) and human growth hormone ($$ monthly). Also, you can't just take on her suggestions without the knowledge of a functional medicine type doctor. As a mom of 3 girls, I do and will continute to use BHRT with help from my functional medicine doctor but I even if I had the money couldn't bring myself to inject HGH. Her nutrition suggestions are spot on. If we only would all practice them consistently, we may have alot less disease."

Review By Green Interior Designer
"In Breakthrough: 8 Steps to Wellness, by Suzanne Somers, she outlines how we can live healthy lives past the age 100. The basics include eating healthy (organic when possible) food, avoiding pharmaceuticals (except for pain, infection, mental illness or if absolutely necessary,) and avoiding toxins in the home and environment.

She also advises the use of what she calls "breakthrough medicine"--Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy: "to remain youthful, healthy and energetic."

Somers herself had breast cancer and she takes her own health seriously. Her message is that we must take charge of our own health and be proactive.

The book is presented with alternative doctor's interviews between the 8 chapters on the steps to wellness.

The 8 Steps:

* Get BHRT
* Avoid chemicals and detoxify your body
* Take nutrition seriously
* Care for your GI tract
* Avoid pharmaceuticals unless absolutely necessary
* Supplement your diet
* Exercise regularly
* Get proper sleep

Somers includes a chapter on her regime, which includes self-administrating vitamin shots, in-home yoga teacher, liver rubs and more. A little intimidating, but hey--she's had cancer and is a celebrity!

I really enjoyed this book and felt it has plenty to offer, especially for middle-aged people and older who need hormone replacement therapy.

I agree about what she writes about eating natural and organic food, but more could be said on the subject. I recommend Michael Pollan's IN DEFENSE OF FOOD to supplement Breathrough.

I also agree with Somers that a toxic-free environment is imperative to good health. She writes about using non-toxic household cleaners, air quality and filtering water. There is much more great advice on detoxifying your home in the award winning book, HARMONIOUS ENVIRONMENT: BEAUTIFY, DETOXIFY & ENERGIZE YOUR LIFE, YOUR HOME & YOUR PLANET.

For some, the advice from the doctors might seem far out or strange, but alternative medicine has been practiced in Europe for over 50 years with great success. Read this book and decide for yourself--but at least, educate yourself."

About the Author

"SUZANNE SOMERS is the author of seventeen books, including the New York Times bestsellers Ageless; Keeping Secrets; Eat Great, Lose Weight; Get Skinny on Fabulous Food; Eat, Cheat, and Melt the Fat Away; Fast and Easy; and The Sexy Years."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness (Hardcover) at amazon.com

Anathem Book by Neal Stephenson

2008-09-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

Anathem by Neal Stephenson

Anathem
by Neal Stephenson (Author)

Review
Release on September 9, 2008

Amazon review about this book:

"Anathem, the latest invention by the New York Times bestselling author of Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle, is a magnificent creation: a work of great scope, intelligence, and imagination that ushers readers into a recognizable—yet strangely inverted—world.

Fraa Erasmas is a young avout living in the Concent of Saunt Edhar, a sanctuary for mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers, protected from the corrupting influences of the outside "saecular" world by ancient stone, honored traditions, and complex rituals. Over the centuries, cities and governments have risen and fallen beyond the concent's walls. Three times during history's darkest epochs violence born of superstition and ignorance has invaded and devastated the cloistered mathic community. Yet the avout have always managed to adapt in the wake of catastrophe, becoming out of necessity even more austere and less dependent on technology and material things. And Erasmas has no fear of the outside—the Extramuros—for the last of the terrible times was long, long ago.

Now, in celebration of the week-long, once-in-a-decade rite of Apert, the fraas and suurs prepare to venture beyond the concent's gates—at the same time opening them wide to welcome the curious "extras" in. During his first Apert as a fraa, Erasmas eagerly anticipates reconnecting with the landmarks and family he hasn't seen since he was "collected." But before the week is out, both the existence he abandoned and the one he embraced will stand poised on the brink of cataclysmic change.

Powerful unforeseen forces jeopardize the peaceful stability of mathic life and the established ennui of the Extramuros—a threat that only an unsteady alliance of saecular and avout can oppose—as, one by one, Erasmas and his colleagues, teachers, and friends are summoned forth from the safety of the concent in hopes of warding off global disaster. Suddenly burdened with a staggering responsibility, Erasmas finds himself a major player in a drama that will determine the future of his world—as he sets out on an extraordinary odyssey that will carry him to the most dangerous, inhospitable corners of the planet . . . and beyond."

Review From Publishers Weekly
"In this follow-up to his historical Baroque Cycle trilogy, which fictionalized the early-18th century scientific revolution, Stephenson (Cryptonomicon) conjures a far-future Earth-like planet, Arbre, where scientists, philosophers and mathematicians—a religious order unto themselves—have been cloistered behind concent (convent) walls. Their role is to nurture all knowledge while safeguarding it from the vagaries of the irrational saecular outside world. Among the monastic scholars is 19-year-old Raz, collected into the concent at age eight and now a decenarian, or tenner (someone allowed contact with the world beyond the stronghold walls only once a decade). But millennia-old rules are cataclysmically shattered when extraterrestrial catastrophe looms, and Raz and his teenage companions—engaging in intense intellectual debate one moment, wrestling like rambunctious adolescents the next—are summoned to save the world. Stephenson's expansive storytelling echoes Walter Miller's classic A Canticle for Leibowitz, the space operas of Larry Niven and the cultural meditations Douglas Hofstadter—a heady mix of antecedents that makes for long stretches of dazzling entertainment occasionally interrupted by pages of numbing colloquy. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."

Review By Gabriel Tarr
"First off, I'll let slip that I am a big Neal Stephenson fan, although I did not enjoy the Baroque Cycle. Anathem is, in some respects, "difficult" to read. Yes, there is language here that Stephenson made up, although he didn't take it to the same level that Tolkein did in his Middle Earth works. (There is an glossary of terms at the back, and entries from a dictionary are spreckled throughout the book.) And Anathem may be "slow" in that it takes approximately 200 pages to get to the core of the plot. However, I never found myself bored with the writing.

It is a difficult book to describe to others. In some ways, I felt like I was reading a novelization of "Goedel, Escher, Bach". There are some complex ideas here, some of which are expanded upon in appendices, which contain dialogues (ie in the Socratic sense of a philosophical or mathematical discussion between two people of differing views). I find such discussions intriguing, so I never found the book dry or boring, though strictly speaking, much of the material could have been removed to focus strictly on the plot. (This would, however, have weakened the reader's understanding of the plot.) Such digressions are quite characteristic of Stephenson's work (ie the discussions of language theory present in Snow Crash), and for a certain audience, it is quite enjoyable. If you have a tolerance for (or perhaps even enjoy) side-discussions of interesting material, and enjoy speculative fiction, then none of this should put you off. If you read xkcd, or liked Snow Crash, or the Foundation series by Asimov, then Anathem is likely a good bet for you. If mathematical or philosophical concepts make you cringe in fear, then you would probably not enjoy Anathem (or anything else by Neal Stephenson for that matter).

This review is based on an advance copy."

Review By J. Brian Watkins (San Dimas, CA United States)
"Stephenson's is a fascinating mind. He latches on to so many differing ideas and swirls them into a world both familiar and unique. In Anathem we are introduced to a world drenched in history from the viewpoint of a scholar class that is set apart from the popular culture.

The hallmark of Stephenson's writing is an effortless ability to explain and illuminate the big questions. Anathem tackles the biggest of questions and to elucidate further risks draining the reader's motivation to tackle a 1,000 page story. Suffice it to say that the journey is entirely worthwhile.

The author invites his readers to examine their beliefs--not only what they think they believe but to engage in the dialogue familiar to the students of philosophy. Stephenson is adept at weaving exposition into the narrative without seeming overly preachy; although, as he did in the Baroque cycle, his disdain for shoddy thinking is always present: witness the many references to BS, which echo Dr. Frankfurt's illuminating work.

Frankly, I don't quite know how a Stephenson novice would approach Anathem. Like anything artfully and skillfully complex, Anathem requires one to reach for the "upsight," it requires one to think--and I don't believe that I could pay this work a higher compliment than that. In a world that is increasingly defined by torrents of BS, Mr. Stephenson invites us to rejoin the great thinkers of the past and to try and make some sense of the situation in which we find ourselves."

Review By Peter J. Ward (Lewisburg, WV. USA)
"Anathem is another in a line of unique novels from Neal Stephenson. His earlier books like Snow Crash and the Diamond Age are excellent glimpses of the concept-driven novels that he has been writing for the last ten years. One weakness of his earlier books is that he didn't end stories particularly strongly (Snow Crash being a notable exception) but he has gotten progressively better at that, particularly with the System of the World, the last of the Baroque Cycle trilogy. Starting with Cryptonoicon, he started writing "long" fiction. One typical thing about these novels is that they have a slow build while you get introduced to the characters and situations. I know several very bright people who couldn't stomach the long lead-up in Quicksilver and never got to the fantastic 2nd and 3rd novels in the series, The Confusion and System of the World. Like the beginning of a rollercoaster where you need to climb to the crest of the first hill, the first sections of his novels pay off as the rest of the story becomes comulsive reading.

No spoilers to follow: Anathem finds him back in top form with a new cast of characters, a new world, and a new language. Not surprisingly, this means that the first chapters of the book are challenging and somewhat difficult, but as another review stated, nowhere near as convoluted and involved as The Lord of the Rings or (in my opinion), Dune. The more you know about history and ancient Greek thought the more you will be blown away by Anathem. A re-imagining of intellectual history, only Neal Stephenson can make the fine points of esoteric philosophical and intellectual minutia so much fun to read.

For me, one of the high points of the Baroque Cycle was how he made European history, the history of science, alchemy, and the history of banking and commerce so unbelievably enjoyable to read about. Anathem moves into more speculative areas by showing how the differnet ways in which we frame our thoughts have real and powerful impact on the world at large, even if it takes a long time for those speculative thoughts to produce concrete effects. I get the feeling that his novels are the product of his own intellectual curiousity about history, science, mathmatics, and now philosophy. Thankfully, he has a knack for packaging these ruminations into adventurous exciting novels and I'm incredibly happy that he's kept it up for this long. Highly recommended."

Review By A. Bester
"Neal Stephenson has matured as a writer, which is good, but I think his writing has lost some of its charm. Stephenson creates a detailed, self-consistent world, full of some very interesting ideas, and that can't have been easy, but this book is almost wholly without the little turns of phrase and two page digressions on Captain Crunch which I so enjoyed in his previous work. There's no: "I'm sure they'll listen to Reason", or even a "Once again, Waterhouse is pleased to see his commanding officer displaying signs of a tasteful and expensive education." It's a good, solid work with some interesting ideas, but it's not as fun as some of his older stuff."

Review By J. Brian Watkins (San Dimas, CA United States)
"Stephenson's is a fascinating mind. He latches on to so many differing ideas and swirls them into a world both familiar and unique. In Anathem we are introduced to a world drenched in history from the viewpoint of a scholar class that is set apart from the popular culture.

The hallmark of Stephenson's writing is an effortless ability to explain and illuminate the big questions. Anathem tackles the biggest of questions and to elucidate further risks draining the reader's motivation to tackle a 1,000 page story. Suffice it to say that the journey is entirely worthwhile.

The author invites his readers to examine their beliefs--not only what they think they believe but to engage in the dialogue familiar to the students of philosophy. Stephenson is adept at weaving exposition into the narrative without seeming overly preachy; although, as he did in the Baroque cycle, his disdain for shoddy thinking is always present: witness the many references to BS, which echo Dr. Frankfurt's illuminating work.

Frankly, I don't quite know how a Stephenson novice would approach Anathem. Like anything artfully and skillfully complex, Anathem requires one to reach for the "upsight," it requires one to think--and I don't believe that I could pay this work a higher compliment than that. In a world that is increasingly defined by torrents of BS, Mr. Stephenson invites us to rejoin the great thinkers of the past and to try and make some sense of the situation in which we find ourselves."

Review By tethernaut (Kirkland, WA United States)
"If you read science fiction because you like to immerse yourself in different worlds and have your mind stretched and boggled by big ideas and their implications on life, culture, and technology, all while being entertained by a good adventure, Anathem is a book you need to read.

One caveat- it takes about 300 pages before the 'action' part of this book kicks in, and the first several dozen pages take a little effort to read as you get accustomed to the new language Stephenson has created for his characters (Orth). But those 300 pages are so beautifully rendered that the initial slow pace of the plot is actually a good thing - it gives you time to get absorbed in the world his characters live in - and by the time the action starts you really care about the characters and are so fully engrossed that you'll catch yourself slipping into Orth in your everyday thought processes.

The level of research, thought, and exquisitely detailed worldbuilding that Stephenson put into this work are truly amazing, and it is a first-rate example of what Science Fiction can and should be."

Review By Austin Mullen "amateur literary critic" (Iowa City, IA)
"If I could, I'd give it a four and a half, but since I can't, I'll round up.

Anathem is... actually, I don't know exactly what Anathem is. If you like Dune, you'll fall in love. If you liked the Da Vinci Code, well, look elsewhere. The story, when it gets going, is exciting and relatively fast-paced and all that. But it takes some 600-700 pages to get there, during which time you are immersed in the world of Arbre and its native culture. The first few pages are chock-full of in-world jargon à la A Clockwork Orange, and it will be difficult to read. (Not to worry-- there is a glossary, and selections from the Arbran dictionary appear throughout the text) Once you break through the wall of comprehension, though, you'll see that this book is even more ambitious than The Baroque Cycle-- where the Baroque Cycle took about one hundred years of real history and made it alive, Anathem takes eight thousand years of fictional history and makes it as relevant and meaningful as anything from the Cycle. Alas, there's really not that much I can say about the plot of the book itself that wouldn't give things away too quickly. But trust me-- slog through the initial phase and you won't be disappointed (I know I wasn't, and I'm a pretty harsh book critic.)

The book is not without its flaws (and perhaps someday when I am feeling less charitable, I will update this to reflect them). But they are minor flaws on a near-perfect diamond and don't diminish the beauty or power of the book."

Review By Jason Alexander
"In the future on the planet Arbre, great thinkers are clustered behind the "Concent" walls where they control knowledge from the illogical thinking "Saecular" masses. Preadolescents who show a strong logical ability for rational thought are taken away from the masses to be educated as logical scientists or pragmatic mathematicians inside the cloisters. They learn early on their responsibilities as knowledge is power and knowledge used unwisely is dangerous thus must be coveted and protected.------------ Nineteen year old Raz showed signs of brilliance when he was eight, he was collected to be trained as a muse. He has become a "Tenner" over his decade plus of intense learning. Thus his time to go outside amongst the low life Saecular is coming an event he is allowed once every ten years hence a Tenner. However, the cloistered soon realizes a pandemic catastrophe from outer space is coming soon. Much of the older Concent members feel strongly that physical intervention is prohibited as they debate what to do. However, teens like Raz and those he associates with have not lost their need for adventure. Foolishly perhaps without adult supervision and some would say in violation of their elders, they set forth to save Arbre.---------- This is a fascinating tale mindful of Gulliver's Travels to Laputa, the flying island of scientists and mathematicians. The debates and discussions on history and the upcoming calamity are enjoyable to follow, but can turn tedious as long stretches purposely lack action those behind the walls are reflective thinkers not necessarily doers except perhaps the teens. Fans who appreciate a cerebral science fiction thriller with as much philosophizing as action will want to read Neal Stephenson's brillian, interesting but different ANATHEM.

Another story I enjoyed this week was, strangely, about a seagull. As a fan of fables (in addition to science fiction), I couldn't resist Squawk!: How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results"

About the Author

"Neal Stephenson is the author of seven previous novels. He lives in Seattle, Washington."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for Anathem (Hardcover) at amazon.com

The Last Lecture Book by Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow

2008-09-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch (Author), Jeffrey Zaslow (Author)

Review
Release on April 8, 2008

Amazon review about this book:

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."
--Randy Pausch

"A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?

When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.

In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come."

Review From Publishers Weekly
"Made famous by his Last Lecture at Carnegie Mellon and the quick Internet proliferation of the video of the event, Pausch decided that maybe he just wasn't done lecturing. Despite being several months into the last stage of pancreatic cancer, he managed to put together this book. The crux of it is lessons and morals for his young and infant children to learn once he is gone. Despite his sometimes-contradictory life rules, it proves entertaining and at times inspirational. Surprisingly, the audiobook doesn't include the reading of Pausch's actual Last Lecture, which he gave on September 18, 2007, a month after being diagnosed. Erik Singer provides an excellent inflective voice that hints at the reveries of past experiences with family and children while wielding hope and regret for family he will leave behind. The first CD is enhanced with photos.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."

Review By Jesse Kornbluth "Head Butler" (New York)
"One of the staples of "the college experience" at many schools is the "last lecture" --- a beloved professor sums up a lifetime of scholarship and teaching as if he/she were heading out the door for the last time. It's the kind of tweed-jacket-with-elbow-patches talk that may or may not impart useful knowledge and lasting inspiration, but almost surely gives all present some warm and fuzzy feelings.

But a "last lecture" by Randy Pausch was different in every possible way. The professor of Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction, and Design at Carnegie Mellon University was just 46, and this really was his last lecture --- he was dying.

And dying fast. In the summer of 2006, Pausch had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a ferociously efficient killer. Only 4% of its victims are alive five years after diagnosis. Most die much faster. Think months, not years.

Pausch fought back. Surgery. Chemo. Progress. But in August of 2007, the cancer returned --- and now it had metastasized to his liver and spleen. The new prognosis: 3-6 months of relative health, then a quick dispatch to the grave, leaving behind a wife and three little kids.

On September 18, 2007 --- less than a month later --- Randy Pausch gave his last lecture.

No one would have faulted him for launching a blast about desperately seizing opportunities in an irrational universe. Instead, Pausch delivered a laugh-filled session of teaching stories about going after your childhood dreams and helping others achieve theirs and enjoying every moment in your life --- even the ones that break your heart. Pausch's philosophy, in brief: "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."

The lecture was taped, and slapped up on YouTube. Jeffrey Zaslow wrote about it in The Wall Street Journal, and news shows made Pausch "person of the week" --- and soon Pausch had a book deal reported to be worth almost $7 million. Few expected him to be alive when it was published.

On February 19, I interviewed Randy Pausch for Reader's Digest. To the surprise of many --- including Pausch --- he was still his recognizable, energetic self. As I write (in early April, 2008), Pausch reports he's recovering from a standing eight count. But his good news doesn't deceive him. He notes that pancreatic cancer did to the photographer Dith Pran ("The Killing Fields") what Pol Pot couldn't --- it buried him in three months.

And now we have the book. It's two books, really, because it reads one way with the author still among us and will surely read differently when "The Last Lecture" is like the The Butterfly and the Diving Bell --- the record of a dead man, talking. The first book invites your support and gives you a wake-up call. The second, I suspect, is also a wake-up call but, between the lines, reminds you that even happiness can't save you from death.

Somewhere in between --- in the quiet space where a book really lives --- is a document that accomplishes a lot in 200 pages. It's about paying attention to what you think is important (when asked how he got tenure early, Pausch replied, "Call me at my office at 10 o'clock on Friday night and I'll tell you") and working hard and listening really well. It's easy to miss that last part of that in the emotion and the stories surrounding this book, but Pausch argues that hearing what other people say about you and your work is crucial to success and happiness. Because this is what you get: "a feedback loop for life."

So, if you must, shed your tears for Randy Pausch. Imagine what it would be like if you or your dearest loved one drew the card called pancreatic cancer. And then put dying aside, and get on with your dreams. Amazing how many you can achieve if you want them badly enough. And how they have the power to cushion the pain when the bad stuff happens.

Sounds crazy, I know: Pollyanna in the cancer ward. But I talked with the guy. And we laughed and laughed. Of all the achievements in a life that's winding down, that's got to be up there."

Review By Robert Kall "Rob Kall of Opednews.com" (Newtown, PA)
"The first and only book I've ever read that made me cry through half the chapters.

If you haven't seen the Youtube video, read the Parade Magazine or the Original Wall Street Journal articles that got this phenomenon off the ground, you're missing something you really want to be aware of.

Randy Pausch is dying of cancer. He had surgery and chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer and it failed. He's been told he has three to six months to live, with the ten tumors in his liver that came back after his original treatment.

As is traditional at many universities, he gave a "last lecture" which is usually given by elder, retiring professors. But Pausch's last lecture because an internet youtube phenomenon. And now, after the book he did with Wall Street Journal writer Jeff Zaslow is out, titled, The Last Lecture , it is a huge, runaway bestseller, so hot, that Disney's Hyperion Publishing doesn't have enough to keep the books in stock in bookstores.

Now, I was lucky, after reading about Pausch's last lecture in the Wall Street Journal, I wrote to thank the article writer, and told him I'd posted it on my website.opednews dot com. A short time later, the writer offered to send me a copy to review. When my copy came in, my office manager, Rose, expressed interest in it, so I told her to go ahead and borrow it for a few days. I get a lot of review books, many unsolicited, and I only read a small percentage of them. But I knew I wanted to read this one. When I told Rose I wanted it back, so I could read it on an international flight, I asked her how she liked it. She told me she'd only read the first three chapters-- that she'd cried during reading each one. I was going on a trip with my 27 year old daughter and my better half, so, on the one hour drive to the airport, I started reading the book out loud, to them.

Rose was not alone. I found myself choking up, engaging in overlong pauses and needing to clear the tears from MY eyes as Pausch told his story, and the life lessons he'd learned. I kept asking if my partner or my daughter wanted me keep reading and they had me read until we parked the car.

I finished the book quickly and I have to say, it's unique. I've never read a book where over half the chapters (about 60 chapters) touch my heart AND make me cry.

This book is ALL about positive psychology. It's not university research, but there's an awful lot of university wisdom. It should be required reading for positive psychologists. This is how wisdom is woven together into a meaningful life.

Pausch explores, throughout the book the theme of acheiving your own childhood dreams, adult dreams, and enabling the dreams of others. He mentions early, how when he was a kid, when it came to the World book encyclopedia, "I didn't read every word, but I gave it a shot." One of his childhood dreams was to be a contributor, as an expert to the worldbook-- and eventually, it did happen. That made me think. I'm a quotationaholic, sort of like a bibliomaniac (which I also am) but for quotations. I usually leave a few quotation books in the bathroom. The quotes make perfect reading length material. I was delighted one day to have my son come up to me, holding the Book of Positive Quotations, informing me that one of my quotations was in it. That was one of those moments.

Pausch, an engineer, takes lessons from his life that he wants to pass on to his very young three children and his students. He's a man who has accomplished some impressive things in his life, so that lends credibility to what would otherwise be solid, wise advise.

I love his attitude towards "brick walls." When you reach a brick wall that seems unsurmountable and unpassable, he advises, "The brick walls are there for a reason. They're not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a c hance to show how badly we want something." Then he tells several stories illustrating how brick walls challenged him and how he overcame the challenges.

Coming from spending over 30 years in the world of biofeedback, I was pleased to see that Pausch believes, "In the end, educators best serve students by helping them be more self-reflective. THe only way any of us can improve... is if we develop a real ability to assess ourselves. If we can't accurately do that, how can we tell if we're getting better or worse?"

I love chapter 39, "Be the First Penguin." He writes that "experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. .... It's a phrase worth considering at every brick wall we encounter, and at every disappointment. It's also a reminder that failure is not just acceptable, it's often essential."

Pausch tells the story that how, for the "Building Virtual Worlds" course he taught at Carnegie Mellon, he created a "First Penguin Award. "It went to the team that took the biggest gamble in trying new ideas or new technology, while failing to achieve their stated goals. In essence, it was an award for 'glorious failure' and it celebrated out-of-the-box thinking and using imagination in a daring way.

"The other students came to understand: 'First Penguin' winners were losers who were definitely going somewhere.

"The title of the award came fromt he notion that whne penguins are about to jump into water that might contain predators, well, somebody's got to be the first penguin."

"....Start-up companies often prefer to hire a chief executive witha failed start-up in his or her background. The person who failed often knows how to avoid future failures. The person who knows only success can be more oblivious to all the pitfalls."

Then he revisits the quote, "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted," adding, "And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer."

He writes, "'Lucky' is a strange word to use to describe my situation, but a part of me does feel fortunate..." I'll let you read the book to find out why. It may me think how, a few weeks ago, while driving on a weekend ski trip to Vermont, my old college buddy was driving close to the 65 MPH speed limit, hit some black ice, fishtailed, spun 360 degrees, rolled over the guard rail, rolled two more times down a 25 foot embankment, then hit a tree that brought us to an abrupt stop. I ended up with a very knuckle, and a small abrasion on the back of my hand. The car was VERY totaled, but we both walked away, relatively unharmed, so we were able to enjoy two days of double diamond expert skiing at Killington. I knew I was lucky. But as the experience has worked on me, I've come to realize I'm actually grateful for it. It's given me a fresh approach to life. I appreciate it more and push myself a bit harder to go deeper, in my work, play and relationships.

This book takes YOU to a multitude of ways of thinking about how to get more out of life. It's well worth the investment. Just throw a box of facial tissues to wipe away the tears from your eyes. I'm not kidding when I say I literally cried through over half the chapters."

Review By A reader (Midwest)
"I really liked the lecture. I've downloaded both Prof. Pausch's time management lecture and this one. So I'm a fan. I have nothing against Prof. Pausch, though I do think that his friends jokingly calling him "St. Randy" is pretty funny. I see a lot of hero-worship of him on the web.
He's a very charismatic, very intelligent, very passionate guy. These are great qualities. They also make his last lecture fun to watch.

But the book is just that, a book. And while I'm sure those who have seen the lecture can imagine Prof. Pausch (okay, I don't know the man, but he seems like a first-name kind of guy-as opposed to a "title" sort of person, and I'm definitely a first-name kind of person, so I'm going to switch to calling him Randy now.) saying the words, there's a lot lost without seeing Randy's passion.
The book has some more stories from Randy's life, and there's some elaboration on some of the ones he does talk about, but Randy's a good professor. He really distilled the most important and most interesting parts into his lecture (with the possible exception of wooing his wife, Jai, but I found that story not substantially more compelling or instructive than his grad school admission story). Actually, let me sum it up for you: they met while he was visiting a campus where she was studying, her job was to host him, they went on a date, she doesn't want a long-distance relationship, he sends her flowers and she changes her mind, they get more serious, she gets scared while he's down there for a seminar and he gives her support by checking in on her a bit, she realizes she loves him.

This is a pretty short book. Frankly, the extra stories and the elaboration beyond the lecture don't make it worth the money when the lecture-with the advantage of seeing Randy's personality-is available for free.
I did have some qualms about writing this review; after all, Randy puts the lecture and transcript of his last lecture out there for free. And if I'd only seen the video once and couldn't see it again, I'd most likely want the book. So in a sense, I'm penalizing the book for that generosity. On the other hand, if I had never seen the video, this is probably not a book that I would buy. There are a lot of good self-help books out there and I'd probably flip through this book, decide there was too much stuff about computers in there and too much of the same old stuff in not an exceptionally well-done way and leave it on the shelf.
If you're curious, I'd check it out at the library or flip through it in the book store. But don't buy this book sight unseen.

If the book had touted that all or even some of its proceeds went to pancreatic cancer research, I would have bought the book. Out of guilt, if nothing else. I really enjoy listening to the lecture and it's free and I'd like to give something back for that. But there was no mention of any kind of donation of the sort. Actually, donations to an organization like that might be the best way to show gratitude and support"

Review By z hayes "myrradine" (texas)
"I confess I had not heard about Dr Pausch's "Last Lecture" that was broadcast on the internet and his appearance on TV until I saw this book at a bookstore. I have since downloaded the original transcript of his lecture and read it, and also this book which is an amazing testament to the life of an amazing individual, not because he is dying of pancreatic cancer at the young age of 47, but because he chooses to live his life to the utmost with the time he has left [instead of indulging in self-pity and 'why me' talk].

The greatest gift of this book is that it promotes the idea of enjoying one's time with one's family, of making time to do the little things we take so much for granted. This is what Dr Pausch has chosen to do with his remaining time - spend it with his young family [a wife and three kids aged 6,4, and 2] whilst also preparing them to continue after his demise.

A poignant read, but also a timely book that once again emphasises the need for one to make time for the things that really matter- the loved ones in our lives. Another book that promotes this wisdom is "An Hour to Live, An Hour to Love" by Richard and Kristine Carlson."

About the Author

"Randy Pausch is a Professor of Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction, and Design at Carnegie Mellon University. From 1988-1997, he taught at the University of Virginia. He is an award-winning teacher and researcher, and has worked with Adobe, Google, Electronic Arts (EA), and Walt Disney Imagineering, and pioneered the Alice project. He lives in Virginia with his wife and three children.

Jeffrey Zaslow, a columnist for The Wall Street Journal, attended the last lecture, and wrote the story that helped fuel worldwide interest in it. He lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, Sherry, and daughters Jordan, Alex and Eden."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for The Last Lecture [ROUGHCUT] (Hardcover) at amazon.com

The Shack Book by William P. Young

2008-09-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

The Shack
by William P. Young (Author), Wayne Jacobsen & Brad Cummings (Editor)

Review
Release on May 1, 2007

Amazon review about this book:

"Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!"

"The Shack is a one of a kind invitation to journey to the very heart of God. Through my tears and cheers, I have been indeed transformed by the tender mercy with which William Paul Young opened the veil that too often separated me from God and from myself. With every page, the complicated do's and don't that distort a relationship into a religion were washed away as I understood Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the first time in my life. --Patrick M. Roddy, ABC News Emmy Award winning producer

Finally! A guy-meets-God Novel that has literary integrity and spiritual daring. "The Shack" cuts through the cliches of both religion and bad writing to reveal something compelling and beautiful about life's integral dance with the Divine. This story reads like a prayer--like the best kind of prayer, filled with sweat and wonder and transparency and surprise. When I read it, I felt like I was fellowshipping with God. If you read one work of fiction this year, let this be it. --Mike Morrell, zoecarnate.com

When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of "The Shack." This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" did for his. It's that good! --Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, B.C."

Review By AudioFile
"Mac is a grief-stricken father in mid-life about to have an extraordinary experience with God. His great sadness began four years ago on a weekend camping trip, when his 6-year-old daughter, Missy, was murdered. What he couldn't know then, but is about to learn, was God's purpose for Missy's death. Roger Mueller's clear, gentle voice characterizes Mac's family with high-spirited joy and laughter. His portrayal of Missy's animated excitement makes her especially believable. His polished performance of grief-stricken Mac brings tears. With empathy and sensitivity, Mueller captures the mysterious voices of those who have invited him to the now abandoned, yet transformed, cabin in the wilderness. This compelling fantasy explores themes of love, loss, and blame. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine"

Review By Eric Wilson "novelist" (Nashville, TN United States)
"In the book world, it's hard to explain "the buzz." What causes word of mouth to start spreading? What turns an unknown author and novel into a surprise bestseller? Even more inexplicable for the book snobs is when a story fails to meet their literary standards and yet touches the masses in an undeniable way.

"The Shack" is the buzz book of the past few months. I hadn't even heard of it in November, but by the end of December I'd had relatives, friends, and online pals from across the country telling me I "had" to read this one. I've been burned by such recommendations in the past, particularly in relation to spiritually oriented titles. (Can anyone say "The Prayer of Jabez" and "Left Behind"?), but I was willing to give it a shot.

William P. Young's book has an intriguing premise. Years ago, a father name MacKenzie Phillips took his children camping and lost one of them to a man who has kidnapped and killed others. Mack has grieved since then. His marriage has struggled. Understandably, his relationship with God has suffered. Then, one wintry day, he receives a note in his mailbox inviting him back to the woods, to the shack in which his daughter's dress and bloodstains were found. The note, it would seem, is from God.

From this simple yet effective premise, Young leads Mack Phillips back to his point of despair and anger. The encounters he then has with God there in "The Shack" serve as thought-provoking moments for both Mack and the reader. This is not the God of stodgy Sunday school classes. This is not a flannel-graph Jesus. This is not limited to a fluttering dove of the Holy Spirit. The descriptions here are startling, while remaining true to the nature of God's love and grace as portrayed through Scripture. Not only are they startling, they're wise and moving and beautiful.

Some might argue that "The Shack" has little theology or accuracy to it, but the very argument is what Young is trying to melt away. I earned a Bachelor's from a Bible college, and the majority of Mack's godly encounters could be wrapped up in biblical theology: redemption, grace, forgiveness, propitiation, etc. Do I agree with every line of the book? Not necessarily. Yet, while never sounding like trite religion (because they're not and never should be!), the words spoken by God in this book are full of vibrancy and life.

Is it the best crafted novel ever? No. In many ways, it could be encapsulated in a non-fiction treatise. However, in sharing this remarkable tale in a fictional form, Young has breathed wonder and wisdom into a story that will continue to buzz around for years to come."

Review By Marc Axelrod (Potter, Wi USA)
"Mackenzie Allen Phillips is married to a godly woman and the father of four children. One weekend, he takes the kids on a camping trip, and the unthinkable happens. Mack is plunged in a world of despair, and a great sadness covers his life.

Four years later, he receives a mysterious invitation to return to the locale of this tragedy. Is this an invitation from the eternal God? Mack makes the trip up to The Shack, and his life changes forever.

Your life may change too, after you read this gripping story. Of the many books I've read in the past few years, this is definitely one of my favorites.

There are some strange ideas in this book about the Trinity, and there is a mysterious antipathy toward rules and regulations and hierarchy. Not everything in this book is in accordance with my understanding of the Bible and Christian theology.

But the book does an awesome job of portraying God's love for humanity and His desire to have fellowship with us. This book struck a chord in my life, and I have a special fondness for it, as God does for us all. Meet with God in The Shack and get ready for an unforgettable experience!"

Review By Marsha Marks "www.marshamarks.com" (Savannah, GA)
"Perhaps if one met the living God - not the one you hear about in most sunday schools across the United States, but if one met the true, the great, I AM - they would be smiling and laughing and crying and shocked and shaken. In this astounding book, THE SHACK, I came face to face with that God. (As much as we can - through a glass darkly) And I'm still shocked and shaken and all those other things. Like most readers...I came to this book with my own set of belief's - including and justifying...What Parent would not be justified hating the one who murdered their child? What victim of Child Abuse hasn't felt God doesn't understand their pain? What Christian has not heard their actions are shocking God? I have been to Bible School, studied the Bible for years...thought I had a strong faith, have written numerous books about my faith - and yet, this book...this one book, THE SHACK, has changed my life. I don't want to say it has a power second only to the Bible, but other's have said it and I feel that is true. It's just so dang embarrassing to say, a novel...of all things, could be that powerful. If you know of anyone who has suffered any pain or thinks they are 'righteous' or perhaps have a grip on who God is - have them read this book! Also, for those of you worried about it being theologically correct - it is. Just compare it to the accurate God of the Bible. Not to the God you've read about in other theological books, but the one in the Bible, the real I AM. Oh and whoever agreed to leave the two swear words that are in this book in there - thank you - I'm sorry but real life is sometimes about swearing. Sometimes pain produces in us - words that are not just 'darn' or 'opps'.

I cannot recommend this book strongly enough for those of you who are serious about knowing the one who loves you most. Or those who hate the God they think they know. Amen and Amen"

Review By Homeschool Mom "homeschool777" (United States)
"By habit, I am suspicious of books that are popular, especially in the Christian market. I read The Shack guardedly expecting for Oprah's New Age type religion/philosophy.

I was pleasantly surprised with this stirring and unforgettable story about God's love and spiritual healing.

This is a fiction book. Missy's death is a metaphor for an ugly, dark place hidden so deep that it seemed beyond God's healing reach. Mack spends the two and a half days with the Trinity learning about himself and God and relationships in the shack which is transformed into a mansion in an Eden-like garden for the weekend.

I smiled, cried, pondered, prayed, and repented as I read this over two days. The main focus of this book is on God's love, God's mercy, and the importance of us loving and forgiving others. I came away from the book refreshed.

Once I felt comfortable the author believed in salvation by faith through grace and that Jesus being the only way, I let down my guard and basked in this well written book full of hidden treasures. This is a novel you read with a highlighter.

Those who view Christianity only as a religion with rules to follow will learn that faith and love don't come from theology or rules they flow from a relationship with God.

Why is The Shack so Popular?

Young approaches the popular topic the love of God and human suffering in a story. Jesus taught in parables and object lessons becasue we learn well from stories. Young's story is an attempt describe a God's character to his children. But God's character is essentially indescribable. We can only understand a part of God's characteristics by what we know and experience in human relationships.

People in our culture have a need to connect with God as a personal God beyond the holy and omnipotent. Our reverence and wonder about the presence of God make hard to grasp God in terms of intimate family relationships such as God as Papa (instead of an unseen force or an abstract will).

Young presents an easy to relate to version of the trinity of three persons with unique personalities spending a few days casual friendly folksy conversation and home cooked comfort meals. Easy enough for a child to understand, loving, warm and rich.

If you have been hurt in your life through church or religion or experienced the pain of legalism or rejection of judgmental attitudes this book will especially touch you. I have been hurt a lot in churches so I was profoundly impacted.

There is such a chasm between God's holy being and our imperfect world that it is simply hard to understand God's mercy and loving actions with unworthy man. The Shack gives us a grasp of the depth of the love of God and it is beyond comforting, it is exhilarating!

The Controversy

Any book that includes conversations with God is bound to receive criticism. How can anyone put words in God's mouth? But the critics seem to forget the book is a fiction story by a man telling a story about God's love to his children, not a book on theology. It is Young's perception of God.

I was not in total agreement with The Shack (I am not in total agreement with several of my favorite authors). I don't expect any book but the Bible to be perfect. Books are like watermelons; you have to be willing to spit out a few seeds.

I read many of the heresy hunters posts and some of them say some things that just are not true. The article "Is the Shack Heresy?" by Wayne Jacobson addresses each of the problems the critics bring up.

The predestination folks (particularly Tim Challies) seem to have the most problems with the book (the teachings in The Shack--God loves everyone-- do not agree with predestination. See the video series for a full explanation).

A Feminine God?

I imagine the hardest part for Christians to grasp is God being first presented to Mack as a female. Its easy to understand a knee jerk reaction. I was cautious when I read this but not completely turned off I have a limited understanding of the masculine and feminine parts of the image of God(becasue of my studies in Hebrew roots). When Adam was first made, he was both male and female, formed in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).

The Shack is not trying to reinvent God as a female, but revealing that God is beyond race and gender. The main character in the story Mack was abused by his father so the author presents a comforting mother type at first, later in the book (once the earthly father issues are solved) God is presented as the Father. Harper's Bible Dictionary explains the Bible uses both male and femal imagery to show the charter of God:

Although masculine images for God dominate (e.g., king, judge, father, brother, shepherd, etc.), it must be recognized that feminine images are also frequently used to describe God's activity. Among these are images related to feminine anatomy (e.g., womb and breasts) and feminine function (e.g., conception, pregnancy, childbirth, maternal nurture, etc.).

In the story, Papa explains that there is no hierarchy in the holy trinity--there is no need becasue each serves each other. It is a thought provoking description and my jury is still out on this section. But I have no problem questioning this and gleaning from the rest of the story.

Turkey Bacon

I was very disappointed that God served bacon for breakfast. My 30 year old son helped me with this. When we discussed it he said (tongue in cheek) "Hey mom, it is probably the same turkey bacon you serve." I was enjoying the story so much I didn't want this part to ruin it. So in my mind--it is turkey bacon.

Christians can agree to disagree in non-salvation issues and still love each other.

To fairly critique the book I would ask the question: What did Mack learn from his weekend with God?

The Shack is not about theology or religion, but about the sweetness of an intimate relationship with God through Christ.

Mack is reminded of basic truths found in God's word that he allowed forgot during his great sadness. The truths are given in an unconditional casual conversation format that may make some people uncomfortable.

Mack learns that he doesn't really trust God and "Trust is the fruit of a relationship where you know you are loved" (p 126).

Mack discovers that God's desires an intimate love relationship with each of us. He learns God wants him to spend time with Him and intimately communicate with Him, to enjoy fellowship with Him, to trust and follow Him, and to give his life meaning and purpose. He learns that God can use all things, even sin and evil to develop this relationship for good (Romans 8:28).

Mack discovers the depth of God's grace (Ephesians 2:4-5) . He learns that he can not be self-sufficient and realizes he has been made acceptable through Jesus Christ and Him alone. He learns he will not find God through guilt or condemnation. He understands God is lovingly and patiently waiting on Him to submit (1 Peter 5:7).

Mack is reminded of the two most important commands--to love God and love others (john 13:35). Mack already knows he must forgive others as Christ forgave Him but in the shack he is helped through the process.

Mack learns God works through everything including our brokenness and sadness (Philippians 3:8). When we are separated from our prideful flesh (the carnal, corrupted life) through grace and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us He will gradually bring us to the restful place of humble dependence, wherein we can consistently receive the grace that leads to intimacy. Beautiful, loving intimacy!

Mack learns God wants us to be made complete in Christ (John 6:44-45). God wants us to be of one mind with Him. God wants us to make His ways our ways, His thoughts our thoughts.

I came away from the book feeling loved and secure with a strong desire to cultivate my relationship with God through His Word. How can that be a bad thing?"

About the Author

"William P. Young was born a Canadian and raised among a stone-age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of what was New Guinea. He suffered great loss as a child and young adult, and now enjoys the 'wastefulness of grace' with his family in the Pacific Northwest."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for The Shack (Paperback) at amazon.com

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America Book by Thomas L. Friedman

2008-09-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America by Thomas L. Friedman

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America
by Thomas L. Friedman (Author)

Review
Release on September 8, 2008

Amazon review about this book:

"Thomas L. Friedman’s phenomenal number-one bestseller The World Is Flat has helped millions of readers to see the world in a new way. In his brilliant, essential new book, Friedman takes a fresh and provocative look at two of the biggest challenges we face today: America’s surprising loss of focus and national purpose since 9/11; and the global environmental crisis, which is affecting everything from food to fuel to forests. In this groundbreaking account of where we stand now, he shows us how the solutions to these two big problems are linked--how we can restore the world and revive America at the same time.

Friedman explains how global warming, rapidly growing populations, and the astonishing expansion of the world’s middle class through globalization have produced a planet that is “hot, flat, and crowded.” Already the earth is being affected in ways that threaten to make it dangerously unstable. In just a few years, it will be too late to fix things--unless the United States steps up now and takes the lead in a worldwide effort to replace our wasteful, inefficient energy practices with a strategy for clean energy, energy efficiency, and conservation that Friedman calls Code Green.

This is a great challenge, Friedman explains, but also a great opportunity, and one that America cannot afford to miss. Not only is American leadership the key to the healing of the earth; it is also our best strategy for the renewal of America.

In vivid, entertaining chapters, Friedman makes it clear that the green revolution we need is like no revolution the world has seen. It will be the biggest innovation project in American history; it will be hard, not easy; and it will change everything from what you put into your car to what you see on your electric bill. But the payoff for America will be more than just cleaner air. It will inspire Americans to something we haven’t seen in a long time--nation-building in America--by summoning the intelligence, creativity, boldness, and concern for the common good that are our nation’s greatest natural resources.

Hot, Flat, and Crowded is classic Thomas L. Friedman: fearless, incisive, forward-looking, and rich in surprising common sense about the challenge--and the promise--of the future."

Review By John Zxerce
"Friedman writes on world population, the increase of the global middle class, and the growing energy crisis. All of this has contributed to a world that is in desperate need of an energy solution. The thing I like about Friedman's approach is he's optimistic and he's practical. His major points are...

-- The battle over green (energy) will define the first part of the 21st century, just like the battle over red (communism) defined the last half of the 20th century.
-- Everyone needs to accept that oil will never again be cheap...
-- Off-shore drilling may be a temporary fix, but it's not the long-term solution.
-- The fossil-fuel age will end only when we invent our way out of it...
-- The last big innovation in energy production was nuclear power half a century ago, which is an important component to solving our energy problem, but we need additional solutions...
-- In order to further real innovation we need people "throwing crazy dollars at every idea, in every garage, that we have 100,000 people trying 100,000 things, five of which might work, and two might be the next green Google."
-- Friedman emphasizes the practical side of green - "It's the incredible sense of opportunity here. It's not just about saving the polar bears. It's not just about saving three generations from climate change. It's also about rising to the greatest economic opportunity that's come along in a long, long, time."

In the end, he is asking for collaboration and innovation. Of course that begs the question - where does the money come from for all of this? It's always easy to point at the government, but when we look at where real economic solutions have come from it's most often private industry. I wish Friedman would have written on how governments can create environments were private industry is incentivized to create, invent, and discover. Even so, Friedman's book is a needed wake-up call."

Review By Norma Lehmeierhartie (New York, USA)
"In Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America, Thomas Friedman presents an irresistible opportunity for Americans--one that can save the planet and increase our wealth.

The world is flat because of globalization--which is good, as ideas and practices can spread effectively. What is not so good is that our world population is exploding and countries like India and China are seeing an increase in wealth and subsequent buying power, which puts more strain on the world's resources and increases global warming.

Friedman begins the book with a discussion of how America has changed post 9/11. He uses the example of the US consulate built in 1882 in Istanbul. The consulate was built in the heart of the city: "it was an easy place for Turks to get a VISA, to peruse the library or to engage with an American diplomat."

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the building was closed and a nearly impenetrable consulate was built. This all but stopped visitors from visiting. Although the new building does protect against attacks, it isolates Americans and impacts on how we are viewed and how we see ourselves.

Friedman writes that he wrote the book because: "An American living in a defensive crouch cannot fully tap the vast rivers of idealism, innovation, volunteerism, and philanthropy that still flow through our nation. And it cannot play the vital role it has long played for the rest of the world--as a beacon of hope and the country that we can always be counted on to lead the world in response to whatever is the most important challenge of the day."

That challenge is global warming. He proposes we begin a massive project called "code green."

Friedman identifies three broad trends in our society:
1. The post 9/11 building of walls around us to protect Americans from foreigners.
2. Since the 1980's, politicians acting "dumb as we wanna be," meaning we will get to fixing the roads, global warming and other issues when we get around to it. This includes politicians like Bush "protecting us" from gas taxes and other unpleasantries to keep our standard of living, or the fact that we are in war and don't have to make any sacrifices (save the soldier's lives.)
3. Nation building at home. This is the one good trend Friedman sees and he writes about the plethora of innovative, imaginative souls who devote their energy to finding green solutions.

Friedman considers what is now called the green movement to be more like a green party. He cites several "green" books that include the words "easy" or "lazy" in the titles. The authors write books where: "everyone is a winner, nobody gets hurt and nobody has to do anything hard." I have read several of these books and agree--much of the advice is fluff.

However, I do see the recent deluge of books and articles on sustainability as changing the consciousness and buying habits of the country. Many people who begin by making "painless changes" get serious about the environment and one or two of them may be the next inventor of the solar-run car. I also believe that when millions cut down on the use of plastic and other nonrenewable resources, that it does make an environmental difference.

The increase in population and wealth and buying power all tax our already limited supply of petroleum, coal and gas--all substances that cause global warming and pollute our planet. Even if you didn't "believe" in global warming, it is a fact that petroleum--now needed in unprecedented amounts--is rapidly becoming an increasingly difficult product to procure. If you think spending $5.00 a gallon for gas for your car is a hardship, that price will be considered nothing in a few years. Folks, we are running out of time and oil.

Friedman gets that Americans can use the diminishing supply of nonrenewable resources as a means for an economic boom, for bridging the widening gap between Americans and the rest of the world and for drawing us together as a nation. Americans are an innovative and smart bunch of people and we need to get working on devising clean alternatives to fossil fuels. This will create more jobs, strong economic times and raised spirits.

Friedman presents a doable, win-win plan to raise wealth and to save the planet. A must-read.

Award winning author and environmentalist"

Review By Robert Busko (Waynesville, NC USA)
"Thomas L. Friedman's Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need A Green Revolution-and How It Can Renew America is the right book, by the right author, at the right time. Just when it is becoming apparent that the days of petroleum are ending we get a book that can serve as a platform for future discussion on the energy situation and may even form an outline for future action. This is a positive book and is also a realistic one. Readers will appreciate the proof he includes as he makes his points. For example, don't think that the flattening of the population is causing shortages in a variety of materials? How about scrap iron? Manhole covers (p. 65) have been disappearing all over the world. Initially in the Asia, the stealing has reached Chicago and will continue to spread. Copper is the latest in scarce materials that is being stolen.

Whether Friedman is discussing fuels from hell or fuels from heaven, his approach is intelligent, positive and, in my opinion, dead on target. There is opportunity in this crisis for however many people want to and invent our way out of it. Friedman's first law of petropolitics states that "as the price of oil goes up, the pace of freedom goes down". Certainly this isn't going to be a topic of debate among the readers of this book. Can anyone doubt that we have fewer freedoms today than say thirty years ago and that much of that is related to the price we pay for petroleum based products?

Among the many points that Friedman makes is our half-hearted attempts that have been made on behalf of the environment. Certainly "going green" is a popular phrase in the United States today. I know, I saw a bumper sticker on the back of a large Ford SUV a few weeks back announcing "Earth Day." Up to now being environmentally aware didn't require a lot of sacrifice. That, I think Friedman would agree with, is about to change.

As a solar energy advocate for more than 30 years I've often been frustrated by our inability to wean ourselves from not just petroleum, but from all fossil fuels. The federal government has been reluctant for any number of reasons to provide the leadership on this effort, and the private sector, while seemingly the one sector that should see the huge economic pay off of using solar energy where possible has been slow to lead the way. I guess that as long as cheap oil was available many felt that the investment in alternative energy sources just wasn't worth the effort....NO PROFITS. That is going to change.

Thomas L. Friedman's Hot, Flat, and Crowded isn't a book that tries to point the finger at any individual or group. In fact, the book is remarkably problem and solution oriented giving it a certain amount of legitimacy. While it does point up our short falls in the past, it also offers hope for the future.

I highly recommend.
Peace always"

Review By Loyd E. Eskildson "Pragmatist" (Phoenix, AZ.)
"Global warming, rapidly growing populations, and expansion of the world's middle class through globalization have produced a planet that is "hot, flat, and crowded." It will be too late to fix things in just a few years unless the U.S. steps up now to take the lead in a worldwide effort to replace wasteful, inefficient energy supplies.

Instead, we have put up more walls than ever as we export our fears of terrorism and indulge in petty political fights that postpone fixing even Social Security, Medicare, (jobs lost through free trade - I added that one), our infrastructure, immigration, deficits at all levels and education because we feel invulnerable. It (forecasted problems) won't happen to us because we can just borrow our way to prosperity and/or keep on doing what we've always been doing.

Europe's response to the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo was to raise gas taxes; in addition, France launched a massive investment into nuclear energy (much of their waste is reprocessed and reused). Japan also raised gas taxes and launched a huge drive for energy efficiency. The U.S. raised auto efficiency standards only to have them rolled back under Reagan, who also removed the Carter solar panels from the White House.

In late 2007 the U.S. moved the fuel economy standard to 35 mpg (where Europe and Japan already are), by 2020.

Detroit tells us they were only building what the public wanted (SUVs, light trucks), but "forgets" to tells us about their successful lobbying to hold down the gas tax.

Three Mile Island ended U.S. efforts to build nuclear power.

Deforestation in places like Indonesia and Brazil creates more CO2 than all of transportation. The average cow creates 600 liters of methane/day - 27X the power, but not as long lived, as CO2.

Subsidies in China, India, and the Middle East have helped spike demand for oil. Similarly in the U.S. re agriculture.

Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (Shiite) contend for leadership in the Islamic world. The more a state can rely on oil riches, the less it is concerned about democracy or developing its people. Also referred to as "Dutch disease" by economists - natural resources create a strong currency that then weakens manufacturing and eventually hollows it out. Strong natural resources also reduces pressure for women to work, become educated, and have rights - men's earnings are enough. Still another similar problem occurred during the Cold War - some states were supported (aka natural resources) because of their value to either the East or West. Result: Bush's failure to push oil conservation has been highly destructive towards other values that he professes.

Russia originally thrived on prison labor and forced labor on collective farms. Eventually even those sources were not enough, but the rise in oil prices per Arab oil embargo revived their economies and allowed expanding their influence. The subsequent fall in oil prices in the 1980s (conservation) and 1985 Saudi Arabian 4X boost in production stopped holding oil prices up and led to the fall of the USSR.

Friedman contends that there is too much debate about Al Gore, instead of focusing on climate change. Friedman also points out that there are too many trivial climate change activities that have little impact, but let people feel they've accomplished something. Major change is required, and quickly.

There are almost 3,200 electric utility companies in the U.S., and surprisingly limited integration between them. In most cases, customer bills do not relate to time of day.

Friedman asserts that the U.S. could create a major new industrial boom through moving quickly on new energy technology. I hope so, but suspect that the Chinese would quickly undercut us on price.

Finally, Friedman rightfully laments how long it takes the U.S. to take action - eg. 11 years to plan and implement a new wind farm in California. Most of the time was taken in mandated studies and approvals. He suggests that we need a brief period of fast-action such as occurs in China."

Review By Jo Ana Starr "Director of NEIH.COM" (USA)
"This book lays out a practical plan for the US to take the lead in the inevitable greening of the planet.

Whether you are a a believer in global warming as a natural long-term trend, a crisis situation or even a non-believer, many will acknowledge that the earth's weather patterns seem to be changing and that we are using valuable resources at a dangerous high rate, needlessly.

What I really like about this book is that Thomas Friedman offers doable American solutions that will help our country to lead the world in conscious, intelligent energy use through tax incentives and credits. This book is solution-based minus the doom and gloom tone so popular these days, and suggests that it's not too late for the US to change our carbon footprint dramatically.

Whether you "buy" the author's positions on global warming or not, this book will make you think about our energy options and our position in the world's energy picture. I recommend this book to anyone who's concerned about energy solutions, particularly in the US."

Review By Dr. F. Friedrich Kling (Woodstock, Illinois USA)
"The author, Thomas Friedman, argues persuasively that the United States is uniquely qualified to lead the world away from a destructive and unsustainable energy infrastructure dependent upon fossil fuels and toward a future that combines a mix of clean, abundant, renewable, and inexpensive energy sources.

The forces of a hot (rapid climate change), flat (rampant Western dominated consumerism, and crowded (human population explosion) world are exacerbating five immense global problems:

1. Humans are causing the greatest extinction of plant and animal life since the die-off of the dinosaurs 67 million years ago. Every day the planet's biodiversity is reduced by 72 species while during this same time period the human population expands by 220,000. How many more broken links in the chain of life can Mother Nature endure before the world ecosystem implodes?
2. As Mankind burns fossil fuels, atmospheric concentrations of CO2 increase (and a corresponding increase in temperatures) and the world's oceans are dieing due to acidification (H2O+Co2=H2CO3 or carbonic acid).
3. Western societies are supporting petro-dictatorships via the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the world.
4. The demand for energy is growing while fossil fuel reserves are declining as more people strive for a higher standard of living.
5. Energy poverty is a pervasive problem effecting 1.6 billion people.

If the US government would stop subsidizing the oil/gas industry and provide a level playing field so all energy sources had an equal opportunity, the country would experience a much needed renaissance that would eliminate or significantly ameliorate the above described seemingly intractable challenges.

Friedman is a realistic optimist. The book's first half thoroughly describes the problems encountered by a fossil fuel addicted world. Friedman then explains why and how the US is singularly qualified to solve the energy technology crises.

To quote E. O. Wilson, "If enough species are extinguished, will ecosystems collapse and will the extinction of most other species follow soon afterwards? The only answer anyone can give is: Possibly. By the time we find out, however, it might be too late. One planet, one experiment."

"The good Earth- we could have saved it, but we were too damn cheap and lazy."- Kurt Vonnegut"

Review By FreddieJr
"This is a book that American's should read and think seriously about.

This is what I took away after reading this book.

1. Energy is the Muscle of the 21st Century.

2. The nation that independently harbors and uses energy more efficiently will have the "greatest army" to protect itself.

3. Forget the Global Warming debate for a minute and look at ENERGY itself. The demand for Energy Grows and Grows everyday and that FACT is here and Growing at a rapid pace.

4. We need to find alternative means and "Envision" and "Support" the impossible (computers, space ships, cars, electricity were impossibles once) to become That Great Army.

5. We can do this. Why not, were American's. Current options are a small but necessary step. Like training to run a Marathon. You have to begin with the first mile then the next and the next. It takes time to "work the body" up to the 26 miles as it will take time to "work the mind" up to the future of Energy Technology. It's done "one mile" at a time and "one mind" at a time.

6. This book didn't come across as a "doom and gloom" scenario. I found it inspiring. With the right leadership and the support of the country American can and will lead the Energy Revolution. There will always be some who disagree, but like it or not human's are always progressing. The opening part of "2001 A Space Odyssey" say's it all when the ape throws that bone in the air and the film cuts to a ship in space. Let's hope were leading that progress rather then being on the receiving end of that bone."

About the Author

"Thomas L. Friedman, a world-renowned author and journalist, joined The New York Times in 1981 as a financial reporter specializing in OPEC- and oil-related news and later served as the chief diplomatic, chief White House, and international economics correspondents. A three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, he has traveled hundreds of thousands of miles reporting the Middle East conflict, the end of the cold war, U.S. domestic politics and foreign policy, international economics, and the worldwide impact of the terrorist threat. His foreign affairs column, which appears twice a week in the Times, is syndicated to seven hundred other newspapers worldwide.

Friedman is the author of From Beirut to Jerusalem (FSG, 1989), which won both the National Book Award and the Overseas Press Club Award in 1989 and was on the New York Times bestseller list for nearly twelve months. From Beirut to Jerusalem has been published in more than twenty-seven languages, including Chinese and Japanese, and is now used as a basic textbook on the Middle East in many high schools and universities. Friedman also wrote The Lexus and the Olive Tree (FSG, 1999), one of the best selling business books in 1999, and the winner of the 2000 Overseas Press Club Award for best nonfiction book on foreign policy. It is now available in twenty languages. His last book, Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World After September 11, issued by FSG in 2002, consists of columns Friedman published about September 11 as well as a diary of his private experiences and reflections during his reporting on the post-September world as he traveled from Afghanistan to Israel to Europe to Indonesia to Saudi Arabia. In 2005, The World Is Flat was given the first Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award, and Friedman was named one of America's Best Leaders by U.S. News & World Report.

Friedman graduated summa cum laude from Brandeis University with a degree in Mediterranean studies and received a master's degree in modern Middle East studies from Oxford. He has served as a visiting professor at Harvard University and has been awarded honorary degrees from several U.S. universities. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife, Ann, and their two daughters."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America (Hardcover) at amazon.com

Twilight Book

2008-09-14T11:14:00.001-07:00

Twilight: Book One in The Twilight Saga

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)
by Stephenie Meyer (Author)

Review
Release on September 6, 2006
Reading level: Young Adult

Amazon review about this book:

"Softly he brushed my cheek, then held my face between his marble hands. 'Be very still,' he whispered, as if I wasn't already frozen. Slowly, never moving his eyes from mine, he leaned toward me. Then abruptly, but very gently, he rested his cold cheek against the hollow at the base of my throat."

"As Shakespeare knew, love burns high when thwarted by obstacles. In Twilight, an exquisite fantasy by Stephenie Meyer, readers discover a pair of lovers who are supremely star-crossed. Bella adores beautiful Edward, and he returns her love. But Edward is having a hard time controlling the blood lust she arouses in him, because--he's a vampire. At any moment, the intensity of their passion could drive him to kill her, and he agonizes over the danger. But, Bella would rather be dead than part from Edward, so she risks her life to stay near him, and the novel burns with the erotic tension of their dangerous and necessarily chaste relationship."

"Meyer has achieved quite a feat by making this scenario completely human and believable. She begins with a familiar YA premise (the new kid in school), and lulls us into thinking this will be just another realistic young adult novel. Bella has come to the small town of Forks on the gloomy Olympic Peninsula to be with her father. At school, she wonders about a group of five remarkably beautiful teens, who sit together in the cafeteria but never eat. As she grows to know, and then love, Edward, she learns their secret. They are all rescued vampires, part of a family headed by saintly Carlisle, who has inspired them to renounce human prey. For Edward's sake they welcome Bella, but when a roving group of tracker vampires fixates on her, the family is drawn into a desperate pursuit to protect the fragile human in their midst. The precision and delicacy of Meyer's writing lifts this wonderful novel beyond the limitations of the horror genre to a place among the best of YA fiction. (Ages 12 and up) --Patty Campbell"

Review by School Library Journal

"Starred Review. Grade 9 Up–Headstrong, sun-loving, 17-year-old Bella declines her mom's invitation to move to Florida, and instead reluctantly opts to move to her dad's cabin in the dreary, rainy town of Forks, WA. She becomes intrigued with Edward Cullen, a distant, stylish, and disarmingly handsome senior, who is also a vampire. When he reveals that his specific clan hunts wildlife instead of humans, Bella deduces that she is safe from his blood-sucking instincts and therefore free to fall hopelessly in love with him. The feeling is mutual, and the resulting volatile romance smolders as they attempt to hide Edward's identity from her family and the rest of the school. Meyer adds an eerie new twist to the mismatched, star-crossed lovers theme: predator falls for prey, human falls for vampire. This tension strips away any pretense readers may have about the everyday teen romance novel, and kissing, touching, and talking take on an entirely new meaning when one small mistake could be life-threatening. Bella and Edward's struggle to make their relationship work becomes a struggle for survival, especially when vampires from an outside clan infiltrate the Cullen territory and head straight for her. As a result, the novel's danger-factor skyrockets as the excitement of secret love and hushed affection morphs into a terrifying race to stay alive. Realistic, subtle, succinct, and easy to follow, Twilight will have readers dying to sink their teeth into it.–Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved"

Review From AudioFile

"Stephanie Meyer's teen-vampire romance offers an appealing heroine in Bella, transplanted from sunny Phoenix to the wet, dreary town of Forks, Washington, and the seductive, secretive object of her obsession, Edward, who may or may not be a vampire. Predictability doesn't keep this spine-tingling tale from being fun, but alas, Ilyana Kadushin's reading, does. Her speaking voice is thin and underdeveloped, and any sense of nuance is nonexistent. Kadushin doesn't try to give the characters personalities, so distinguishing between speakers is difficult. This is one of those rare times in audiobook listening when the writing exceeds the reader's capabilities. Still, the story is engrossing and the characters well drawn, ensuring that older teens will find much to enjoy. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine"

Review From Booklist

"*Starred Review* "Gr. 9-12. In the tradition of Anne Rice and YA titles such as Annette Curtis Klause's The Silver Kiss (1999) comes this heady romance that intertwines Bella Swan's life with that of Edward, an alluring and tormented vampire. Bella's life changes when she moves to perpetually rain-soaked Forks, Washington. She is instantly drawn to a fellow student, Edward Cullen, beautiful beyond belief and angrily aloof. Bella senses there is more behind Edward's hostility, and in a plot that slowly and frighteningly unfolds, she learns that Edward and his family are vampires--though they do not hunt humans. Yet Edward cannot promise that his powerful attraction to Bella won't put in her in danger, or worse. Recklessly in love, Bella wants only to be with Edward, but when a vicious, blood-lusting predator complicates her world, Bella's peril is brutally revealed. This is a book of the senses: Edward is first attracted by Bella's scent; ironically, Bella is repelled when she sees blood. Their love is palpable, heightened by their touches, and teens will respond viscerally. There are some flaws here--a plot that could have been tightened, an overreliance on adjectives and adverbs to bolster dialogue--but this dark romance seeps into the soul.
Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved"

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) (Paperback) at amazon.com

New Moon Book

2008-09-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

New Moon: Book Two in The Twilight Saga

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)
by Stephenie Meyer (Author)

Review
Release on May 31, 2008
Reading level: Young Adult

Amazon review about this book:

"Legions of readers entranced by Twilight are hungry for more and they won't be disappointed. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. The "star-crossed" lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy's reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality."

Review From AudioFile

"Readers will thrill to Ilyana Kadushin's elegant narration of NEW MOON, sequel to TWILIGHT. Her performance captures the emotional upheaval of mortal Bella's desperate love for vampire Edward and the obstacles to their perilous reunion. Like Romeo and Juliet, Edward and Bella suffer from their own folly, as well as the disapproval of their families. Kadushin's silvery, feminine voice delivers the unfolding events with precise, consistent timing, showcasing Meyer's story without overwhelming it. While the male characters could be slightly more distinct, the dialogue is clear as are Bella's numerous internal monologues. Kadushin ably succeeds at creating an addictive listen from Meyer's tumultuous story of star-crossed lovers. The combination will not disappoint. C.A. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine"

Review by School Library Journal

"Grade 9 Up–Recovered from the vampire attack that hospitalized her in the conclusion of Twilight (Little, Brown, 2005), Bella celebrates her birthday with her boyfriend Edward and his family, a unique clan of vampires that has sworn off human blood. But the celebration abruptly ends when the teen accidentally cuts her arm on broken glass. The sight and smell of her blood trickling away forces the Cullen family to retreat lest they be tempted to make a meal of her. After all is mended, Edward, realizing the danger that he and his family create for Bella, sees no option for her safety but to leave. Mourning his departure, she slips into a downward spiral of depression that penetrates and lingers over her every step. Vampire fans will appreciate the subsequently dour mood that permeates the novel, and it's not until Bella befriends Jacob, a sophomore from her school with a penchant for motorcycles, that both the pace and her disposition begin to take off. Their adventures are wild, dare-devilish, and teeter on the brink of romance, but memories of Edward pervade Bella's emotions, and soon their fun quickly morphs into danger, especially when she uncovers the true identities of Jacob and his pack of friends. Less streamlined than Twilight yet just as exciting, New Moon will more than feed the bloodthirsty hankerings of fans of the first volume and leave them breathless for the third.–Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."

Review From Booklist

"Gr. 8-11. "Which is tempting you more, my blood or my body?" Things are heating up between Bella Swan and her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, in this sequel to the immensely popular Twilight (2005). Then Bella is injured at her birthday party, and the Cullens' reaction to her blood sends Edward's family packing. Bella is inconsolable until she discovers that reckless behavior allows her to hear Edward's warning voice in her head. To keep him close, she decides to live as dangerously as possible, acquiring two motorcycles and developing a close friendship with Jacob, who helps her rebuild them. Romantics will miss Edward's presence, but the suspense created by a pack of werewolves bent on protecting Bella from a vindictive vampire will keep them occupied until the lovers can be reunited. The writing is a bit melodramatic, but readers won't care. Bella's dismay at being ordinary (after all, she's only human) will strike a chord even among girls who have no desire to be immortal, and like the vampires who watch Bella bleed with "fevered eyes," teens will relish this new adventure and hunger for more.
Cindy Dobrez
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved"

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2) (Paperback) at amazon.com

Eclipse Book

2008-09-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

Eclipse: Book Three in the The Twilight Saga

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)
by Stephenie Meyer (Author)

Review
Release on August 7, 2007
Reading level: Young Adult

Amazon review about this book:

"Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?"

Review From AudioFile

"High school graduation looms for Bella, and conventional worries over college applications vie with her plans for immortality and marriage to a vampire classmate, Edward Cullen. In this sequel to Meyers TWILIGHT and NEW MOON, Ilyana Kadushins elegant voice again moves from scenes of typical teen angst to moments of horror, including an attack by newborn vampires on the Cullen family (who have forsaken traditional vampire fodder for big game). Kadushins growling tones and pace are terrific as she differentiates the star-crossed lovers, immersing listeners in the clandestine world that exists around us. D.P.D. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3) (Hardcover) at amazon.com

Breaking Dawn Book

2008-09-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

Breaking Dawn: Book Four in The Twilight Saga

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)
by Stephenie Meyer (Author)

Review
Release on August 2, 2008
Reading level: Young Adult

Amazon review about this book:

"When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?

To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life-first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse-seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?

The astonishing, breathlessly anticipated conclusion to the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions."

Review by Publishers Weekly

"It might seem redundant to dismiss the fourth and final Twilight novel as escapist fantasy--but how else could anyone look at a romance about an ordinary, even clumsy teenager torn between a vampire and a werewolf, both of whom are willing to sacrifice their happiness for hers? Flaws and all, however, Meyer's first three novels touched on something powerful in their weird refraction of our culture's paradoxical messages about sex and sexuality. The conclusion is much thinner, despite its interminable length. Everygirl Bella achieves her wishes quickly (marriage and sex, in that order, are two, and becoming an immortal is another), and once she becomes a vampire it's almost impossible to identify with her. But that's not the main problem. Essentially, everyone gets everything they want, even if their desires necessitate an about-face in characterization or the messy introduction of some back story. Nobody has to renounce anything or suffer more than temporarily--in other words, grandeur is out. This isn't about happy endings; it's about gratification. A sign of the times? Ages 12–up. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4) (Hardcover) at amazon.com

Brisingr Book

2008-09-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

Brisingr: Book Three in the Inheritance Cycle

Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3)
by Christopher Paolini (Author)

Review
Release on September 20, 2008
Reading level: Young Adult

Amazon review about this book:

"Oaths sworn ... loyalties tested ... forces collide.

Following the colossal battle against the Empire’s warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still there is more at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.

First is Eragon’s oath to his cousin Roran: to help rescue Roran’s beloved, Katrina, from King Galbatorix’s clutches. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength—as are the elves and dwarves. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices— choices that take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice.

Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once-simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king?"

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3) (Hardcover) at amazon.com

Eldest Book

2008-09-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

Eldest: Book Two in the Inheritance Cycle

Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2)
by Christopher Paolini (Author)

Review
Release on August 23, 2005
Reading level: Young Adult

Amazon review about this book:

"Darkness falls…despair abounds ... evil reigns…

Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon he is on the journey of a lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspring new places and people, his days filled with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn't know whom he can trust.

Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle–one that might put Eragon in even graver danger.

Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life... "

"Surpassing its popular prequel Eragon, this second volume in the Inheritance trilogy shows growing maturity and skill on the part of its very young author, who was only seventeen when the first volume was published in 2003. The story is solidly in the tradition (some might say derivative) of the classic heroic quest fantasy, with the predictable cast of dwarves, elves, and dragons--but also including some imaginatively creepy creatures of evil.
The land of Alagaesia is suffering under the Empire of the wicked Galbatorix, and Eragon and his dragon Saphira, last of the Riders, are the only hope. But Eragon is young and has much to learn, and so he is sent off to the elven forest city of Ellesmera, where he and Saphira are tutored in magic, battle skills, and the ancient language by the wise former Rider Oromis and his elderly dragon Glaedr. Meanwhile, back at Carvahall, Eragon's home, his cousin Roran is the target of a siege by the hideous Ra'zac, and he must lead the villagers on a desperate escape over the mountains. The two narratives move toward a massive battle with the forces of Galbatorix, where Eragon learns a shocking secret about his parentage and commits himself to saving his people.

The sheer size of the novel, as well as its many characters, places with difficult names, and its use of imaginary languages make this a challenging read, even for experienced fantasy readers. It is essential to have the plot threads of the first volume well in mind before beginning--the publisher has provided not only a map, but a helpful synopsis of the first book and a much-needed Language Guide. But no obstacles will deter the many fans of Eragon from diving headfirst into this highly-awaited fantasy. (Ages 12 and up) -- Patty Campbell"

Review by School Library Journal

"Grade 5 Up–Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have survived the battle at Tronjheim, but their challenges are not over. Galbatorix, the corrupt emperor, still rules Alagaesia and is looking for them. The magically bonded pair must help the rebellious Varden regroup after their leader is slain. Eragon helps deal with the resulting diplomatic complexities and then leaves for Du Weldenvarden, the home of the Elves, in order to finish his training as a Dragon Rider. Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must unite the small town of Carvahall as it is battered by Galbatorix's forces, including the nasty Ra'zac. The story alternates between Eragon and Saphira and their political maneuvering and Roran and his more traditional adventure over land and sea. Paolini provides a worthy companion to Eragon (Knopf, 2003), though it does not stand alone (a summary of the first book will be included in the final edition). The plot–indeed, most of the fantasy conventions–is heavily inspired by Tolkien, McCaffrey, and especially George Lucas. The momentum of the narrative is steady and consistent: a problem presents itself and is neatly (and conveniently) solved before the next one arises, making it appealing to some adventure-quest fantasy fans and runescape.com players. Eragon's journey to maturity is well handled. He wrestles earnestly with definitions for good and evil, and he thoughtfully examines the question of good at what price.While there's nothing particularly original here, the book will find its fan-base.–Sarah Couri, New York Public Library Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2) (Hardcover) at amazon.com

Eragon Book

2008-09-13T15:12:00.000-07:00

Eragon: Book One in the Inheritance Cycle

Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1)
by Christopher Paolini (Author)

Review
Release on June 25, 2003
Reading level: Young Adult

Amazon review about this book:

"When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.
Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands... "

"Here's a great big fantasy that you can pull over your head like a comfy old sweater and disappear into for a whole weekend. Christopher Paolini began Eragon when he was just 15, and the book shows the influence of Tolkien, of course, but also Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey, and perhaps even Wagner in its traditional quest structure and the generally agreed-upon nature of dwarves, elves, dragons, and heroic warfare with magic swords.
Eragon, a young farm boy, finds a marvelous blue stone in a mystical mountain place. Before he can trade it for food to get his family through the hard winter, it hatches a beautiful sapphire-blue dragon, a race thought to be extinct. Eragon bonds with the dragon, and when his family is killed by the marauding Ra'zac, he discovers that he is the last of the Dragon Riders, fated to play a decisive part in the coming war between the human but hidden Varden, dwarves, elves, the diabolical Shades and their neanderthal Urgalls, all pitted against and allied with each other and the evil King Galbatorix. Eragon and his dragon Saphira set out to find their role, growing in magic power and understanding of the complex political situation as they endure perilous travels and sudden battles, dire wounds, capture and escape.

In spite of the engrossing action, this is not a book for the casual fantasy reader. There are 65 names of people, horses, and dragons to be remembered and lots of pseudo-Celtic places, magic words, and phrases in the Ancient Language as well as the speech of the dwarfs and the Urgalls. But the maps and glossaries help, and by the end, readers will be utterly dedicated and eager for the next book, Eldest. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell"

Review by Publishers Weekly

"While exploring the forest, 15-year-old Eragon discovers an odd blue gemstone—a dragon egg, fated to hatch in his care. According to PW, "The author takes the near-archetypes of fantasy fiction and makes them fresh and enjoyable, chiefly through a crisp narrative and a likable hero." Ages 12-up. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."

If you would like to buy this book, you can check out its available for Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1) (Hardcover) at amazon.com