Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1409 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-07
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl, describes his creation as "Die Hard with fairies". He's not far wrong. Artemis Fowl is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history and with his trusty sidekicks, Butler and Juliet, 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 their number and wait for the ransom to arrive. But when the time comes to put his plan into action he reckons without Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance) Unit--a sort of extra small Clarice Starling with pointy ears and wings--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 and tumble storytelling with enough high-octane attitude to make it a seriously cool read for anyone over the age of 10. --Susan Harrison

Synopsis
Twelve-year-old villain, Artemis Fowl, is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history. His bold and daring plan is to hold a leprechaun to ransom. But he's taking on more than he bargained for when he kidnaps Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance Unit). For a start, leprechaun technology is more advanced than our own. Add to that the fact that Holly is a true heroine and that her senior officer Commander Root will stop at nothing to get her back and you've got the mother of all sieges brewing!

From the Publisher
Eoin Colfer described this book as 'Die Hard with Fairies'
Hyped as the next publishing sensation after Harry Potter this is a wildy inventive novel from best-selling Irish author, Eoin Colfer. Look out for the sequel!

Here are some comments from people who have read it and loved it!

'The publishing world is brimming with excitement at the imminent publication of Artemis Fowl' Vogue

'Strictly speaking a children's book, but far too sophisticated to leave for pre-teens' The Bookseller

`This is a fantastic, exciting and completely original novel. From fairies with machine guns to trolls on the rampage, this book will capture the imagination of every child who reads it. It will be a massive hit. I for one cannot wait for the sequel...' Jo Edwards, Children's Fiction Buyer, W.H. Smith

`It's so refreshing to have a different take on the fantasy genre. Such a gifted writer cannot fail to make a huge impact.' Sonia Benster, The Children's Bookshop, Huddersfield

`Forget Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl sits at the very heart of what boys are really about.' David Bradley, Floor Manager, Waterstones, York

`Imaginative story, crazy to read, funny characters. It's cool!' Hannah, age 10

`What a writer. A sort of cross between Philip Ridley and Terry Pratchett.' Prue Goodwin, Reading Language Information Centre, Reading University

Customer Reviews

amazing book
Artemis fowl is a genius? humm, maybe so. but so is eoin colfer. the book is interesting and very easy to read in a single sitting which i have done. i have read the entire series (so far!) and loved them all. The way eoin combines fiction with fact (fairies and humans) is sheer genius. 5 stars.

Not perfect, but entertaining and imaginative
Eoin Colfer's real skill in this book is his ability to take you into a world without over-explaining things to you. Information comes out in drips as the story is told, sometimes with events or information coming after the salient point in the plot. This might put off younger or less confident readers as it involves having to work hard and trust where the author is taking you, but it pays off in the end. The narrative conceit is that this is written by a third party observer after the fact and although it doesn't always quite work (e.g. it rests on the narrator knowing what is going on in character's heads when he couldn't possibly), the pace is such that you don't really mind.

Artemis is billed as an anti-hero, who sets out to kidnap a fairy so he can get a ransom of gold. He wants to restore the family fortunes, but given the amount of travelling he does and the technology in his home, it's difficult to see how his fortunes need rebuilding. Colfer is careful to give Artemis vulnerabilities and doubts, particularly about his mother and I found those scenes between Artemis and his mother to be very touching.

The novel marries technology and fantasy by virtue of the fairies being a technologically advanced species. There's much attention to detail with the gadgets and weapons and the portrayal of magic and technology feels very natural. I particularly enjoyed his depiction of how dwarves dig (which is disgusting but made me laugh). In terms of characters, he's included some classic tropes. Root is the classic police captain, stressed and shouty but secretly caring about his officers. Holly is resourceful and determined and deeply devoted to her job. For me, the best characters were those of Foaly the centaur, who teases the officers and Butler, Artemis's tough and unquestioningly loyal stooge whose family has always served the Fowls.

The story moves along at a cracking pace and there are some character and species attributes put into the back of the book to give readers something to refer to if they ever get lost. There isn't any particularly deep moral or message to the story, but that doesn't make it any less entertaining and I think that the skill that's gone into it will make it appealing to both adults and children.

This is not "Kidult" fiction. I LOVED Harry Potter but hated this.
I got recommended this by a grown up as something that readers of Harry Potter and Pullman's Dark Materials might also enjoy, a "kiddult" book for kids, but also with a depth that allows discerning adults to enjoy it too. NO IT'S NOT! It really made me wonder about the discernment of adults that are able to enjoy this. Great for kids, perhaps, but not for adults. There is no intelligence or depth and it really did not capture my imagination at all. Why are adults being encouraged to read this? I don't get it...