Product Description

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!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9435 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-06
• Original language: English
• 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

Review
Artemis is a 12-year-old technological whiz-kid, and the latest in a long line of Fowls, a family of Irish criminal masterminds. He has a cunning plan: having discovered that the little people really do exist, he intends to steal their fairy gold. He soon discovers that fairies are not, in fact, the fey, ethereal types of legend, but a hard-bitten and technologically advanced race with their own armed police force known as the Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance (or LEPrecon, for short - a typical Colvin pun). Artemis kidnaps LEPrecon Captain Holly Short - who has foolishly let her magic supplies run down - and uses her to bargain with the fairies. However, they don't give up that easily, and a fierce battle ensues, with mind-numbing technology in use on both sides. Soon other unearthly beings get involved, including huge rogue trolls and a dwarf with an ingenious burrowing technique. Told in slangy, direct language, with a fast-moving plot that demands serious concentration, this is a hilarious and exciting adventure tale which drags fairies and their ilk into the 21st century. Cryptographically-minded readers will also have fun deciphering the secret message that runs along the bottom of each page. (Kirkus UK)

In this sequel to Artemis Fowl (2001), the intellectual brilliance and total lack of scruples of the eponymous hero have enabled him to use his father's criminal empire to accumulate a vast fortune. Artemis utilizes this money to finance the search for his father, still missing two years after a disastrous and almost legitimate foray into Russia. Upon the receipt of an e-mailed picture, supposedly of his father, Artemis and his bodyguard, Butler, start the journey to Russia, only to be abducted by an old adversary Captain Holly Short, of the fairy police, LEPrecon. Holly and her commander erroneously suspect Artemis of masterminding a smuggling ring. The deal Artemis and Butler make with the LEPrecon officers (Artemis lends his brain to solve the smuggling puzzle; LEPrecon lends its advanced technology to the search for Fowl, Senior) leads to a series of major and minor disasters, which provide suspense and tension to this well-plotted story. Characterization is slight but amusing: Holly Short, first female captain in the LEPrecon is a feisty but warmhearted fairy, Foaly the centaur head of LEPrecon's technology department is brilliant if irascible, and the dwarf, Mulch, is hilarious, full of himself and of dwarf gas-don't ask. Filled with puns, word plays, and inventive new concepts about the fairy realm, this mix of fantasy and science fiction will delight fans and make converts of new readers. An exhilarating Celtic caper that stands very nicely indeed on its own merits. (Fiction. 11-14) (Kirkus Reviews)

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

A Primary Teacher's Perspective...
Another highly successful collection of books that give a new twist to faeries and all things mythical. Except unlike so many others of its kind, this book focuses upon the rather unlikely and unsavoury young aristocrat criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl. On a quest to steal leprechaun gold, he holds a young faery to ransom but gets more than he bargains for as the winged equivalent of the SAS storm his plush mansion.

Eoin Colfer's genius in this series of books is injecting a somewhat tired premise with a new twist. Particularly with this first novel of the long-running series, the reader is given plenty to think about as faeries have jet-propelled wings and mythical creatures are given a gritty and very tangible edge.

There is no doubt that many more readers of various ages will enjoy Artemis Fowl, and like the other modern heavyweights such as Harry Potter, Colfer's books can quite easily be enjoyed by readers of all ages. However, in a school setting the book is most likely aimed for a gifted Year 4 reader and up. Regarding curriculum links, there is potential for some extravagant and rather ambitious science and maths lessons that can link with events in the book.

An adults perspective
I write this review from the eyes and mind of an Adult.

After reading the current Artemis Fowl series I find myself waiting for more. Eoin's hard work in these books clearly shows.

What stands out is that these books are quick reads for an Adult. But the point that is most worth mentioning is that you do not feel like you have been short changed. You are given a full story with few, if any, questions that are not answered in the narrative.

I would reccommend this book to an adult who is journeying on a train for example. Around 3 hours of continous attention is all that is needed to read this book and enter the world of Artemis, Butler, Holly, Mulch, Foaly, and many more interesting and complete characters.

MS

Something Fowl this way comes...
Some people may be fooled into thinking that Eoin Colfer's creation of Artemis Fowl is an attempt to imitate Harry Potter. But whilst it is a fantasy adventure, aimed at kids but with crossover potential, there's very little to liken the two of them.

The main point being that Artemis Fowl is more about technology and gadgets than magic. True, there is magic, but fairy wings are petrol powered, boats explode with Semtex, CCTV is hacked into and leprechaun becomes LEP Recon. The duet of magic and gadget works.

Well, most of the time. Despite being a twenty-something with a decent head for electronics, even I found most of the terms and jargon being flung at me bewildering. Will a 12-year-old really understand what the half-life of Solinium means? Well, probably - children are more techno-minded than we give them credit for - but the terminology is everywhere, and it can get a little OTT and obtrusive at times and you wonder what the point of it is to the story.

But then Artemis Fowl has it's trump card - it's sheer originality. There's no particular bad guy or good guy: for those of you who find Harry Potter's unwavering goody-goody act too much will find Master Fowl the perfect tonic. He's an anti-hero, he's a genius criminal mastermind, and even at the tender age of twelve is very charismatic. When he's not in the scene, you await his return. And, as I said with the example of LEPRecon, old fantasy elements like fairies, elves, goblins and dwarves are hauled into the twenty-first century and given a makeover. No wand waving or broomsticks here.

Basically, Artemis Fowl comes with a big fat recommendation. If you love Harry Potter, this is right up your alley. Adventure, action, magic and furious page-turning awaits you. If you hate Harry Potter, however, go for it. If Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl were in a class together, Harry would be the perfect teacher's pet whilst Artemis would be the bad boy at the back of the class. Brilliant.