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: #3275 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

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

About the Author
Eoin Colfer was born and raised in Wexford in the south-east of Ireland. He began writing plays at an early age and, as an adult, continued to write. ARTEMIS FOWL, his first book featuring the brilliant young anti-hero, was an immediate international bestseller and won several prestigious awards.

Customer Reviews

Great Reading For Smart People
Hey there!!!!! If you don't know if you should buy Artemis Fowl, well, I reccomend you to. It is one of the best books I have read. I liked it even better than Harry Potter, aand that is saying much. Artemis is a genius boy that, aided by his bodyguard, Butler, decides to aabdduct a fairy and hold him for ransom. What he doesn't expect is that the fairy turns out to be a girl. Not a submissive one, really, and she makes Artemis' plan much more complicated.
Artemis Fowl is for open-minded people, who don't mind technology, fantasy and humor blended together making a delicious mix.
In other words, Artemis Fowl is the best fantastic book from moddern times. Don't hesitate. Buy it now. Trust me.

Artemis Fowl - a review for young adults
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer has to be the funniest book I've ever read. You're obviously thinking, Right, well, she hasn't read many books then, has she? but this international bestseller comes as a welcome relief from all those arduous classical novels that as intelligent young adults we are 'supposed' to be reading.

The story is set around the workings of a brilliant criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl, when he captures and holds to ransom a fairy and threatens to expose the secret underworld of fantastic and magical creatures. However, these fairies are not content to collect teeth for a living. They are equipped with some of the most sophisticated weapons unknown to man and once things start getting out of hand the underworld rules of diplomacy and reason are not being taken into hand. Just one thing - Artemis is 12-years-old.

"Stay back, human. You don't know what you're dealing with."

Although on the surface this book seems to be just a bit of fun, Colfer doesn't shy away from the limits of imagination and really sets you to thinking about reality, as we know it. Do you really believe that shimmering above the ground on a hot day is just rising heat? Or are they really fairies activating their mesmer, vibrating at such a high velocity that the human eye cannot pick out their true form? What about the time you thought you saw something dart across the sky and just passed it off as a shooting star? Could it have been a fairy flying across continents at high speeds with the new Hummingbird mechanical wings? Every detail has been so diligently thought over that it almost seems...no, it couldn't be.

Everything she gets herself into seems to end in disaster for Captain Holly Short, the first female fairy to join the LEPrecon Unit, and her abduction tops the lot for Commander Root. Not even Retrieval can sort out this mess, or the mechanically minded centaur, Foaly. As for Artemis Fowl, he and his manservant, Butler, are treading on dodgy ground demanding fairy gold. No human has ever attempted to mix crime with magic before, but the 12-year-old crimelord evokes pity from a reader on his continuing plight to find his father and prevent his mad mother from doing something stupid.

Just whose side are you on? The story itself is written from both points of view and just when you thought you had settled for the fairies, we stumble across one of Artemis' more sentimental sides and there appears to be a constant battle over determining just who exactly are "the good guys".

Artemis Fowl brings a warm and worthwhile feeling to reading and it is definitely a feeling that should not be ignored. It captures the attention of developing imaginations and humorously provides an alternative to the traditional Earth where human activity is considered the only source of technical progress.

"Tell me, boy, have you ever met a troll?"

Although it is officially classified a "children's" book, shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year award, I would recommend this to anyone who feels they need time to let their imaginations find shelter in alternative theories and to those who believe that the world is not entirely based on scientific laws. It is truly an inspiration that is guaranteed to reflect upon all those who read it.

Stop comparing this to Harry Potter!!
Having read the majority of reviews on this book people either seem to love it or hate it - there aren't many "in-betweenies!!"

Artemis Fowl is an unusual book from the point of view that Artemis is the bad guy rather than the Hero. I had heard all the hype too and thought that the book would be disappointing. Was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not the case. The lengthy descriptions we find in the Harry Potter series are not there and the fairy "world" is not as intricately described but the characters do actually all have "character". Each individual has their own personality and it is this, and the banter exchanged between them, that makes this book.

I really enjoyed Artemis Fowl and I don't think it's fair to compare it to Harry Potter simply because it has fantasy elements to it. Artemis will appeal to a teenage audience and I think boys in particular will enjoy it. This book was written with an audience of children in mind - it is not a difficult read and although it may not have the cult appeal amongst adults that Harry Potter has achieved, it will certainly be welcomed amongst children.

Remember this is not another Harry Potter - it is another fantasy story. So whether you like Harry or not, you should try to read this book without any preconceived ideas about it - you might just like it!!!