Artemis Fowl

1. BIBILIOGRPAHY

Colfer, Eoin. 2001. ARTEMIS FOWL. New York, New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

ISBN 0786808012

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Artemis Fowl is a twelve year-old boy who is both a genius and a criminal mastermind. He comes from a long line of criminals and is the heir of his father’s once billion dollar dynasty. He is technologically advanced and psychologically clever. His father has disappeared and is believed to be dead and his mother hallucinates and has become distraught. Although Artemis’s is still considered a millionaire he sets out to regain his dad’s once billion dollar status that has been lost since the his dad’s disappearance. To regain the money lost, Artemis demises a plan that includes the kidnapping of a fairy and holding her ransomed for an exchange of fairy gold. Knowing that fairies are bound by rules and guidelines from “the book,” Artemis thinks he has an impeccable plan that will be successful. The plan seems to be flawless but unknown to Artemis; he kidnaps a brazen fairy that isn’t one to mess with. When her comrades come to her rescue and stop following the fairy rules, Artemis’s plans are hurled into pandemonium leaving him to deal with devilish dwarfs, raging trolls and deadly bio-boms.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Artemis Fowl is a fantasy novel about a 12 years old criminal mastermind set out to restore his family’s billion dollar dynasty by kidnapping a fairy and asking for a ransom of fairy gold. The setting for this story is primarily set in Ireland at Fowl Manor and in the underworld land where the fairies escaped to, when humans took over the earth. Artemis is the protagonist and comes across as cold hearted with no emotional ties to anyone in the beginning of the story but by the end his character develops and begins showing guilt and compassion for his family. This is seen when Artemis is willing to part with half the fairy gold in exchange for a wish by Holly, to restore his mother’s sanity. The antagonist of this story is Captain Holly Short who is a feisty fairy and part is part of the LEP (Lower Element Police) and she has been abducted by Artemis Fowl. Although the story has a protagonist and antagonist there really isn’t a hero in this story that the reader can cling to by the end. Colfer makes it clear that the underlying themes are greed and the conflict between good and evil. Even though this conflict is throughout the story it never comes across as too intense. This book combines fantasy and science fiction elements giving readers a story that will keep them intrigued and wanting more. These elements include a criminal dwarf, angry troll, fairies and their use of mesmer ( magic used to entrance people), time stop(tool used to stop time using magic), bio-bomb (high tech bomb that kills living tissues and leaves everything else untouched) and many other fantastical elements that bring this story to life. For readers who like to decipher codes, they will notice that Colfer has created a chain of symbols that represent a code that can be cracked by using the website that is presented at the end of the book.

4. REVIEW EXCEPRT(S)

Library Journal: “The quirky characters and delightful humor of his latest work will undoubtedly delight American readers as well.”

Booklist: “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.”

5. CONNECTION:

Colfer, Eoin. THE ARCTIC INCIDENT. ISBN 9780786851478

Colfer, Eoin. THE ETERNITY CODE. ISBN 0786819146

Colfer, Eoin. ARTEMIS FOWL (THE OPAL DECEPTION). ISBN 9781423103998

Colfer, Eoin. THE LOST COLONY. ISBN 0786849568

Colfer, Eoin. THE TIME PARDOX. ISBN 9781423108368