Artemis Fowl - a review for young adults, 29 Nov 2002

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.

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Stop comparing this to Harry Potter!!, 29 May 2001

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!!!

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