Artemis Fowl

Artemis Fowl is the first book in a fiction series by Eoin Colfer, a writer of popular fiction, and author of The Wish List. Artemis Fowl is named after the main character, Artemis Fowl II, a twelve-year old son of an Irish crime lord, Artemis Fowl I. He is a child prodigy, who has dedicated his life for criminal activities. He leads the Fowl criminal empire, which has been established by his family for generations. Artemis Fowl I went missing in the Arctic Ocean near Russia when Artemis Fowl II was extremely young, which made him heir to his father’s criminal throne.

Artemis is a strong believer of fairy tales; and he begins doing research into discovering if certain parts of these tales are true, and after significant research, he believes he has confirmed the existence of fairies. He tracks down an alcoholic sprite posing as a healer in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and travels there with his bodyguard Butler to obtain from her The Book of the People—the Fairy holy book that is written in Gnommish. Artemis decodes the Book using translating software, and in the process, learns the specifics of the ritual: taking an acorn from an ancient oak tree near a bend in a river under the full moon and planting it elsewhere. Artemis and Butler track down over 100 possible locations for the ritual and start a stakeout; after nearly four months, they discover a fairy performing the ritual. Artemis’s loyal assistant, who only goes by “Butler”, tranquillizes the fairy, and together they kidnap her and hold her for ransom. Artemis Fowl has a number of underlying themes, but the most essential of these are greed and the conflict between good and evil. Greed is the first main theme that is introduced into the book, and specifically the desire to obtain gold. In a similar manner to other themes in the book, it changes throughout, becoming less of a focus near to the end of the novel, where Artemis is willing to part with a large sum of money to help someone he loves.

I would highly recommend this book. Eoin Colfer creates a strange combination of the fantasy of fairytales with amazing futuristic technology. Colfer also makes the characters come alive, to the point that you believe that Artemis Fowl II is a living, breathing person. Artemis Fowl is one of a kind book, and a very good read.

Book Review by Amy I.