Artemis Fowl
Eoin Colfer
Penguin Books:
Viking
280p hc
ISBN: 0-670-89962-3
With fairies, technology, a two tonne manservant and gnomes Eoin Colifer has created a story with the popularity and story potential of Harry Potter and an interesting tale all the way.
The story starts in Ho Chi Minh City in the summer where Artemis and his manservant come bodyguard, Butler, go to meet their contact, Mr. Nulgen Xuan and get a copy of the A300k, a fairy version of the bible, containing all of their secrets, rituals and stuff. Any way, when they have got a photo of every page on a disk, they go to Dublin and decipher it from Gnomish to English. The story then turns to Captain Holly Short, a bright officer with a sometimes-short temper and a female test case for the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police reconnaissance).
But when adolescent crime lord, Artemis Fowl abducts her all hell breaks lose...
This is one book that you must read. Its thrilling, comical, a great read and it'll have you dying to know what happens next. I give it the whole nine yards with a ten out of ten score. You really must read this book.
Connor, Year 6, Canberra, ACT
This is a story about a child genius named Artemis Fowl and his plan to kidnap a fairy in order to ransom her off to her fellow fairies. This plan works up to a point; until the fairies decide theyve had enough and stop playing by the rules in order to rescue their comrade and stop Artemis Fowl. These are not normal fairies more like small Terminators. and the action is fast and furious when the fairies stop playing by the rules and employ their guns and the terrifying blue Rinse bomb. When the fairies manage to use their Time Stopper there is chaos anywhere close by.
I enjoyed Artemis Fowl, it was full of humour, action, and magic with a futuristic twist. Eoin Colfer has created a group of characters that ooze personality and he manages to combine all the elements of the story in a way that makes it hard to put down.
This is an excellent book with easy to read language and a great plot. I would recommend Artemis Fowl to anyone who enjoys fantasy books, no matter what age group.
I would give this book a rating of 10\10.
Eian, aged 12, Canberra, ACT
Artemis, a twelve-year old boy prodigy, sets out on a dangerous journey to regain the families fortune. The Fowls had a huge fortune made from generations of legal and slightly illegal operations, but since the disappearance of Mr. Fowl, Artemis father nothing is as it was before. His mother has gone out of her mind, the value of the Fowls accounts has dwindled to desperate lows (only a few hundred million!), but on a brighter note Artemis, instead of going to school, can focus his genius mind on more important matters Making money!
Armed with his brains, determination, and his trusty bodyguard; Butler (a Rambo-like strongman who, as youll find if you read the book, shows his loyalty to Artemis more than once) he hatches a plan. But through his arrogance he doesnt realize that he could very easily start a cross-species war that could spell the end of the humanity.
What? You may ask. What species on earth can challenge us? Fairies?
Yes, Artemis attempts to kidnap a LEPrecon Captain Holly Short. But these Fairies arent whom you think they are theyre technologically advanced, organized and, most frighteningly, they are magical.
Artemis Fowl is a unique book I havent read a book quite like it. It doesnt fit directly into one genre it is a mix between fantasy, action and a bit of humor. Although the book isnt exactly captivating in the first 100 pages, it isnt too bad towards the end. The characters are very believable because they seem to have personalities one forms a bond with the characters.
I didnt particularly enjoy this book though I feel this book has the potential to become another Harry Potter (I didnt like that either). One major reason I didnt give this book a higher mark was that although the plot was aimed to children 8 to 11, some of the language and terminology were a tad advanced in comparison to the storyline. 6 out of 10
Roman, aged 13, Canberra, ACT
