Artemis Fowl
1999
- artemis fowl
- eoin colfer
- fairies
- kidnapping
- fiction
- demonology
- time travel
- magic
- mothers and sons
- parent and child
The story
Artemis Fowl is the first of a series of semi-realist novels produced by Eoin Colfer. They document the adventures of a precocious prodigal child of the criminal empire, Artemis Fowl. In this book, accompanied by his huge and loyal bodyguard/sidekick/advisor Butler, Artemis engages in a series of surreal activities; the absence of his missing father and the mental disorder of his mother allow him to pursue the unlikely position of a criminal mastermind. However, Artemis soon encounters more than he bargains for when his attempted capture of a member of the underground 'fairy' civilization goes terribly wrong. Be prepared for a thrilling adventure, with trolls, magic and much more! Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius, and above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories—they're dangerous! Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.
What it’s like
Brisk, wry, and quick on its feet, this is a book of sharp dialogue, deadpan narration and crisp action beats rather than lingering description, with a clever-boy voice that keeps cutting to the next scheme. The world is Irish and rain-soaked, with manor-house studies full of ledgers and gadgets set against a cold, damp Dublin backdrop, and underground fairy caverns rendered as bright, humming technology and mossy tunnels. Its mood is playful and slightly cheeky, a cool-headed caper with a dash of grit, the sort of read that suits a long train journey, a lazy afternoon, or a stretch of reading aloud. Violence is present but cartoonish: scuffles, a few injuries, and fights that land with more bruises than blood, so the intensity stays mild. The arc follows a cold, clever boy whose hard edges soften through reluctant partnership with those he meant to exploit. It is for readers who want fast fantasy with humour, a morally grey protagonist, and a light, bright tone that never tips into horror.
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