The Time Paradox is a fast paced action book about a boy who is forced to go back in time to save his mother from a terminal fariy illness. His main enemy in the book is his younger self which causes an interesting conflict, although you do have to read the other 5 books first. ( )

This the sixth installment of the "Artemis Fowl" series and yet again the book was awe inspiring. These books have always used all these high tech, futuristic gadgetry have always made the book get my attention. ( )

Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com

As an ardent fan of Artemis Fowl from the first book onward, I was more than just a little excited to find out that THE TIME PARADOX was in the works. The previous book in the series, THE LOST COLONY, was one of my favorites, and it opened so many doors that I wanted desperately to see explored. After reading THE TIME PARADOX over the course of a single day, my reactions are mixed, but one thing's for sure: with Artemis Fowl in the mix, there's never a dull moment.

The storyline opens only a short while after the end of the previous book. Fourteen-year-old genius Artemis Fowl has been out of his home time for nearly three years as the result of the events of THE LOST COLONY, and the world has changed around him. But the presence of younger twin brothers at Fowl Manor is not nearly as surprising as the fact that Artemis has managed to retain some of the fairy magic that he stole while in the time tunnel, making himself part magical in turn. Early on in the story, the readers find out that Artemis has used this small magic to mesmerize his parents into forgetting all about his three-year disappearance, and is learning how to control it for specific purposes.

So when Artemis's mother develops symptoms of several deadly illnesses overnight, Artemis's first instinct is to use his fairy magic to save her. When that fails, draining all of the magic out of Artemis, his first call is to Holly Short, reinstated Captain in the Lower Elements Police. Holly arrives and diagnoses Artemis's mother with a rare disease known as spelltropy, usually passed between magic users by the use of power. The only cure is the brain fluid of a silky sifaka lemur--a species that became extinct nearly eight years ago, thanks to the work of a younger Artemis Fowl desperate for money to fuel the search for his then-missing father.

Artemis is convinced there's a simple solution to this problem: go back in time using the magic of demon warlock No. 1 and steal the lemur from his younger self before returning to his own time. Of course, with Artemis involved, nothing could ever really be that simple. Nonetheless, he and Holly both make the journey almost eight years back in time to outsmart the ten-year-old Artemis and a group of Extinctionists bent upon getting their hands on the lemur--not to mention a mysterious third player who may be manipulating everyone from behind the scenes.

The storytelling is vivid, the jokes are always funny, the puns are horrendous in the best of ways. The repartee between Artemis and Holly gets better in every book. But for whatever reason, I didn't enjoy this Fowl adventure as much as I did previous ones. It seemed somehow like there was less at stake. It was an interesting ploy, since the "villain" Artemis faces off against for the first half of the story is himself, but a lot of the major weight of the story felt psychological.

Of course, there were the requisite explosions and high-speed cross-country chases, but the focus of this book seemed to be more upon the minds of the characters involved, particularly Artemis and Holly, and their relationships to their own pasts. That's not to say the book wasn't good--it just had a different kind of depth from the others, one that I probably couldn't fully appreciate on a first reading. Some of the doors opened in THE LOST COLONY were closed rather suddenly, in my opinion, or led down passageways I hadn't thought they would explore, so that the main developments of this book were not what I thought they would be at all. But then, what would be the fun of a predictable book?

If Colfer is one thing consistently as a writer, it's unpredictable, and this book is no exception. ( )

This was an extremely great book. Artemis Fowl it back, and this time his mother has come down with a deadly case of spelltropy, which was Artemis own doing. Only this time, he's powerless, as the only cure resides in an extinct lemur's brain - and Artemis gave him to the extinctionists personally. Now Artemis has to travel back in time with the help of the demon warlock No1, but he's up against the most clever of his enemies yet - Artemis Fowl age 10 ( )

From http://booknerds.net

Artemis Fowl is by far in the top ten favourites of series for me, and even more then that, books in general. Eoin Colfer has the innate ability to transfer words into entire worlds, characters, atmospheres, and even feelings. Which is something that very few authors manage to accomplish. Sure, they can make you care about a character, they can make you imagine a state you’ve never been in… but how many of them can make up an entire world and enable you to view it through words as if you’ve been there? The Time Paradox is exactly what the other Artemis Fowl books are, and doesn’t disappoint in the continuation of them either. It’s a fast-paced, fun, time-crunched adventure fit for young and old.

As the synopsis states, we pick up here after Artemis, Holly and No.1 manage to save the demon island of Hybras from dissolving in the Space/Time continuum. We meet up with Artemis in the Fowl Manor as he is playing with his new brothers Beckett and Myles (who I am already in love with, by the way), where Artemis has the shocking discovery that his mother has contracted an old very serious, very rare fairy sickness. And the only way to save her? To go back in time and rescue an extinct lemur species, which is only extinct because of Artemis himself. Which brings me to my favourite part of this book (minus the whole fast-paced, fun, adventure bit): Little Artemis vs. Big Artemis. When we meet Artemis in the first book, most readers probably would have agreed that he was an arrogant little boy who should have had a lot more time in a corner. We also know that from that book to the most recent, Artemis has grown up a lot, which is why it’s so interesting to see him going face to face with his younger self. We learn so much more about how sympathetic Artemis is now, when he sees the one-track desperate thoughts and actions of his younger self, and how much he disagrees with those actions and thoughts.

Also, somehow without being repetitive or ridiculous Colfer managed to separate the older/younger Artemis’ without confusing me. You spend most of the entire book with them both, but I was always aware of who was talking, and who was doing what. The only downside to having double the Artemis was having less Butler, which this book seems to greatly lack. Also I would have liked to see some more of Minerva, as she has been relatively the only love-interest for Artemis throughout the series, even though we do get a glimpse at a possible budding romance!

As always the slew of new characters that are introduced are interesting as the main characters themselves, you automatically know who you’re rooting for and who you want to throw into a well. We also meet up with a few past characters – Captain Holly Short, Mulch Diggums, Foaly, as well as one which I can’t tell you about. (Enter menacing laugh here.)

Again, this was a good, strong, continuation of the Artemis Fowl books. Actually, scratch that, replace with: Artemis Fowl legacy. I am so looking forward to the seventh book. And the eighth, ninth, tenth, and whatever Colfer can manage to throw out! ( )

Artemis's mother has contracted a deadly disease -- and the only cure lies in the brain fluid of African lemurs. Unfortunately, Artemis himself was responsible for making the lemurs extinct five years ago. Now he must enlist the aid of his fairy friends to travel back in time and save them. Not only that, but he must face his deadliest foe yet...his younger self. ( )

For my choice summer reading I chose the 6th Artemis Fowl book in the series called the Time Paradox. I had read the first five quite a few years ago when I enjoyed much more simplistic novels. Needless to say I was very disappointed with this book. It was centered around fairies and time traveling to the past and future. I know that the book the Time machine also contains a similar plot but it was depicted by a much more mature point of view making it much more interesting. However, my choice novel lacked these qualities and was better suited for someone in middle school.
However, the one thing that made me continue reading this book was its impressive use of description. Every page at least a quarter of it was used by describing settings, objects, and characters that vividly invade your mind and created its own image in your head. The book slowly began to feel like a movie rather than words on a page. However, the words that were used were very simplistic. They could describe the scene and what was happening but there were not colorful adjectives and no words that jumped of the page and really stood out. This made the book a very simple read and felt like I was watching a simple cartoon show versus something that was actually challenging my mind and entertaining it.
However what really disappointed me with the book was the point of view that it was depicted through. It based around how a 12 year old was acting throughout the whole story. It was very childish and immature and it got even more unrealistic as the book went on. The Time Machine did a great job describing what was going on throughout the whole book with the time traveling aspects and really made the book interesting and entertaining to read. My choice book was definitely a little too simple for what I was looking to read. Next time I will definitely pick a much more mature book to read next time.

Book Report on Artemis Fowl: the Time Paradox

Ever since I was younger, I’ve loved reading the Artemis Fowl series. I think Eoin Colfer is an amazing writer, and I’ve always enjoyed his works. Ever since his first Artemis Fowl book came to shelves, I found the way he wrote very interesting, being both simple and complex at the same time. This newest book of hi showed this element quite clearly. Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox, is written in such a way that a younger reader can understand it, yet keep the older readers thinking deeply about the situations presented. In this book, Colfer showed his prowess with his development into time travel and different selves in the same time. Throughout the book, I was fixated on the plot, and it was very difficult for me to stop reading. I read the entire book in a span of 3 days; no easy task considering the book totaled at just over 400 pages.
Normally, I like to read books that fall around my level of difficulty. By no means was the language and development of the plot in this book difficult, but when reflected on, reveals a much bigger and more important picture that stumped even me at times. I’ve read Colfer’s entire Artemis Fowl series so far, and seeing as this is the sixth book and counting, I still love to read them. It doesn’t matter how old the reader is, anyone can get a kick out of reading this type of a book; it’s definitely not just restricted to the younger audience. I still remember a scene from the first book that was written so well, that it remains one of my favorite sections I’ve ever read.
To write this book off as simply for children would be a mistake. I’m 17 years old, and still get entranced by the fantastical story and characters. I would recommend not only this book, but this series to anyone who wants to have a great time and be surprised by the end of every chapter. This book falls into place with an amazing series, written by an even greater author, one that deserves to be among the ranks of J. K. Rowling and other similar writers. It astounds me how Harry Potter is so widely known, and yet Artemis Fowl still lurks in the shadows. ( )

Faced with his mother's unusual and probably fatal illness, Artemis Fowl calls on his magical friends to travel eight years into the past to undo something he did as a 10-year-old boy. Full of adventure, magical creations, humor, and even a budding romance. By seeing himself as he was 8 years ago, Artemis is able to make some interesting observations about how and why he has changed. Also, a subplot stretched to absurdity illustrates the danger mankind poses to the animal kingdom. As always, the power and importance of true friendship is evident.

Reidel's voices fit the characters nicely. ( )

Artemis, Holly, and the rest are back. This time, Angeline Fowl has a debilitating disease that no specialist can figure out...because it's caused by infected magic. To save his mother, Artemis and Holly must go back in time to out-trick the trickster himself...10-year-old Artemis. As might be expected from an Artemis Fowl book, there are lots of twists and turns, evil villains attempting to outsmart each other, and just plain silliness.

Personally, I found the time travel explanations (not that it existed, but how things happened) just...well, convoluted for lack of a better word. It's very confusing. And the villains are a bit over the top. One of the things I enjoyed about the first few books was how the sides weren't clearly drawn -- neither Artemis nor the fairies were completely "right," and you could see things from each point of view. Also, the author seemed to expect a certain amount of sophistication from his audience to be able to figure out that Artemis is not as tough as he pretends to be, but there are people he cares about and fights for. The first three books especially (from what I remember) are like that, but The Time Paradox seemed to say things bluntly about the characters rather than letting the reader figure things out for himself. It was a light, fun read but these things bothered me and kept me from really falling into the story and loving it. ( )

Number 6 in the Artemis Fowl series includes time travel, endangered species, evil extinctionists and an evil pixie. ( )

Not the best outing for Artmeis Fowl, but still satisfying. He's still clever and manipulative although he's becoming less of a criminal mastermind and more of an immoral genius with some elements of a moral code.

The explanation of how clever Artemis is grates rather than makes me think "Oh yes" this time - perhaps because some of the explanations were obvious and the rest were just ludicrous in their underlying assumptions.

That said, it's still a fun romp and well worth a read if you liked the earlier books. ( )

Artemis Fowl has to outwit not only baddies but himself when he was younger and less nice as he and Holly go back in time to find the last of a species of lemur to save his mother's life. Adventure stays at a high level and the book is fun and dwarfs continue to do things that are not discussed in polite company and friendship and kindness and trust are important.
A coded message runs along the bottom of each page; I have no idea what it says. ( )

The Artemis Fowl series is about a teenage former sociopathic genius criminal and an Elven hot-shot, loose-cannon cop. They fight crime. No, really.

In Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox, the titular character’s mother has fallen deathly ill with a strange and seemingly incurable disease that the doctors have never heard of. Science isn’t working, so Artemis brings in Magic in the form of Holly and Co. The fairies identify the symptoms as Spelltropy, a virus that wreaked havoc on the fairy community some five years ago. The only cure: the brain fluid of the now-extinct “Silky Sifaka lemur”. So off they go into the time stream to chase an admittedly adorable McGuffin and rescue the little critter along with Angeline Fowl.

It’s Artemis’ fault the thing went extinct in the first place. And his parents have both been environmentalists all along, especially his former supercriminal father. Really.

Here’s my biggest problem with the book: it reads like Colfer found out that the Green movement is popular now and wasted no subtlety in targeting that audience. The book’s main villain is the leader of The Extinctionists, a group dedicated to wiping out animal species so as to leave more resources for humans. The whole thing is so anvilicious that it’s hard to take seriously.

I was also disappointed with the shoe-horning in of Mulch Diggums the Dwarf. It felt very forced–as if Colfer just couldn’t stand the idea of leaving out the fart jokes this time around. Plus, a few of the plot twists were a little too out of nowhere.

Apart from that, though, the story isn’t so bad. It’s got its twists and turns and I admit to gasping aloud near the end. There aren’t any horrendous breaches of Time Travel rules, and the whole thing is fairly tight and explained. The writing style is as easy to read as ever and tough to put down. And, frankly, it’s nice to go back and see the bastard that Artemis used to be, in the form of his ten-year-old self. The villain protagonist of the first book was one of its charms, and that element has been missing in the later books. Thankfully, most of the bad-fanfic traits that I was afraid of were avoided–Miss Sue from the last book didn’t show at all, and the twins only appeared as lighthearted fun for a few minutes, rather than taking over the story.

If you’re a newcomer to the series, don’t start here. It’s certainly not the best that Colfer has put out. But if you’re a fan and you get a chance to read it, the story is mostly engaging and the writing is fine. The Artemis Fowl series still has some spark to it. ( )

I have nothing intelligent to say about this book. I mean, it was a fast-paced, complicated (but ultimately well-plotted) story with lots of action and high stakes, but really the whole time my brain was all stuck on "Artemis/Holly! SQUEE!!!"Seriously, I never thought it would really happen that the two of them would admit an attraction to each other even to themselves, let alone act on it (however briefly). I figured the growing UST* I'd perceived between them was mostly in my deranged imagination. What a surprise to find the author apparently agreeing with me!And yet, nothing was really resolved. Next book, please?Yes, I am twelve.--* Unresolved Sexual Tension. ( )

Readers Ages 10 And Up Can Enjoy This Intriguing Series

Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox
By Eoin Colfer
Pub. Date: July 2008
5 out of 5 stars
PG - Violence
Recommended

Artemis is just beginning to relax and settle into his new life’s routine when his mother becomes gravelly ill. The only cure: a unique lemur’s brain fluid. The only problem: that lemur‘s species has been extinct for seven years. With Captain Holly Short of the Fairy LEP by his side and N°1 the demon warlock fueling their time travel escapade, he begins his journey into the past in hopes of capturing the last lemur before its murderer gets it. But Artemis’s latest plan may be the first to fail, because this time around he is up against the cleverest enemy yet. Himself at the age of 10, and yet to gain a conscience

The Time Paradox was the best in this amazing series so far. I was so far drawn into the story, I felt like I was one of the characters participating. I loved seeing how the young Artemis and present Artemis clashed. The present Artemis had gained a conscience and the ability to feel guilt, so he had new limitations and feelings to deal with. He looked at every problem with a kinder air and was no longer able to willingly risk a friend or human being or any creature for his gain. The young Artemis was hard and sometimes very cold. He was willing to do almost anything to get his father back.

The changes in Artemis through the books were so gradual that they were sometimes hard to notice, but in this sixth book in the series where the past and present Artemis’s are both included, it was so obviously clear how much he had changed for the better.

The story wasn’t just made up of action. There was fun to read mind-boggling provocative ideas smoothly strewn through the pages. Some interesting emotional twists between characters added an air of unease and uncertainty. Just when I’m starting to give up hope, the good guys save the day by means that I feel I should have foresaw, but yet I knew I couldn’t possibly have guessed.

The Time Paradox came to a gratifying close that wrapped up nicely, but left a wide open door for another book in the series. Readers ages 10 and up can enjoy this intriguing series. I do suggest though that you read the prior books in the Artemis Fowl series to best understand this book.

Date Reviewed: January 8th, 2009

For more book reviews and book information check out my blog at www.inthecurrent.blogspot.com ( )

It's book number six, and our favourite criminal mastermind has come a long way since Eoin Colfer penned his first adventure in 2001. For starters, he's no longer criminal. He's now devoted to doing what's right for his family, for the fairy people, and even for the environment! But let's face it; evil Artemis has so much more charisma than good Artemis. So, what does Colfer do about it? He brings evil Artemis back into the picture. Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox is everything its title suggests – a fast, clever and slightly confusing adventure through time, in the true style of an Artemis Fowl novel. By travelling back to the uncertain past, Colfer basically hands himself a blank canvas – a canvas which he takes full advantage of, filling in scores of pre-plot details and involving just about every character his fans have ever been introduced to.

The danger with this, of course, is that the novel turns out a little like one of those Zelda games, where each game is essentially the previous game fed through a blender. Every tried and true element of the Artemis Fowl series turns up somewhere, but the precise mechanics of the plot are mixed around. There are moments which conjure up images of Colfer sitting at his desk, ticking off a list of "things my fans like" which has been compiled over the course of the first five books. (Like the completely arbitrary kiss between Artemis and Holly. What's that all about?) Still, I suppose I shouldn't knock the Fowl formula too much; it does make for an enjoyable novel.

There is, however, one key Fowl element in short supply here. Action and humour may be fun, but my favourite part of an Artemis Fowl novel has always been the genius schemes, full of second-guessing and complex twists. With two Artemis Fowls on the loose, I expected plenty of these – but somehow, Colfer's premise doesn't quite elicit the level of highly intelligent mayhem that it should. Time Paradox is certainly clever – every time I found myself thinking 'this needs to be trickier', Colfer stepped it up a notch – but at the end of the day, it just didn't manage to get quite clever enough.

For Fowl veterans, Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox can be summed up in four words: more of the same. It may not be Colfer's best, but it's still good fun. ( )

I miss Nathaniel Parker as the narrator! It just wasn't the same - Butler in particular seemed like a completely different character, and not to his advantage! Otherwise, the plot was mind-bending in it's time twisting plot. But it was done in a playful way, and Artemis is definitely a sympathetic character now. Very enjoyable! ( )

I've owned this book since the week it came out, but due to some unfortunate extenuating circumstances (i.e. my senior year of college), I didn't get a chance to actually read it. Well, I'm regretting that decision; I was trapped in the airport for a number of hours recently, and I absolutely devoured this newest addition to the Artemis Fowl series.

The plot was completely over-the-top, complete with strange twists and turns and a truly bizarre villain...and I LOVED IT. In the hands of other authors, all these factors may have lead to an out-of-control mess of a book, but somehow Colfer is able to steer it in such a way that it all makes ludicrous, wonderful sense. Seriously, how many other writers do you know of that could take an extinct lemur, time travel, two super-genius teenagers (who happen to be the same person), and an Extinctionist, violet-wearing villain who can't smell, and make it all into a fairly cohesive, ridiculously fun story? Not many, I'd bet.

Rather than continue with the very split narrative of The Lost Colony, the book sticks almost entirely with Artemis and Holly, and only switches over to Younger Artemis and the Villain for brief periods of time, which I actually count as one of its strengths. Unfortunately, most of the wonderful secondary characters don't get much screen time, but we do get to spend a lot of great, in-depth time with Artemis, Holly, and their changing relationship.

All in all, a very worthy contribution to the series, and a great read, as long as you're willing to take it as it comes. (And on a final note, this book contains a quote that I have promised myself that I will somehow work into everyday conversation: "Are you trying to be funny? Oh my God, you're not. That was actually the nicest thing you could think of to say!") ( )

Colfer turns out another fun Artemis Fowl novel, but I found this one to be weaker than the previous ones. An older Artemis, stumbling through his dealings with his past, younger self is just less compelling than the always-on-top-of-it Artemis that we know and love. I also found the changing relationship between Holly and Artemis to be a bit odd - what happened to his female admirer from the previous book? However, a Colfer book that's a bit off is still better than most of the books than I've been reading lately. This series is enjoyable for both adults and young adults. Parents can recommend this book to their children with no qualms - the values of nonviolence (even in violent circumstances) and conservationism are well-done and worthy. ( )

I wouldn't claim this is the best Artemis Fowl book. But it is certainly not a bad one. And does have a brilliant text only plot twist at one point.
I think my biggest issue is that we get to meet the original Artemis once again and, for me, he is the better character than the older, more caring Artemis.
Still a fun read though and it definitely does what it says on the tin. ( )

Artemis Fowl has a very different life now, one that includes two little brothers whom he has to watch over. But when his mother falls ill to a strange disease, and even the fairies can’t help him, what is Artemis to do? This book was VERY enticing- I couldn’t put it down. Literally! I pulled an almost all-nighter reading it. If you liked the other Artemis Fowl books, you must read this book and find out where it all began. (Though that doesn't mean this is a prequal. This is NOT a prequal.) ( )

I love the Artemis Fowl books, but this one was a bit disapointing because there wasn't a really interesting story behind it. The other books were much more exciting, but this was still interesting. ( )

I have to be honest and say that I was getting tired of the whole Artemis Fowl franchise. I just about managed to finish the last book and I was starting to wonder if I could manage to read the next one. So much has changed over five books that I wondered what Colfer would do in book 6 to keep things interesting and fresh.

Well book 6 is here and it has totally blown me away! It was fantastic! The idea of Fowl going back in time and confronting his younger self is really intriguing - the idea of meeting a younger Mulch Diggums, the chance to see Root again......this was too good to miss!

Artemis goes back 8 years with Holly to stop his younger self from selling the last lemur on earth to the Extinctionists. He needs the brain fluid from the lemur to save his mother who is dying from a deadly fairy disease. But his younger self won't give the lemur up without a fight and when Holly is captured by the Extinctionists and put on trial instead, Artemis the Eldest has to risk going to save her. Can he get her back, fight his younger self, fight the insane Damon Kronksy, fight Butler, keep an eye on Mulch Diggums AND get back into the time stream to get back to his own time - ALL in the next three days? If not, he'll be trapped in the past - with himself!

For the first time in a long time, I am really looking forward to the next Artemis Fowl book! ( )

I really enjoy this series, but as I was explaining to a friend the other day, it has changed significantly. It started out as funny fluff -- a clever redux on the idea of fairyland (LepRECON is a division of the fairy police force), neatly threaded with the dreams of any 12-year-old boy (hey, who doesn't want to be a criminal mastermind?) -- but these days, after several volumes and the passage of years within the series, the tone has mellowed from fairy-tale-on-speed to a calmer, though still clever, attempt at emotional maturity. Whether this makes the later books better, worse, or simply different depends, I suppose, on the reader. Certainly, the fact that, by this volume, Artemis has "gone straight" and is trying to save his mother's life instead of gleefully wreaking havoc in order to reap illicit fairy technology for joy and profit makes this newest book less wickedly delightful. But the story, and the way Colfer deals with the title issue, is a fresh concoction with characteristic sharp twists. For those familiar with the series, the climactic scene has both predictable and surprising elements. The reappearance of a familiar villain did not bring me much joy (eligible for Most Annoying Villain Ever award), and I'm not sure how I feel about the fleeting romantic tension between two of the main characters; still, there were laugh-out-loud moments and hilarious mental visuals, as well as the sheer pleasure of having to figure out what's REALLY going on. Ultimately, one may not feel the same mischievous satisfaction as in previous installments, but especially for those attached to the characters, this is still worth reading.