Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident

'People said he was a chip off the old block. They were wrong. Master Artemis was a brand new block, the likes of which had never been seen before.'

I am usually not one for Fantasy, but my oldest son (14 at the time of reading) is, and so we picked this up to read together. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised! Eoin Colfer delivers here a fast-paced adventure, which is both enthralling and tongue in cheek.

Clichés are thrown out: if Tinker Bell is what comes to mind when thinking about fairies, then check yourself out! Fairies, here, aren't that nice, they don't wear silly girly-girly dresses, and, oh boy! They do kick ass -BIG time! When Artemis Fowl, heir of a crime family and genius teenage boy, got himself tangled up into a show more kidnapping plot involving one such fairy (a law enforcer, of all people!) it soon appear that it may not have been a genius idea after all... Or, was it?

It delves straight into action right from the start, and doesn't take a break from then on! Here's non-stop action unfolding at break neck speed.

The plot may seem simple enough, but the twists throwing everything into jeopardy at every corner (from a rogue troll to a criminal dwarf, and, even, a 'bio bomb'...) make this a great page turner! My son read it in two days, he absolutely loved it, and so did I!

Kick ass Fantasy with a dash of humour? Checked! show less

I finally got around to reading the next book in the Artemis Fowl series. I'm not sure why it took me so long - I really enjoyed the first one, much more than I expected. Just so many other things to read, I guess. After listening again to the first book on a road trip, though, I was inspired.

This second in the series retains the characteristics of the initial book: the snarky main character Artemis, the humor that is certain to appeal to most boy readers (a little potty humor, a little slapstick, but this appeals to other types too, just to clarify), the deadly yet sensitive Butler, and the elves and fairies that are more technological than magical. It is still an interesting blend of fantasy and science fiction which I appreciate. show more The biggest difference was that Fowl is working with the fairies this time, under duress; but he's not so unwilling, after all. He's making the gradual transition from villain to hero, which was hinted at even in the first book.

The premise of the story is that someone is working with the goblins, using fairy technology to make them faster and smarter and more dangerous. The LEP suspect Artemis, but when they kidnap him to discover information, they learn that he is not the culprit. They need help, but so does Artemis - his father is being held hostage by the Russian mafia. Now they have to work together to discover the mole in their ranks and save Fowl senior.

This a fun adventure story. The plot is fast and never lets up, and the characters are distinct, interesting, and likable. You root for the good guys, you don't like the bad guys. While those dynamics may not be complex, Artemis is, at least for a kid's book protagonist. He's used to being bad, at least breaking the law and making his own rules, but he's morally good at heart. Nonetheless, he's not so comfortable at this transition from living outside the law to working with it (even if it is fairy law). Also, this story has another twist ending, not quite as interesting as that of the first novel, but still fun. An enjoyable read that keeps me interested in continuing the series. show less

To coincide with the blockbuster movie release next spring, Disney-Hyperion has reissued Artemis Fowl, the initial book in the incredibly popular series about an Irish tween criminal mastermind who attempts to use supernatural beings as part of his nefarious worldwide crime syndicate.

Although a senior citizen myself, I adored the 12-year-old prodigy, despite Artemis Fowl II’s being utterly ruthless. And no wonder! He’s the scion of an Irish family of wealthy criminals dating back centuries. In this book, Artemis kidnaps the fairy Captain Holly Short (a LEPrecon, officially, which stands for Lower Elements Police Recon). Artemis hopes to secure a ransom of a literal ton of gold from Holly’s species of underground fairies. But, show more although brilliant, Artemis hasn’t factored in how formidable Holly — and her fellow fairies — really are. The fairy folk call the humans the Mud People, and they aren’t about to let Artemis, genius or no, get the best of them.

To reveal more would ruin this fun middle-grade fantasy, but let me say that I am very grateful to have had the chance to enjoy this gem, first released in 2001, at long last.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. show less

I liked this book better than the first in the series. Maybe I just got used to the cockyness, but I think Colfer actually tried to develop some compassion in the characters. The storyline is a good continuation of the first book and it leaves a good opening for the next book. I still don't think this is a children's series, but it's cute nonetheless. I did notice that Artemis played a much more minor role in this book. It was like the author had to force Artemis into many of the scenes by giving him a one-liner or a minor role to play. Not that the fairies aren't good characters, but when someone names a series after a character you would expect that character to play a major role in the action. You can tell that this book was written show more by a man, how many other series have farts save the day on more than one occasion? I'm excited to read the next one. show less

Summary: Captain Holly Short, the only female fairy in the Lower Elements Police, is still smarting after her defeat at the hands of the human boy genius and criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl. So when she discovers evidence that a rogue band of goblins have been trading magical artifacts with humans, she immediately suspects that Artemis might be involved. After determining that he's innocent (at least of that charge), Holly realizes that she's going to need his help in tracking down the real culprits. However, Artemis has other matters on his mind: he's just received word that his father - missing and presumed dead for the past two years - is still alive, and being held captive by the Russian mafia... and Artemis is determined to get show more him back. If either of them is to have any chance of achieving their goals, however, Holly and Artemis are going to have to let go of old grudges and learn to work together.

Review: These books manage to hit just the right balance of silliness and slickness, and just the right tone where they're appealing for the younger elements of the audience while retaining enough smart humor for the grown-ups. They don't take themselves too seriously, tell a good story with plenty of laughs and lots of action, and are in general bunches of fun.

I thought this second installment was actually a little better than the first. It felt tighter and more cohesive, possibly because the heavy-lifting worldbuilding is already out of the way. The sub-plots were more integrated into the main story, keeping everything moving along at near-breakneck speeds. While in general I appreciate how fast these books fly by, I thought this one could stand some slowing-down in the middle; things have barely begun to go wrong for the characters before we find out who the bad guy is.

The Arctic Incident was also a little more mature than Artemis Fowl - I think perhaps the plots mature as the main character does, a la Harry Potter. Not that it loses its sense of fun, or becomes serious literature or anything - there are still plenty of fart jokes to keep the young-uns entertained - but there are some issues underlying parts of the story that have some more pathos than I was expecting. Overall, though, I enjoyed this book quite a bit, and will definitely keep reading when I need a fun break. 4 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Anyone who's looking for a bit of light, funny, fantasy action should enjoy the series, but don't start with the second book. show less

Artemis Fowl has just received an email. The email contains a picture of a man who just might possibly be his father, who's been missing for two years. Just as Artemis heads off to Russia to find out more information, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon unit hauls him in for questioning in relation to underground smuggling. Of course things get crazy from there.

I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first. These books are just a lot of fun, even to a 30-year-old woman. They would have been some of my favorites if they'd been around when I was a kid. I have to admit to giggling aloud even now. But aside from the wackiness of the story, I like seeing Artemis grow and learn about himself. He tries to be an elitist genius who looks show more down on everyone, but really he's got a heart of gold underneath. I enjoy watching him learn that, sure, he might be a genius, but that doesn't mean that everyone he meets can't teach him something. What was great about this book was watching him get his hands dirty. I highly recommend these for kids, and for those who can still connect with their inner kid. show less

Artemis Fowl has grown up a bit since he last escaped with a fortune in gold from the high-tech fairies who live beneath the earth. Now at a boarding school in Ireland, Artemis' criminal genius languishes behind his schoolboy exterior. When a coded message arrives from the Russian gangsters holding his believed-to-be-dead Father, however, Artemis realizes he will have to enlist the help of the very elf he just screwed over in order to stage a rescue.

This second volume in the highly lucrative Artemis Fowl series ratchets up the action and violence without skimping on the character development. Holly Short, the LEPRecon agent Artemis kidnapped in book one, is back in a desperate attempt to stop a conspiracy in her world. As she and her show more erstwhile captor strike a Faustian bargain to achieve their own ends, they realize that they have more in common than they ever thought possible. While its nice to see Artemis play the good guy for once, its very obvious that he's in control of everyone in his life. Holly throws a wrench in the works and makes him evaluate his position--and his legacy--from a much different perspective. How this dynamic changes with the reintroduction of his father remains to be seen. As the series goes on for at least another five books, we can expect to see the relationship played out later in excruciating detail.

Colfer's humor and subversive nature show through just as strongly in the Arctic Incident as in book one. Middle School boys will love the return of Mulch, the flatulent burrowing elf, and Foaly, the grumpy centaur IT guy. With convincingly bad villains, a slightly slower pacing, and all sorts of peril, The Arctic Incident readily fulfills the promise of Artemis Fowl. Recommended for grades 6-9. show less