Review of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Overview
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.

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                      About Artemis Fowl

Available as: Mass Market Paperback $3.12 from Amazon.com,  

                                E-book $6.29 from Amazon.com's Kindle Edition, E-book $7.99 from Kobo.com, E-book $6.39 from Sony Reader Store 

Recommended Ages: 11 and Up

Paperback: 396 pgs.

Published: February 10th 2009 by Simon Pulse (first published January 28th 2009)

For This Review: * Self-Provided Copy*

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Artemis Fowl is the first in a very impressive series. This first novel in the series is really for all readers the first taste you can get to the boy known as Artemis Fowl who is very much an intelligent boy with an analytic mind who starting in Artemis Fowl uses his mind for criminal activities. In the beginning of the story, it is mentioned through a file the narrator is showing us of Artemis Fowl's first well-documented contact with the Fairie people or "The People". Artemis Fowl at the time was only twelve year -old and had executed his first mastermind plan. At this time he started his first contact with The People which will change him and his life forever. 


How does one describe Artemis Fowl? Various psychiatrists have tried and failed. The main problem is Artemis's own intelligence. He bamboozles every test thrown at him. He has puzzled the greatest medical minds and sent many of them gibbering to their own hospitals. 
  There is no doubt that Artemis is a child prodigy. But why does someone of such brilliance dedicate himself to criminal activities? This is a question that can be answered by only one person. And he delights in not talking. 
  Perhaps the best way to create an accurate picture of Artemis is to tell the by now famous account of his first villainous venture. I have put together this report from first-hand interviews with the victims, and as the tale unfolds you will realize that this was not easy. 
  The story began several years ago at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Artemis Fowl had devised a plan to restore his family's fortune. A plan that could topple civilizations and plunge the planet into a cross-species war. 
  He was twelve years old at the time ... 

The NEW cover look as of 2009 by Disney Hyperion 

We are soon introduced to the boy Artemis Fowl as a pale, Irish boy who believes he needs no one but himself to achieve what he has in mind. He as of late had a plan to steal the fairy's gold from them. He believes there are faeries in existence. Along the way, he has , Butler, who is someone wih a bodyguard to guard him frojm danger for the fact that he is a wealthy person. Soon enough Artemis finds a way to get into contact with the faeries who have gold. The RepRecon police force. Everything seems to be going according to plan ,but his captive none other than Captain Holly Short is not going to go as an easy prisoner for Artemis. He isn't though about to allow a faery girl trump his plans either. Holly though isn't the type of faery girl that likes to be kidnapped . She especially doesn't like the fact that this Mud Boy (faeries like calling humans Mud people, yes) wants to use her as ransom to obtain the LepRecon's gold. The faeries at LepRecon hatch a plan of their own to rescue Holly and get back at the Mud Boy, Artemis.  With Commander Root as the leader of this mission and Foaly the centaur tech guy they hope to outsmart the annoying human genius. What they don't know is even though they are a highly-advanced civilization from Mud People, Artemis Fowl: II, is a formidable foe. Many strategies will prove useless for both sides and even Butler's sister, Juliette will be put in danger's way with Artemi's latest scheme.
Eion Colfer's Artemis Fowl is something entirely fresh in fantasy as far as faeries are concerned. He knows how to use wit expertly to get as laughing in just the right way. The way he keeps us informed on what's going on in the world he's created is just as good, such as:


The jeep inched forward at a painfully slow rate, made all the more excruciating by the anticipation building in Artemis's chest. He could suppress it no longer. Could they at last be at the end of their quest? After six false alarms across three continents, could this wine-sodden healer be the gold at the end of the rainbow? Artemis almost chuckled. Gold at the end of the rainbow. He'd made a joke. Now there's something that didn't happen every day. 
  The mopeds parted like fish in a giant shoal. There seemed to be no end to the crowds. 
  Even the alleyways were full to bursting with vendors and hagglers. Cooks dropped fish heads into woks of hissing oil, and urchins threaded their way underfoot, searching for unguarded valuables. Others sat in the shade, wearing out their thumbs on Gameboys.


Artemis Fowl truly is a fascinating fantasy series as a whole. All the new adventures we're introduced to each new time not only get far greater but even far different than you'd expect each and every time. Artemis Fowl is the beginning novel for the Artemis Fowl series that is the book to help you meet Artemis Fowl, Butler, Holly Short, Juliet, Julius Root, Foaly, and other integral characters. An amazing read. The next book for the series being Artemis Fowl: The Artic Incident!
Overall: Amazing read!
Genre: Fantasy, Faeries, Paranormal 

Contains: Commando/Military terms, Criminal Boy Geniuses with cynical world view, Faeries that care about the Earth's stability 

                             About the Author

Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) was born in Wexford on the South-East coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father and mother, who were both educators. 

He received his degree from Dublin University and began teaching primary school in Wexford. He has lived and worked all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. After the publication of the Artemis Fowl novels, Eoin retired from teaching and now writes full time. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.