Artemis meets his match in the small personage of Captain Holly Short, the first female officer in LEPrecon history, who he captures and holds for ransom. She has all the latest technology and magic of the fairy world at her disposal, which she uses to outsmart her mortal opponents. After a bloody battle, the confrontation ultimately ends in negotiation, with Artemis trading half of his gold for Holly�s freedom and the granting of one magical wish. The reader senses, however, that Artemis has not seen the last of Holly Short, who will doubtless return in future episodes to settle the score.
The plot is exciting, with fast-paced action, suspense, and danger. While the fairy characters have plenty of magic at their disposal, the elements of fantasy are made believable by the incorporation of modern technology and the debunking of traditional fairy myths. Fairy magic is supplemented by high-tech devices such as global positioning systems, plasma screen monitors, and a dizzying array of James Bond-like gadgets and gizmos. Holly Short�s wings are even of the strap-on, gasoline-powered variety. Foaly, the centaur �techie,� is a colorful character that is the fairy equivalent of a modern-day smart-aleck computer geek.
The characters in the book are unique and play interesting roles. Holly Short is the protagonist most readers will identify with. While she presents herself as feisty and brave, she is also vulnerable and insecure, and fearful of losing her job. Although she is a fierce fighter in the face of danger, she also shows compassion for the ogre and Butler when they are no longer a threat. Butler is another sympathetic figure who, while being admirably loyal to his young master, also shows independent judgment and integrity. Young Artemis, just twelve years old, is the anti-hero. Brilliant, angry, and determined, he doesn�t mind breaking a few rules to get what he wants. Although he is coldly calculating, he is not heartless. He shows tender concern for his mother and his crimes stop short of inflicting bodily harm.
The author�s style is light-hearted and funny. The banter between the characters is clever and witty, juxtaposing modern-day slang and the magic of fairyland. While the book has its scary moments, the dying and wounded are put right, the captured are set free, and Artemis winds up with a half-ton of gold, which is okay, even if he doesn�t deserve it.
While most of the loose threads are nicely woven into a satisfying ending, the author leaves no doubt that the adventure will be continued in future volumes. �Though the violence occasionally turns brutal, Fowl and Short make splendid, well-matched rivals, supported by an inspired cast that includes huge rogue trolls, malicious goblins, an irreverent techie satyr, and kleptomaniac dwarf Mulch Diggins.� (Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2001)
Awards
Children�s Book Award (Massachusetts)
Young Reader�s Choice Award
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award (Nominee)
Iowa Teen Award (Nominee)
Whitbread Literary Awards (Nominee)
British Book Awards
Original Voice Award (Nominee)
Nevada Young Readers Award (Nominee)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee)
BILBY (Books I Love Best Yearly) Award (Nominee)
Relevant Websites
Artemis Fowl Website: http://www.artemisfowl.com
Artemis Fowl British Site: http://www.artemisfowl.co.uk/
Eoin Colfer�s Website: http://homepage.eircom.net/~eoincolfer65/
Source
Books in Print [database online]. Available from http://www.booksinprint.com. Accessed 26 October 2004.
School of Library and Information Studies
TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY