By Kendra Hibbert
May 30, 2003
In recent years, the rise in popularity of children’s fantasy books has been hard to ignore. Many novels of this type have crossed over previously impossible to breach age boundaries – most obviously the HARRY POTTER series and the LORD OF THE RINGS books (which are still considered kids material despite the fact that many 30-year old males living in their parents’ basement read these books religiously every year). Add to that many well-respected adult writers like Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman and Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Chabon entering the genre and you’ve got a literary phenomenon on your hands.
The ARTEMIS FOWL books are one series that has capitalized on this new resurgence with three new books coming out in as many years and every one of them hitting the bestseller list. Author Eoin Colfer has created an enduring character with his protagonist – an Irish boy genius and criminal mastermind who, in the first two books, has had to deal with everything from kidnapping fairies to the Russian Mafia. The latest book ARTEMIS FOWL: THE ETERNITY CODE is currently #3 on Amazon’s Top Selling Children’s books (surpassed only by the two editions of the new Harry Potter) and, while Artemis hasn’t quite reached the popularity status of a boy wizard, he has managed to generate a sizable preteen following.
Like ARTEMIS’ literary brethren, there are plenty of fairy folk, dwarves and goblins running around in these books which, of course, are given powers and rules they must follow that are unique to this world. These Fairies are not quite the nature-loving archaic pixies of traditional stories – these ones have created a sophisticated underground culture with extremely advanced technology which they use to foil their human adversaries - technology that Artemis would love to get his hands on. The first book saw Artemis use his advanced brain to discover the incredibly secretive fairy world and kidnap a member of the LEPrechaun police force. In the second book the young genius reluctantly teams up with these wily folk to save his equally infamous father Artemis Fowl Sr. THE ETERNITY CODE has these two former foes eager friends and ideal partners in their race to protect the secrecy of the fairy world from a greedy industrialist.
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This latest book begins with young Artemis on the verge of giving up his crime-filled life as requested by his Father, who changed his greed filled outlook when he was resurrected by fairy magic after almost dying in their last adventure. Before his career in crime is over, however, Artemis decides to execute one more diabolical plan. Against his Father’s wishes and knowledge, young Artemis meets with conniving American businessman Jon Spiro and attempts to blackmail him with his latest invention – a Cube that can hack into any electronic device and play whatever medium it’s presented with. It’s a device that will change the world and send electronic markets plummeting and unbeknownst to Spiro it’s based on fairy technology. In return for a sizable fee, Artemis offers to keep the device secret from the public for sufficient enough time to allow Spiro to invest his money elsewhere. Spiro instead steals the device and fatally wounds young Fowl’s trusty bodyguard and friend Butler. Artemis must contact his fairy friends once again to save Butler and steal back the device before the sinister Spiro can discover the Cube’s secrets and uncover the fairy world, effectively destroying this secretive society forever.
Though at first it might seem there’s a lot in common between Artemis and his wizardly contemporary Master Potter, besides the closeness in age and the fairies and goblins there are a lot more differences than similarities between these two characters. Artemis is more of a cocky rich kid than the down and out hero in disguise. The first book saw him as more of a brat than the subsequent ones but his adventures have gradually changed his attitude to a more sympathetic character. He still holds on to some of his cockiness but it’s tempered with a willingness to do good or at least help his friends. He’s like Richie Rich with an attitude – a preteen James Bond – quite a welcome change from the do-gooders of most children’s books.
Besides the rare anti-hero child protagonist there are plenty of other reasons to pick up this series, most notably the author’s amusing Irish wit that fills these pages with moments that are funny no matter what your age. These books are entertaining from beginning to end and, though they don’t have as much of the drama as the Potter books, they’re all fast and easy reads and a great gift to get your 13-year old niece or nephew once they’re done drooling over THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.
Next Column: With the slew of military related books coming out recently I thought I would address the topic by reviewing the bio from the leader of the greatest army in the world. That’s right Kiss Army General Gene Simmons has released a new book SEX MONEY KISS. Come back in two weeks to see if it’s any good.
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