Artemis Fowl

Rating:
Summary: The comparison to Harry Potter is misleading
Review: This book is not another Harry Potter wanne-be. It's written in a much more aggressive, entertaining style. The emphasis is on action and suspense, and the characters are quite edgy. I especially liked Holly. She's an officer with LEPRecon, the modern version of leprecaun police (I have to say Colfer's updated mythology references are very cute). Holly's a great female protagonist, very independent but with a kind streak she can't ignore. All the other "underworld" characters are also well-developed with their own personalities. There's Foaly, a wise-cracking Centaur tech expert, Root the amusing head officer with a bad temper, Mulch a tunneling pockpocket (with interesting bodily functions), and some very scary trolls.

The above-world characters are not so much fun, but set the stage for a really great story. Artemis is as believable as a criminal mastermind boy-genius type can be. I get the sense that this character will develop more in future installations. The interactions between him and the fairies is written very well. In a way, he is protagonist and antagonist at the same time, which makes for very good reading as you are rooting for all the characters to come out ahead. There is a bit of violence, but definitely no more than most toys and books aimed at pre-teens. It's was a fun read and I would pass on the recommendation to most anybody who likes the fantasy/magic fiction genre.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't matter to me that it's not H.P.
Review: I absolutely loved Artemis Fowl. I wasn't looking for a Harry Potter book and I knew from the first chapter that I had found an incredible new author. I loved all of the modern references, and found myself laughing out loud at certain points in the book. I think some of the gross-out humor (like the farts) will appeal to kids but this book works on an adult level too (like The Simpsons). Can't wait for the movie!!!

Rating:
Summary: Fun, but NOT for little children!
Review: A couple months ago, I got turned on to the Harry Potter series. I read all four books in less than forty-eight hours! Naturally, then, when people began proclaiming Artemis Fowl as the next Harry Potter, I had to check it out.

I can't quite bring myself to say that I was disappointed. Artemis is, as mentioned in other reviews, the antithesis of Harry Potter. There is no other way to say it: he's the bad guy. But he's a very good bad guy - seemingly emotionless, but debonair with his enemies. He is pitted against a fiesty female sprite who compliments him with her passion and wit.

However, I warn parents from approaching this book as bedtime fodder for little ones. Although it's not as violent as the later Harry Potter books, there is an element of combat and blood. Additionally, there's a quite base joke regarding how dwarves tunnel through rock. Furthermore, strict parents beware: there are some "damn's" and "hell's" at the end of the book.

Eoin Colfer has a really nice idea for a new series of fantasy novels...I just hope that future books have a little more class than this one did. However, it's a good literary romp if you take it for what it is: NOT Harry Potter.

Rating:
Summary: Fun for parents as well!
Review: This is a great family read! No it is not Harry Potter but I really think the same crowd will enjoy this and get a bit more out of it! The humor is edgy and the text is witty. Artemis is a great villain that you love to hate! Get the kids to stretch their sensibilities here. Sometimes real bad guys are entertaining...someone you may find mixed feelings for! This is book to spark many a heated discussion...we loved it! A truly fun read with all ages!

Rating:
Summary: Guns are bad...Guns are okay...which is it?
Review: The media mavens of Hollywood and publishing vex me. Why? Two years ago, THE INSIDER was nominated for many Academy Awards because it blasted big tobacco for being distributors of death and addiction. Then, last year, TRAFFIC got the same kudos, for saying that the drug war is bad and drugs should not be regulated. So, tobacco is bad, cocaine is good?

Now we have ARTEMUS FOWL, supposedly a "children's book" filled with guns and high explosives and SWAT team action. Is this really necessary in the post-Columbine era? Or is the message "guns are bad at school, but fine in children's books?" Shame on you, TalkMiramax Books, you have befouled our culture with ARTEMUS FOWL.

Rating:
Summary: Artemis Fowl is anything BUT foul!
Review: I, not knowing about the excessive amounts of hype on this book, unknowingly bought it, thinking it looked interesting. Little did I know the world I was about to be plunged into. Though compared to Harry Potter, few similarities are found, I can see why people would consider them alike. They both deal with preteen male (bright) protagonists, who beat the odds, and take on large amounts of responsibility and power. Not to mention the magic. If it weren't for the title, this book would not really have a recognizable "good guy" or "bad guy" considering both parties were armed, dangerous and fatal. This was a better aspect of the book, because you did not find yourself saying "NO! Stop! I want YOU to win!", I realized that I was objective yet, involved. Colfer has an undeniable talent for weaving words into beautiful, yet horrifying (at times) sentences. I suggest this book to older "Potterheads" (it can be a bit scary for the younger folk), and Harry Potter rebels alike.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Artemis Fowl is a twelve-year-old boy who just happens to be both a genius and a criminal mastermind. In a desperate attempt to restore his family's fortune, Artemis comes up with a plan to steal gold from the fairies. Along with his trusty butler sidekick "Butler", he travels to Vietnam on a quest to find a volume of fairy commandments. Once this is achieved and the book deciphered, the next logical step would be to kidnap a fairy and wait for the ransom money to arrive. However, when Artemis kidnaps Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon, it seems he's made a mistake. Because these aren't the cute little elves of bedtime stories. These fairies are armed, dangerous and ready to fight. And they will stop at nothing to get Holly back.

The book has often been claimed to be the "next Harry Potter", but while it shares the same fantastically imaginative storyline and colourful descriptions, this is far darker and more humorous than JK Rowling's books. The main characters are all unique and loveable, particularly Holly, Foaly and Root. Even the anti-hero, Artemis Fowl himself is strangely appealing, despite his more dubious characteristics. As the book goes on, you begin to see that he does indeed possess a conscience, he is just careful never to let it get in the way of his evil schemes.

Artemis Fowl is full of humour and action. The author has produced an imaginative, fast-paced adventure, which combines magic and technology. The style of narrative is fairly informal, making it easier and more enjoyable to read. Although the first chapter is quite slow, the action soon speeds up and never stops. The story was absorbing, exciting and I read it straight through in a couple of hours without stopping. Where the "Goblet of Fire" was quite frightening, Artemis Fowl is full of humour and the typical fairy magic is replaced with action and wit.

I think that this book would be less appealing to younger children in the way that Harry Potter managed to be, but older kids, teenagers and adults alike should enjoy the mix of fantasy, humour and adventure. Overall: five stars, and I will definitely be reading it again. This is no copy of Harry Potter; Artemis Fowl is a completely original work but is still deserving of all the hype. I am sure I will be buying any future books in the series.

Rating:
Summary: A horrible disappointment
Review: Like many others, I bought this book, excited that a book comparable to Harry Potter had come out. I rushed out and got this book. It was horrible, in my opinion. The story lacked originality. It was too unlike Harry Potter. Harry Potter was a reader friendly character, that actually seemed human. But Artemis Fowl (or as I call him, Artemis Foul) is a mean spirited boy. This book almost encourages children to lie, cheat, and steal, and though I think some readers might enjoy it, die-hard Harry Potter fans will not.

Rating:
Summary: A new age of fantasy
Review: Undoubtedly this will be constantly compared to Harry Potter, but for crying out loud, just because a book might become as highly-liked as HP doesn't mean that the plot has to amble along the same lines. Irish author Eoin Colfer makes an amazing debut in the US with this book.

Artemis Fowl is an astonishing criminal mastermind (he's also twelve), the end of a line of criminals, who now plans to rob the fairies/elves of their gold. The way that he plans to do so is kidnapping of an elf and subsequent ransom. Enter Captain Holly Short, a member of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance--a cute touch that had me laughing out loud) and elvish Commander Root. And Holly is just perfect for the scheme.

Though there are folklore, fairies and fantasy, this is no ancient-themed tale -- but wholly of the 21st century, with a bit of high-tech stuff thrown in. Forget the usual wands, cauldrons and spells: There's a magical Book, but also powerful computers and a digital camera (dare you to find one of those in other modern juvenile fantasies...)

The characters -- especially peppery Holly and intelligent, wily Artemis -- are full of pizzazz and sparkle. The appearances of the otherworldly characters -- done to death in conventional fantasy -- were tempered by the 21st century nature of the setting, and the natures of their jobs and interactions. All are given a slightly twisted, smiling slant.

The pace is high-speed, with few lags in the plotline. Occasionally I lost track of what was going on, but a backtrack of a few pages fixed that. The writing style is a little too stark and undescriptive for my personal taste, but I suppose it would not be high-speed if there were a great deal of description.

Will Harry Potter fans like this? I truly cannot tell, they might not like the vast differences between the two -- but fans of quirky, imaginative fantasy will love it for sure.

Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter meets Tom Clancy
Review: I guess I was expecting a story that was a little bit "nicer" than what I found. I have a hard time saying this book would be a good read for kids when the twelve year old main character uses deceit and blackmail to get what he wants, not mention the fact that he seems to have a full arsenel of weapons to choose from and no reservations about using them.