Rating: Summary: Bloody good Review: Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident is the second instalment in the Artemis Fowl series. Now, if you have yet to read the first, don't even think about reading this one first, as you will be totally lost. Well, not totally, but you'll not be able to fully appreciate some of the character emotions and actions. Here we find Artemis Fowl Jr. on a rescue mission to save his father from the Russian Mafiya. On his way, he is abducted by LEPrecon Captain Holly Short, taken in for questioning about illegal trading with goblins. He is, duhviously, innocent, but is nevertheless enlisted to aid the People, in exchange for help with his father. Sounds simple, right? What could possibly go wrong? How about everything? A disillusioned LEP officer concocts an elaborate scheme to overtake the LEP and, eventually, the Upper World. While Captain Short, Commander Root, Artemis and Butler, Artemis'...butler, go to Russia, Haven is thrown into utter chaos, and only our heroes can save the Lower Elements. What could possibly be bad with this book? How about nothing? The action is fast-paced, with many surprises, twists and 'eh?' moments, where you marvel at the utter coolness of this book. If you do not read this book, you are missing out on a GREAT literary experience. I also refuse to believe that Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code, is the last we'll hear of Artemis' hijinks. Anyhows. Buy this book.
Rating: Summary: Review from a young reader Review: I loved this book from the first page, when I was introduced to Butler the butler, a truly ingenious name in my opinion. I can't get enough of it. 12 year old Artemis Fowl discovers the existence of huge colonies of fairies living underground, and is determined to use his knowledge to exploit them. He concocts a plan to kidnap a fairy (Captain Holly Short of the Lower Elements Police), hold her for ransom, and restore his family fortune. But these fairies aren't sweet little things who put tooth money under your pillow or live in flowers; these are fairies with attitude. One great thing about this book is that you never know which side to cheer for, for Artemis is both the hero and the villain. Colfer combines fantastical folklore with high-tech, modern, magic to create a superbly original race of fairies. The dialogue is witty, both using and making fun of clichés, and the characters are wonderfully charismatic. Artemis Fowl is a great mix of all the things I love - fantasy, action, adventure, and comedy. The ending is perfect, down to the last sentence - 'But that's another story.' I love how Colfer inserts little comments into the book that make you stop and wonder about the human race and what it's doing. One example is how Holly finds the idea of going to the bathroom in your own house repulsive, and is disgusted by the fact humans treat their waste with chemicals instead of returning it to the Earth as fertilizer. Colfer is very subtly making the reader to look at the way human life has evolved by challenging something as basic as the toilet. I love Colfer's unique and very effective writing style, and I laughed until I cried at some parts. The only solid negative aspect I can find to this book is in the difficult technological terms used - Eoin Colfer certainly did his research before he wrote this book. And of course, even I found it hard to look past the repulsive glittery cover and begin to read it, although I forgave it by the third page. It only goes to bring out the truth in that good old saying 'Never judge a book by it's cover.'
Rating: Summary: Excellent Sequel Review: Perhaps not as good as the first, but certainly an excellent sequel. Yes, Artemis becomes more compassionate and less criminal, only he would never let you know that. The book is just as easy to read as the first and only has one slow section. Excellent.
Rating: Summary: terrific sequel, more mature hero Review: The great thing about the first Artemis Fowl novel was the idea that fairies, far from being pretty little things with gauzy wings are a secret race of technologically advanced beings living deep underground. Colfer tapped deep into Irish myth and came up with the idea that fairy gold was real - and a teenage master-criminal was going to get it. Artemis is a great anti-hero, and when the new book begins he's running rings round the school shrink (whose ... psychology books he's naturally read and despised.) This is very funny, but what's better is that underneath the cockiness, Artemis is a boy with a messed-up family who really misses his Dad, who vanished in Russia. News comes that his father isn't dead but kidnapped by the Mafia, and the only way Artemis can get him out is to join forces with his arch-Nemesis, Holly SHort of the LEPRecon unit. Currently in disgrace, Holly has a few problems of her own...like putting down a goblin rebellion. All the great comic characters such as Muclh Diggums, the disgusting dwarf who chomps his way through the earth, expelling it out his rear end (now pretending to be a reclusive Hollywood star) are back. It's fast and funny, and if Colfer's The WIsh List (published in the US as The Eternity Code) is more moving and thoughtful, well, kids will love that too.
Rating: Summary: Artemis on a Mission of Mercy Review: Artemis, the child genius criminal, is back in his second book. His mother has been restored to health (in the first book) and now he learns that his father might still be alive and a hostage of the Russian Mafiya. Artemis puts his brains to work to rescue his father but is interrupted when he himself is kidnaped by Holly Short for interfering with Fairy business. Well, Artemis is quickly cleared of the charges and a deal is struck. Artemis will help Holly track down who is really trafficking with the goblins in return for help rescuing his father. Sounds easy enough. But there are plenty of plot complications thrown into the mix before each side manages to square the deal. This is quite a different book from the first one. When we were first introduced to Artemis, he was a criminal mastermind. But now we see a different side to him as he quests for his father, helps out the underground fairy population and experiences much of life that privilege has shielded from him. He is a much more likeable character now but possibly not as interesting. Still, the plot is tight and the action fast. Four-hundred pages flew by quite quickly. Not quite the same as the first, but I still recommend it.
Rating: Summary: An Extremely Good Book Review: Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident is the second book in the Artemis Fowl series. If you didn't read the first Artemis Fowl, I highly recommend reading that one before this. Well, in this book the faries are having trouble with goblins. In the meantime, Artemis received an E-mail which suggests that his father is alive. Just as he's getting ready for the rescue attampt, Holly form the LEPrecon squad brings him in for questioning. At last it is agreed that the faries will help Artemis Fowl in his quest to rescue his father from the Russian Mafia, and in return Artemis will help them with their goblin problems. But many things go wrong... I highly suggest reading this book... It's even better than the first!
Rating: Summary: The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, Book 2) Review: He has done it again! Eoin Colfer has written a entertaining, action-packed book with our favorite characters Artemis Fowl, Butler, Captain Holly Short and Julius Root! In the awesome book Artemis has to team up with his archenemy Holly Short to try and save his father from the Russian Mafiya. On the way there is a conspiracy going on in the faerie world! Of course Julius Root, Butler, Artemis Fowl and Holly Short have to been in the arctic as the faerie world is being controled by an evil ****(can't tell because it will ruin the story). They must find a way to save Artemis's father and the faerie world! Colfer has the reader hooked on this page turner for the whole book! He adds to the characters and new ones are introduced, making this book truly delightful. There is rich description, action-packed parts, genius plans (provided by Artemis Fowl)! There really is a wonder amount of everything! I would suggest this book to ages 9 and up! Although I suggest read book number one "Artemis Fowl" before you read this page turner!
Rating: Summary: A SPLENDID VOICE PERFORMANCE Review: Following on the heels of his highly successful introduction of young hero Artemis Fowl, Colfer continues with Artemis attending boarding school. It is there that our unflappable hero receives a pleading email from Russia - someone has been kidnaped by the Russian Mafiya and it is imperative that Artemis rescue him. The kidnaped person? His father. There's a hint of the British and a tinge of the Irish in the low, resonant voice of Nathaniel Parker. His reading is superb with perfect nuances and pauses,, drawing listeners into the adventure. I found myself leaning forward, not that I couldn't hear him quite distinctly but because I didn't want to miss one of his captivating inflections. Nathaniel Parker's narration, rather than "reading" merits the word "performance." It also deserves an award.
Rating: Summary: Not quite as tight Review: Like the first in the series, it's a good, fun and quick read. I found the internal politics of the fairy world interesting and nicely complex. My only complaint is that this story didn't quite have the same tight pacing as the first.
Rating: Summary: Fowl as an anti-villain Review: First of all, Colfer's Artemis Fowl series should not be read out of order. If you have not yet read the first book, you shouldn't read this one. "The arctic incident" is, without a doubt, a sequel to "Artemis Fowl", with the same characaters, and developments that come from the first part of the series. In the second book, Colfer chose to show his famous anti-hero genious boy as an anti-villain. Fowl is not portrayed as the evil kid I expected him to be when I started reading the book. In fact, I thought the series would become darker with each new book released, but after these first two stories I think that's unlikely. Fowl is still the central character, but now he must divide the reader's attention with a bigger participation of Captain Short, Commander Root, and even Butler and Potrus. Fowl will always be the "hero" of his books, but the cool thing about him is that he's a crooked hero, an evil, selfish kid with interesting plans to acheive what he wants. In this book, Artemis Fowl's role was a little too shallow, and he was portrayed, most of the times, as a good and sharing person; I didn't like that very much. Fowl's charm is being evil and selfish in a decent way, and that didn't happen in this book. "The arctic incident" is actually two plots together in the same story: Artemis Fowl wants to rescue his father from the russian Mafiya, but he needs the help and the technology of the Fairy People; to achieve that, he must, for his turn, help Root and Short to interrupt a coup-d'etat in the underworld. But the arctic part, the story involving Artemis' father, is much smaller than the underground part. Eoin Colfer's writing style continues to be easy to read and enjoyable, with some funny parts and a good display of well-developed and interesting characters. I only wished his future books were a little darker and with more complex plots. The first book is slightly better than this one. Grade 8.0/10
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