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: Great again Review: This book is just as good as the last. Although it does start a little slower, I enjoyed it just the same.
Rating: Summary: Another hostage, high-tech gadgets and more mayhem :) Review: This is the second book in the "Artemis Fowl" series, and it starts a little after all the things that happened in the first book in the series, that is a kidnapping and general mayhem. "The Artic Incident" just gives us the opportunity of getting to know better quite a few of the characters we already like, and lets us participate in another adventure that curiously enough involves another hostage (of another species this time, though), high-tech gadgets and more mayhem :)
Artemis has changed, but only a little: he still is a willful 12-year-old criminal, intelligent, very rich and intent on having his way no matter what. Despite his opposition, his mother sent him to a boarding school, and he is there when he receives a message telling him that his supposedly dead father is very much alive, and held for ransom by the Russian Mafia. Ironically enough, this time Artemis will need the help of the fairyfolk to rescue his father. The problem is that most of them detest him, especially his former hostage Captain Holly Short. How will Artemis solve this "little" inconvenient?.
As if that problem weren't big enough, there is also another little matter that must be taken into account: the goblin attempt to dominate the fairyworld, with human help. Throw in a lot of deceit, some violence and a certain amount of espionage, stir, and you will have an explosive situation that Artemis must worry about because... how can the fairies help him, even if they wanted to, if they face an overthrow of their government by violent means?.
All in all, I think your kids are highly likely to love this book (that's essential), and you won't die of boredom if you read it to them (hey, that's very important too). Recommended!!!
Belen Alcat
Rating: Summary: Amazing Review: This is the second book in the Artemis Fowl series. Usually, in a series like this one, the first book is much better than all of it's predecessors. The sequels are generally lacking compared to the original. However, in "The Arctic Incident", exactly the opposite was true. I found that I enjoyed the second Artemis Fowl considerably more than the first.Artemis Fowl is a highly unusual boy. At 13, he is a genius, proving to be a problem for both his parents and his school's rapidly retiring counselors. In the previous novel, Artemis also provided a lot of trouble for the underground, magical world of fairies, centaurs, and many other mythical creatures. So naturally, when goblins begin to revolt against the fairy police (the LEPrecon) using human technology, fairy Captain Holly Short decides to check in with Artemis and his sidekick and bodyguard, Butler. Artemis is not responsible for the chaos in the magical world, but he strikes a deal with Holly - he'll help the fairies if they help his get back his kidnapped father from the Russian Mafiya. Holly, Artemis, Butler, and Fairy Commander Julius Root are swept into the adventure of their lifetime, filled with danger, excitement, and (as they soon learn) most importantly, teamwork. So what's left to say? I was happily surprised by this outstanding novel, and I'm sure that you be will too. Most likely, I'll be reading this book a few more times before the next Artemis adventure arrives in bookstores!
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