LEPrecons, Fairies and Gnomes, Oh My! An Overview of the Artemis Fowl Novels
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I’m going to do a short review on the Artemis Fowl series of novels.
A New Take on a Popular Myth
Author Eoin Colfer has a wonderfully creative take on the world of leprechauns, sprites and pixies. In this series of novels, he mixes both magic and technology — beings living deep underground who have magical powers, as well as ultra-advanced computers technology and cool gadgets galore.
The Kid Factor
Throw into the fray a 12-year old boy, Artemis Fowl II — an evil genius in his own words — who uncovers the secrets of this hidden world, and you get a fun series that should delight a lot of readers, both young and old (assuming you like fantasy or science fiction). The use of a protagonist who’s not all on the up-and-up is a little different from norm, but we’re used to lovable rogues like Han Solo, or the vigilante Batman.
Action and Thrills
Artemis is aided in his exploits by his more than able-bodied bodyguard, Butler. And then there’s the true action-heroine, Captain Holly Short, a female elf who is a member of the LEPrecon — Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance — who’s a bit cocky, but has a “good head on her shoulders” as they cliché goes.
And because Artemis is not without his faults, Captain Holly puts him to the test, challenging his schemes and intellect, and teaching him some important life lessons in the process. And so throughout the series young Artemis slowly begins to change, to grow (up) and actually become “good”, even hero-like in his own ways.
The two characters butt heads in the first novel — in fact he captures her, but in subsequent novels, the two often team up, at first reluctantly, but later willingly.
Explaining Leprechauns
Colfer’s explanation for the existence of elves, trolls and other “fantasy” creatures, known in the series as “fairies”, is that they were driven underground by man ages ago, and today mostly live the underground metropolis called Haven. The LEPrecon forces are responsible for tracking fairies who accidentally or intentionally meet with humans, and wiping those humans’ memories. At their disposal are stealth technology to mask their comings and goings between the two worlds, advanced surveillance equipment and communications with Foaly, a centaur who the super-geeky IT guy of the underworld. Certain races, including the elves, have their own magic that can also be called upon.
Of course, we wouldn’t have a series if there weren’t any bad elements, both above and underground. Threats of exposure, harm to either worlds, and some very human subplots all make for very enjoyable yarns.
It’s not heavy reading in any sense of the phrase, but all in all, the Artemis Fowl novels is still a fun series — easy to digest for younger readers, and offering some care-free fun for the rest of us.
photo credit: furiousgeorge81
Comments
4 Comments on LEPrecons, Fairies and Gnomes, Oh My! An Overview of the Artemis Fowl Novels
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Cath Lawson on
Tue, 18th Mar 2008 1:50 pm
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Nez on
Wed, 19th Mar 2008 4:56 pm
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Stephanie on
Mon, 14th Apr 2008 5:32 pm
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Stephanie on
Mon, 14th Apr 2008 5:58 pm
Hi Nez – I didn’t read these yet, but i think my son has them. They definitely sound interesting though. Many of the kids books are better than adults ones.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Sky TV: Bad Customer Service Or Theft?
I totally agree — I fondly recall books from our childhood more easily and more often than those we read as adults.
The books are the best I’ve read them all over ten times, the first book I read all of a Saturday just over and over, the best one is the 4th, how Opal comes back, and the Commanders death, it should be listed for a book award.
And does anyone know if there are more books out???
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