Artemis Fowl

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication Date: 2001

About the Author

Overview

Setting

Themes and Characters

Literary Qualities

Social Sensitivity

Topics and Discussions

Ideas for Reports and Papers

Related Titles/Adaptations

For Further Reference

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ireland inspired Eoin (sounds like Owen) Colfer to create supernatural characters with an edge. Born on May 14, 1965, on Ireland's southeast coast at Wexford, Colfer grew up in a family that encouraged his imagination. His parents, Billy and Noreen Colfer, were creative people with varied interests. At home, Eoin Colfer and his four brothers indulged in stimulating activities and adventures. The Colfers often went to Slade, the Irish fishing community on Hook Peninsula where Colfer's father grew up.

Colfer learned to love books at an early age, devouring Robert Ludlum's and Jack Higgins's thrillers. He studied at a local boys' school where his father taught. A daydreamer, Colfer created stories and drew pictures. He aspired to become a teacher like his parents and enrolled in a teacher's training degree program at a Dublin college.

Three years later, Colfer returned to Wexford prepared to teach primary students. His students enjoyed his storytelling sessions when he told about magical Irish characters. Every night after school, he wrote or participated in a drama organization. Colfer performed in many theatrical roles, serving as play director, writer, and star. He liked the immediacy of plays so that he could witness how audiences were reacting to his words.

He married a childhood friend, Jackie, in 1991. After Colfer was disappointed when publishers rejected a book he wrote, he and Jackie embarked on several years of exotic adventures, teaching in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Italy. Returning to Wexford, the couple's son, Finn, was born in 1997. Colfer taught learning-disabled and emotionally troubled students who helped Colfer become aware of teen humor and attitudes. He based Holly Short, his favorite Artemis Fowl character, on the girls he taught in Wexford because he learned about how they would respond to situations.

Comparing his imagination to a bubbling cauldron, Colfer said that his experiences provided him with information to mix together to create original ideas. Colfer's Tunisian experiences inspired him to write his first book in which his Irish protagonist adjusted to living in Tunisia because of sports he played with an orphaned native boy. Benny and Omar, a humorous story, became an Irish bestseller soon after it was published in 1998. That book was translated into at least seven European languages. Colfer's sequel, Benny and Babe, was released the next year and received a nomination as a Bisto Book of the Year.

Colfer's macabre The Wish List was issued in 2000 and received a Bisto Merit Award the next year. Colfer also wrote the O'Brien Flyers series books for younger readers featuring the character Ed Cooper. The Irish Library Service reports that those series books, Going Potty, Ed's Funny Feet, and Ed's Bed, are regularly checked out by patrons.

Colfer decided to write a fantasy based on Irish legends that would appeal to all ages. He was determined to make his fantasy different by creating non-stereotypical characters and elaborate technology. Colfer believes that many people equate technology with magic because of the amazing things that computers can achieve.

Artemis Fowl was published in 2001. When he received the first printed copies, Colfer took them to share with his students who had inspired him. Publicity hyped Artemis Fowl as the next Harry Potter, but Colfer insisted that the books were quite different. The book's promotion included a contest for entrants to decipher the fairy code on the book's cover. The book quickly became a New York Times number one bestseller, as well as reaching the top of Irish and British charts.

In 2002, the sequel, The Arctic Incident, was published and sold more copies than its precursor. Colfer plans to write a trilogy in the Artemis Fowl series in which he says Artemis will become more morally aware of his actions and ultimately value family more than wealth.

Colfer sold his film rights to Miramax and Tribeca Productions for an Artemis Fowl movie which began production in 2002. This financial success enabled Colfer to resign from teaching to write full time.

Artemis Fowl was named the Children's Book of the Year at the 2001 British Book Awards and was on the shortlist for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year. In April 2002, voters at the WH Smith book awards selected Artemis Fowl as the best children's book of the year.

OVERVIEW

After his father's disappearance, Artemis Fowl kidnaps an elf, Captain Holly Short, in an effort to ransom gold to replenish his family's wealth. The twelve-yearold exhibits extraordinary skills and utilizes fantastical technology to manipulate situations to his benefit. This action triggers a rescue attempt by the underground's elite LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police reconnaissance). A variety of supernatural characters, collectively known as the People, gather at the Fowl manor in an attempt to save Holly. Allied with the faithful Butler, Fowl is determined to be the victor.

SETTING

Readers meet Artemis Fowl and his righthand man, Butler, in early twenty-first century Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This setting establishes a mysterious mood by contrasting the pale Caucasians with their exotic Asian counterparts. Informant Nguyen Xuan's reaction of horror to Artemis's appearance and behavior foreshadow the sinister events that will occur. The narrow Vietnamese streets suggest Artemis's single-minded purpose to find a copy of the fairy manual which contains all of their secrets. Petty thieves and drunken vagrants littering the streets foreshadow the violence which Artemis and Butler will later experience.

The omniscient narrator, understood to be the psychiatrist documenting Artemis's atrocities, tells readers that Ho Chi Minh City was also known as Saigon, as a historic reminder of the fall of that city to communist forces in the Vietnam War. Artemis is seeking a similar collapse of power by obtaining the fairy book so he can control the fairies to secure his financial desires.

Ireland is a crucial setting because it is fundamental to fairy legends and history. Eiriu is considered the origin of fairy life and traditions and where magic is most concentrated. All of the characters gravitate to Ireland, which is the center of the novel's climatic scenes. The fairies come to Ireland and Artemis's familiar territory instead of him going to their world. Ireland, though, poses an advantage for both sides because of its relevance to Artemis's and the People's history, while the underground would be difficult for Artemis to manipulate.

The Fowl manor represents security. The structure is a fifteenth-century fortress built by Artemis's ancestor, Hugh Fowl, and reinforced with modern technological devices such as an Industrial Light and Magic cinecamera to monitor the premises and repel intruders. A tall stone wall surrounds the former castle and has guard towers and a gate. The grounds resemble a bog.

Inside, the manor smells of money. Medieval aspects contrast with modern additions. Artemis's study serves as the headquarters of Fowl Manor and is equipped with networked computers which display significant news Web sites. He has a lectern from which he addresses the Butlers. Artemis meets with Captain Root in the conference room to negotiate the ransom. Suits of armor and portraits line the halls. The floors are parquet and the wooden banisters are carved. Tunisian rugs cover the floors. Artemis Fowl Senior's portrait egotistically conceals safes.

Some rooms resemble prisons or mental wards. Angeline's darkened attic room is reminiscent of settings in William Faulkner's and Charles Dickens's fiction, and a Mam Cam electronically observes Angeline. Holly's cell has a cot and a viewcam for Artemis to monitor her. She can tell the concrete is new, and realizes the cell was built especially for her not only to contain her but also to prevent her from burying her acorn. Holly bangs her bed on the floor to expose dirt to bury her seed and regain her magic. As evidence of the character's renewal after surviving the fairy attack, Angeline initiates plans to redecorate as soon as she regains consciousness.

The fairy underground is a secret civilization that is unknown to most humans. This setting has parallels with Artemis's father dealing with the criminal underworld. Driven beneath the earth by encroaching Mud People (humans), a conglomeration of fairies, elves, goblins, dwarves, and trolls reside in a congested urban setting. Characters enjoy living near the warmth of the Earth's core where they indulge in slime pool baths. Most important, they have no contact with people in what is called the "last human-free zone" on the planet.

Artificial lighting illuminates crowded tunnels and thoroughfares leading to businesses such as Spud's Spud Emporium and municipal buildings such as the Lower Elements Police station. The station is crowded with boisterous dwarves and goblins arrested after gang fights and thefts and other criminal activity. Remarks hint that the mythical Fountain of Youth can be found somewhere in this underground setting.

The fantastical characters are forbidden from entering a human building unless they are invited. Pursuing a troll who has emerged from underground, the elf Captain Holly Short goes into an Italian restaurant because she hears a child cry for help. Her efforts to subdue the troll are complicated by the crowded, candle-lit restaurant. Because Holly's shield is weak and she is exposed to the humans, she has to perform memory wipes on the patrons. Her clumsy capture of the troll causes Holly problems with her commanding officer and results in her traveling vulnerable to elf-napping.

THEMES AND CHARACTERS

Greed and excess are this novel's essential themes. The anti-hero, Artemis Fowl the Second, is a child prodigy who knows few limitations. The son of wealthy parents, Artemis has enjoyed having his whims fulfilled. He is unfamiliar with not getting what he wants. Artemis represents the themes of narcissism, arrogance, and entitlement. His only acknowledged weakness is a "slight dust-mite allergy." Artemis lives by the motto "Know thine enemy" and gathers knowledge to reinforce himself.

From the novel's beginning, he is depicted as a genius who capably uses nightvision goggles and computer and digital technology to locate information on the Internet, post his advertisement, and scan the fairy manual and send it electronically to safe locations. Artemis also appropriates computer knowledge to crack Gnommish, the fairy code, which he uses to translate the fairy's book thus gaining power and control over those creatures. He has access to any technological tools he needs. Although money is ample to fund his interests, travels, and security, Artemis always wants more.

The descendant of a notorious Irish crime family, Artemis is shown to have felonious tendencies and rebels against rules. He is cast as a mastermind who uses his brain to fill two simultaneous but antagonistic roles as hero and villain. The namesake of a Greek hunting goddess, Artemis is focused on his personal hunts to secure the items he desires. He speaks bluntly and chillingly to frighten people into cooperating. The themes of selfishness and callousness are evidenced when he cruelly confronts the alcohol-addicted Vietnamese fairy and taunts her in order to get what he wants. Artemis has one goal: to secure sufficient quantities of gold to replenish his family's billionaire-level wealth that has been depleted to mere millions after his father's ship, the Fowl Star, was destroyed by a Russian missile. Artemis Senior has not been seen since that explosion. Artemis is convinced that the easiest way to achieve this goal is to kidnap a fairy and demand a ransom of a ton of 24-karat gold ingots. Devising a blind and donning sunglasses to protect him from the fairies' mesmer, he strategically achieves this capture and defends his home against the invading rescuers.

Although Artemis is physically a child who has not yet entered puberty, his intellect surpasses that of most adults he encounters. The fact that Artemis believes that magic and fairies really exist is fundamental to this novel and reveals his childish innocence. The fact that Artemis procures the guide to prepare for seizing a fairy hostage and defending his home indicates his adult nature. His emotions, however, waver between being adult and childlike. He is most emotionally susceptible regarding his parents. The themes of family and love seem minor compared to the novel's other concepts but do motivate Artemis and expose his vulnerabilities. Artemis admires his father, whom he wishes not only to emulate but also to exceed in cunning and ruthlessness.

Angeline Fowl is depicted as a weak, mentally broken woman who has withdrawn into her own sense of reality after the loss of her husband. She sometimes has conversations as if her missing husband is with her, and becomes agitated if the curtains in her room are drawn and she is exposed to sunlight. Drugged with sleeping pills, which later are crucial to the plot, Angeline often does not recognize her son and is critical of Juliet, Butler's younger sister and the maid. Artemis tolerates Angeline's verbal abuses and knows how to respond to convince her that her complaints will be rectified. He ultimately sacrifices his gains to secure his mother's health. True to her name, Angeline becomes angelic by the novel's conclusion, when she emerges smelling of perfume on Christmas Day; nonetheless, she seems contrary to the Fowl characterization. She fondly calls Artemis Arty and inquires about school, making him feel like a boy again.

The ever present and thoroughly competent Butler is physical opposite of Artemis. He is tall with a vigorous athletic body. A trained assassin, Butler can kill people with his bare hands in a multitude of ways, but is usually armed with many weapons. He is descended from a long line of personal bodyguards that have served the Fowls for generations. The Fowl-Butler combination represents dependence, loyalty, and service. The omniscient narrator informs readers that the Butler family was the source for the word "butler." Ironically, Butler acts submissively to the physically weaker Artemis. He calls him "sir" and reacts quickly to Artemis's orders. Assigned to Artemis when he was born, Butler seems fatherly. He is the closest person to Artemis, and their relationship almost resembles friendship. Butler's sister, Juliet, is not as responsive. She questions Artemis's belief in fairies, resents his chores for her, and does not always obey instructions, which enables fairies to gain the advantage over Artemis.

Colfer's fairies, known as the People, do not resemble the characters in most traditional fairy tales. They refuse to submit passively to Artemis's orders and prepare an assault to save their colleague without giving Artemis any of the ransom fund's gold. They are just as determined as Artemis to achieve their goals. Action is the predominant theme associated with the supernatural characters who defend their civilization and culture from Artemis. The elite LEPrecon representatives fight their enemies with a combination of magic and military technology, which is more advanced than human technology. They unleash a troll that had been previously captured and feel no remorse for the potential damages to life and property that might ensue. Unfortunately, Artemis underestimates the fantastical characters's intellectual and technological capabilities. He does learn that at one point fairies and humans lived more compatibly, and that the People traded magical favors for goods. This knowledge helps Artemis buy a wish.

Captain Holly Short is an atypical heroine. An overworked elf who defies orders to replenish her magical powers by undergoing the Ritual, Short resents her male superiors whom she feels are sexist and inadequate military officers. Standing three feet tall, Holly is the great-granddaughter of Cupid and is described as being an attractive elf. She is the first female officer on her Recon squad and confronts prejudice from her commander and peers who think the job is too dangerous for a female. Holly is constantly compelled to prove herself and worries about being demoted to traffic duty. Although Holly likes her high-tech helmet and uniform, she resents having to dress as a leprechaun and repress her elfin identity. Holly becomes vulnerable after her botched attempt to snare the troll in Italy. She daringly resists Artemis and refuses to succumb to his charms during her captivity. Smart and resourceful, Holly also reveals her empathetic nature when she heals Butler after the troll attacks him. She also feels sympathetic toward the humans when she thinks they have been killed by the blue rinse biological bomb. Holly and Juliet, although forced into a relationship of prisoner and guard at the Fowl manor, share many characteristics. Upset that Artemis defeats her, Holly vows revenge and becomes the LEPrecon Artemis Fowl expert.

Commander Julius Root warns Holly that she must prove that females should be on the Recon squad. His officers dub him "Beetroot" because his face often flushes purple during his episodes of rage. Root constantly threatens to transfer Holly and insists she restore her magic before returning to duty. This mission results in her kidnapping. Root orders his men to do everything possible to remove Holly from her captors. He even wears an iris-cam and meets inside with Artemis during timestop negotiations.

The LEPrecon squad have technological superiority because of Foaly, a "paranoid centaur." Inventing since he was young, Foaly fears that humans want to read his thoughts. He wears a tinfoil hat to block any thought transmissions. Foaly acts antagonistically. He likes irritating Root and places viruses in computer systems he designs, such as the helmets agents wear in order to prevent unauthorized use. Foaly warns Root about Lieutenant Cudgeon, whom the council names acting commander. Cudgeon is ambitious and disloyal to Root, who has been his friend for six hundred years. Cudgeon dismisses military advice and implements unwise missions, including the troll and blue rinse, in an effort to defeat Artemis.

Fantastical creatures reveal the links between humans and magic. The troll is described as a large, hairy beast with claws that can retract. It reacts viciously to light or sound and is the reason that the People interact with humans before Artemis initiated his plan. Mulch Diggins, the appropriately named dwarf in jail for kleptomaniac behavior, agrees to tunnel into the Fowl cellar to liberate Holly. By unhinging his jaw, Diggins can eat through ground, expelling dirt as quickly as he consumes it. His hair serves as an antennae to guide him underground. After Diggins steals the returned gold, he decides to flee and pretend to be a human dwarf.

The psychiatrist, Dr. J. Argon, provides a report for the LEPrecon Academy, which casts Artemis as a devious miscreant who has driven other mental health professionals mad. During the battle at Fowl Manor, Dr. Argon and his colleague Dr. Cumulus (names that indicate they are full of hot air) analyze Artemis's behavior to determine if he lied to Root. Based on victims' accounts, Dr. Argon's report seems to express awe at Artemis's intellectual abilities while denouncing his treatment of the magical creatures. Dr. Argon also provides information that this novel represents Artemis's first, but by not means final, act of villainy. He questions Artemis's sincerity for healing his mother, saying that Artemis only acted to keep away social services.

LITERARY QUALITIES

Almost all critics agree that Colfer's combinations of technology and fairy tales are the most satisfying element in the novel. By altering traditional Celtic depictions of supernatural characters, Colfer amuses readers with modern versions of ancient figures. These legendary creatures, usually shown to be peaceful, helpful, and kind, are cast as aggressive, self-centered renegades. Colfer's characters are definitely not whimsical. He interweaves literary genres by equipping fairies and elves with fantastic state-of-the-art technology, most of which surpasses the technical capabilities of real devices available in the early twenty-first century. Coifer also demonstrates that keen intellects can be more effective than powerful technology to survive conflicts. He also shows the power of nature and ancient traditions by mentioning the importance of rivers, trees, and the moon in preserving magic.

Language accentuates Colfer's smart, comedic style. He invents jargon and acronyms, such as LEPrecon, memory swipes, blue rinse, buzz batons, overground pass, Ritual, mesmer, Neutrino 2000, and the curse "D'Avrit" specific to his characters and settings. Knowledge of this specialized vocabulary makes readers feel that they are part of the action. The characters' wit and sarcasm deliver memorable lines such as Holly deriding humans for clinging to stereotypes about leprechauns. She speculates that if people knew the derivation of the name from LEPrecon that they would try to vanquish leprechauns and other supernatural characters from earth. The matchbox-sized fairy manual and fairy code are also appealing, and Colfer provides clues to help readers translate mysterious messages which accompany the novel's text.

Humor is the foundation of this book, whether it is comic (such as sly references to the swear toads) or dark (such as casual comments about destroying annoying characters). The novel's violent, militaristic, and grotesque scenes, such as the flatulent dwarf, can either amuse or repulse readers. Characters often speak vulgarly or rudely. Colfer also draws in horror elements which can be interpreted humorously, such as comparing pale Artemis to a vampire and reinforcing this image with his mother's darkened room and extreme reaction to light.

Colfer selected names to convey meanings. The surname Fowl indicates the protagonist's foul nature. It also hints of his inclination to roost at the family's manor. The mythical name Artemis of both father and son suggests their inclination to hunt for property and characters that can benefit them. The Greek goddess Artemis is also identified with lunar events, and much of Artemis's activities occur at night with only moonlight to illuminate darkness, such as the full moon on the night of Holly's capture. His mother, Angeline, is cast as an angel, even when her mental collapse renders her unbearable. She is like Sleeping Beauty, awakening when love revives her.

The opening identification of the novel being a psychiatric report establishes the tone that Artemis has victimized people. The style of this literary device is personable rather than clinical and helps initiate character development and awareness of their psychological nature and motivations. The use of an omniscient narrator enables several points of view to be presented as the characters are featured in alternating chapters then interact at the Fowl manor. Readers find the battle among characters who are not solely good or evil but exhibit a complex mixture of qualities and deficiencies compelling. Colfer, who calls his novel "Die Hard with Fairies," admits he was influenced by such popular culture characters as Darth Vader, Huckleberry Finn, and James Bond and wanted to portray his characters as imperfect beings who make mistakes and misjudge each other. The epilogue, foreshadowing sequels, identifies the psychiatrist who suggests that Artemis will continue being wicked and confront Holly Short in future decades and ultimately ally with her against a goblin uprising.

SOCIAL SENSITIVITY

Artemis Fowl has few scruples. He does not hesitate to pursue what he wants using unprincipled means. Artemis coldly assesses people to determine their weaknesses and flaws. He evaluates their strengths. For example, he notices Nguyen Xuan's manicured nails, fine clothing, and Oxford accent, which alert Artemis that the man is not a waiter. Artemis easily lies and misleads people. Almost reptilian, Artemis nardssistically looks after his interests and is self-absorbed. He would do almost anything to achieve his aspirations. The only hints that he is capable of empathy occur when he is around his mother, although he vows not to let her interfere with his activities.

A work ethic is important to both human and fantastical characters. Butler and Juliet are mostly dutiful to their employers, respecting a long-held tradition in their family. Holly and the LEPrecon team are usually loyal to their coworkers. Although they may complain and make sexist comments, the male officers risk their lives to rescue Holly from harm. Ironically, the supernatural characters seem to have more human qualities of empathy and camaraderie than their human foes. Holly saves Butler instead of ignoring his injury after the troll attacks him.

Morals are subtly presented in this novel. Although Artemis seems overwhelmingly villainous, he knows that his relationship with his parents has priority over his greed for material possessions. Artemis chooses his mother's health over hoarding all of the gold he won. He misses his father. Comments about his father's ties to the criminal underworld and crossing of the Russian Mafia emphasize that Artemis lacks appropriate role models and has the potential to become more violent and criminal if he does not reform his ways. At times, Artemis momentarily questions his ability to continue his malicious behavior and loses confidence. Although these episodes are intermittent, they suggest that Artemis may develop morals and a conscience as he matures.

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

1. Why does Colfer characterize Artemis Fowl as an extraordinary genius? How would the plot have been plausible if he had been less intelligent?
2. How are the disappearance of the senior Artemis Fowl and illness of Angeline Fowl essential for plot development?
3. In what ways is Butler a surrogate father to Artemis?
4. What rules control Artemis and Captain Holly Short and their respective allies? How do they work around these restrictions?
5. How are Holly and Juliet similar? How does Colfer humanize the magical creatures and dehumanize Mud People?
6. How do the exotic locales Artemis and Butler visit influence their characterization as devious, greedy people? In what ways does Colfer perpetuate stereotypes of Third World places and people?
7. What are Artemis's weaknesses? How does he overcome his vulnerabilities and outsmart his enemies?
8. How does Artemis seem older than his age and wiser than adults? In what ways does this make the story more convincing? When does he seem immature and how does this influence his characterization?
9. Why is it significant that Angeline Fowl is restored to health on Christmas? How does this conclusion seem contrary to Artemis's nature?
10. In what ways does the presentation of the story as a psychiatric report lend the plot credibility? How might it distract readers and cause them to question the veracity of the information? How would the novel be different if Artemis had been the narrator? In what ways is an omniscient narrator the most effective way to tell Artemis's story?

IDEAS FOR REPORTS AND PAPERS

1. Write a paper to explain whether this novel is science fiction, fantasy, or a combination of both these genres.
2. List famous child prodigies. How many of them became criminals?
3. Create a code based on cultural interests you have such as science, arts, or sports and write a short message to your best friend.
4. Design a building you would use as a fortress. What technology would you include for protection and conveniences? Invent a device to meet your specific needs and prepare a drawing of it to display with your structural design.
5. Outline the hierarchy of fairies and compare it with the organization and bureaucracy of several countries' militaries.
6. Research Irish mythology and history to determine how much of the information Colfer presents has a factual basis.
7. Analyze the motif of kidnapping and treasure stealing in this book and other examples of children's literature.
8. Rewrite a popular belief, like the Easter Bunny, to reflect the fictional history of when fairies and Mud People coexisted and traded favors.
9. Pretend you are a fairy and devise a plan to outwit Artemis. What have you learned in this novel that would help you? Which mistakes did the fairies make that you would avoid?
10. Make a wanted poster for Artemis Fowl to distribute in the fairy world. Include a physical description, list of crimes, and illustration.

RELATED TITLES/ADAPTATIONS

Artemis Fowl has been adapted for an audiotape version read by Adrian Dunbar. Most fiction about fairies is written for young readers and depicts fairies as kind, helpful characters. Trolls are also described as misunderstood, gentle creatures. Some fiction describes fairies kidnapping humans instead of humans abducting fairies. For example, in Terri Windling's The Changeling (1995), a brother rescues his sister from fairies, and in Perry Nodelman's The Same Place but Different (1995) and A Completely Different Place (1997) tells how John Nesbit saves his sister and children who have been kidnapped by fairies. Reminiscent of the period when humans and the People intermixed, Eloise McGraw's The Moorchild (1996) focuses on a changeling who is not entirely a human or fairy as she seeks her identity.

Early twenty-first century authors depict fairies as having civil strife. In Mary E. Lyons's Knockabeg: A Famine Tale (2001), fairies from Knockabeg fight with other fairies during the Irish potato famine. The Fairy Diaries series written by Louise Bradley also features fairy wars. In Annie's Journey (2001), the protagonist Annie searches for her missing mother, much like Artemis worries about his lost father, while the conflict of the Light Fairies versus the Shadow Fairies occurs. The main character in Rebecca's Quest (2001) is a Fairy Finder who goes to Fairyland to save both humans and fairies from the sinister Shadow Fairy Court. Herbie Brennan's Faerie Wars (2003) portrays the Faeries of the Night as being antagonistic against other fairies.

Other books that can be compared to Artemis Fowl include J. R. R. Tolkien's writing, which has a variety of elf, dwarf, and fairy characters and Roald Dahl's humorous, raucous, and often macabre works. Artemis Fowl resembles the boy characters in Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer (1876) and Huckleberry Finn (1884).

Supplementary nonfiction discussing Celtic lore includes Diarmuid A. MacManus's The Middle Kingdom: The Faerie World of Ireland (1973) and Peter Haining's The Leprechaun's Kingdom (1979).

More Books by Eoin Colfer

Benny and Omar, 1998
Benny and Babe, 1999
The Wish List, 2000
Artemis Fowl, 2001
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, 2002