Genius... Millionaire... Criminal Mastermind...
His name is Fowl. Artemis Fowl.
All that and he's twelve years old.
Fowl is the evil hero of Eoin Colfer's series of children's novels.
I have blogged before about my overall dislike of the unlikeable protagonist and anti-hero, however I confess I make an exception for Fowl. He is the classic brainy villain that is dangerously simple to romanticize. Sort of a Dr. Evil for the middle school set.
In truth then, I dislike reading about characters who wallow pathetically in their unhappy, unsatisfying lives or crushing ignorance. Both of these problems are best exemplified in my utter loathing of William Faulkner's writing.
I can enjoy, even relate too, a reprehensible person like Artemis. While he is "differently moralled" to say the least, he is not intentionally cruel. What he does is not always legal or moral, but I can understand someone who goes after what they want with all their resources. Think of the story if Richie Rich or Johnny Quest had sociopathic tendencies.
While I am fond of young Fowl, I see myself in Capitan Holly Short. She's a fairy, one of the "People" who are basically all the mythical creatures that humans don't realize are real and living underground. Short is a member of the elite law enforcement group LEPrecon. As the first female LEPrecon officer, she has much to prove.
Fowl manages to kidnap Holly and plans to ransom her for gold.
I love how clever this book is with all the mythology and campy humor. Get this: the LEPrecon techie guy is a centaur named Foaly. Punny, very Punny.
There are five novels in this fun series, plus a companion book with two short stories and extras, and a graphic novel adaption. Much thanks to my dear Kate for recommending the book. Now I'm hooked on them.
All that and he's twelve years old.
Fowl is the evil hero of Eoin Colfer's series of children's novels.
I have blogged before about my overall dislike of the unlikeable protagonist and anti-hero, however I confess I make an exception for Fowl. He is the classic brainy villain that is dangerously simple to romanticize. Sort of a Dr. Evil for the middle school set.
In truth then, I dislike reading about characters who wallow pathetically in their unhappy, unsatisfying lives or crushing ignorance. Both of these problems are best exemplified in my utter loathing of William Faulkner's writing.
I can enjoy, even relate too, a reprehensible person like Artemis. While he is "differently moralled" to say the least, he is not intentionally cruel. What he does is not always legal or moral, but I can understand someone who goes after what they want with all their resources. Think of the story if Richie Rich or Johnny Quest had sociopathic tendencies.
While I am fond of young Fowl, I see myself in Capitan Holly Short. She's a fairy, one of the "People" who are basically all the mythical creatures that humans don't realize are real and living underground. Short is a member of the elite law enforcement group LEPrecon. As the first female LEPrecon officer, she has much to prove.
Fowl manages to kidnap Holly and plans to ransom her for gold.
I love how clever this book is with all the mythology and campy humor. Get this: the LEPrecon techie guy is a centaur named Foaly. Punny, very Punny.
There are five novels in this fun series, plus a companion book with two short stories and extras, and a graphic novel adaption. Much thanks to my dear Kate for recommending the book. Now I'm hooked on them.
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3/2/2008 11:27 PM
The Creative Nerd wrote:
Summing up an Artemis Fowl novel is a tricky proposition. In a few sentences, the plots might seem strange. They might even seem hard to believe. Yes, fantasy, even kid's fantasy, must be believable even if only within the world created within the book's covers. I wrote about the first Fowl novel last year. It is the same fast paced adventure and characters crafted to make the reader can root for in the tight spots Colfer writes for them that make the books so appealing, yet so hard to describe. The key players from book one are back together. ...
I've seen this book before but I thought it was a children's book. I also thought it would be of the same league as Animorph (I grew out of it. Not sure if you ever heard of that series?). You made it sound interesting though. Hmm...
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My dear, it is a children's book. While I couldn't read kid's book 24-7, I love a good children's book once in a while.
Stay tuned, because I'm reading Harry Potter for the very first time.
I've never heard of Animorph, but I'll have my eye out for them.
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I am enjoying Artemis Fowl when I got on trips and listen on CD. I still like Harry Potter better, but Eoin Colfer is really catching me.. I have listened to The Supernaturalist and currently have Half Moon Investigations in my CD Player in my car.
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The second Potter book is next on my reading list. I think I would like Harry better if I'd been the "right" age group for them. Something about evil Artemis hits me just right as a grown up. All are certainly worth reading. I hope Colfer takes off more, because they are so fun and smart.
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