ARTEMIS FOWL: THE ARCTIC INCIDENT

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Colfer, Eoin. 2002. Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786808551.

PLOT SUMMARY
Artemis Fowl is a thirteen year old criminal mastermind who is living in an Irish boarding school. He receives a message from the Russian mafiya about a man he thought he never thought he’d see again, his father Artemis Fowl, Senior. Artemis knows it’s not going to be an easy task, but he is determined to rescue him. The LEP, Lower Elements Police, an elite team of fairies, pixies, sprites and other magical creatures, stop him as he rushes to rescue his father. But Artemis decides to make a deal with the LEP and joins forces with them to help him find his father.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Arctic Incident is the sequel to Eoin Colfer’s popular and critically received Artemis Fowl. This second series has a good plot, is action-packed, suspenseful, with some touches of humor. Also, it’s a great example of why fantasy books are such a great read.

The story takes place in an underground world where goblins, fairies, centaurs, pixies, dwarfs and other magical creatures live. Readers will use their imagination to
The story begins when Artemis receives a video message about his father who is being held hostage by the Russian Mafiya. He had been presumed dead for the past two years but Artemis always had hope that he was still alive. He requests assistance from the LEP, Lower Elements Police, and teams up with Captain Holly Short and the other magical creatures of the LEP regime to help rescue him. Holly and Artemis had some past conflict but throughout the course of the book, they finally come to an understanding. Artemis is a nicer person this time around and learns about friendship and respect. Colfer presents ideas of hope and trust to the readers when Artemis must make some difficult decisions while attempting to rescue his father before time runs out while trying to hold up his end of the bargain with Captain Short.

Colfer presents readers with unique and unusual characters such as goblins, leprechauns, pixies, dwarfs and fairies. There is plenty of action and non-stop spy adventures making it a fun read for teens and young readers. Much like the Harry Potter series, this book will take readers on a rollercoaster ride to bold and daring adventures. Young readers will look forward to reading Colfer’s other series of Artemis Fowl books.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review from Publishers Weekly: “Once again, the roller coaster of a plot introduces a host of high jinks and high-tech weaponry as Colfer blends derring-do with snappy prose (“The broad grin disappeared like a fox down a hole”) and repartee (“Hey, Mulch, If you listen really hard you can just about make out the sound of nobody giving a hoot”). The resulting fantasy hosts memorable characters, many of whom (such as the flatulent dwarf Mulch Diggums) reprise roles that helped attract fans to the first adventure. The author ratchets up the body count in this return engagement (perhaps too steeply for some tastes), and the high-concept premise may be a tad slick for others, but Colfer’s finger is firmly on the pulse of his target market, and along extra helpings of sly humor (“The sprite’s breathing calmed, and a healthy green tinge started to return to his cheeks”) he delivers a cracking good read.

CONNECTIONS
Other Artemis Fowl series:
Artemis Fowl (Book 1)
Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code (Book 3)
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception (Book 4)
Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony (Book 5)
Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox (Book 6)