Title: Artemis Fowl
Author: Eoin Colfer
I've seemed to have bad luck with books in series lately. I don't know what I was expecting when I grabbed this book at the library (on one of those trips with a terrorizing toddler in tow) but it wasn't what I got. The back of the book talks about a prepubescent criminal mastermind trying to steal a fortune by kidnapping a fairy and holding her for ransom. I don't know, but the whole idea of fairies led me to believe that the novel would have a sense of numinousness. It doesn't-- no sense of wonder at all-- the fairies could just as easily be vertically challenged humans with jet propulsion packs.
In fact, instead of reminding me of Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl reminded me most of CSI, or better yet, the recent Spike Lee/Denzel Washington movie Inside Man. In fact, take away the fairy part, and the story is basically the same: wronged criminal mastermind takes innocent people hostage in order to get money, earnest do-gooders do their best to keep everyone safe, and the bad guy gets away with it. Aside from the detailed description of weaponry (in a children's book), my main beef with Artemis Fowl is how sympathetic the villain is. Yep, he has a criminal plan, and he gets away with it, and will presumably get away with a lot more in future novels.
I think the whole idea of a complex villain is great for adult stories, but I'd prefer my kids to get something a little bit more straightforward-- at least for now.
--originally published 5/28/06
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