|
|
Although one assumes Artemis is technically the main character
because the series is named after him, but it could arguably
also be Captain Holly Short, as the story focuses as much on her
as it does on young Artemis. The wide range of characters
includes Butler, Artemis’ bodyguard, and Commander Root,
Captain Short’s superior, also called Beetroot, because of the
colour of his face when he is angry, which is very, very often.
Then there is Cudgeon — a power-hungry elf who wants to gain
power in the fairy office by hook or crook, Foaly — a centaur
and also the person who is responsibly for the high Elvin
technology, Juliet — Butler’s teenage sister, and Angeline
— Artemis’s mother, who lost her mind when her husband’s
ship was shot down in the ocean.
 The second
Artemis Fowl book, The Arctic Incident, begins with
Artemis discovering that his father is alive and is being held
for ransom by the Russian mafia. Meanwhile, Captain Holly Short
discovers that a human has been trading with the goblins,
enabling the dumb goblins to upgrade their weapons and stage a
revolt against the fairies. Could the human be Fowl? But Artemis
has his own problems to deal with. Perhaps this time a brilliant
plan won’t be enough. Perhaps this time Artemis needs help…a
book Artemis Fowl fans must read.
So the main question is, how do
the Artemis Fowl books rate when compared to others like Lord
of the Rings and the Harry Potter series? Fowl does lack
those stretched, and sometimes boring portions, that one comes
across in the Lord of the Rings, but there’s something
in Harry Potter that Artemis Fowl does not have,
or has in a smaller amount. While J.K. Rowling sets her novels
in an atmosphere of medieval magic (witches, goblins, trolls,
dragons), the Artemis Fowl novels, which also deal with fairy
creatures, are located in a futuristic setting. Fowl is closer
to science fiction than to Lord of the Rings.
Also, the fairies don’t have too much magic, just healing,
mesmerising, and a couple of other tricks. But as for
excitement, Eoin Colfer provides plenty, and some readers may
find it tough to put his books down. However, as I said before,
it is purely a matter of opinion. So why don’t you try it out
for yourself?
|
THOSE
who are anxiously awaiting J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter:
The Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book in the Harry
Potter series, should know that they might have to wait a
little while longer. In the meantime, they are well advised to
read some other books written on the lines of Harry Potter.
Apart from the now well-known Lord of the Rings trilogy,
there are some newer books, which are well worth a read.
