Artemis Fowl

Story

Artemis Fowl is a 12-year old child genius and criminal mastermind – and he’s just found out that fairies really do exist! It’s a perfect opportunity to get his hands on some fairy gold… But what Artemis doesn’t realize is that fairies aren’t the cute creatures he knows from bedtime stories – they are dangerous! And none more so than the elf he holds hostage – she is a Captain of the fairy police service and Artemis’s world is about to be turned upside down.

Why we chose it

Adventurous, exciting and funny, Artemis Fowl is a thoroughly likeable evil boy genius while the fairies of the LEPrecon have more gadgetry than James Bond.

Where it came from

As well as being inspired by the Irish legends he grew up with, the author has said he also used ideas from his favourite action movies and children he has known or taught (including his own sons who were the inspiration behind the character of Artemis). The inspiration for the hero’s name was Artemis (the goddess of the hunt) plus Fowl (winged creatures) – so altogether meaning ‘the hunter of winged creatures’.

Where it went next

A graphic novel adaptation was published in 2007, Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel. A film is due for release in 2020.

Associated stories

Artemis Fowl is the first of an eight book series. It was followed by, Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident, Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code, Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception, Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony, Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox, Artemis Fowl and the Atlantic Complex, Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian.

A spin off series, The Fowl Twins, follows the adventures of Artemis’s younger brothers.

Other books by Eoin Colfer include Airman, The Supernaturalist, The Wish List, Half Moon Investigates and the W.A.R.P series.

Books for younger readers include The Legend of the Worst Boy in the World, The Legend of Spud Murphy and The Legend of Captian Crow’s Teeth.