Twelve-year-old villain, Artemis Fowl, is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history. His bold and daring plan is to hold a leprechaun to ransom. But he's taking on more than he bargained for when he kidnaps Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance Unit). For a start, leprechaun technology is more advanced than our own. Add to that the fact that Holly is a true heroine and that her senior officer Commander Root will stop at nothing to get her back and you've got the mother of all sieges brewing!

Visit the virtual world of Artemis Fowl for the inside story on the main characters, top activities, ecards, all the latest news and much more at www.artemisfowl.co.uk

Reviewer: Meabh

'...pacy, playful and very funny, an inventive mix of myth and modernity, magic and crime.'
Time

' There won’t be many children who aren’t clamouring to read it this summer.’
Kids Out

‘It’s a wittily original breath of fresh air that might just change the way you view the bottom of your garden forever!’
B Magazine

 ‘The mix of street-wise fairies, high-tech gizmos and big shoot-outs makes this irresistible, hilarious and great fun.’
Kids Out

‘Eoin Colfer’s tale of 23rd century leprechauns with attitude is nudging Harry Potter at the top of the adult bestseller lists’.
The Independent

‘It is strikingly original, fantastically well written and it really, really made me laugh’.
The Bookseller

‘The latest to head to Hollywood is Artemis Fowl. The thriller fairytale … is expected to knock Harry Potter off his pedestal’.
Gina Davidson, Scotland on Sunday

‘It’s a jokey spoof thriller that marries high-tech action with old Irish legends, but there’s more technology than fairy dust. … Smart and page-turning, the book is also underpinned by some feelgood lessons about the environmental damage wrought by humans’.
Sunday Times

‘Subject of a bidding war, with film rights nabbed by Robert de Niro – it is creating the same kind of buzz as a Bruce Willis movie’.
Sainsbury’s Magazine

"What a writer! A sort of cross between Philip Ridley and Terry Pratchett."
Prue Goodwin, Reading and Language Information Centre, University of Reading

"One of the most original creations in contemporary writing for children… A highly imaginative and inventive romp of a book, in which the world of traditional Irish story meets the world of modern technology: and what an entertaining encounter, complete with some of the oddest characters (human and otherwise) you are likely to come across anywhere!"
Robert Dunbar, Church of Ireland College of Education, Dublin

“Wildly original… and you thought fairy stories were just for kids.”
T2 (The Telegraph)

“The latest hot tip in children’s literature is Artemis Fowl.”
The Times

“[Artemis Fowl is] full of zippy dialogue, James Bond style gadgets and hench men with a ‘past’.”
Irish Independent

“This is a fantastic, exciting and completely original novel. From fairies with machine guns to trolls on the rampage, this book will capture the imagination of every child who reads it. It will be a massive hit. I for one cannot wait for the sequel…”
Jo Edwards, Fiction Buyer, WHSmith

“It’s so refreshing to have a different take on the fantasy genre. Such a gifted writer cannot fail to make a huge impact.”
Sonia Benster, The Children’s Bookshop, Huddersfield

“Artemis Fowl is absolutely brilliant. Hardcase leprechauns, elves with attitude, fairies that are anything but and a troll to make Voldermort look like a wuss: the fairytale has been redefined!”
Luise Pattinson, The Book House

“It’s a highly original adventure story with an action-packed plot which twists and turns right to the end – a kind of William Gibson meets the Hobbit/Irish Legends. It has all the right ingredients.”
Marc Lambert, Children’s Programme Director at the Edinburgh Festival

“An extraordinary feat of the imagination. Quite simply out of this world.”
Philippa Milnes-Smith, Managing Director, Puffin Books

“Make sure you buy it!”
Denise Van Outen, Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast

'Artemis Fowl is one of the best books that I have read in years!! The style of the author is brilliant and looking at the story from different charcters is an excellent idea, as the reader can see what all the characters are thinking. I cannot think of a single bad thing to say about this book, so I'm just going to say "if you get a chance READ IT". No-matter how old you are its definitely worth a look!'
Craig

‘I think that Artemis Fowl is one of the best books I have EVER read. PLEEEEEEEEEEASE keep writing.’
Sean (aged 9-11)

‘I love this book, a cross between Lord of the Rings and a chunk of 100crt gold. If you don’t read this you have never read a decent book, really!’
Lucy (aged 12-14)

‘I think Artemis Fowl is an amazing book. I like it because you don’t know what is going to happen until the end. I also like the fact that the ‘bad guys’ aren’t just bad and the ‘good guys’ aren’t just good. The best read I’ve ever had!!!’
Barbara

‘Artemis Fowl: what can I say?! I used to think JK Rowling was the best author in the world but now I’m not so sure!! It’s a great read, I’d recommend it to anyone.’
Sarah (aged 12-14)

‘This book is my most favourite book I’ve ever read. It is exciting, funny and has lots of strange twists. It has explained everything anyone ever asked about fairies, the description is great. It’s just amazing.’
Aaron 12-14

'I managed to sneak an early copy of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. Is it good? Well, it is expected to earn the author a million pounds. The newspapers have called it 'the new Harry Potter' and a movie has already been planned. I found it exceptional, because - unusually for a novel - there were no clear good guys or bad guys. Artemis Fowl is both a hero and a criminal, so you don't know how the story is going to end. There is also a hidden code inside the book. No, I can't give you any tips. I did email the people at Puffin to ask, but they just replied, "All the answers will be in the story" (I bet they haven't solved the riddle themselves!). So get cracking.'
Harry (aged 10)

'I think that Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl is THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD (with a few exceptions which draw with it). Thank you Eoin Colfer! Every one out there, go now to buy this book, or borrow it from a library, just do whatever you can to get your hands on it because you are missing out on sssssooooooooo much if you don’t read it!!'
Cara Verkerk (age 12-14)

'The only thing I can think that is appropriate is, “Die Hard with fairies” or “good to go” I am speechless at the moment and can only think in quotes.'
Ariella Bouskila (age 9-11)