Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony

Facts:
Date finished: 9-21-08
Author: Eoin Colfer
Category: Children’s fantasy
Published: 2006
Pages: 400
Rating: 4/5

Basic Plot:
Artemis Fowl is at it again, plotting, calculating. Only this time, he’s up to no bad. Seems thousands of years ago, rather than take on the humans face to face, the fairy worlds decided to make themselves scarce. Artemis has already encountered the underground world of elves, dwarves and other magical creatures, but the demons? Seems they hied themselves off to another dimension altogether. But something went horribly wrong in the process and now the time spell is unraveling, bringing the lost colony of demons back to the dangerous world of men. Can Artemis figure things out in time to save the demon world? Will puberty distract him from the cause? Will he get his fairy friend Holly killed in the process? And who is the mysterious Section 8?

My assessment:
Artemis and Holly are off on another adventure and it’s a joyful ride once again. Holly seems to be the only one skeptical that Artemis is on the side of good, but then again, since she left the force, she hasn’t exactly had the equipment to be spying on Artemis night and day. But it’s the usual fun romp with these two as they try to preserve the boundaries between the human world and the magical.

I’m feeling a little skeptical of the introduction of a new character (who apparently doesn’t stick around according to reviews of the next book) who’s supposed to be just as brilliant as Artemis and diabolical as the younger Artemis. Wasn’t buying her at all. Artemis is too incredible to believe in and of himself at times, so accepting there’s another one? Nah. (No problem accepting the fairies and centaur, though. 🙂

However, I did enjoy the demons, particularly No1, whose school troubles will be relatable for almost any child. Well, maybe not the need to bury your warping classmates in dung, but definitely the bullying and being left behind by others physical changes.

It’s nice seeing Artemis growing up, changing, developing. Thank goodness his move from evil to good isn’t making him less interesting. Although, I have to say, I do miss the battle of brains and struggles between Artemis and Holly. This complete trust she has in him could get a little boring.

Get The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, Book 5) at Amazon.com.

Tags: childrens booksfantasyfiction