Artemis Fowl general discussion

How not that great is it? Is it Time Paradox not that great, or is it more of a Opal Deception not that great?

More of an Opal Deception level of Not-that-great. By which I mean that it's good when you think about it a certain way, but if you think about it another way, it's bad. Most Artemis Fowl books are better than that.

I just finished reading The Atlantis Complex, and I enjoyed it. I do think some of the earlier books were better, but it delivered what it promised.

...well, actually, funny thing about that. I only saw Colfer's trailer for the book after the fact, but he describes it as if there was going to be a great dilemma over whether to bring Artemis "back" or not in favor of his happy, guilt-free Atlantis Complex-induced self. I would have enjoyed reading about that, but in point of fact, no one could stand Orion, including Artemis. And it was hilarious.

Speaking of agonizing over what to do, though: Is it me, or did Foaly used to be nicer? And unless there's some character development I forgot about — which is entirely possible — did his lost niceness transfer over to Holly? Holly always was a good one, but things like having to repress her first instinct to cradle a visibly, deeply disturbed Artemis' face in her hands and ask what's wrong didn't quite ring with the Holly I know. This isn't necessarily a bad thing — I have a weakness for genuine compassion in stories, partly because it seems to border on being a lost art these days; I gushed about the same thing in my Skip Beat! review — but it also felt like... actually, it felt like two things: 1. If I didn't know better, a remarkably well-written escapist fantasy girl (the failed mesmer scene comes to mind), and 2. Another step in the direction of — quick check on Google; yep, it's there and most of the fan material seems to range from lovey-dovey-kissy-Headbutt Of Lovey generica to being wildly out of character, but I repeat myself — an Artemis/Holly ship that I have decided as of yesterday to refer to as "Hummus".

Speaking of which, I thought I saw a lot of "reacting to the fans" between the lines — I'm guessing again here, but Artemis being a pathetic martial artist, gossip about Opal Koboi, and the entire character of Orion — but I could just be seeing things. (Early onset of the Atlantis Complex? It wouldn't be the only symptom. I'll call you back if I feel the fours are conspiring against me, unless it turns out you're all conspiring against me, in which case I will obviously have to make sure you don't get me first. By any means necessary.) I'll have to pick up Files again and double-check Turnball's "archvillain" credentials.

Uh... I had honestly forgotten about Commander Vinyáya, but the first chapter alone made me like her. She will be missed. ... Sorely. I don't remember what else she did, exactly, but man, whoever she was, I want to read more about her. Where was I?

Squid.

edited 15th Aug '10 6:26:57 PM by Caswin

With as few spoilers as possible, does it end the series?

Whoops double post.

edited 16th Aug '10 2:03:15 PM by illegalcheese

Suddenly, there is music. Artemis Fowl music. And it's actually quite good.

https://www.youtube.com/user/disneybooks?v=8OsWRM4CjH0&feature=pyv&ad=5614290474&kw=#p/c/F25CE8F98DD169BC/3/8OsWRM4CjH0

illegalcheese: No.

^^ Wow. That's some nice music.

Just finished Atlantis Complex.

First, I agree with Aliroz that it's Opal Decption-level not that great. That's mainly because I liked Time Paradox. It made me respect Opal as a villain and it was great for Artemis/Holly Ship Teasing. Though I guess if you're not into that sort of thing, that isn't a plus for you.

But man...I really would say this was the worst book in the series. I simply found it the least interesting. I normally lap up Lovesick villains but the one here just fell flat. Turnball sucked quite frankly and he was totally shoehorned into the series.

I liked Orion but there wasn't enough of him to make up for everything else in the book.

In answer to Caswin, I would say Holly's been really nice to Artemis since Lost Colony and she was also pretty nice in Time Paradox.

Also don't think I didn't notice a new power for dwarves. I think Colfer is purposefully thinking about new abilities to give them in each new installment.

Finally, did anyone else notice that Opal is only the star in every other book? She was in Arctic Incident (2), Opal Deception (4) and Time Paradox (6). Which makes me believe this book was mostly filler until Book 8 when Opal returns.

The way Time Paradox ended, I was sure Opal would be in this book. But since she's not, it confirms my thought he only wants her as the villain in the even-numbered books.

edited 10th Sep '10 7:14:28 PM by Nikkolas

^Actually Turnball appeared much earlier, in a short story detailing Holly being approved to become Recon. It was in [[All There in the Manual The Artemis Fowl Files'. I forgot the name, but it also had The Seventh Dwarf, a story about Mulch stealing a diamond.

So Turnball wasn't shoehorned, and also he might return in book 8. I say book eight, because of two things (Which were already said in the previous post, but meh).

1. Eoin Colfer said this was the penultimate book.

2. Opal Koboi has so far been the villain of all the even numbered books, and has been the most recurring.

Looks like Opal Koboi will be the final villain. Concerning Opal, I think the one during Arctic Incident was dangerous, the one in Opal Deception was lethal, the one in Time Paradox was just... NARMish and the eighth... well it will be two Opals because of The Time Paradox.

edited 10th Sep '10 8:03:37 PM by BigDaddyP

Fear the even numbers.

If any Opal was narmy, it was Book 4

I mean, look at it this way. She is supposed to be an evil mastermind to rival Artemis. Yet she's constantly throwing temper tantrums and speaking absolute gibberish. I think the child like appearance she gains at the end is all too fitting for her level of intellect in that book.

Then there's her failure-to-success ratio. She started off by killing Root so that's a success but everything else is a complete failure. You know your main villain isn't quite the genius they're supposed to be when they are ultimately beaten by a random peasant.

Contrast with The Time Paradox. She's malevolent and selfish but she doesn't throw ridiculously stupid fits anymore. She's successfully manipulated time and pretty much 90% of the book is her stringing along two Artemises. In the end she is thwarted by Artemis but it is Artemis using a piece of information he and he alone is privvy too.

This is all my opinion of course.... I just know I hated her in Opal Deception. She's probably why I consider that book the second worst in the series.

^^ Thanks for the information about Turnball though.

edited 10th Sep '10 8:26:22 PM by Nikkolas

^http://www.amazon.co.uk/Artemis-Fowl-Files-Eoin-Colfer/dp/0141381272/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284175867&sr=1-1 This is the one I have.

Plot Summary of the story: Root is testing the first ever female LEP officer when an unlikely visitor interrupts the exam. Holly and her Commander must now fight against Turnball Root and his two lackeys, at the same time trying to pass her exam.

It's quite good for a short story.

Opal Deception... you know I just realised, after book 1 and 2, everything else seemed to be just filler to lead up to book 8.

Sorry for the necro, but since it's not possible to create any new threads at this time, I have something to say:

I MEET EOIN COLFER! Squee!!! (I'm a boy, by the way).

The long drive from the vicity of the Midwest was worth it! I got the new book, I got photographs, I asked two questions and slipping a Death Note reference in front of several hundred people!

Here what I found out:

• Apparently, that French girl from the Lost Colony (forgot her name) hooked up with a skier at the Nobel Prize. Apparently, there are a lot of sking deaths (hint hint). She's appearing in the next book.
• Eoin loves vampires, fan-fiction, and dragons.
• He recently approved the newest script for the movie adaption. Apparetly, a fairy narrator is being added. Soo Disney. At least he said it is going to be close to the book.
• He's Irish and has a 14-year old son. (You Should Know the Latter Already).

Oh, and Eoin, if you find this, I was the person who you almost "charged" me five dollars for another question, and I'm the person with a notebook of Death.

^That's awesome! I'm kinda glad they're going to have a narrator in the movie, because one of the reasons why I thought it wouldn't work as a film is because a lot of the humour is in the narration.

Thinking about it, a different narrator for the film would be a great idea. You know, at several parts of each novel, the 3rd person narrator tells the reader what happened to a character several years later. A fairy narrator would be able to convey that.

Yay! Demon hamster!

You say you went to a signing in the Midwest, so I assume you went to the Anderson's Bookshop signing? They've had him there a couple of times before. I went when Airman came out. The guy was hilarious and I got interviewed and into the newspaper because of it .

As for the Atlantis Complex I finished it today. I must say, as many other have said, it was decent. I've never liked Opal Koboi as a villain in the first place, so [[spoilers:Turnball]] was a relief. However, as also stated previously in this thread, I do think this was a whole lot of filler.

The mental complex itself seems a bit like an Ass Pull to give Artemis an alternate personality. And if the entire book wasn't filler, it was just an extended prelude to book eight. Hopefully this eighth book is so amazing that it absolutely blows my pants off, otherwise I'll have to suffer through the end of a series I once loved.

Oh, and what was up with the chapter length? I prefer shorter chapters. However, I'm fine with just about any length, but damn, Colfer, throw in a place to put the book down everyone and a while, won't you?

edited 19th Sep '10 4:18:19 PM by BudZer

Maybe I went there, maybe I did not...I wouldn't want to hint too much on my idenity, right?

Well, Turnball (is this worthy to spoil?) seems like a better villan than Opal. At least he has a better motive To be with his human lover. than Opal, who is just Ax-Crazy. However, that is one of the reasons why I like her.

I think the plot of the last book will involve the Future Opal meeting the Present Opal, which then will cause a lot of chaos.

^I think Opal's ego will be too much for her and she ends up killing her future or past self. The result will cause a rupture in space and time, causing everyone to band together.

Humans and fairies. Then the series ends with everyone knowing about the people.

Probably.

Or Opal convinces a person named Owen to write a book about the faries. And then there is chaos.

^It's actually spelt Eoin. Pronouned Owen but spelt Eoin Colfer.

I meant to spell it that way.

Ooooo, incredibly obvious Author Expy.

I thought Lost Colony was a really good book and I kinda object to it being called filler....

Really, Eternity Code and Atlantis Complex are the most fillerish books in the series. But Eternity Code at least had a few memorable moments.

How could the Lost Colony be filler? It introduces time travel, which was the plot point of that book and the Time Parodox.

I bet that the last book will involve Opal, since she's still running around in time.

EDIT: Reading back, what's with Opal beinhg in even-numbered books?

edited 25th Sep '10 1:14:30 PM by chihuahua0