Sean Dougherty

Sean Dougherty

Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident

Eoin Colfer

Fantasy

Just Right

Pg 139

1.     Currently, I am reading The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer. The scene where I am at is very difficult to depict, so I will start from the beginning. My latest blog post consisted of Artemis Fowl’s encounter with the LEP; The Arctic Incident is the second book of the series. At the opening of the story, Artemis’s dad goes on a voyage to Russia for financial purposes. His boat sinks and eventually falls into the hands of the Russian Mafia. The Mafia soon figures out that it is Artemis Fowl Senior. The Mafia sends an unidentified message to Fowl Manor, where Butler immediately reads it and picks Artemis at his boarding school in Ireland. Meanwhile, the elf council to guard the shuttles reassigns Holly, the captive LEP captain in the previous book. Then suddenly, the shuttle terminal is attacked by armed goblins that are part of the B’wa Kell organization (illegal goblin group). Fortunately, Holly is able to hold out until the backup LEP reinforcements arrived. The goblin retreat. When the techies arrive, they identify the goblins’ blasters as softnoses, which are only powered by AA batteries. The only way that the B’wa Kell could have gotten hold of these batteries was from the surface of Earth. Of coarse the LEP’s first assumption is Artemis Fowl. Holly is assigned to bring him in for questioning. Artemis and Butler are knocked out by Holly and sent to the LEP base for interrogation. Artemis had nothing to do with this scandal and has never even heard of it before. The LEP are at a dead end and their only option is to ask the immense mind of Artemis Fowl. He agrees to help the LEP only if they help him get his father back from the Mafia. They agree. The LEP were able to capture a goblin and used a Mesmer to get what they could out of him. All they find is the name Carrere. Butler is sent in to take care of this Carrere by disarming him and reporting him to the cops for his counterfeit money. He is successful and Carrere doesn’t know anything about who he is sending the batteries to. Presently, Commander Root and Holly are escorting Artemis and Butler to Murmansk (Foaly traced email to there), when a squad of goblins suddenly attacks them. The goblins shoot at landmines that cause an avalanche of debris to land on Root and Butler. Artemis and Holly are attaching a cord to a passing train in an effort to rescue Root and Butler.  

2.     This book is definitely one of my favorites. Artemis Fowl was just the beginning; this book is far more exciting. I have really taken time while reading to think about the plot and characters. First, the plot seems to all bind itself together. I was able to tie every loose string I saw in the plot. From the beginning, I knew that the B’wa Kell would get involved in the Mafia. Yet I am still perplexed about how Artemis Fowl will succeed in getting his father back, it seems nearly impossible. But I love these questions that pop up in head because they keep me reading. However, the characters are the biggest reason I continue to read this series. I cannot get enough of Artemis’s thoughts; they are so ingenious and curious. Butler on the other hand hardly makes any sense. He is a highly trained employee that has been part of many top-secret organizations. Even his name, “Butler,” it reminds of the baker in “A Small Good Thing” and “The Bath.” He doesn’t have a name, yet he is such a vital character. I believe that “Butler” is his only title because he is business, he has no room for screw-ups, and he is a servant to the Fowls. I just keep thinking and wondering about how good this book is.

3.     The theme of thus book has to be family, but as a curse. The entire plot revolves around Artemis’s father putting a curse on Artemis when he sailed for Russia. It was the father that got Artemis into this entire mess. If Artemis Senior didn’t leave Artemis and his mother, Artemis wouldn’t be heartbroken and in a deep hole. He even got the LEO involved in rescuing his father. But what Artemis isn’t completely aware of is the chance that his plan will actually work. I would guess 1 in 100 percent chance that Artemis Senior will return home all right. Nor does he consider the dangers that he has put not only himself in, but also Butler, Holly, and Root. Artemis is determined to get his father back from the Mafia no matter what. This all traces back to Artemis Senior; he is the only reason why Artemis has put himself in such life threatening dangers.

4.     Still, as in the first book, Artemis is still my favorite character. He always finds the good within himself. Even after his house was stormed by the LEP, he still agreed to work with them for the greater good. Also, his mind really stands out for me. Like I said before, Artemis’s thoughts are so complex, but pure genius. Every thought he has, another question pops into my head. He is always one step ahead of everybody else. But out of all else, it is his determination. Despite the curse that his dad put on him, Artemis has risked his life to save him. Artemis will do anything to reunite his family and get his father back from the Mafia. Artemis will never give up.

5.     Although Holly is another protagonist, she is my least favorite character. She has yet to forgive Artemis for the kidnapping even after a year and their alliance. Her anger at Artemis could really put the mission in jeopardy. Like when she was on watch at the terminal, she was working with Officer Chix. Holly sent Chix out to do a quick search, and he ended almost getting killed by the B’wa Kell.  Furthermore, Holly is very high-strung, just like Root. She may be on a very dangerous mission, but when she’s not, she still has the tight personality. Finally, in her thoughts, you find out how critical she can be to others’ personalities and how she doesn’t ever like the situation that she’s in. She is hardly happy, and almost always stressed.

6.     Like in all other novels, I predict that the good guys prevail. The good guys being Artemis and the LEP, they both succeed in their individual issues. Artemis will get his father back from the Mafia. Artemis is known for his complex plans. The book states that he has one, but I have no idea what it is. I’m sure his plan is full proof and will absolutely bewilder the Russian Mafia. Artemis’s mind works in a way like no other; he is always one step ahead. He beat the LEP in the first book that way. For the LEP, I believe that they will find out who is helping the B’wa Kell and arrest them. But in order to do that, they will need Root, and I believe that it will be Root who finds out who the bad guys are and busts them. Root is the best person in the LEP and the best person for the job. Ultimately, the B’wa Kell will ally with the Mafia to take down Artemis and the LEP. No matter, No matter, with the mind of Artemis and the skills of the LEP, no one can defeat them, or coming even close to overthrowing the government. The Fowl family will reunite and the LEP will maintain order.