Eoin Colfer
Aug 14
2004
Eoin Colfer is one of the many, many fine authors to have been relegated to the "If you loved the Harry Potter books, try _________" list, which always irritates me because it seems like so many of these books are better written than Harry Potter. Everyone probably benefits, though--Colfer certainly doesn't seem to have suffered much. His Artemis Fowl books are international bestsellers, and deservedly so. Famously described by the author as "Die Hard with fairies", the books feature a twelve-year-old Irish criminal mastermind named Artemis Fowl, who decides to restore his family fortune by kidnapping a fairy (Captain Holly Short, of LEPrecon--the Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance Force) and hold her for ransom.
Note: Although I haven't yet read Colfer's The Wish List, I did enjoy The Supernaturalist. This is one of the most kid-friendly sci-fi books I've ever read. Imagine a blend of Ender's Game and Oliver Twist, stripped down to their most basic components. Colfer's characters, relationships, and setting are perfect. His plot is a little thin, but the book is so much fun that no one cares. Give this to any budding sci-fi geeks you know, and maybe they'll grow up to be that rare (possibly mythical) person that can actually finish Neil Stephenson's Cryptonomicon.
Note: There were some rumors of a film version of Artemis Fowl a few years back, but thus far nothing seems to have come of them.
Aftertaste:
None yet, but give it time. I imagine I'll have plenty to say when and if the film comes out.
Availability:
Everywhere.
Other Recommendations:
The Chrestomanci books, Howl's Moving Castle, and Castle in the Air, by Diana Wynne Jones
The Harry Potter books, by J.K. Rowling
Website:
http://www.eoincolfer.com/ -
Note: Although I haven't yet read Colfer's The Wish List, I did enjoy The Supernaturalist. This is one of the most kid-friendly sci-fi books I've ever read. Imagine a blend of Ender's Game and Oliver Twist, stripped down to their most basic components. Colfer's characters, relationships, and setting are perfect. His plot is a little thin, but the book is so much fun that no one cares. Give this to any budding sci-fi geeks you know, and maybe they'll grow up to be that rare (possibly mythical) person that can actually finish Neil Stephenson's Cryptonomicon.
Note: There were some rumors of a film version of Artemis Fowl a few years back, but thus far nothing seems to have come of them.
Aftertaste:
None yet, but give it time. I imagine I'll have plenty to say when and if the film comes out.
Availability:
Everywhere.
Other Recommendations:
The Chrestomanci books, Howl's Moving Castle, and Castle in the Air, by Diana Wynne Jones
The Harry Potter books, by J.K. Rowling
Website:
http://www.eoincolfer.com/ -
Posted by: Julia
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Comments
ana
I think the best of the Artemis Fowl books was the first one, though the next two aren't bad. Is there going to be a sequel to the Supernaturalist? The book seemed pretty well set up at the end for there to be one.