Fairy (Artemis Fowl)
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Fairies, in the fictional series Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, are beings, usually shorter than a human, who possess magic properties. The average height of a fairy is exactly 1 metre, one centimetre. All the fairies have retreated below the Earth to escape the destructiveness of the human race. Their underground civilization is centered around the capital city of Haven. Fairies are vernacularly known as the People, and live a life according to the Book of the People. There are 8 recognized families of fairies- Elves, Dwarves, Pixies, Gnomes, Gremlins, Goblins, Sprites and Demons.
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[edit] Races of Fairies and the eight families
[edit] The Eight Families
In Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony, it is said that 10,000 years ago, there were eight families (or species) of fairies. It is possible that Centaurs and Trolls used to live not underground but above ground, and were recruited by the fairies for the Irish war against the mud people (Humans). This would explain the links between many animals these two species have, and would explain why they don't have magic. Centaurs are also cousins of unicorns, so they couldn't be in the fairy family without the unicorns. The fairies, however, are mostly humanoid.
[edit] Demons
Seen only in the fifth book in the series, The Lost Colony. They are born as small, elf-like creatures (imps) with gray skin, stubby tails, posing no harm, and some have reddish runes on their heads and bodies. When they achieve a certain level of bloodlust, they transform through a cocoon process called warping into large beasts (demons) with horns, pointed ears, tough plates on their skin, and extreme physical strength. As of the great battle between the humans and fairies, they have resided on a moon-rock island floating in a space in which time doesn't exist. The pack leader is, and has been for a long time, Leon Abbot, who controls the pack's council through magic he acquired in the time tunnel between Earth and their island of Hybras. A subset of demons are called Warlocks which remain imps their entire lives and possess the strongest magic of all fairies; originally small in number, only three (Qweffor resides inside Abbot's body) of them are still alive. They are the eighth of the fairy families.
[edit] Dwarves
Dwarves look like small humans, but are less proportional than elves. Dwarves have many abilities. They can unhinge their jaws to chew through earth extremely quickly. Their spit glows in the dark and hardens once it leaves their mouths. Dwarf spittle is also a sedative, as seen in the fifth book. Their hair can be used as keys because rigor mortis sets in once they pluck it off. When the hair is still attached to the dwarf, they can be used to detect vibrations. Since dwarves can drink water by absorbing it through their pores, if they go long enough without drinking, their pores create a vacuum effect, allowing them to stick to walls. Dwarves can also flatulate with colossal power (enough to knock out trolls). Their flatulence also is a by-product of a gas used for deep sea divers to prevent 'the bends'. They also have the gift of tongues. Dwarves are extremely sensitive to sunlight, and can burn after three minutes in the sun. They also hate fire and ice. Dwarves despise goblins as a general rule, and often erupt in turf wars against them.
[edit] Elves
Similar in appearance to humans, but are around 1 metre tall. They have pointy ears, and may have had wings before they evolved and lost them. Elves have the gift of tongues, which allows them to speak any language. Elves have several types of magic. They can heal themselves and others, can shield themselves (which makes them appear invisible by vibrating at high speeds so the human eye cannot see them), can create positive magical vibes, and they have the mesmer. It is also hinted in the first book that some Fairies have the power of telekinesis, but this may only be the case for warlocks. Captain Holly Short, Commander Julius Root, Major Trouble Kelp and his brother, Corporal Grub Kelp, are all elves.
[edit] Goblins
Goblins are reptilian fairies. They are the second of the least intelligent species of all fairies, as they have small brains. They have the ability to create fireballs in their hands, or shoot them through their nostrils. Groups of goblins are involved in an ongoing turf war with groups of dwarves. They make their clothing from their own shedded skin.
[edit] Gnomes
Gnomes are seen and mentioned in every book, but we are not told very much about their race in general. We know that some of them are professional wrestlers (fairy wrestling is done in zero gravity chambers). Gnomes have been described as slightly stupid and very argumentative, and that they have massive backsides. It is not mentioned on whether or not Gnomes are a family of the fairies. There is more or less one notable gnome mentioned in the Artemis Fowl Series (Ark Sool) as the successor to Julius Root. Jerbal Argon is also a gnome.
[edit] Pixies
Similar to elves, but appear more child-like and grow to about two feet tall on average. They possess similar magical abilities to elves, including the mesmer and the gift of tongues. They have large brains, fragile skulls and some are extremely intelligent.
[edit] Sprites
Sprites are very much like elves, but they have wings and green skin. They have limited healing abilities. They also possess the gift of tongues. Sprites have the fastest reflexes of any type of fairy. There is a type of sprite called water sprites who have batlike wings. Many sprites consider themselves as 'God's gift to women'.
[edit] Gremlins
Gremlins have only been mentioned once or twice in the Artemis Fowl series. We do not know anything about them, except some work in the LEP. We first heard of them when Commander Root "doused his cigar in the coffee cup of a passing gremlin" as Foaly claimed the computers did not like smoke, just before the Commander Root saw the footage of Captain Holly Short's kidnap in the first book. It's also possible that in the graphic novel a gremlin is seen attaching an arm patch to Root as they prepare to head to Fowl manor.
[edit] Non-magical creatures living in the lower elements
[edit] Trolls
Trolls are the stupidest of the magical creatures. Most of their decisions are based on their instincts. They are slow and have large serrated tusks which produce a venom that paralyzes it's victim and slowly and gradually kills them. They slip their claws under the rib cage and pop the heart before their victims muscles have time to tense up making the meat hard and chewy. They have an aversion to light and water. The largest pack of trolls were seen in the Eleven Wonders of the World Exhibit in a run-down part of Haven The only person, magical or not to take on a troll single-handed and survive was Butler, but he was healed by Captain Holly Short half-way through the battle.
[edit] Centaurs
Half horse and half human creatures with horns on their heads and hair covering their bodies. Centaurs don't possess any magic, but are the second largest and possibly the smartest of all fairies. Centaurs have the gift of tongues and they can hit hard with their hind legs. They do not make many friends as was mentioned as a worry of Foaly.
[edit] Fairy Languages
[edit] Sources
- Artemis Fowl
- Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident
- Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code
- Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception
- Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony
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