| Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident | |
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First edition cover |
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| Author(s) | Eoin Colfer |
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
| Series | Artemis Fowl series |
| Genre(s) | Children's, Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Hyperion Books |
| Publication date | May 2002 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback), Audiobook CD |
| Pages | 277 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0786808551 (first edition, hardback) 9780439450706 (paperback) |
| OCLC Number | 49778083 |
| LC Classification | MLCS 2006/41940 (P) |
| Preceded by | Artemis Fowl (2001) |
| Followed by | The Seventh Dwarf (2004) The Eternity Code (2003) |
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident (known as Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident in Europe) is the second book in the Artemis Fowl series written by Irish author Eoin Colfer. It follows the story of Opal Koboi's rising alongside the rescue of the abducted Artemis Fowl I, Artemis Fowl II's father. The book was received reasonably well with numerous reviews comparing the book to the quality and success of its predecessor, achieving a place on the New York Times best-seller list for a few weeks.
The book starts with a preface from Jerbal Argon, indicating that the book is a report on Artemis Fowl II's behavior, commissioned by the Lower Elements Police. The preface provides some background information, as well as the motives behind Artemis Fowl II's actions in the last and current book.[1]
After a quick flashback about the kidnapping of Artemis Senior,[2] the book has Artemis Fowl II undergoing a largely unsuccessful counseling session at the fictional Saint Bartleby's School for Young Gentlemen. (It is mentioned that Artemis had already retired several counselors.)[3] It is disrupted by a call on Artemis' cellphone from Butler who has received a MPEG-1 movie file containing footage of the missing Artemis Fowl Senior in an email likely from the Russian Mafia.
Meanwhile, the Lower Elements Police are investigating a B'wa Kell smuggling operation after Captain Holly Short uncovers evidence that the goblins are possibly trading with humans while on stakeout. Artemis Fowl II is the most likely suspect for supplier of the contraband, so Captain Short is sent to detain him for questioning. When Artemis and Butler are proven innocent, Commander Julius Root strikes a deal with Artemis for his consultation in the smuggling investigation. In return, Artemis asks for the LEP's assistance in rescuing Artemis Fowl Senior. The third-person narration switches back and forth constantly, allowing the reader to understand more of what is going on. Opal Koboi and Briar Cudgeon are revealed to be the masterminds of the smuggling operation and plotting the downfall of the LEP. After Butler succeeds in taking out Luc Carrère, who has been providing the contraband, Artemis's side of the deal is done and they proceed on to the rescue mission. Foaly manages to trace the spiked email to Mikhael Vassikin, an ex-KGB agent now working for the Mafia in Lenin Prospekt, Russia. Short, Root, Butler, and Artemis immediately travel to the Arctic Circle in Russia.[4]
The rescue group is then ambushed by a goblin hit squad, and the group shelters beneath an overhang. Butler realizes it is a trap, so he pushes Holly and Artemis out just before the overhang collapses. Butler is knocked unconscious, but he and Commander Root are trapped. Holly tells Root to fire out a piton so that she can attach it to a passing bullet train to pull Butler and Root out. Holly and Artemis succeed in freeing Root and Butler, but a crack in the tracks makes the train jerk and suddenly come at them. It causes Holly to lose a finger. But with Artemis's help, it is later healed by a magic ritual. As Holly questions Artemis more about his father and how he came to be so ruthless in the events of the previous book, Artemis admits he made a mistake in a rare moment of sincerity, a sign of his continual mental change throughout the series.[5] Meanwhile, Briar Cudgeon ambushes and locks Foaly in the Operations Booth and disables LEP weapons, framing him as the mastermind behind the rebellion against the LEP and leaving them powerless to stop the goblins as they begin their attack.
Foaly sends a text message to the rescue group and information that had already been shown to the reader are again revealed, including that all weapons and communications are controlled by Opal Koboi.[6]
Artemis decides to take over Koboi Laboratories and return all weapons to the LEP, interrupting the rescue mission. Holly reveals that Foaly had a hunch that Mulch Diggums, the criminal and kleptomaniac dwarf that had been presumed dead after the Fowl Manor siege, was still alive and in Los Angeles. As he had broken into Koboi Laboratories before, they go to apprehend him once again.[7]
Mulch Diggums was in Los Angeles. Using the money stolen from the Fowl Manor siege, he had bought a penthouse apartment in Beverly Hills. The book documents his theft of several Oscars before being apprehended in his apartment by the rescuers.
They then break into Koboi Laboratories through a hollow titanium foundation rod.[8] Artemis manages to turn both the goblins and Koboi against Cudgeon. Cudgeon is killed when he is thrown into the open DNA cannon plasma feed which simultaneously blacks out Opal Koboi. The restored power activates DNA cannons in Police Plaza, neutralizing all goblins there. The rescuers then immediately head toward Murmansk to rescue Artemis Fowl I. Foaly is still trapped in the Operations Booth, as the LEP outside, commanded by Captain Trouble Kelp, still thinks he is to blame for the revolt.[9]
The rescuers then go to Murmansk to rescue Artemis Fowl I. It goes well, although Artemis Fowl I was dumped into the water, which made things a bit worse; he is successfully retrieved. The kidnappers are lured away with a flare attached to a briefcase supposedly containing the money. The money was mentioned to be fairy-counterfeit, good to fool all but the most professional examination--and designed to dissolve after seventy-two hours. Given oft-mentioned ruthlessness of the kidnappers' boss, it is likely they met their employer's wrath over the disappearing money. [10]
The story then ends there, with a dual epilogue. The first deals with the return of the Artemis Fowl II and Artemis Fowl I to Fowl Manor and Helsinki, respectively.
Critical reception was generally positive, with some reviews comparing the book to the first. January Magazine noted that after the success of the book's predecessor, it had "a lot to live up to".[11] The review continued to say that the book was "refreshing and innovative".[11] It also appreciated the continual expansion of characters.[11] Kirkus reviews called the book an "exhilarating Celtic caper" that would "delight fans and make converts of new readers".[12] Publishers Weekly described it as a "cracking good read." Goodtoread.org did not receive the book as positively, saying that Butler and Artemis' relationship was awkward, also saying that Artemis was "an unconvincing 13-year-old genius". However, the reviews said that the book was "interesting enough."[13]
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