Coming in from the Cold

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Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident
By Eoin Colfer Published by Puffin Price 2.99 pounds

THE problem starts when Captain Holly Short, stumbles across a few goblins using Softnose laser guns. Nothing particularly alarming in that, except that these guns had been outlawed and destroyed (or so the authorities thought) over a decade ago.

So what are members of the B’wa Kell triad doing with what is obviously a contraband item? What makes the situation worse for the LEP is that the lasers are being powered by AAA pencil batteries — “a common human power source. Which is Crude,and inefficient.” But their presence means there is a human hand involved and there was no better suspect than Artemis Fowl.

Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident is the second in Eoin Colfer’s ‘‘villainous hero’’ series. Mixing myth and magic and science and technology, the book is complete with goblins, leprechauns, warlock medics, plenty of Softnose laser guns and of course Foaly, the intellectual centaur and the brain behind most fairy technology. Artemis has his own problems. After years of searching, he has news that his father may actually be alive.. The 13-year-old villain will need a miracle — or at least lots of help — to save him.

Colfer — who was shortlisted for the Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year award — offers a fast paced and clever, page-turner which is brilliantly written and has one laughing aloud in several places. A particularly good bet for those unimpressed by Part I.