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I kind of disliked all of the books after the first one. The first was the only one where Artemis was actually playing chessmaster, and I could see how he was a genius of logic versus just a tech genius. Otherwise, in most of the later books, his intelligence was an informed ability and I wasn't overly impressed by it.

 

You're right about The Eternity Code being one of the better books, but I feel that his invention of the blue cube in the first place was actually its biggest fault. I liked Artemis as a schemer, not as a mad scientist. Nevertheless, is was entertaining, for all the reasons you mentioned.

 

This informed mad-scientist genius was particularly egregious in The Lost Colony, because he could apparently calculate when a bullet would be picked up by a random time vortex that would take it to the past to shoot a demon just in time to save Holly Short. There were many ridiculous things in the books, but that was probably the worst. That being said, I liked Minerva, especially since her name, physical description, and aspects of her personality were similar to someone I knew personally and had briefly been attracted to. It was still a rather ridiculous trope to pull out, though, to give Artemis Fowl a distaff counterpart. It felt too typical, though sometimes I can roll with typical if it's pulled off well. Minerva, however, was immediately dropped and the status quo among the cast of characters preserved, which was annoying. A girlfriend, even one as coincidental and convenient as Minerva who could have only existed by the divine guidance of a writer's hand, would have been an interesting and fun development in the Artemis Fowl stories.

 

After that, I didn't read any further. The first chapter of The Time Paradox forced me to put the book down and quit the series. I was aware that none of them clicked with me quite as well as the first one, but I didn't form the opinion that they were getting worse as they went along until The Opal Incident marked a definite downhill trend. After that book, I figured it was only a matter of time before one of the books was bad enough that it would end the series for me. That was The Time Paradox, at which point the caricatures present in the first chapters alone proved that the series was not going to get better and would only disappoint me if I continued. I commend you for continuing the whole way through, being more dedicated than I am, and putting up this review. I find myself essentially agreeing with everything, with the exception that the first was my favorite with The Eternity Code being the high point among the sequels.

 

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I kind of disliked all of the books after the first one. The first was the only one where Artemis was actually playing chessmaster, and I could see how he was a genius of logic versus just a tech genius. Otherwise, in most of the later books, his intelligence was an informed ability and I wasn't overly impressed by it.

 

I'd argue there's a chessmaster aspect to Eternity Code as well, with Artemis pulling the strings on the operation with Spiro. I'd also argue that the reason for the decrease in reliance on logic could be seen as a symptom of him becoming reformed and more human, rather than just a grand shadowy puppetmaster.

 

I'd have to agree with you, Sumiki, on Eternity Cube being the peak of the series, though the later books were still enjoyable to me, if only because I loved seeing the universe expand. (I haven't read the last one, though. I'm guessing it continued the trend of Koboi being the antagonist in the even-numbered books, yes?)

 

Looking back, yes, the reliance on Diggums was a pretty major flaw in the series. He had to pull some madcap escapes for no other reason than Colfer needing him in a set place at a set time. He pulled it off well enough that I didn't question it when I was younger, but it does require a certain suspension of disbelief.

 

(Also don't even mention the kiss in Time Paradox. Even younger me questioned how on earth that was necessary.)

 

Overall, one thing I loved about the series was that I was never quite sure if it was fantasy or science fiction. Yes, it's got elves, and magic, and centaurs, but they're all sort of scientific. The magic is restrained by rules of nature, the magical creatures have scientific explanations, and yet it still manages to be mystical.

After that, I didn't read any further. The first chapter of The Time Paradox forced me to put the book down and quit the series. I was aware that none of them clicked with me quite as well as the first one, but I didn't form the opinion that they were getting worse as they went along until The Opal Incident marked a definite downhill trend. After that book, I figured it was only a matter of time before one of the books was bad enough that it would end the series for me. That was The Time Paradox, at which point the caricatures present in the first chapters alone proved that the series was not going to get better and would only disappoint me if I continued.

 

I'm not going to pretend that Paradox wasn't flawed, but I'll give Colfer credit for going outside of his comfort zone. It was the last really innovative book in the series and shows some different sides to Artemis, even if the romance was unnecessary and actually pretty creepy to boot.

 

I'd argue there's a chessmaster aspect to Eternity Code as well, with Artemis pulling the strings on the operation with Spiro. I'd also argue that the reason for the decrease in reliance on logic could be seen as a symptom of him becoming reformed and more human, rather than just a grand shadowy puppetmaster.

 

There was a great quote from one of the books about Artemis going to track down the people who deserved to be dropped in the rainforest with nothing but a spoon. I thought he'd still retain his string-pulling and elaborate scheme planning, but he was never really portrayed in that light after Eternity Code.

 

(I haven't read the last one, though. I'm guessing it continued the trend of Koboi being the antagonist in the even-numbered books, yes?)

 

Yes. If Colfer had stuck to The Arctic Incident and The Time Paradox as Koboi stories, the series would be improved. It's almost like he relied on Koboi as a villainess as much as he relied on Mulch Diggums as an ally, although non-Koboi stories are, in my opinion, infinitely more creative.

Yeah, Artemis was still a bit of a schemer in the second and third books. I guess I just liked it most when he was the amoral villain protagonist, which was when he relied on it the most. It felt like a caricature once he also developed mad-scientist abilities. And even though he was still a schemer in the third book, he had more allies and advantages in The Eternity Code than he did in the first book, where it was just him and two henchmen against an advanced civilization, where it was pretty brilliant that he managed to pull off his scheme. At least, that's how it seems to me. As you said, he's still quite a schemer in the third book; it just comes off in a different way, and at that point it all comes down to personal preference.

 

But anyway, all this talk of Opal Koboi reminds me: other than her name, I remember almost nothing about her. Wasn't she sort of intelligent but bratty, with a sense of entitlement? I can't remember. She had literally no presence whatsoever, as far as I was concerned. Villain for a book or two? Acceptable. But a recurring villain? I don't think she had what it took.

 

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Sumiki, you've put into writing all of my incoherent opinions on Eternity Code. bless this post

I have never been good at picking favorites, but I certainly don't feel like the writing got weaker in later books. The Time Paradox was one of my personal favorites, as was The Last Guardian. Though you're definitely right that The Eternity Code might be the strongest story in the series.

 

I was not too thrilled with The Lost Colony the first time reading it, perhaps in part because it established a whole new fairy culture with its own unique magic, rules, and customs. That emotional attachment that I got from the adventures and heists of the established characters was not nearly as present with the demon characters on Hybras, at least not until re-reading the story at a later date.

 

Mulch Diggums' frequent appearances didn't bother me, and in fact I think that I would have missed him if he didn't manage to come to the rescue at least once in each book, against all odds. If there's one thing to be said for the character, it's that he's reliable... both as an ally to the heroes and as a source of comic relief for the reader.

 

Here's hoping the Artemis Fowl movie turns out good enough to launch a whole series. Movie adaptations of books are kind of hit-and-miss, sometimes... some are not successful enough to get more than one or two films, while others are so wildly successful that the studios go to great lengths to squeeze two or three movies out of a single book. The Artemis Fowl series definitely has a cinematic quality that would make it well suited to the screen, but that doesn't mean its success in the box office is guaranteed.

But anyway, all this talk of Opal Koboi reminds me: other than her name, I remember almost nothing about her. Wasn't she sort of intelligent but bratty, with a sense of entitlement? I can't remember. She had literally no presence whatsoever, as far as I was concerned. Villain for a book or two? Acceptable. But a recurring villain? I don't think she had what it took.

 

Koboi suffered greatly from the kind of caricaturing that got ahold of Colfer in the later books. Her character wasn't nuanced enough for exploration in four different books.

 

I have never been good at picking favorites, but I certainly don't feel like the writing got weaker in later books. The Time Paradox was one of my personal favorites, as was The Last Guardian. Though you're definitely right that The Eternity Code might be the strongest story in the series.

 

I wouldn't say that Colfer's writing in the last few books was objectively bad, so to speak, but there was a definite change on that front that I didn't care for. In the end, I suppose it comes down to which Colfer you liked more - the one that started the series, or the one that ended it.

 

I was not too thrilled with The Lost Colony the first time reading it, perhaps in part because it established a whole new fairy culture with its own unique magic, rules, and customs. That emotional attachment that I got from the adventures and heists of the established characters was not nearly as present with the demon characters on Hybras, at least not until re-reading the story at a later date.

 

I was initially a little skeptical about Colony as well, but I think it comes closest to recapturing what I loved about The Eternity Code. After four books, it was good to see some fresh faces.

 

Mulch Diggums' frequent appearances didn't bother me, and in fact I think that I would have missed him if he didn't manage to come to the rescue at least once in each book, against all odds. If there's one thing to be said for the character, it's that he's reliable... both as an ally to the heroes and as a source of comic relief for the reader.

 

I think Mulch is one of the most lovable characters from the series and I loved him in every book. He went through character development similar to Artemis but still retained his outlaw streak. I really don't have a problem with Mulch's appearance in any particular book, but his out-of-the-blue introductions to the plot sometimes felt forced.