Marcia Rodney Page 1 3/9/2008

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception

Table of Contents

1. Summary

2. Description of Main Characters

3. Definitive Phrases from Book

4. Vocabulary
 Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception
Summary

The story begins with the introduction of the malevolent fairy genius, Opal Koboi.
She escapes her seemingly inescapable prison and sets her plan of world domination
into action. She traps and manages to kill Julius Root while at the same time, framing
Holly Short for the murder. Artemis Fowl is busy trying to set into action his own
devious plans. He intends to steal the infamous Fairy Thief painting and Opal Koboi
is determined that he not only succeeds, but pays for it with his life. She
outmaneuvers Artemis Fowl and almost kills him on her first attempt. Later, she
kidnaps both Artemis and Holly Short, leaving them to the mercy of the vicious trolls
of an abandoned theme park.

Both Holly and Artemis escape their ordeal and Foaly discovers Opal Koboi’s plan to
expose the existence of fairies to the rest of the world. Opal Koboi intends to
overwhelm Haven with an excessive amount of liquid iron with the help of a
hypnotized Italian environmentalist, Giovanni Zito, and it is up to the few who know
about her plot to stop her. Eventually, both Butler and Artemis regain their memory
(which was erased in the previous book by Foaly’s authorization) through the use of
Artemis’ hidden computer disk, which had been programmed to trigger the return of
all the knowledge lost through Foaly’s intervention.

Artemis, Butler, Mulch Diggums, and Holly Short put an end to her deceitful plot and
the wrongfully accused Holly Short is proven innocent by the fairy Tribunal (as she is
a wanted criminal for the perceived murder of Julius Root, her commanding officer).
She then decides to open her own private investigative business with the help of the
nefarious dwarf, Mulch Diggums. Opal Koboi escapes the both the ruin of her plan
and the explosion of her newly created ship by jettisoning herself to the surface and
landing upon an Italian winery. She is eventually sent back to prison and Mulch
Diggums is given amnesty for saving the Fairy people from certain disaster. Artemis
Fowl is imbued with a newfound conscious that he hopefully intends to use in the
near future.
 Artemis Fowl

A) Artemis Fowl II is described as an exceptionally pale, ambidextrous Irish teenager

with black hair and deep blue eyes.

Artemis Fowl is cunning, calculating character that has always been obsessed with
the notion of wealth, knowledge and power. Due to his intelligence, Artemis is
egocentric and possesses an oddly sarcastic nature, almost finding humour in the
direst of circumstances. Since he is a polymath, Artemis’ knowledge is wide and
varied, which usually enables him to stay calm even when he has every reason to do
just the opposite. However, usually Artemis has a cold, withdrawn nature that
contributes to his lack of social skills and unwillingness to communicate with those
who are significantly less intelligent than himself (which would include most people,
as Artemis has professed to have no living equal). He is extremely goal-oriented and
willing to do just about anything to attain his goals.

The majority of the people that have met Artemis describe him as self-centred and
incredibly perceptive. He has a few select friends such as Butler, Holly Short and
Commander Root that serve as the sparks that change his demeanor and perception of
the world around him. He is seen as a cunning, sarcastic individual to his peers and
most of his peers find the conversations he chooses to entertain, engaging and
intelligent. Otherwise, he is simply seen as a disgustingly rich, gifted and deeply
troubled adolescent.

Domovoi Butler

B) Domovoi Butler is described as a physically imposing man that weighs

approximately 90 kilograms and is 7 feet tall. He is of Eurasian descent, with dark
eyes (which frequents between dark blue and black), grey hair and chiseled
features.

Domovoi Butler is a stern, loyal character that is wholly devoted to his young charge,
Artemis Fowl. Despite his obvious connection to Artemis Fowl, Domovoi Butler is
also closely connected to other main characters and as such, serves as the guardian for
many of the diminutive characters within the series. The character in which he
possesses is typical of the elite within his profession and he is loathe to relinquish his
responsibilities in favour of comfort.

To the world, Butler is seen as an incredibly large man that seems to follow the orders
of a young boy. He is cold to those he doesn’t trust and is always alert for any danger
that may seek to afflict his young charge. However, to those he does trust (like
Artemis and Holly Short), he is open and somewhat affectionate (at least when it
comes to Holly Short).

Holly Short

C) Holly Short is described as a diminutive female elf with auburn hair, hazel eyes
and chestnut coloured hair. She is viewed as a “pretty” elf with pointed ears, large
eyes and a stature that resembles that of a gymnast.

Holly Short is a brash, quick-thinking and moralistic individual that is prone to using
unconventional methods to solve her problems. She is a model Lower Elements
Police officer and as such, governs and protects the fairy People to the best of her
ability (even if her methods, while honorable, don’t usually follow the guidelines set
by her superiors).

To the world (which, for Holly, is an underground city known as Haven), Holly Short
is a model LEP officer that has won numerous awards for bravery and initiative. She
is wary of Artemis Fowl and even though she trusts him with her life, still wonders
what he intends to do with his fairy knowledge (his memory was erased for the
majority of the book but eventually returns). To other fairies, she is professional and
well-adjusted even though she craves surface air.

Mulch Diggums

D) Mulch Diggums is a kleptomaniac dwarf with block-like teeth and bristle-like

hairs that can be manipulated to aid him in a variety of precarious situations. He is
a diminutive fairy with a large jaw.
 Mulch Diggums is a slick, nefarious character with an affinity for disobeying the law
whenever possible. He is well versed with the majority of criminal activity happening
within Haven and as such, is useful when it comes to helping Artemis Fowl with any
of his devious plots which may include, but aren’t necessarily limited to, plots that
may involve theft, breaking and entering etc.

To the world, Mulch Diggums is a certified criminal and an oddity when he does
manage to tunnel his way to surface (to humans, at least). He is manipulative and uses
his social skills (which are well developed) to squeeze his way in and out of
precarious situations (of course, his innate ability to tunnel through rock seems to
help as just as well). The majority of people that have met Diggums find him
annoying, talkative and sarcastic.

Opal Koboi

E) Opal Koboi is described as a beautiful, diminutive female pixie with black hair, dark
brown eyes and pointed ears.

Opal Koboi is a cruel, ruthless and maniacal character that has always used her superior
intelligence to her advantage. Since her incarceration, she has become increasingly
paranoid and less tolerant of her subordinates. She has always used words to inflict pain
upon others and greatly enjoys the pain of others (ex. She recorded her father’s nervous
breakdown for future viewing), thus making her a sadist. She greatly enjoys the finer
luxuries in life and is wholeheartedly devoted to her own happiness.

To the world, Opal Koboi is egocentric and shares some of the same characteristics as
Artemis. She had owned a thriving technology business before her incarceration and is
exceedingly rich before and after her incarceration.
 Definitive Phrases

“Aurum Potestas Est.” (Gold is Power)

“Know thine enemy.”

"If only I could remember. If only I knew what I know."

"I assumed Artemis Fowl was dead once before, and I spent a year in a coma as a result."

"How can you fail to take over the world with a booty box full of truffles?"

"Another element in an already overloaded equation."

"The only other scenario that could explain everything, up to and including your own
bizarre appearance, is a convoluted conspiracy theory involving the Russian Mafia and a
crack team of plastic surgeons."

"If I win, I'm a prodigy. If I lose then I'm mad. That's the way history is written."

“If Koboi defeats and presumably murders us both, then consider the debt null and void.”

“Yes. Julius is gone. I can’t believe it. He’s been chasing me for so many years.”

“Illegal is always faster.”

 Vocabulary

Squirrelly
Eccentric; flighty.

Polymer
A compound of high molecular weight derived either by the addition of many smaller
molecules, as polyethylene, or by the condensation of many smaller molecules with the
elimination of water, alcohol, or the like, as nylon.

Merriment
Cheerful or joyful gaiety; mirth; hilarity; laughter.

Exorbitant
Exceeding the bounds of custom, propriety, or reason, esp. in amount or extent; highly

Pheromones
A chemical secreted by an animal, especially an insect, that influences the behavior or
development of others of the same species, often functioning as an attractant of the
opposite sex.

Animatronics
Used with a singular verb ) the technology connected with the use of electronics to
animate puppets or other figures, as for motion pictures.

Miffed
Petulant displeasure; ill humor.

Sulkily
Marked by or given to sulking; sullen.

Doubtless
Without doubt; certainly; surely; unquestionably.

Swelled
To become puffed up with pride.