“How does one describe Artemis Fowl? Various psychiatrists have tried and failed. The main problem is Artemis’s own intelligence.”

Artemis’s intelligence is his biggest asset. This positive attribute is somewhat hidden to those who do not know him; his age causes many to underestimate him and his ability to succeed. Quickly, however, they are surprised by Artemis and his knowledge of the People. He also senses accurately when he should rely on Butler and Juliet to help execute his scheme.

“Artemis Fowl had devised a plan to restore his family’s fortune. A plan that could topple civilizations and plunge the planet into a cross-species war.”

The Prologue serves to whet the reader’s appetite for the narrative to come, and certainly, Argon’s dramatic tone here immediately builds excitement and tension. It also speaks to the ramifications of Artemis’s plot, the details of which slowly unfold leading up to Holly’s abduction. Indirectly, Artemis is characterized as a boy who takes on great challenges; this overview foreshadows the depth and breadth of his story.

“And, though they adhered to the age-old formalities, they were much more than master and servant. Artemis was the closest thing Butler had to a friend, and Butler was the closest Artemis had to a father, albeit one who obeyed orders.”

Butler trusts Artemis explicitly, and each cares for and wants the other to be safe and healthy. Butler believes in Artemis and is protective over his young charge, whose maturity undoubtedly derives from the fact that neither of his parents play a significant role in his life. Even in this adventure, however, Butler comes to question his employer’s decisions after Artemis sedates Juliet.