Q. So it's just another book then?
A. Artemis Fowl has already earned Colfer over £700,000 in advances and has been examined by Miramax for £250,000 as a possible film. How dare anyone call it "just another book"?

Q. Do the kids love him? Are they lapping it up?
A. Ah, yes. The kids. Of course they love him. Did you not read what Sarah Chase had to say at the site's home page? She calls it "overall stupendous", "magnificent" and, "more than likely an equal read to my favourite books of all times" (excuse her grammar, she's 12 years old). Amazon calls it a "rip-roaring, 21st-century romp of the highest order" that's "a seriously cool read for anyone over the age of 10". Reviews are mostly favourable, though some still maintain it's not in the same league as Potter.

Q. Is he a famous figure on the Internet?
A. Not half as famous as the aforementioned Potter guy, of course, but fairly popular. The book has spawned a number of fan sites, message boards, chat rooms, communities, a quiz and even an encyclopaedia.

Q. What exactly is it about?
A. That's a toughie. The hero is 12 years old (but we've said that already) and a criminal mastermind (yes, yes, yes). His sole aim in life is to hold a leprechaun for ransom (why? we're not saying), but he gets more than he bargained for after kidnapping a certain Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance Unit). Add lots of technology, humans battling leprechauns for fortune and survival, gnomes, trolls, caverns, fairies with attitude, a kleptomaniac dwarf with a flatulence problem and some strong language and you get some sort of vague picture. If that doesn't help, there's also a hidden code on each page.

Q. Is this Colfer's first book?
A. Nope. There was 'Benny and Omar', a bestseller published in 1998, followed by 'Benny and Babe' in 1999 along with a couple of other children's books like 'Eds Bed', 'Going Potty', 'Eds Funny Feet' and 'The Wish List' that didn't really sell like hot cakes, except in Ireland.

Q. Who are the 'Mud People'?
A. Ummmm. That would be you and me. Human beings are called, rather disparagingly, the depraved and barbaric 'mud people' and are credited with the driving the fairies away to the last human-free zone: near the Earth's core.

Q. I'm lazy. Can't I just watch the movie?
A. There aren't too many details out yet though shooting is scheduled to begin in early 2002. Some sites say Cameron Diaz has been asked to play Holly Short but no one's really sure. For the moment, you can buy the movie's stock online, should you desperately feel the need to.

Q. Is there a sequel planned?
A. Nothing being said at the moment but chances are there may be one. After all, anything that brings in more than $300 usually does spawn a sequel nowadays, doesn't it?