Artemis Fowl is one of the most ingenious criminal masterminds in history, and heir to the Fowl family empire, a centuries-old clan of underworld figures and famous con artists. Artemis is convinced that if he can only steal the secrets of the Fairy People, he will uncover a vast hidden store of gold. When he learns that every fairy has a magic book that only they can read, he steals one, scans it with a digital camera, and e-mails it to his Mac G6 computer. Back in his mansion, he settles down to decode the secret cypher. But he realizes that he needs the help of a leprechaun to crack this tricky technological puzzle, and kidnaps Holly Short, a tough little LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance Unit), part of a Fairy commando unit. And then the battle really begins, as Artemis takes on a Fairy world determined to rescue Holly, and finds he has to outwit the smartest and most unexpected of magical tactics.