The Time Paradox

A Desperate Quest to Save a Mother

"The Time Paradox," the sixth book in the thrilling Artemis Fowl series, takes the story into uncharted territory with a deeply personal and high-stakes conflict. Published in 2008, the novel centers on a desperate mission driven not by greed or power, but by love. Artemis Fowl’s mother, Angeline, contracts a mysterious and deadly magical disease known as Spelltropy. The only known cure is the brain fluid of a silky sifaka lemur, an animal that Artemis himself, in his younger, more ruthless years, drove to extinction for profit.

A Journey into the Past

With no other choice, Artemis turns to his old friend, Captain Holly Short, and the rest of his fairy allies. Together, they must embark on a dangerous journey into the past. Their mission is to travel back in time and steal a living silky sifaka lemur from the 10-year-old version of Artemis himself. This younger Artemis is just as cunning and cynical as the current one, but without the benefit of the friendships and moral lessons he has since learned. The central conflict of the book is the mind-bending confrontation between Artemis and his past self, a battle of wits with the fate of his mother—and possibly the entire timeline—hanging in the balance.

The novel masterfully explores the complexities of time travel and the paradoxes it can create. It is a story of redemption, as the new and improved Artemis must confront the consequences of his own past actions. The book is filled with Colfer's signature blend of thrilling action, clever plotting, and sharp humor, but at its heart, it’s a touching tale about family and the lengths one will go to protect the ones they love