Holly Short
Encyclopedia
Holly Short is a fictional character and a LEPrecon Captain in the Artemis Fowl
book series by Eoin Colfer
.
and hazel eyes, as well as the pointy ears and nut-brown skin typical of her species. She stands at one metre in height (said to be three feet in US editions), one centimeter shorter than the fairy average, and has a gymnast-like stance. Like all elves, she is child-sized by human standards, but her bodily proportions are adult. According to Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident
, Holly is about eighty years old. Holly is the first and only female officer in the organization LEPrecon. In The Artemis Fowl Files
, she notes that she eventually earns the respect of her male colleagues. Holly will defy the orders of superiors and disobey rules if she believes that she can be of more help that way, and has gotten into trouble multiple times for defying a direct command. She is described as pretty, but in a dangerous way, comparable to a black widow
. Her interests include playing fictional fairy game "Crunchball," reading (especially thrillers), and flying with artificial wings.
Holly lost her father at a young age. Her mother, Coral Short, is described as a European elf who was temperamental and had an appearance similar to Holly's. Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox
reveals that her mother worked in Lower Elements Police division "LEPmarine" and died after she was exposed to dirty radiation, which is poisonous to fairies.
After Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception
, Holly quits the LEP and begins to work with Mulch Diggums
.
However, after working as a private detective with Mulch for a short time, she returns to the Section 8 unit of the LEP in Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony, in time to help Artemis, Butler and the others out of trouble.
Her relationship with Artemis Fowl has changed dramatically since the beginning of the series, morphing from hostility to grudging respect to friendship, and has recently included some hints of a romantic attraction despite the age and species gap.
Artemis Fowl (series)
Artemis Fowl is a series of fantasy novels written by Irish author Eoin Colfer and all the books are best sellers, starring the teenage criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl II. The author summed up the series as: "Die Hard with fairies." There are seven novels in the series; the first was published in...
book series by Eoin Colfer
Eoin Colfer
Eoin Colfer is an Irish author. He is most famous as the author of the Artemis Fowl series, but he has also written other successful books. His novels have been compared to the works of J. K. Rowling...
.
Character outline
Holly Short is a talkative and sarcastic elf with an auburn crew cutCrew cut
A crew cut is a type of haircut in which the hair on the top of the head is cut relatively short, graduated in length from the longest hair at the front hairline to the shortest at the back of the crown. The hair on the sides and back of the head is usually tapered short, semi-short or medium. A...
and hazel eyes, as well as the pointy ears and nut-brown skin typical of her species. She stands at one metre in height (said to be three feet in US editions), one centimeter shorter than the fairy average, and has a gymnast-like stance. Like all elves, she is child-sized by human standards, but her bodily proportions are adult. According to Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident is the second book in the Artemis Fowl series written by Irish author Eoin Colfer. It follows the story of Opal Koboi's rising alongside the rescue of the abducted Artemis Fowl I, Artemis Fowl II's father...
, Holly is about eighty years old. Holly is the first and only female officer in the organization LEPrecon. In The Artemis Fowl Files
The Artemis Fowl Files
The Artemis Fowl Files is a companion book to the Artemis Fowl series written by Eoin Colfer.It contains two short stories, one about Captain Holly Short joining LEPrecon, and the second about Mulch Diggums and Artemis Fowl working together to steal a tiara...
, she notes that she eventually earns the respect of her male colleagues. Holly will defy the orders of superiors and disobey rules if she believes that she can be of more help that way, and has gotten into trouble multiple times for defying a direct command. She is described as pretty, but in a dangerous way, comparable to a black widow
Black widow spider
Latrodectus mactans, the Southern black widow, is a highly venomous species of spider in the genus Latrodectus. They are well known for the distinctive black and red coloring of the female of the species and for the fact that she will occasionally eat her mate after reproduction. The species is...
. Her interests include playing fictional fairy game "Crunchball," reading (especially thrillers), and flying with artificial wings.
Holly lost her father at a young age. Her mother, Coral Short, is described as a European elf who was temperamental and had an appearance similar to Holly's. Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox
Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox
Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox is the sixth book in the series Artemis Fowl by Irish writer Eoin Colfer. It was released in the U.S. on 5 July 2008, and on 7 August in the U.K...
reveals that her mother worked in Lower Elements Police division "LEPmarine" and died after she was exposed to dirty radiation, which is poisonous to fairies.
After Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception is a teen fantasy novel published in 2005, the 4th book in the Artemis Fowl series by the Irish author Eoin Colfer...
, Holly quits the LEP and begins to work with Mulch Diggums
Mulch Diggums
Mulch Diggums is a fictional kleptomaniac dwarf from the Artemis Fowl series by Irish fiction author Eoin Colfer.He has been arrested numerous times by the LEP due to his criminal nature; stealing from Mud Men is his speciality. An expert burglar, he is also infamous for his powerful and deadly...
.
However, after working as a private detective with Mulch for a short time, she returns to the Section 8 unit of the LEP in Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony, in time to help Artemis, Butler and the others out of trouble.
Her relationship with Artemis Fowl has changed dramatically since the beginning of the series, morphing from hostility to grudging respect to friendship, and has recently included some hints of a romantic attraction despite the age and species gap.
Work and appearances in the series
- In Artemis Fowl, Holly is abducted by 12-year-old criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl IIArtemis Fowl IIArtemis Fowl II is the antihero and main character of the fictional series Artemis Fowl by the Irish author Eoin Colfer.- Origins :Colfer has said that he based Artemis on his younger brother Donal, who as a child was "a mischievous mastermind who could get out of any trouble he got into"...
when he uncovers evidence of fairy existence. He demands one metric ton of gold as her ransom fund. When she consents to granting Artemis's wish of restoring his mother's sanity, he releases her along with half of her ransom fund. The rest of LEP try to Bio-bomb Fowl Manor, but realize that Artemis has escaped the time field. Holly also then realizes that she is up for a challenge, and promises to be waiting for him, with "a smile and a very big gun."
- In Artemis Fowl: The Arctic IncidentArtemis Fowl: The Arctic IncidentArtemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident is the second book in the Artemis Fowl series written by Irish author Eoin Colfer. It follows the story of Opal Koboi's rising alongside the rescue of the abducted Artemis Fowl I, Artemis Fowl II's father...
, Holly is sent to detain Artemis when he is a suspect in a goblin uprising. She, along with Artemis, Mulch DiggumsMulch DiggumsMulch Diggums is a fictional kleptomaniac dwarf from the Artemis Fowl series by Irish fiction author Eoin Colfer.He has been arrested numerous times by the LEP due to his criminal nature; stealing from Mud Men is his speciality. An expert burglar, he is also infamous for his powerful and deadly...
, and Commander Julius RootJulius RootJulius Root is a fictional character from the Artemis Fowl series of children's books written by Irish author Eoin Colfer.- Personality :Julius Root was the commander of the reconnaissance division of the Lower Elements Police. Root was frequently angry, and when angry, he became extremely...
are informed by FoalyFoalyFoaly is a fictional character in the Artemis Fowl series written by Eoin Colfer. He is the technical consultant to the Lower Elements Police...
that Opal KoboiOpal KoboiOpal Koboi is a fictional character from the Artemis Fowl series - a set of seven fantasy novels written by Irish author Eoin Colfer. After the character's May 2002 introduction in the second book in the series as a supporting antagonist, Colfer again used Koboi as the main antagonist in the fourth...
and Briar Cudgeon are behind the uprising. They break into Koboi Laboratories, where Cudgeon is killed and Koboi is incapacitated. After the goblins are contained, she travels to Murmansk to rescue Artemis's father, as they previously agreed.
- In Artemis Fowl: The Eternity CodeArtemis Fowl: The Eternity CodeArtemis Fowl: The Eternity Code is the third book of Irish children's fiction author Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series. It is preceded by Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident and followed by Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception...
, Artemis requests Holly's help to heal Domovoi ButlerDomovoi ButlerDomovoi Butler is a fictional character in the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. Known for his skill and strength, he is the bodyguard and mentor of the main character of the series, .-Role:...
and retrieve his C Cube from American businessman Jon Spiro. Together with Mulch DiggumsMulch DiggumsMulch Diggums is a fictional kleptomaniac dwarf from the Artemis Fowl series by Irish fiction author Eoin Colfer.He has been arrested numerous times by the LEP due to his criminal nature; stealing from Mud Men is his speciality. An expert burglar, he is also infamous for his powerful and deadly...
, Juliet Butler, and FoalyFoalyFoaly is a fictional character in the Artemis Fowl series written by Eoin Colfer. He is the technical consultant to the Lower Elements Police...
directing technological elements of the mission, they break into the Spiro Needle and retrieve the Cube. Artemis is mind wiped at the end of the mission under the directions of Julius RootJulius RootJulius Root is a fictional character from the Artemis Fowl series of children's books written by Irish author Eoin Colfer.- Personality :Julius Root was the commander of the reconnaissance division of the Lower Elements Police. Root was frequently angry, and when angry, he became extremely...
.
- In Artemis Fowl: The Opal DeceptionArtemis Fowl: The Opal DeceptionArtemis Fowl: The Opal Deception is a teen fantasy novel published in 2005, the 4th book in the Artemis Fowl series by the Irish author Eoin Colfer...
, Holly is with Commander RootJulius RootJulius Root is a fictional character from the Artemis Fowl series of children's books written by Irish author Eoin Colfer.- Personality :Julius Root was the commander of the reconnaissance division of the Lower Elements Police. Root was frequently angry, and when angry, he became extremely...
, a paternal figure to her, when Opal KoboiOpal KoboiOpal Koboi is a fictional character from the Artemis Fowl series - a set of seven fantasy novels written by Irish author Eoin Colfer. After the character's May 2002 introduction in the second book in the series as a supporting antagonist, Colfer again used Koboi as the main antagonist in the fourth...
kills him. She is subsequently framed for the Commander's death and is forced to flee from fairy authorities. She later collaborates with Artemis Fowl, ButlerDomovoi ButlerDomovoi Butler is a fictional character in the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. Known for his skill and strength, he is the bodyguard and mentor of the main character of the series, .-Role:...
, and Mulch Diggums to expose Koboi and prevent her plans for destroying fairy civilization. Koboi is locked up in a secure facility. At the end of the book, Holly resigns from the LEP.
- In Artemis Fowl: The Lost ColonyArtemis Fowl: The Lost ColonyArtemis Fowl: The Lost Colony is the fifth book in the Artemis Fowl Series by Irish writer Eoin Colfer. The book, originally expected to be published in the UK and Ireland on September 7 2006, was shipped to stores early...
, Holly is working as a private detective since her resignation from the LEP, along with Mulch Diggums. Holly is informed about the demon race, a species of fairy that left earth and are now inhabiting an island in Limbo between earth and time, and is recruited to Section Eight, which monitors them. When it becomes apparent that Artemis has encountered a demon, they encounter Minerva ParadizoMinerva ParadizoMinerva Paradizo is a fictional character from the Artemis Fowl series of books by Eoin Colfer and is one of the main antagonists in Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony....
, another child genius who has managed to obtain a demon. Artemis and Holly, along with two demons, №1 and Qwan, are forced to go to Hybras to save demon civilization. When they arrive back at Artemis and Holly's time, they find that three years have passed in their own dimension.
- In Artemis Fowl: The Time ParadoxArtemis Fowl: The Time ParadoxArtemis Fowl: The Time Paradox is the sixth book in the series Artemis Fowl by Irish writer Eoin Colfer. It was released in the U.S. on 5 July 2008, and on 7 August in the U.K...
, Artemis and Holly travel into the past to find the silky sifaka lemur, the only thing that can save Angeline FowlFowl family (Artemis Fowl)The Fowl Family is a criminal family in the fictional teen series Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. It currently consists of , his wife , twins Myles and Beckett and the main character of the , .- Artemis Fowl I :...
from death by a fairy disease, Spelltropy. The pair are forced to outwit Artemis's younger self and Damon Kronski, president of the "Extinctionists" organization. They eventually encounter Opal KoboiOpal KoboiOpal Koboi is a fictional character from the Artemis Fowl series - a set of seven fantasy novels written by Irish author Eoin Colfer. After the character's May 2002 introduction in the second book in the series as a supporting antagonist, Colfer again used Koboi as the main antagonist in the fourth...
, who needs the silky sifaka lemur to increase her own power. In the novel, Holly kisses Artemis, and quickly attributes it to the effects of time travel.
- In Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis ComplexArtemis Fowl: The Atlantis ComplexArtemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex is the seventh book in the Artemis Fowl series...
, Artemis is mentally ill; his dabbles with magic have resulted in his developing Atlantis Complex; a fairy disease equivalent to OCD and multiple-personality disorder. He arranges for Holly and her fairy companions to meet him at a glacier in Iceland. Later, however, when Artemis proceeds to demonstrate his invention outdoors, a martian probe gone rogue descends and attacks the LEP ship on the glacier, killing several marines and Vinyaya, then heads towards Atlantis, the underwater fairy metropolis. Entangled in a conspiracy planned by her old nemesis, the impending crisis and Artemis's rapid deterioration into a soppy alter-ego forces Holly to take the lead and find a way to bring back Artemis before it is too late.