Muddle Earth - Hardcover

Stewart, Paul

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 038573316X ISBN 13: 9780385733168

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2007

Synopsis

Joe Jefferson is an ordinary schoolboy from ordinary Earth. At least, he was. But something strange happened when he was walking his dog, and now he's Joe the Barbarian—fearless warrior-hero, summoned by Muddle Earth's leading wizard* to slay ogres, wrestle dragons, and bravely confront villains.

Joe doesn't feel much like a warrior-hero.** But evil is stirring in the heart of Elfwood, and the people of Muddle Earth need help (although most of them don't know it yet). Perhaps Joe Jefferson really is a hero after all. . . .

* Actually, Muddle Earth's only wizard. And he's not very good.
** He doesn't really look much like one either.

About this title

About the Author:

Paul Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers, most notably the bestselling Edge Chronicles. He lives down the street from Chris Riddell in Brighton, England.

Chris Riddell, co-creator of the Edge Chronicles, is an award-winning illustrator and political cartoonist. He lives down the street from Paul Stewart in Brighton, England.

From Publishers Weekly:

The fertile partnership of Stewart and Riddell (The Edge Chronicles) has produced a fine canon of Monty Python-esque fantasy nonsense, but the silliness is taken to new heights in this charming comedy. Randalf the Wise, the only wizard in Muddle Earth, casts a spell to conjure a warrior hero and, not being a particularly gifted wizard, ends up summoning young Joe Jefferson and his dog. Along with his sarcastic budgie, Veronica, and cowardly troll, Norbert the Not-Very-Big, Randolph brings Joe to Muddle Earth's ruler, the Horned Baron, who hires the boy to defeat the ogre Engelbert the Enormous. Engelbert is upset, because his beloved snuggly-wuggly has gone missing, and Joe's gentle touch and quick thinking save the day. Unfortunately, the spell that Randalf needs to send Joe back home is in the hands of the evil Dr. Cuddles, a criminal mastermind who lives in an adorable little cottage in Giggle Glade. From there things become even sillier, with sentient silverware, a kidnapped queen no one wants to rescue and a vicious-looking dragon who turns out to be perfectly nice. Stewart's plotting and dialogue are squarely in the anything-can-happen realm of Douglas Adams; Riddell's pen-and-ink illustrations are perfectly suited to the tone of the book. This is a big, goofy, laugh-out-loud delight. Ages 10-up. (Aug.)
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About this edition

• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 038573316X
• ISBN 13: 9780385733168
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 464
• Illustrator: Riddell Chris