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Jig is a scrawny little nearsighted goblin-a runt even among his puny species. Captured by a party of adventurers searching for a magical artifact, and forced to guide them, Jig encounters every peril ever faced on a fantasy quest.
Jig the goblin is blue, has fangs and is a cannibal like the rest of his race. In goblin land nobody trusts one another and Jig as the runt of the litter is always picked upon. When the captain forces Jig to do tunnel duty, he is kidnapped by adventurers that are hunting for the magical artifact the Rod of Creation protected by Straum the Dragon. His advisories consist of the human princes Barius and his younger brother Ryslind, the dwarf Darnak and the elf Riana.------------- This is Barius¿ quest and he intends to use Jig to navigate the tunnels to find the dragon. First they must battle the necromancer¿s minions, then they must fight to the death the necromancer and finally they must find the tunnel that leads to Straum. It is not an easy road to travel because there are traps within traps and Ryslind is sinking into madness as he uses more and more of his wizardly magic. Jig needs to find within himself the courage to stop the adventurers from killing the goblins as they intend to do but first he must have a plan. The death of someone gives him the strength to do what must be done to save goblin kind.--------- This humorous book about cannibalistic goblins, the lowest beings of the underground races, will keep audience¿s laughing while afterward digging for more tales by James C. Hines. The author uses the goblin nature to put his protagonist in situations that may not be funny to him but are hilarious to the audience. There is plenty of non-stop action in this enthralling fantasy land and the character development is superb. The adventures, Jig, the dragon and others have distinct personalities so that readers will want to join the tunneling quest. Harriet Klausner
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 27, 2005
Jig is a goblin with little social status. He has been assigned to the lowliest muck duty far longer than others his age, and he can¿t help but feel shame. He also can¿t help that he is a clumsy, near-sighted runt, and his cousin Porak and his buddies never let him forget it. Only in his fantasies is Jig a brave and respected warrior, and he longs for the chance to prove himself. Finally Jig is given the opportunity to guard the mountain tunnels from intruders, which is a scary proposition since so many of the tunnel guards wind up dead. He resolves to do what needs to be done in order to stay alive. Imagine his surprise when he is accosted by a party of treasure hunters made up of two humans, a dwarf, and an elf who are searching for the Rod of Creation thought to be guarded by a dragon named Straum. Jig is forced to join them for the hunt¿or die. ¿Jig knew what a real hero would do. A hero would scream something defiant, wrestle Darnak¿s club away and use it against the dwarf and the human. A hero might even slay them both before making his escape. Of course, Jig knew all the goblin songs, so he knew what happened to goblin heroes¿. He had not desire to be a hero. He only wanted to go home, curl up with a hot bowl of lizard-egg soup, and feed dead cockroaches to Smudge¿ (p. 25). The prospect of making such a journey successfully with his captors doesn¿t look good to Jig. He doesn¿t even know where Straum¿s lair is, but instead of mounting what would be a suicide attack, Jig reluctantly agrees to help the adventurers find their way around the tunnels. What follows is a series of action-filled, entertaining, and often funny adventures as they battle hobgoblins, worms, a necromancer, and various other foes. This book will appeal to both adults and young adults. Teens will very much enjoy Jig¿s quest and his attempt to define himself in a world that doesn¿t necessarily value his skills. Adults will also enjoy the humor and the upending of various aspects of the fantasy/quest genre. Prepare to be entertained throughout and completely satisfied with Jig¿s journey by the time you reach the end. ~Lori L. Lake, reviewer for Midwest Book Review and author of the ¿Gun¿ series
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 29, 2012
Read this while on vacation and really enjoyed it. Not something that will blow your mind, but was definitely fun and enjoyable. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
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Posted May 24, 2012
Probably one of Fantasy's most unlikely yet lovable underdog heroes.
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Posted November 8, 2006
I can't wait to read this book. The cover graphics grab me and the exerpt intigues me.
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.In the lairs and hiding places of the mountain, various mythological and legendary creatures live. Goblins live here in an uneasy peace with the hobgoblins while avoiding other denizen of the mountain. Jig the Goblin is on military duty, an occupation usually reserved for the toughest but he is no warrior; instead he is a runt picked on by other Goblins. While Jig is on patrol, he meets his worst enemies, adventurers including two princes, a dwarf, and an elf determined to find the Rod of Creation................... Jig knows that Straum the Dragon guards the Rod, but the Goblin has no idea where. Prince Barius, the expedition leader, forces Jig to take him to the lower levels of the mountain. On the trek, they repel a hobgoblin attack, defeat dangerous worms, and triumph over a necromancer and his minions. However, when they reach the dragon¿s lair, they learn the hard way that the other prince, the magician Ryslind is under the control of Straum. If they want to live, Straum tells them to find the Rod that he does not possess...................... Goblins are thought to be weak cowards, but Jig proves his worth as the equal in courage to those on the quest with him as he gets his teammates out of trouble. He learns to be more than just a member of the most scorned base species on the mountain. This exciting adult fairy tale is filled with adventure and action, but the keys to the fantasy are Jig and the belief that the mythological creatures are real in the realm of Jim C. Hines..................... Harriet Klausner
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Overview
Jig is a scrawny little nearsighted goblin-a runt even among his puny species. Captured by a party of adventurers searching for a magical artifact, and forced to guide them, Jig encounters every peril ever faced on a fantasy quest.