The Good, The Bad and The Smug

by Tom Holt

Overview

A new novel from a master of comic fantasy, Tom Holt.

Same as the Old Evil, but with better PR.

Mordak isn't bad, as far as goblin kings go, but when someone, or something, starts pumping gold into the human kingdoms it puts his rule into serious jeopardy. Suddenly he's locked in an arms race with a species whose arms he once considered merely part of a calorie-controlled diet.

Helped by an elf with a background in journalism and a masters degree in being really pleased with herself, Mordak sets out to discover what on earth (if indeed, that's where he is) is going on. He knows that the truth is out there. If only he could remember where he put it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316368810
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	07/28/2015
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	1,060,693
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Tom Holt was born in London in 1961. At Oxford he studied bar billiards, ancient Greek agriculture and the care and feeding of small, temperamental Japanese motorcycle engines; interests which led him, perhaps inevitably, to qualify as a solicitor and emigrate to Somerset, where he specialized in death and taxes for seven years before going straight in 1995. He lives in Chard, Somerset, with his wife and daughter.

Editorial Reviews

★ 05/25/2015
Holt (The Outsorcerer’s Apprentice) achieves near-perfection in his new comic fantasy. The complicated multiverse setting requires some nimble reading, but the three central narratives unfold and combine into a cerebral yet slapstick comedy. Mordak, king of the social media–loving goblins, undertakes a hero’s journey with a condescending elf at his side to learn how the human princes of a fantasy realm are getting so rich, and to find out whether an arms race is in the works. A peculiar little man from another universe is spinning straw into gold for the princes, while attempting to teach them strategic thinking and prevent the mess he made in his own dimension. The goblin Ozork transforms into a puny human named Archie when he aims for the Realms of Transcendent Bliss, misses, and lands on a film set in modern New Zealand. Holt keeps track of every thread from beginning to end and cleverly ties them all together in unexpected ways. This is a must-read for those who grew up in awe of The Phantom Tollbooth. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"This is a must-read for those who grew up in awe of The Phantom Tollbooth...Holt achieves near-perfection in his new comic fantasy."—Publishers Weekly on The Good, The Bad and The Smug (Starred Review)

"Tom Holt's Doughnut presents a roller-coaster ride through the world of physics and the origins of the universe."—Library Journal

"A light read from the prolific humorist; a romp round the multiverse."—SFX on Doughnut

"Like the deep-fried snack after which it's named, this sci-fi novel is sweet and fun."—Sun (UK) on Doughnut

"Holt adds to his repertoire of comedic sf, one of the most difficult genera acts to master. Theo is an engaging hero; his brilliance is counteracted by his laziness and his compassion, which is matched by his sense of survival. Place this title alongside Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's Good Omens, Pratchett's "Discworld" series, and the absurdist works of mainstream authors such as John Barth and Gilbert Sorrentino."—Library Journal (Starred Review) on Doughnut

"One for physicists as well s Krispy Kreme-loving policemen."—T3 on Doughnut

"Blonde Bombshell is a clever, funny, tirelessly inventive, apocalyptic leg-hump of a book."—Christopher Moore, New York Times bestselling author

From the Publisher

06/15/2015
Goblin king Mordak investigates a troubling bit of news. It seems the humans have outbid him for an important shipment of dwarf armaments and possess more gold than usual. Meanwhile, the doughnut-traveling technology known as YouSpace that allows users to travel between parts of the multiverse has resulted in an imbalance in good and evil that could annihilate all time and space. VERDICT This continuation of Holt's zany series about interdimensional travel via circular pastry (after The Outsorcerer's Apprentice) will appeal to those missing the late Terry Pratchett, although Holt doesn't quite match Pratchett's skill in welding social commentary to the absurd. Now that Holt has been revealed as the fantasy author K.J. Parker, there could be additional interest.—MM

Library Journal

03/01/2016
Christopher Moore blurbs this, the last installment in British author Holt's comic fantasy series, and it will likely appeal to the same core group of fans. The satire flows fast and furious, possibly starting with a media mogul named Mordak (i.e., Murdoch), who is also a goblin. Living beside the goblins are elves, and though they coexist, they haven't really paired up until now. When Mordak buys out elf Effluviel's magazine, his minions make her an offer she can't refuse—to become Mordak's assistant. Eventually the duo set off on a dangerous quest that makes them actual allies. Meanwhile, a Rumpelstiltskin character appears, making all sorts of commentary on the financial industry. When everyone realizes you can spin straw into gold, straw becomes scarce and gold becomes plentiful—where's the balance between getting rich and getting richer? Doubtless many of the jokes will go over teens' heads, but young adults will get enough of them that this won't hamper their enjoyment. VERDICT This volume will appeal to fantasy readers who can take a little irreverence with their magical creatures.—Jamie Watson, Baltimore County Public Library

School Library Journal