Craig Shaw Gardner spins another winning tale in the first part of the Wuntvor trilogy, sequel to the Ebenezum trilogy. Old characters return and new ones pop up as Wuntvor desperately tries to save the world from the Netherhells, with the help of an oaf with a magic club, an amorous unicorn, a trio of demons, a talkative brownie, a Dragon and a Damsel, and a ferret.

After the events of "Night in the Netherhells," Wuntvor and Co. are safe. At first. Then it's discovered that Ebenezum's allergy to magic has spread to every wizard in Vushta. To make matters worse, Guxx Unfunfadoo has been deposed as Grand Hoohah, and soon the world will be Conquered by Committee. As the wizards puzzle out what to do, Wuntvor tries to deal with the animosity of some very large, angry apprentice wizards and the affections of dancing damsel Alea and jealous witch Norei. (Also the unicorn, who lusts after "Wuntie"'s lap.)

The wizards decide to send Wuntvor on a journey to the Eastern kingdoms, where giants reportedly eat people, and which is ruled by Mother Duck. (Yes, Mother Duck -- Gardner ventures into fairy-tale territory in this one) He's soon being confronted by Death, who announces that he is the "Eternal Apprentice" -- he'll reincarnate a thousand times as the quintessential apprentice, but Death can claim him if he is ever alone. The problem for Death is, Wuntvor has more than enough company: the exiled Guxx and Brax, the irritating Brownie, Snarks the truthful demon, Hendrek and his club, overamorous Alea and her singing dragon, and the pushy unicorn. Can Wuntvor keep from being claimed by death -- either by being alone, or by being eaten on pumpernickel?

Gardner's golden touch is turning to platinum in this book. His talents for kooky characters and overcomplicated conversations are getting better as time goes on. Perhaps the biggest problem with "Difficulty With Dwarves" is that it ends with a "to be continued." (The dwarves mentioned in the title are the "seven OTHER dwarves," including but not limited to Sickly, Nasty, Spacey, Smarmy... you get the idea)

Poor Wuntvor is still trying to keep up with events around him, and Ebenezum is trying to decide what to do (he makes another appearance inside a giant shoe). To really understand the cast of characters (oh yes, Cuthbert the cowardly sword appears as well) you have to read the Ebenezum trilogy. It's complex and outstandingly funny, with plenty of jumbled dialogue that never trips over itself. Ever seen a bumbling, inexplicably attractive hero defeat a giant with a magical toothpick? That's what you'll see here.

Fans of fantasy and fairy tales will enjoy seeing the staples of both being relentlessly spoofed in "Difficulty with Dwarves," and will be left bouncing with anticipation for the next book.

I love this series. It's witty, entertaining, and a wonderful silly adventure.

In Vushta, city of a thousand forbidden pleasures, there is something wrong. Every wizard there now sneezes when near magic! They all cought this cold when trying to cure their fellow wizard, Ebenezum, greatest mage in the Westerm Kingdoms! It seems like another quest is in the offerings, for, in the meantime, the demons in the Neatherhells, after failing to conquer the surface world, have settled on something new, something more horrifing then the Grand Hoohah, (don't ask!) Conquest by comittee. So, boldly, Ebenezum's appentice, Wuntvor, must set off alone, to try to talk the great and horrifing ruler of the Eastern Kingdom, Mother Duck, into helping them. At first the bold lad is alone upon his quest, (all his companions from the last quest were too busy arguing who shoud go and who shouldn't come), which is exactly the way someone, or rather, something wants him. Death Itself appears to Wuntvor, and reveals that the lad is only the latest reincarnation of the Eternal Apprentice, forever destined to aid true heros in his bumbling, inept way, with the help of any number of magical companions. And since he is forever being reincarnated if he dies, he is forever beyound Death's grasp, (something that drives the specter wild) unless he's alone. Well, Wuntvor happens to be alone at that moment. But before Death can take him to his kingdom, several unexpected companions arive. First there is one of Wunt's 500 magical ferrets. (He conjured it with a magic hat.) Then Tap the Brownie arrives, just in time to scare Death off. Two deamons, Gruxx Unfufadoo, former enemy of Wunt and former Grand Hoohah (don't ask)! and Braxx, traveling Salesdemon join up. Then the vadville act of dasmel and dragon show up. There is also the Warrior Hendrek, and the truthtelling deamon Snarks, as well as a unicorn that longs after Wunt's lap. But they soon learn that Mother Duck has made a pact with the Neatherhells, and intends to take them all to the Storybook, (they would have prefered being baked into bread!) Is this the end? I really love this book, but had to get it from a Z-shop. I recommend it to everyone and everything with a sense of humor!

It's a shame not too many people have read this. It became a cult favorite in my school many years ago when I recommended it to my classmates and I still read it after many years. It's been lent out so many times it's divided into four pieces and I STILL read it, so I think that says something. It's very creative and stylistic, nothing else I've read has approached this style. Craig Shaw Gardner takes the wondrous yet speedy tone the original Arabian Nights takes, and perverts it horribly. I don't know why authors don't pervert classics. Maybe I should.

Craig Shaw Gardner once again bombards his readers with his wit and wacky humor. I love this book and Gardner's style. It may not be something everyone can appreciate, but I do, and find it incredibly amusing.

Leprechauns is a wonderful touching book. The characters seem so real,and each word paints a beautiful picture. Mickey and Princess Jessica struggle to rise above their families ideas of the way they should live. Their love is so powerful it makes you stop and realize that love is strong enough to survive any obstacles thrown at you. I recommend this book to anyone who believes in romance,and happy everafter.

I think that this was the best book that I have ever read! I love the part where The Leprechaun and the Fariy meet. At that time you can just tell that the story will be good and also, mostly about them. You just have to buy this book! My whole family loves it.

Whatever caused you to read this must be the result of some completely unusual messup, but, furthermore, the book version of this popular (yet stupid) movie is one of those priceless oddities that one might stumble on perhaps once in a lifetime, probably not even noticing it. But let me tell you... I did! Wow, I got this book at a book fair when I was like 9 and I never thought much of it. But think of the possibilities! This is a novel written about a cheesy movie that a great many people know. Just reading randomly from a section is a laugh riot... on so many levels. If you ever see a copy of this book, purchase it! Its a non-stop comedy aide, really. And it's the singlemost important centerpiece for performance art I have ever known.

I suppose you'd have to have a certain sense of humor when reading this book (as with any of the other Wuntvor books). It's hilarious, it's intentioanlly cliche, and it's just so much fun to read. I wish it weren't out of print, or else I'd buy this for all my fun loving friends! =o)

Once again, I have to wonder what book I was reading. It couldn't possibly be this book, with glowing reviews of how funny it was.
Now, don't get me wrong; this book was funny. In a few places, and at certain moments, sure. But it wasn't great humor, or, to me, even very good humor. When I was 12, I'm sure I would have found this book wonderfully funny. But I think I've passed the point where I can overlook all of the things about this book that irked me.
Good idea, the whole story, but there was nothing to this book at all. I know there's such a thing as light humorous fantasy, but this was a little much, even for me.
The characters are bare bones in development, and the plot just seems to go in circles. The humor has it's moments; unfortunately, they're few, and far between.
All in all, I much prefer, say, the Myth series, or Phule's Company.
I'll probably finish the series, just to see how it turns out, but I have to say, I'm not enjoying it all that much.
And, to those who love this book, I'm sorry. I just don't see it.

Suspended somewhere between the shallow-silly world of Xanth and the wry quirkiness of Discworld is the strange world of Ebenezum and his hapless apprentice Wuntvor.

Wuntvor is the apprentice of the famed magician Ebenezum (whose main vice is being somewhat greedy). But when a sinister demon, Guxx Unfufadoo, is conjured up -- the worst kind, a rhyming demon, whose power grows with every rhyme he utters. (Fortunately he's not too good at it) And Ebenezum manages to survive Guxx's attempt to kill him. But he soon discovers that Guxx has made him allergic to magic: whenever he's near magic, he starts sneezing uncontrollably.

After self-treatment fails (miserably) Ebenezum concludes that he can only be cured in Vushta, the City of Forbidden Delights. Wuntvor, being a typical teenage male, has no problems at all with this. But their way is fraught with peril -- much of it with silly dialogue, beautiful girls, and more than a few lunatics. Along the way they will encounter a singing-dancing dragon, a used-weapons dealer (who is also a demon), a mildly crazed warrior Hendrek with his club called Headbasher, Death in a game-show setting ("Now, Wuntvor, are you ready to double your lifespan?"), a cult that worships Plaugg the Fairly Magnificent, trial by custard, and demons trying to invade the world from the supernatural Netherhells.

As you can tell, this is not a particularly serious book. It reads like a series of loosely interconnected vignettes (because it was originally published that way) but somehow the episodic tendencies never bothered me. Every chapter is started with a hilarious quote from the Teachings of Ebenezum.
The humor ranges from the character oriented (Wuntvor's perpetually hormone-addled state) to the wry and funny (the hideous torment of aspirin commercials) to the low ("Neebekenezer's Syndrome of Universal Flatulence" and the chicken that... well, never mind).

The humor generally stems from the characters (Wuntvor's perpetually hormone-addled state) or the silly situations (Ebenezum being chased out by Grandmother) or the delightful dialogue ("What rhymes with silver?" "Orange!") such as Ebenezum critiquing Guxx's terrible rhymes. ("There is no justice in the cosmos. At least no poetic justice.")

The characters are hilarious: Ebenezum is the archetypical wizard, with a few secrets and flaws up his voluminous blue sleeve. Wuntvor is the character we see the world through, but he is as quirky as Ebenezum in his own realistic manner: He falls for every pretty girl nearby, looks forward to Vushta, and is a little too gangly and earnest for his own good. Supporting characters (with the exception of Snarks and Hendrek) are generally not developed as well, since they often vanish after a few chapters. This book is okay for most kids and all teens -- a few kisses between Wuntvor and his various love interests is about all that is objectionable.

It's fantastic that this book is back in print. A must-read for fans of fantasy and comedy.

First and formost, I would like to express my most dire sorrow that this book and it's fellows were ever allowed to go out of print. I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of the first three books in this series at a used bookstore some time past, and was amazed to discover that I had purchased one of the greatest reads of my entire life! Truly absorbing, these novels weave along the border of the ludicrous, but never betray their sincere nature to crack humour. Each character is at once incredibly distinct and incredibly funny! A MUST-READ for any fan of fiction!

What a great read. It captures the mood and humor of the movie characters well. It has also been "cleaned-up" from the movie version so it is suitable for all the young readers out there.

Any fan of the Back to the Future triology who wants to be able to take the movie with them should think of picking up this book. One of my favorite movies of all time, Back to the Future Part II goes just as well in book format.

The second part of the famous trilogy , starts off right where the first one ended. Doc Brown shows up in his time traveling Time Machine to take Marty and his girlfriend Jennifer to the future to fix a problem with their future kids. Little do they know that their troubles are far from over after they arrive there. Biff steals the time machine from the future and hands himself a sports almanac giving all the scores for the next half centruy. The time line is totaly changed and its up to Marty and the Doc to fix things before its to late by going back to 1955 where the trouble starts.

The great thing about the book is that it gives more detail then the movie. It goes into what the characters are thinking that we can't see during the movie and gives details that were cut out of the movie as well. Theres a part where Marty meets his brother Dave in an alternate 1985 and his brother is drunk and a bum to say the least. Another moment where the old farmer Peabody from the first movie shows up trying to still get at the DeLorean that busted up one of his pines is pretty intersting as well. Theres also a lot of description of the moments we find ourselves in, so we can pretty much see the movie without having to actualy see it. Its very true to the movie and I think captures the great sequal quite well in book form.

The only true problems I have with it is that they did edit out the curses and even not so bad words making them even nicer then they were. I do feel it took a little away from the book as there aren't that many curses in the movie as it is and it was noticible. Also some of the scenes seemed rushed through towards the end. A lot of the stuff at the end of the 1955 climax of the movie just didn't come off as exciting as it did in the movie. While I know its hard to do a non stop action scene like the tunnel chase where Marty has to get the almanac off of Biff's car in a book, it still came off as half as exciting as it truly was.

Its great to be able to take with you though whereever you are. you can't always bring a VCR or DVD player with you, but this book can always be in hand and it is defiitely a worth while buy as its as much fun as the movie and the movie is one of the greatest sequals of all time.

This was an excellent book. It had lots of action and it was flawless. I liked the way it described the characters. It never got boring. I would recommend this book to anyone.

"The field needs more humorists of this caliber," says Robert Asprin on the first page. Indeed! This is definitely better than Asprin's Myth.

This is the third book in a trilogy, and I haven't read the first two, but Craig Shaw Gardner does a commendable job in introducing the characters and their problems. Sure, they are caricatures, but that's what you'd expect from this kind of parody.

The good thing about the book is that it has a plot, that keeps moving, and things build upon one another. The story returns to things you've seen before, and there's some sense of anticipation. Why am I all enthusiastic about this? Because Asprin's Myth books lack these features.

So there it is - a book with silly characters, that encounter silly situations, and handle them with all the required seriousness. That's a good recipe for some laughs. Although I didn't get the "wow, this man really understands what people are about and how stupid they are" feeling that I get from a Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett book, the book is enjoyable, mildly funny, and manages to keep the interest level high (unlike some Pratchett books).

This is the conclusion (well, sort of) of the Ebenezum trilogy. Here Gardner overcomes his slight roughness from "Multitude," and returns to top form.

Vushta, City of Forbidden Delights, is gone: demons have dragged it down into the Netherhells, and with it any hope of a cure for Ebenezum. Only a few wizards are left in what remains of it. Guxx Unfufadoo plans to invade the upper world. And, perhaps worst of all, two of Wuntvor's girlfriends have found out about each other!

What can be done? Wuntvor must lead a special expedition to the Netherhells, consisting of Hendrek, Snarks, Norei, and Cuthbert the talking sword. (Ebenezum is absent for most of this adventure) Among the problems: Commercialization has hit the Netherhells (much to Snarks' horror), Guxx plans to take over the world, Vushta is in the slimy hands of the demons, and Wuntvor has this magical hat that keeps spitting out ferrets, flowers and scarves...

The lunatic funniness of this one is too good to be described. The Netherhells are a hilarious spoof of the generally-accepted vision of hell and demons, coupled with a few sly jabs at commercialization and massive construction. We also have the climax of Wuntvor's very complex love life (I was afraid those girls were going to duke it out over him). We even have Cuthbert, a cowardly and fastidious talking sword who listens in from inside his scabbard and squeals in dismay when used to kill an enemy. And Wuntvor's army of ferrets is too hilarious for words, as is how he manages to mass-produce them ("Yes! No! No! Yes! Yes! Yes! No!").

The characters are still fun! (Hard for any author to keep up) Wuntvor is required to grow a little more in this book, since he has to LEAD an expedition, rather than bouncing around with his master. Snarks and Brax are three-dimensional in a delightfully two-dimensional manner; as is doom-speaking warrior Hendrek, and the psychotic Dealer of Death (yes, he's back, and he's squishing demons). The weak link is Norei, who doesn't have any of the quirks of the other characters. But if you bypass her, the cast is just perfect.

As ever, it's sparingly-written; we aren't overloaded with detail or unnecessary dialogue. Parents can utter a sigh of relief, since this trilogy is fine for kids. And any kid or teen who's read fantasy (or even fairy tales) will laugh themselves silly, just as well as the adults.

Wonderful conclusion (sort of) to the Ebenezum trilogy. (Reprint "Song of Wuntvor"! I want more of this kooky little universe)

As with all the other books included in the much-lauded 'Ebenezum' series, this book does not let the reader down in the least! Each character is beautifully represented by Mr. Gardner, who shows his remarkable grasp of a world knocked slightly askew...one might draw parallels between this work and Douglas Adams' 'Hitchiker's Guide' series. A truly remarkable book on it's own, and much better when you read it's predecessors! Definately recommended reading!

I stuck with this book, even though the shallow and silly characters made me feel like a 12-year-old.

The premise isn't bad: a neighborhood of folks gets transported to a place where everybody seems to be at war with everybody else. Many of the people have latent powers, of course, and they get manipulated by the people in the new world, who are vying for control of their island. Nobody in the new world is pure "good", which makes things more interesting.

If only the people and creatures hadn't been so darned *silly*. . . .

Im over half way done with the first book and im worried about finding the next two.The characters are what keeps the plot going.Someone is allways in trouble.Raven,Obar and Nunn keeps you wondering who the bad guy realy is.The people of Chestnut Circle will never be the same.I hope Nick and his sword defeat the other realms evil and the good prevails.Im going back to my reading. thanks too Craig Shaw Gardner !!!!

You see, I have only gotten to the seventy-secondth page. Yet already I can tell you, despite the unflattering review by the critics, that this book has a story line that interests people. Or at least it interested me. There aren't too many details, my mind is already running ahead with possible outcomes (which are most likely going to be wrong . . . ), and the events that happen happen quick and fast. Personally, I think this is a great thing, because you recieve information of the characters background while the action is happening. Or really in between the action. Already I know some family problems among at least half of the Chestnut Circle neighbors, and their are some stories many of you may fuzzily recall from your very early childhood may surface. Such as how the moon, sun, and stars came into being, only (I think) Indian-style.

If I knew more, I would tell you about it, but I'm sure that you can read other reviews and find out plenty, maybe even more than you want to. But here is what I do know:

The dragon is sleeping beneath the earth, waking only to cause problems, two wizard brothers aren't exactly on friendly terms and are trying to keep the people of the supposedly ruined and/or lost Chestnut Circle neighborhood away from the other, and the characters are everything real people are. Personally I think it's sweet that Nick has a crush on Mary Lou.

My sister picked this book up for me about a week back, and I was interested to check into it, it being my first Spider-man novel. And boy, I was pleasently surprised. There is only so much one can do, with taking a comic-book character, and bringing it into a 300 page book. But Gardner really did a nice job of taking the usual characteristics of Spider-man, and adding some interesting new ideas.

This book has a solid plot, revolving around a mayoral candidate's tie-ins with a big crime-boss. When the mayoral candidate's infamous campaign manager Michael Luce is violently sleign in a dark alley in the company of Spider-man, Spider-man is quickly thrown into the hat of suspects for his murder. Meanwhile, the man behind it all has also hired Spider-man foes Electro and Rhino to add some extra trouble to the mix.

All-in-all, the book has it's minor flaws. Namely Rhino's entire spot in the book. He is kind of just 'there.' He never really ends up having any relevence, or even a big part, in the book. But the book evolves the plot from cover to cover, and offers a very nice ending.

Any hardcore Spidey fans will enjoy this interesting tale of Spidey on the run from some underground wrong-doings, and any 'beginner' fans are sure to enjoy it as well.

Well i have always read the comics and i am a big fan of spidey, and i was wondering how well a book could do and i was shocked to find it's better then a comic. you are not limited to the art they choose because you have your mind to make them come alive, and the story telling does just that , the writer knows spider-man very well and writes a story worthy of him, and any fan will jump on this book (i have read it a few times i liked it so much).

so if your a fan of spidery then do get this book.

This book captures all the excitment of "Spider-Hunt" and features two of Spidey enemies; Electro and Rhino. Usually these two can be considered lame at best but Gardner makes them cool. Also look out for special appearnces by Green Goblin, Prowler, and a certain 6-clawed rodent!