Muddle Earth

In other words, he must fight evil on behalf of Randalf, who has in turn been contracted by the ruler of Muddle Earth, the Horned Baron.

April Spisak, in the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, writes that "high fantasy is tossed out in favor of the silliest and most sardonic representation of Middle Earth ever.

"[1] In her view, the book is fun because the "seemingly random and absolutely unpredictable plot" throws up ridiculous results, providing a "goofy humour".

[1] Publishers Weekly calls Muddle Earth a piece of "silliness ... taken to new heights in this charming comedy of Randalf the Wise".

It contains parody references from The Lord of the Rings, like its predecessor, but also throws in elements of Twilight, Harry Potter, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hansel and Gretel, The Sword in the Stone, His Dark Materials and Sleeping Beauty.

He finds Randalf is now Headmaster of a new wizardry school named Stinkyhogs, built in the Horned Baron's castle after his retirement.

The story features a great many more characters than Muddle Earth, such as Pesticide the flower fairy and Edwina Lovely, the major villain.

First edition (publ. Macmillan )