And after meeting his guide Morf, a small, furry creature that can change form, he realizes that he need to find the device, or else the whole world will be swallowed by an evil darkness.

During his quest, he meets frog people, giants that rip apart continents, cloud people who use their wings to glide, killer birds, and an evil demon; along the way he also does push-ups, rows boats, flies, and rides the giants.

Kirkus Reviews panned the book as "preachy and predictable," claiming that readers would find it "so obviously freighted with Purpose as to be almost devoid of danger or suspense.

"[1] The School Library Journal was similarly critical, comparing it unfavorably to Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth.

[2] Publishers Weekly was more positive, praising the "vivid personalities" found in the story's REM World.