The Man in the Moon was James Blaylock’s first completed novel, however it remained unpublished for decades[1] (having been rewritten and published long before as The Elfin Ship).

[2] According to Blaylock, The Man in the Moon was influenced almost entirely by Kenneth Grahame’s 1908 children's book The Wind in the Willows, along with Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Brownies and the Goblins, and illustrations by Arthur Rackham.

Unknown to the heroes, their route downriver to a seaside trading center will take them through areas under siege from evil forces including crazed goblins and malevolent witches.

Downstream, they encounter Miles the Magician, the carefree link men, and the elves at running the mysterious elfin ship, seen at inexplicable moments.

They begin to look into the activities of Dooly’s mysterious grandfather, but before significant conclusions are reached, they decide to test the curious object carried by the Professor.