A happy go lucky young lutenist finds what he fancies is a dragon’s tooth, and instantly gains an unwanted reputation as a mighty warrior in this none too serious mini-epic. Hailed by the villagers of Batty-By-Noodle and dressed in a suit of armor lovingly crafted by his mother, the local blacksmith, Digory reluctantly sets out to do what knights are supposed to do: rescue damsels and slay dragons. Fortunately, dragons turn out to be easily avoidable. Unfortunately, damsels in distress are all over the map—every one unpleasantly bossy and conceited. Fortunately, Digory’s quest comes to an end when he meets mussy, krumhorn-playing Princess Enid and her kindly, if seriously dysnomic, father King Widget. Unfortunately, they have this dragon problem . . . but, fortunately, Digory’s deaf old steed Barley shows unexpected facility with a magic sword that drops from the sky, and all ends happily. Beck’s rumpled drawings and vignettes add more amiably comic touches. Ready cheeks; insert tongues. (Fantasy. 9-11)
