THE ROYAL AUTROLOGER

Father Mole Cricket, the royal astrologer, may have been the laziest man in the kingdom, but he was certainly the lucklest. Through no effort of his own, he was usually given credit for the solution of most of the Emperor's problems. He comes upon stolen treasure first and wins the respect of the temperamental Emperor. Though he never dreamed his little telescope could defeat a whole army, he is amply rewarded when the attacking turn in terror at the sight of ""giants"" seen through the telescope. He continues to be rewarded for putting out a fire (which he started) and digging a swimming pool (which be bribed someone else to do). For the most part this is a farcical romp through the world of blustering foot-stomping kings and meek, obedient but never dullwitted servants. It suffers from a burden of excess verbiage, and a muddy ethical viewpoint.