Praise

Raves for Goblin Quest:

“Goblin Quest is a hilarious ‘good read.’ One of the funniest dungeon-delving epics ever!”

—Ed Greenwood, author of Elminster: The Making of a Mage

“Most fantasy gamers read fantasy novels. Most fantasy gamers like to slay goblins for fun and profit. After Goblin Quest, most fantasy gamers are going to have a very hard time doing that. Jim C. Hines has given us a wonderful adventure from the goblin’s point of view, and it’s fantastic! I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in ages.”—Wil Wheaton, actor and author of Just a Geek

“Need a book that will make you smile, then grin, then laugh out loud? If your tickle spot’s the same as mine, Goblin Quest is the book you’re looking for. I love an unlikely hero and Jig the goblin is my kind of unlikely love! New kid Jim C. Hines is already an expert at the unlikely but lovable . . . who could beat Jig’s pet/ sidekick/companion animal Smudge, the fire-spider? Bonus 1: How to manage when your companion animal sets your hair on fire. Bonus 2: How to choose the right god to pray to. Bonus 3: Why you should never challenge a goblin to a duel.—I’m still laughing.”

—Janet Kagan, Hugo-winning author of Hellspark and Uhura’s Song

“If you’ve always kinda rooted for the little guy, even maybe had a bit of a place in your heart for the likes of Gollum, rather than the Boromirs and Gandalfs of the world, pick up Goblin Quest—just make sure you keep well away from Golaka’s stewpot.”—The SF Site

“This exciting adult fairy tale is filled with adventure and action, but the keys to the fantasy are Jig and the belief that the mythological creatures are real in the realm of Jim C. Hines.”—Midwest Book Reviews

Title Page

Copyright Page

Copyright © 2005, 2006 by Jim C. Hines.

DAW Book Collectors No. 1383.

DAW Books are distributed by Penguin Group (USA).

All characters in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

First paperback printing, November 2006

eISBN : 978-1-101-09857-8

DAW TRADEMARK REGISTERED
U.S. PAT. OFF. AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES
—MARCA REGISTRADA
HECHO EN U.S.A.

S.A .

Epigraph

“We may be outnumbered. They may have magic and muscle on their side. But we’re goblins! We’re tough, we’re mean, and we’re more than a match for a few so-called heroes. Some of us will die, but for the survivors, this will be a victory to live forever in goblin memories.”