An ordinary schoolboy finds himself zapped into an amazing realm of dragons and wizards, and is astonished to discover that he is expected to single-handedly slay ogres. Narrator Clive Mantle mixes his sophisticated London intonations with zany characterizations to create just the right tone for this wacky tale. Mantle animates young Joe Jefferson, a.k.a. Joe the Barbarian, with equal parts bewilderment and conjured courage. His portray of Muddle Earth's friendly ogre is a bit thick but huggable as a teddy bear, and his shambling, underachieving wizard is amusingly inept. The first book in a new series, this is a delicious story for young fans of fantasy. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
