The Gnole Hardcover – December 1, 1999

I love this book. I read this years ago in my teens and loved it. While I can't remember specifics about it, something about it has stuck with me all these years.I have just ordered a copy since I now have a child that is at the right age for this book and I want to read it to her. Hopefully is sparks her imagination the same way it did mine all those years ago.

The story is a good tale to read to the grandkids, but I don't have any, so The Gnole by Steve Boyett and illustrated by Alan Aldridge will just be read by me. It is beautifully done and just looking at the artwork is worth the price. I love it.

I read it on my teens and i recently bought it used as a birthday present to my nephew. It arrived in very good condition almost like new and my nephew was so excited that he didn't stop reading it even on meals. He will post his satisfaction later too. I recommend this book to all ages and people that respect/protect nature.

I bought this book many years ago and loved it, its a nice story with a heartfelt message. I would love to see this as a film.

Gorgeously illustrated with a number of techniques throughout, "The Gnole" is one of the crowning achievements of hman literature. In this book, gnomes, sprites, and the like are real, although quite different in appearance from traditional perceptions. Also real are Gnoles - small furry bipeds with mole-like characteristics, who live hidden from the ever-encroaching human world by magical wards. But it is into the terrifying world of man that the novel's main protagonist, the Gnole named Fungle Foxwit, must venture, sent on a mission by Molom, the Father Of Trees, to secure a magical stone of devastating power called Baphomet before it falls into the hands of either humanity or the demon Theverat who also seeks it, either of which could prove fatal for the world. Aided by fellow gnole Neema Cleverbread and his loyal Gnome friend, Karbolic Earthcreep (Ka for short), as well as a host of other memorable characters, Fungle's journey into human civilization finds him undiscovered by man but, unxpectedly, becoming an instant global phenomenon beloved by the very species Gnoles are so wary of. Meanwhile Theverat, and his personal assasin Thorn, loom... There's way more to the book than this, and I've said enough already. Suffice it to conclude by saying that this is one of the most magical, hilarious, spiritual, tragic, victorious and fantastical (yet eerily believable) books ever written. I pray there's a sequel someday. Also recommended: the novel "Duncton Wood" by William Horwood (though I should point out it's pretty graphically traumatic in places; probably not for younger readers), the movies "Fairy Tale: A True Story", "Castle In The Sky" and "My Neighbor Totoro", and the video game "Ecco The Dolphin: Defender Of The Future".

Hard to grade and classify this one - as close as I can remember is Duncton Wood, although there are X-files type conspiracy and supernatural/horror elements..Fungle the Gnole is the ultimate new age environmental Dalai Lama. He's a laughing rustic who benignly cuts through pretensions. Almost (but not quite) cloying sentimentality in presenting the beatific integration with nature, various spirits of the wood, and with the simple community. Also a background something akin to the sadness of the Elves gradually giving over to the teaming nature-despoiling chaotic spread of humanity.Starts setting up a standard fantasy baddie-goodie sorcery story (although the baddie is more from the horror genre, being a demon and all - a strength of the book is its underlying pantheon), then cuts to a million pop-culture references as Fungle encounters TV personalities and evil covert Govt. departments. Some OK playing with the innocent's alternative perspective on our everyday, but it's basically pretty self-indulgent.But finally Aldridge lost me with his rough-diamond underground gangsters: we're supposed to enjoy their high spirits, but the fact that they enjoy throwing defenceless people to be torn to pieces by crocodiles as an afternoon's amusement made me unclear on the difference between them and the villain. Moreover one minute our hero can effortlessly use telepathy, astral travelling, levitation and sorcery, the next he's inexplicably running scared from any old security guard or mugger.Some original ideas, generally capably presented, an OK overall plot/world, and some likeable central characters - but the book is inconsistent thematically and qualitatively. A bit lax in bothering for coherency: characters are added fairly randomly as we go on.

Found it in a small bookship in India - one of the best books I've ever read. It really made me think about things - enchanting writing.

This book should be on the global English Literature curriculum as compulsory reading - with my only minor moan being the simple fact that Mr. Aldridge is unlikely to follow it with a sequel anywhen soon...!

The cover was a bit tatty, but the book was in excellent condition. Has better illustrations than my own copy!

Lovely book

had this book as a yound person and it got dammages so was bought to replace it .. The story is majic and the art work must be seen ...

Such an awesomely unique story. I'd recommend it to all lovers of fantasy!