A book about a magical world of enchantment and possibilities? A book in which a little boy is summoned to become a great warrior hero? A book by the creators of our beloved "Far Flung Adventures" trilogy? Sounds great, right?First, imagine how much humor value could be packed into a simple phrase. Depends on the phrase... "Where's the beef?" ... "Here's your sign" ... "Serenity Now!" In Muddle Earth, the phrase is "Shut up, Veronica!" It is repeated on 15% of the pages of book one. This phrase becomes a symbol of the tedium and predictability of this series.There are some references to Tolkein's Middle Earth: Randalf, the wizard; Mount Boom; Elfwood with anthropomorphic trees; the Lord of the Spoons. None of this can overcome the drab plot.This book is NOT destined to become a childhood favorite.