What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Old 70s fantasy book involving "hobbit-like" characters who go on journey. Can't remember much only that it was filled with wonderful pencil illustrations.

The Gammage Cup, or its sequel, The Whisper of Glocken?

Thank you! I've never heard of these books you've mentioned, but I'm interested in reading them. All I remember about the book i'm searching for is that it was an epic journey with hobbit-like people called, tobbits, or tobbins, or bobbets, or something so similar to JRRT it was kind of laughable. But the illustrations were many, and throughout the whole book, that were lightly sketched delicate pencil drawings. I've been searching all day. But thank you!

Was your book for kids, teens, or adults?

Did you read it back in the '70s?

I believe it was for every age. Like a PG13 kind of deal. Did I read it back in the 70s? oh no. lol... way after that. I really liked Tolkien, and that genre; Sword of Shannara, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, etc., and just loved the illustrations. I literally looked through the net for hours today but couldn't find any trace. meh. It's cool. Thanks!

Could it have been '80s or '90s, or did it definitely seem like it was from the '70s?

I'm sure we can track it down. There are lots of dedicated searchers here.

could have been. I actually went to wikipedia and went through the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s fantasy... I looked through this site thoroughly... or as much as possible. Googled, duckduckgo'd, and amazon'd it too. It was definitely inspired by Tolkien; little hobbit-like creatures going on a quest. I really only remember the illustrations being in pencil, that were very well drawn. But if you or anyone could find it... I'd know it on sight. The ol', "I don't remember what it is, but I know what it's not."

Was it hardback/paperback? Did it have lots of illustrations like a picture book, or just a page now and then throughout the book? Long novel or less than 200 pages? Were the illustrations in b/w or in color?

Can I guess The Rover by Mel Odom?

I got the idea from here:
https://www.listchallenges.com/the-mo...

No wait - I found this:

The Bobbins - Outcast to the Inner Earth

Though this is too recent? Maybe? https://www.utdailybeacon.com/city_ne...

There's a Goodreads list worth checking, too:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...

This thread (external) also lists most of what is above:
https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threa...

Sorry, I realise that I'm flooding this thread, but...

Greg Hildebrandt

The Brothers Hildebrandt did the artwork for both Tolkien's stuff and the (arguably horribly derivative) Sword of Shannara series. But not only those... if the artwork is of this calibre, you might consider searching through their publications.

(Tom Hildebrandt is the other brother's name)

And I am assuming that we can rule out ElfQuest comics, umm, graphic novels, right? ;)

thank you Cpn. The Rover... nope. But the Bobbins sounded really close. ug... but no. Close though. I love the brothers hildebrandt. I have their betty ballentine books.

The artwork throughout this particular book is in pencil. Very light pencil sketches. That's actually what I'm searching for. The book was in hardback and soft. about the same size as the hobbit.

Thank you, Bonnie. Thank you Capn. Thank you, Genesistrine. Thank you, Rainbow Heart.

We'll keep looking along with you!

So it's a novel, not like one of (several) The Hobbit graphic novels, right? Just to be clear - a novel, in both hardcover and paperback, interspersed with black & white illustrations, correct?

(And is Urshurak excluded already? Just making sure!)

Yes, a novel, not a graphic novel; a hardback and paperback. Yes, black and white illustrations in pencil, (not paintings like the Hildebrandt brothers). 1970s or 1980s.

However, now I want to read Urshurak. Looks really cool. Thanks Capn. It's just another lost novel from my youth. Sucks. Thanks for trying.

... and not Bored of the Rings, I take it? :)

Streams of Silver? (I can't believe this!!!! Shocking!):

"Yer eyes'll shine when ye see the rivers runnin' silver in Mithril Hall!"

Bruenor the dwarf, Wulfgar the barbarian, Regis the halfling, and Drizzt the dark elf fight monsters and magic on their way to Mithril Hall, centuries-old birthplace of Bruenor and his dwarven ancestors.

Faced with racism, Drizzt contemplates returning to the lightless underworld city and murderous lifestyle he abandoned. Wulfgar begins to overcome his tribes's aversion for magic. And Regis runs from a deadly assassin, who, allied with evil wizards, is bent on the companions' destruction. all fo Bruenor's dreams, and the survival of his party, hinge upon the actions of one brave young woman.

Streams of Silver is R.A. Salvatore's second book in the Icewind Dale Trilogy, based on the FORGOTTEN REALMS fantasy setting.

It's not Salvatore. :( Thanks anyway, Capn.

Patrick, I added some details to the header/ topic title. Feel free to edit it.

Kris wrote: "Patrick, I added some details to the header/ topic title. Feel free to edit it." Thanks, Kris! I'm kind of resolved to the fact that it may not be found. But i love this website, and the people are really cool. I'm glad I've gotten to know some of you.

Hang in there, Patrick! This will soon be found, I feel confident of this! The real subject experts have yet to stumble upon this post. ;)

Make sure you have the "notify me of new messages" option selected, and keep the faith!

THank you, Capn. I really appreciate the effort, even though I don't really have very clear details.

Hey, I found this old thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Gotrek & Felix from the Warhammer Fantasy was also listed.

It turned out to be a lesser-known Dennis McKiernan book, but the OP didn't specify which.

I also got a few possibilities from a reddit thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comm...

Try:
Orconomics and the Dark Profit saga;

Dragons of Autumn Twilight, the Dragonlance series by Margaret Weis;

Sword of Destiny: One of the short stories in the collection Sword of Destiny (Eternal Flame) focuses almost entirely on a halfling named Dudu Biberveldt, and it's honestly one of the most hilarious stories I've ever read. I kid you not, I think it's the only written work that's ever made me laugh as much as Pratchett. The rest of the book is worth reading as well, but that's the only mention of halflings I remember.
One other halfling, Milo "Rusty" Vanderbeck, shows up in the last book as a minor character. And he's one of Sapkowski's finest. But I wouldn't recommend going through the whole series just to reach one great minor character. Sword of Destiny can stand alone. ;

Song of the Saurials and the Finder's Stone Trilogy (Kate Novak);

Hero in a Halfling in the Epik Fantasy series;

Small Medium: Big Trouble by Andrew Seiple (also a series)


Any hits?

And...

Swordmage, the Blades of the Moonsea series by Richard Baker

Orconomics is awesome but doesn't have any illustrations at all.

I have A suggestion - The Little Grey Men by BB, it was first published in 1942 but has been reissued quite a few times. it has very nice illustrations by the author. Details below taken from Goodreads.
The last four gnomes in Britain live by a Warwickshire brook. But when one of them decides to go and explore and doesn't return, it's up to the remaining three to build a boat and set out to find him. This is the story of the gnomes' epic journey in search of Cloudberry and is set against the background of the English countryside, beginning in spring, continuing through summer, and concluding in autumn, when the first frosts are starting to arrive.

The Little Grey Men for Heather's suggestion.

Rainbowheart wrote: "The Little Grey Men for Heather's suggestion."

This one does have illustrations, you can check some of them on Amazon (Look inside in the kindle edition): https://www.amazon.com/Little-Grey-Me...

The Sword of Shannara? Or Tolkien himself was inspired by The Marvellous Land of Snergs.

Take a look at Greyfax Grimwald. It's illustrated, and part of a series (book 1). Published 1982.

The Secret World of Og by Pierre Breton?

The Secret World of Og for Taffeta's suggestion.

Could it be The Book of Three or another in the series? The edition I read had a couple of drawings and I remember a quest involving dwarves