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Tom Holt is one of my favorite authors. He writes really silly fantasy. And his books are mostly out of print. For this one, it may help if you know something about Wagner's Ring des Niebelungen (four operas based upon the ancient Norse Nibelungenlied). Here goes a very short rundown:
Das Rheingold: The Rhinemaidens protect the Rhinegold, at the bottom of the Rhine. Alberic the dwarf steals the Rhinegold, and makes a magical ring, which will enable its owner to rule the world. The giants Fafner and Fasolt have built the castle Valhalla for Wotan, king of the gods. In payment, they demand Freia, daughter of Wotan and Fricka (his wife). Wotan steals Alberic's ring (and his treasure, including the Tarnhelm which allows its wearer to change shape or become invisible), and Alberic puts a curse upon it. Wotan reluctantly trades the ring to the giants in exchange for the return of Freia. Fafner kills Fasolt.
Die Walkure: Siegmund, pursued by Hunding, takes refuge in the house of Hunding and Sieglinde. He and Sieglinde fall in love, not knowing that they are brother and sister. Siegmund's father (Wotan) has left a sword (Nothung) stuck in the tree in the middle of Hunding's house. No one can remove it, except its rightful owner; Siegmund takes the sword. Siegmund and Sieglinde flee from Hunding. On a mountain, Wotan has refused to let the Valkyries (his daughters) save Siegmund and Sieglinde from Hunding, because jealous Fricka insists. Brunhilde, leader of the Valkyries, saves Sieglinde nonetheless. Sieglinde is pregnant with Siegmund's child. Wotan breaks Siegmund's sword, and punishes Brunhilde by putting her to sleep and surrounding her with fire.
Siegfried: Mime (Alberic's brother) has been caring for Sieglinde's child Siegfried. He plans to use the boy to get the ring from Fafner, who has turned himself into a dragon. Siegfried needs a weapon, but no sword is strong enough, and Mime cannot fix the broken sword of Siegmund. Siegfried forges the sword anew and slays the dragon and takes the ring. Siegfried kills Mime before Mime can kill him. He then goes and rescues Brunhilde from the ring of fire, and they fall in love.
Gotterdammerung: Hagen (son of Alberich) tricks Siegfried into forgetting Brunhilde and marrying Gutrune (half-sister of Hagen). Brunhilde helps Hagen kill Siegfried. Brunhilde takes the ring and throws herself onto Siegfried's funeral pyre. The fire spreads to the heavens and burns down Valhalla, destroying the gods. The Rhine floods its banks, and the Rhinemaidens reclaim the ring.
Expecting Someone Taller begins in present day Britain. Young Malcolm Fisher, driving through the woods, runs over a badger. The badger is a giant in disguise, who says that he was expecting someone taller. The badger hands over the ring, the Tarnhelm, and the sword Nothung, and dies. This transaction wakes up Wotan, the Valkyries, and the Rhinemaidens. The struggle for ownership of the ring begins anew. And of course, there is the curse.
The story is great fun. And I think it is enhanced by knowledge of Wagner's operas.
To order this book, click Amazon.com (goes directly to this book).