The story in one page
A king receives a mandate from a monk to retrieve a corpse hanging in a haunted tree. The body contains a goblin who narrates twenty-two riddles during the transit, each centering on a legalistic or moral deadlock regarding fate, devotion, or identity. When the king resolves the puzzle, the goblin returns the corpse to its branch, forcing the king to restart his task. Beyond the mechanics of the journey, the king negotiates complex demands from fairies, giants, and deities. He eventually uncovers the monk's scheme to seize power, stops him, and earns the favor of Shiva. The goblin’s stories, preserved by imperial decree, persist as a cycle of puzzles concerning human, supernatural, and divine conduct.
Who's who
- The King
A ruler bound by his word to transport a goblin.
- The Goblin
A storyteller who inhabits a corpse and poses fatal riddles.
- The Monk
A deceptive practitioner seeking supernatural power through the king's labor.
- Shiva
The god who rewards the king's persistence with an invincible sword.
- Moonlight
A fairy princess who disappears on set days each month.
What it's really about
- Dharma
- The king's unwavering commitment to his difficult and repetitive task.
- Intellectual Pride
- The compulsion to answer a riddle even when silence is safer.
- Identity
- Stories exploring whether the head or body defines a person.
Why it's memorable
- A woman waking up to find her husband's head on her brother's body and vice versa.
- A giant swallowing a fairy princess whole while a hidden king watches in horror.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
After the final story, the goblin reveals the monk’s plan to sacrifice the king. The king kills the monk instead, receives an invincible sword from Shiva, and is promised the throne of the fairies.
For your book club
- The goblin's riddles serve as a trial of both physical endurance and judicial wisdom.
- The repetitive structure mirrors the cycle of karma and the necessity of persistent action.
If you liked this
