Bob the Dragon Slayer by Harry Gilleland Young adult 108 pages Lulu Press May 2005 Paperback     Quirky humor makes Bob the Dragon Slayer downright funny. Author Harry Gilleland successfully combines the chivalry of knighthood with the casualness of a modern neighborhood to spark a laugh on every page. The story of Bob is narrated by the patriarch of the McClair family during a Thanksgiving reunion. It is described as a “grown up tale of adventure” - Granddad even cautions fifteen-year-old Katie to cover her ears in spots. Readers would do well to heed this warning, because this is definitely not a children’s book. Some sexual innuendoes and swear words make parts of this story inappropriate for young readers. Bob the Dragon Slayer is a legendary hero of humble beginnings. Raised in a barn, he sets off one day to kill dragons and earn some fame and fortune. A wizard named Stephen gives him some much-needed help, and soon Bob has a reputation for being fearless. As certain secrets are revealed, Bob learns that he is not really a peasant but of the royal line. What follows next is nothing short of hilarious as Simple Bob becomes Sovereign Bob, and all his loyal subjects have big smiles on their faces. This is a terrific book written with a huge dose of humor. Bob’s unique, entertaining adventures borrow some ideas from medieval history and the rest from a very active imagination; Gilleland weaves a story that is fast-paced and fun. These pages are filled with dragons, damsels in distress and even a war with an evil king. Friendship, love and honor are also explored through the actions of the characters. Readers will feel an instant empathy with Bob, probably because he is more like a next-door neighbor than a legendary hero. And that’s the beauty of this story: Bob is someone worthy of our time because he is one of us. Although he’s a bit goofy and bumbling, his heart is in the right place - and that’s what counts.     web reviews   Joyce Handzo/2005 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)