The Disappearing Dwarf

infobox Book |
name = The Disappearing Dwarf
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Fourth edition cover
author = James Blaylock
illustrator =
cover_artist = Darrell K. Sweet
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Ballantine
pub_date = February 1983
english_pub_date =
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 275
isbn = 0-345-33089-7
preceded_by = The Elfin Ship
followed_by = The Stone Giant

"The Disappearing Dwarf" (1983) is James Blaylock’s second published book, and the second of the trilogy that started with "The Elfin Ship". The characters are mostly drawn from the first book, while the plot revolves around another encounter with the villain Selznak. The tone is more serious, for example, the comic character Dooly now has a minor role. As before, the world has magic well as pseudo-science, and scientific explanation depends on tongue-in-cheek scientific concepts.

Plot summary

The story starts with a river trip through the territory of the previous book, this time the voyage being organized by the Professor as a vacation. Following adventures in what was formerly Selznak's stronghold, cheesemaker Jonathan Bing and the Professor learn that their dwarf friend, the Squire, has mysteriously disappeared to a land called "Balumnia".

The scene shifts to "Balumnia", and to travel down a river far vaster than that of the previous story. The heroes' hunt for riches meets with mixed success. The dark presence of Selznak and an omnipresent, sinister witch is mitigated by light encounters with a curiously inept stage magician, and an extraordinarily extended panegyric to the virtues of coffee. It is discovered that Selznak's stronghold actually exists in part both in the heroes' home world, as well as in "Balumnia". Aided by Dooly's infamous grandfather and the vengeful wizard Zippo, Selznak is once more confronted. The Squire, as usual concerned with little but eating, cheerfully contributes to his own rescue. The story concludes with a voyage home in Dooly's grandfather's submarine.