Blart: The Boy Who Didn't Want to Save the World
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
Blart is a 14-year-old illiterate pig farmer who suddenly discovers from the most powerful wizard in the world, Capablanca, that he is the only boy who can save the world from the second coming of the evil lord Zorab, currently vanquished to the underworld after betraying creation.
Blart knows about nothing other than pigs but his grandfather sells him out for gold and Capablanca sets off with Blart to the Great Tunnel of Doom to save the world.
Along the way they are joined by Beowolf, an old friend of Capablanca, Pig the flying horse (named by Blart), Princess Lois (a spoilt princess) and a dwarf.
It's shockingingly over the top and tongue-in-cheek - but deliberately so. The cast of characters is entertaining, the jokes thick and fast and some familiar fantasy settings abound. The originality of the pig-loving Blart as a reluctant hero is splendid.