The Little Green Goblin

In Short

This whimsical fantasy follows ten-year-old Bob Taylor, a disgruntled student who accepts an invitation from a goblin named Fitz Mee to flee his home in a makeshift balloon. Their journey takes them through storms, across deserts, and eventually into the surreal, industrial depths of Goblinland. As Bob navigates a world where he is magically forced to do exactly as he pleases, he confronts the harsh realities of autonomy and the unexpected value of the structure he once despised. It remains a charming, period-specific curiosity about the restlessness of childhood.

The Story

The narrative opens in the bedroom of Bob Taylor, a boy who feels like a "galley slave" to his schoolwork and home chores. His misery is interrupted by the arrival of Fitz Mee, a green goblin who maneuvers a balloon constructed from a discarded feather bed and a clothes basket. Intrigued by the promise of adventure and an escape from his "dreary drudgery," Bob agrees to join the sprite.

Their flight is immediately chaotic. They survive a violent storm that separates them briefly, and they cross vast distances, including a perilous encounter with a lion and later a group of Arabs. Bob’s ability to manipulate his size using "giant-tabs" from the goblin’s supply of magical pills allows him to act as a protector, though his use of these powers often leads to more trouble than it solves. As they close in on their destination, the tension shifts from physical survival to the psychological weight of their mission. Fitz reveals that he is under a death sentence from the Mayor of Goblinland: if he does not deliver Bob to the city by the following morning, he will be executed.

Upon arriving in Goblinland, Bob expects a paradise where he can do whatever he wants, but he finds the reality suffocating. He is forced to tour hot, dangerous factories and consume unpleasant dietary pills, all under the guise of "freedom." The absurdity of a place where one is compelled to do as one pleases begins to grate on the boy. When Bob attempts to leave with pockets full of gold, the city’s authorities turn a dynamite gun on their balloon. The craft is destroyed, and they plummet toward the earth. The fall is violent, and the narrative abruptly shifts: Bob wakes up on his bedroom floor, tangled in his bedcovers, with his father standing in the doorway laughing at him. The entire journey, it seems, was a vivid, restless dream born from a schoolboy's frustration.

How It Unfolds

The midnight departure Bob encounters the goblin at his window and, after debating the physics of feather-bed flight, decides to leave his mundane life behind. He shrinks himself to fit the small car and they ascend into the night.

A turbulent crossing The balloon encounters a severe storm that nearly kills both travelers, leading to a series of frantic repairs and a dangerous forced landing in the desert. Bob uses magical tablets to become a giant to intimidate pursuers, narrowly keeping the mission alive.

The race for the capital Fitz reveals the threat to his own life, forcing a reluctant Bob to continue toward Goblinland to save his companion. They traverse foreign lands while bickering over navigation and the ethics of their journey.

The disillusionment of freedom Inside the city, Bob discovers that the "freedom" of Goblinland is governed by rigid, exhausting customs. He realizes that having no external authority is actually a trap that leaves him longing for the stability of home.

The final crash After a failed attempt to steal treasure, the pair is targeted by the city's defenses. The balloon is destroyed, and the resulting plunge back to reality concludes the adventure as Bob wakes up in his own home.

The People

Bob Taylor begins the story as a sullen, "disgruntled" ten-year-old who views his life as a failure because of the constraints placed upon him by school and parents. Through his travels, he retains his impulsive nature but gradually matures as he realizes that total freedom is actually a form of captivity.

Fitz Mee is a "little green sprite" who serves as both guide and catalyst for Bob’s growth. He is portrayed as a mischievous, often cackling figure who values his own safety—at one point threatening to sacrifice Bob to save himself—but he eventually becomes a genuine, if begrudging, companion. His constant teasing forces Bob to define his own character. Together, their dynamic is defined by bickering and mutual dependency. They end their journey as a pair of exhausted comrades who have learned that their differences in temperament are necessary for their survival.

In Its Own Voice

“Still he was a galley slave in the gilded barge of modern education; and open and desperate rebellion was in his heart.”

Bob describes his intense internal struggle against the rigid expectations of his school and home life.

“You’ll just love and worship us when you learn all about us!”

Fitz Mee promises a better life, though the goblin’s tone suggests that the reality of Goblinland might be more complex than Bob expects.

“I’ve learned something, I—I guess, Fitz.”

Bob admits to the goblin near the end of their stay that his desire for total freedom has been tempered by his experiences.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the irony of autonomy. By creating a world where a boy is literally forced to do what he pleases, the narrative argues that children often confuse "freedom" with a lack of guidance. The book explores the tension between the fantasy of independence and the reality of responsibility. It suggests that the constraints of school and home are not just burdens, but necessary frameworks that provide a sense of place and belonging. The "goblin" world serves as a distorted mirror, showing Bob that a life without rules is not a paradise, but a chaotic environment that lacks true purpose and human connection.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy turn-of-the-century juvenile fantasies will find this book an interesting look at early twentieth-century attitudes toward child-rearing and education. The writing is brisk and often humorous, leaning heavily into a "boy-adventure" tone that prioritizes rapid-fire incident over deep world-building. Modern readers should be prepared for the period-specific dialect and the somewhat frantic, often abrasive dialogue between the two protagonists. The pacing is relentless, reflecting the chaotic, dream-like quality of the story.

It is worth reading if you appreciate stories that examine the "grass is greener" syndrome through a fantastical lens. The book’s abrupt, "it was all a dream" ending may feel jarring to some, but it serves to underscore the theme that the protagonist’s problems were rooted in his own perspective rather than his environment. While the vocabulary and the references to "wireless" phones feel quaint, the core frustration of a young person feeling trapped by expectations remains timeless. It is a brief, spirited, and slightly odd piece of history that captures a very specific moment in the evolution of American children's literature.