Borgel

Plot summary

The story is narrated as the recollections of protagonist 'Melvin Spellbound', to whose family the agéd eccentric 'Borgel' attaches himself, claiming to be related to the family, by connections unknown even to himself. The inciting action occurs when Borgel, Melvin, and the dog 'Fafner' leave the family's residence in a car belonging to Borgel, whereafter the travel along the highway becomes time travel through multiple alternate realities.

Travelling along the Interstate Highway connecting the various realities, Borgel is separated from the others by a mischievous teleportation (called a 'bilbok'), and Melvin and Fafner stranded at a roadside root beer stand. Having waited for him, Melvin and Fafner take control of his car, and recover Borgel en route. Thereafter the three rest at a public campsite, where they acquire a new companion in 'Pak Nfbnm*', alias 'Freddie': a self-professed expert on popsicles, in search of an immortal 'Great Popsicle' whose existence maintains the integrity of the Universe. Pursuing that search, they receive directions from a computer made in the image of the Popsicle, to the anthropomorphic gorilla 'Glugo', who conveys them to an island on the River Styx. There, and elsewhere, Freddie is identified as a 'Grivnizoid': a shape-changing, cephalopod-like predator, desirous of achieving insurmountable power. Upon encountering the Popsicle, Borgel and Melvin are inspired by serenity; but Freddie, instead, consumes the Popsicle, and assumes its identity and rôle as a result. Thereafter the others return home.

Controversy

A New York Times article, "When Pineapple Races Hare, Students Lose, Critics of Standardized Tests Say", landed Pinkwater in the center of an uproar over an altered version of Borgel. A tampered passage from Borgel has appeared in standardized tests for middle-school students since 2007. The test version has caused confusion and anger among young fans. Some have gone as far as accusing Pinkwater of being a "sellout."

Availability

This book is out of print in its original form. However it is still in print as a part of 4 Fantastic Novels (ISBN 978-0689834882), a compilation of four popular Daniel Pinkwater books: Borgel; Yobgorgle: Mystery Monster of Lake Ontario; The Worms of Kukumlima; and The Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror.