Summary

The novel opens in the modern day, in an unnamed village in the English countryside. Just outside the village, a mythical being named Dead Papa Toothwort awakes and rises from the ground. He is made of plants and earth. Toothwort enjoys listening to the words of the people living in the village. From a distance, he hears fragments of conversations coming from people all over the village. His favorite sound is the voice of a young boy in the village named Lanny. Right now, he hears Lanny talking about an imaginary animal he has made up. Toothwort feels the desire to keep Lanny for himself. The narrative then shifts focus to Lanny’s parents: Robert Lloyd and Jolie Lloyd. Jolie finds Lanny delightful and creative, while Robert finds Lanny somewhat strange and incomprehensible. Jolie used to be an actress, and Robert commutes to an...