"Freddy's Book," John Gardner's eighth novel, begins as a conventional horror story, with the familiar Gothic appurtenances. At a party in Madison, Wis., given to celebrate his lecture on "The Psycho-politics of the Late Welsh Fairy Tale," the narrator, a Professor Winesap, meets a "doll-like" "Scandinavianist" named Sven Agaard, who announces suddenly, "I have a son who's a monster." The following day, Winesap accepts an invitation to visit Agaard's home on the outskirts of town. (p. 197)

Agaard invites Winesap to … meet Freddy, the monstrous son, who, Agaard now explains, is a "fan" of Winesap's. Freddy turns out to be an 8-foot-tall genius of sorts, sickly and overweight, who spends his days sequestered in his room, reading voraciously and writing a book. Winesap offers to read the book. (p. 198)

The remainder of Mr. Gardner's novel is Freddy's book, called "King Gustav & the Devil." Despite its anachronistic style—"Play your...