This is a charming allegory about the power of goodness and an exciting adventure story for children. It is set in a world we have all forgotten about, in which goblins are completely believable. John is a miner's son and loves his mountain home. He meets the good Benelda elves who live on his mountain when he hears them crying because the wicked Green Maligna goblins have stolen their 'Shining Heart', the source of all good magic. He agrees to undertake the journey they cannot and travel through an enchanted doorway to the land of the Dark Mountain to rescue and bring back the Shining Heart. The elves give him a magic sword and arm him with a talisman to ward off deception, and a golden ring bearing a riddle (these eventually enable him to find his way into the Dark Mountain). He will have to kill the terrible 'Old Grooler', the dragon that guards the mountain.