# Fantasy novel title

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-novel-title/719045>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 1, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-novel-title/719045 "2015-05-01T21:28:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-novel-title/719045/1 "2015-05-01T21:28:43Z")

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I cannot recall the title of a book I read about 1970. There were elves, not Tolkien elves, but ugly, brutish monstrous elves more likely to be encountered by Conan than Frodo. Set in a 1960s city with heavy drug culture. A network of tunnels connected basements of buildings and led to a huge underground complex of tunnels inhabited by these elves. An hallucinogenic fungus provided food. A guy enters the tunnels to rescue a girl. There is some prophecy by starring at tea leaves.

Can anyone help me out?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-novel-title/719045/2 "2015-05-01T21:48:00Z")

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Printed later but…

> **[Amazon.com: Stalking the Unicorn: 9781522689591: Mike Resnick, Peter Ganim:...](https://www.amazon.com/Stalking-Unicorn-Tonight-Mike-Resnick/dp/1522689591)**
>
> Amazon.com: Stalking the Unicorn: 9781522689591: Mike Resnick, Peter Ganim: Books

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-novel-title/719045/3 "2015-05-02T02:21:32Z")

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> [@E-DUB](#):
>
> Printed later but…
> 
> [Stalking the Unicorn: A John Justin Mallory Mystery: Resnick, Mike: 9781591026488: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Mike-Resnick-Stalking-Unicorn-Paperback/dp/B00SCV8TDY/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430516830&sr=1-2&keywords=stalking+the+unicorn)

This helps me…how?  
🙂

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**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-novel-title/719045/4 "2015-05-02T11:30:10Z")

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Could the elves be giant alien blue lobsters instead?  
If so, it could perhaps be [The Butterfly Kid](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1137558.The_Butterfly_Kid) by **Chester Anderson**.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-novel-title/719045/5 "2015-05-02T14:44:32Z")

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No lobsters, thanks.  
🙂