Books like 4: Fantastic Novels

This book is what inspired me to think of negative zero- lets just get that out of the way. Daniel Pinkwater is an incredible author with the ability to create ideas for stories that could never be thought of by anyone but himself. There are four novels in this rather large collection, however this project only requires the review for one novel. I have read three out of four (that I can remember) and my personal favorite is Borgel, the first. Borgel is a story about a boy who lives in an apartment, living a rather average life. One day he is greeted at his door by an old man named Borgel who claims to be a distant relative. He is very secretive; Borgel, that is. He only lets people come in his room by invitation. One day the main character recieves an invitation to the room and is told by Borgel that he is setting sail. The main character (who's name isn't mentioned due to the first person writing style) decides to go along with him. they go on adventure in a car that travels through time, space, and the other, which can only be explained by a map of New Jersey and a bagel. Borgel eventually tells the main character that they are on a quest to find the giant popsicle- one unlike any other. So one night while resting in a trailer park hotel, they meet another popsicle afficianado who is en route to find the same thing. They find a clue as to where it is, but it appears to be a hoax at first, but ends up being very helpful in the next step of the project by giving them directions to a gorilla who can go to the island in which the popsicle is located. They have to travel through a two dimentional area and Hell (which is apparently just filled with used car lots. When they get to the island they start thinking that their friend is a monster in disguise. He is. before they can do anything he consumes the magic popsicle (which they found frolicking through a field) and is turned into a popsicle that is just as majestic as the last. Which is apparently very much so. Borgel is well written and very humerus. It takes turns you never thought possible, and suprises you with every new twist of plot. Every chapter leaves you hungry for more, and stretches the imagination to the nth degree. It is an awesome book and I would recommend it to every person I know. I think I will.