What Smeagol Said About trickster

The goblins maintain a running list of things trickster is not. The list has 6,012 entries and grows weekly.

When you stare at trickster long enough, it begins to stare back. This is not a metaphor. Goblins have documented cases where observers of trickster developed shared hallucinations about it. The phenomenon is well-known in goblin psychology, where it is called 'the mutual delusion protocol.'

On Encountering shadow

Goblin sleep researchers note that shadow appears in dreams reported by their study participants at a frequency that cannot easily be explained, and which they are, for the moment, declining to explain at all.

A Goblin Aside Concerning compendium

The goblin etiquette guide, on the matter of compendium, advises hosts to 'mention it once, in passing, without lingering.' Departing guests should not be asked their thoughts on it. This is considered firm.

The Goblin Verdict on trickster

Goblin academic publishing convention requires the closing paragraph to gesture toward future work. Future work on trickster is anticipated, planned, and already, in some quarters, mildly resented. The goblins will press on regardless.