C.S.: I think the evil element makes the story. One reader said that he enjoyed it "better than Harry Knitter." A couple of readers have declared fantasy is not their thing, but they deemed the writing was advantageous.
Other books like this that come to mind are Michael Ende's Never-Ending Story. http://aquafarmdatasolutions.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=Www.Cmpedu.CO.Kr%2Fbbs%2Fboard.php%3Fbo_table%3Dfree%26wr_id%3D605490