I wasn’t expecting a nihilistic existentialist philosophical treatise when I decided to finally read Grendel, a book I’ve owned since about 2008, but that’s what I got. In Gardner’s telling, Grendel is a self-aware, cynical, and lonely creature who is just trying to figure out the meaning of it all and his place in it—while also tearing apart some Danes. He’s also funny, and some of his repartee reminded me of the Grinch; to wit: “Ridiculous!” I hissed in the black of the forest. I snatched up a snake from beside my foot and whispered to it, “I knew him when!” and also: “He glanced at me, suspicious. “You’re not paying attention.” “I am!” I said, clasping my hands to show my seriousness.” I would have liked more of that and less of the philosophizing.