[Phil] - Does the fictional aspect account for the "abstract" part of the clue? YES A whispering murmur from the audience

[Irouléguy] Is the fictional aspect from a novel? YES several members of the audience about to go to the bar for a shandy return to their seats

[Quendalon] - Was the novel written more recently than 1900? YES
[Projoy] - Written since 1950? YES
[ImNotJohn] - Written by a British writer?NO
[Chalky] - Are the vegetable and mineral bits mentioned in the title - or are they the paper and ink part of the novel?
NO and YES to in the title and paper as the vegetable YES (had not considered the ink when setting the clue but yes it is printed with ink but was not part of the clue)

[Inkspot] Just to clarify: the VEGETABLE component is the paper, and the MINERAL component is part of the title?

[Quendalon] Written since 1980? Yes and NO wry smiles litter the audience

clarification:VEGETABLE component is the paper, and the MINERAL component is part of the title? YES

[Chalky] Is this a series of stories? YES loud applause from the audience

Just managed to track down the one-volume compendium - well pleased.

[Irouléguy]Spider Robinson's 'Callahan's bar' stories?NO an exited Oooooooooooh from the audience

[Raak]Is the mineral stone? NO

[Chalky]Is the mineral metal? YES cheers from the audience

Fits the 1980 thing better.

[Kim] Is the mineral gold?No
[Raak] Lord of the Rings?No
[Raak ] The Book of Lost Tales?No
the audience sit back back into their seats

[Raak] Is it science fiction/fantasy?YES the bell rings in the bar the audience quickly pile back into their seats

[Quendalon]Is the fictional human that forms the "animal" component also part of the title? YES some argy-bargy in the audience as some laughing pedants are calling out NO

[Projoy] Just one human? YES the audience rise from their slumber

[Quendalon] Is it a trilogy? NO

Inspired by the answer to Quendalon's penultimate question.

[Raak] Has it been made into a film?NO

Irouléguy raucous cheers and foot stomping from the audience YES It is the Stainless Steel Rat from the series written by Harry Harrison. Over to you.

---

A series I've always meant to look at, and never got round to. Good game, good game! Our next is ABSTRACT, with ANIMAL connections.