The gnome's gneiss

"The Gnome's Gneiss" by Kendell Foster Crossen is a lighthearted fantasy story placed in a post-World War II setting, mixing old myths with funny moments, and it looks at the ideas of trust and getting along in a world where magical creatures live alongside people. The story follows Kevan MacGreene, who starts working for Troubleshooters, Inc., a strange company that fixes problems between humans and magical beings, after he's turned down by the army. Kevan's first job takes him to the land of the Little People, where a grumpy gnome named Alviss is angry because his artwork, a rock called gneiss that's important to him, was destroyed. Alviss wants Thor's daughter, Thrud, to pay him back, or else trouble will break loose that could harm both worlds. Kevan deals with gods like Loki and tries to solve the problem, bringing peace back to the realm and discovering some surprising things about his own life, leading to both riches and possibly love.