Magic Kingdom of Landover: Kobolds are a type of fairy resembling large-eared monkeys with mouths full of sharp teeth.This makes them one of the few sources of information on how the Long Earth is doing in relation to the other alien species.
Neither as xenophobic as elves or as welcoming as trolls, kobolds are still regarded as dangerous, but have learned human languages and are willing to trade with other species. The Long Earth: Kobolds are introduced as a subspecies of elves in the second book.They're intelligent enough to speak in broken sentences, but feature as minor monsters that are often forced to take part in the arena shows that modern adventuring bands take part in. Kings of the Wyld: Kobolds are described as short creatures that look like bipedal rats.They live underground, particularly within the Cyrene Mines, and are skilled metalworkers, although not to the level that dwarves and gnomes are. Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash: Kobolds are Wolf Men about the size of humans.There's a bit of a fashion among elven ladies for "purse kobolds", and it's considered a cushy job for NPCs (Non-Combatant Paper Carriers). The Dark Profit Saga has dog-like kobolds as a sub-clan of gnolls.The goblins themselves are very elf-like - tall, skinny, aristocratic and vegan - but their stereotypical appearance comes from people thinking that their more common kobold flunkies are the goblins themselves. Crowthistle Chronicles: Kobolds, so-called because they're some form of construct made of cobalt, are the diminutive, aggressive and stupid servants of the goblins.In the present day, he appears as a kindly old man who brings good fortune to his town but secretly sacrifices a town child to himself every year to maintain his power. American Gods: Hinzelmann is a kobold who was "born" when an ancient Germanic tribe ritually sacrificed a young child to create a minor god.They're often prolific miners, and may be depicted as skilled engineers and crafters. Due to their origins as mine-spirits, modern fantasy kobolds are almost always depicted as living underground, either in caves or in complex tunnel systems they dig themselves. From there they spread to Japanese media, where they are more commonly depicted as canine creatures. In Anglophone media, kobolds remained relatively obscure until they showed up in Dungeons & Dragons, at which point they entered the ranks of uncommon Fantasy races. In this meaning, which is still prevalent in German-speaking areas, "kobold" is used as a catch-all term for humanoid fairy beings in European folklore, and in some European languages the term is still used as translation for "goblin", "gnome", "leprechaun", and similar things. They were a fairly diverse lot, and ranged in personality from helpful household spirits to cruel tricksters. Kobolds originate in Germanic folklore, where they were goblin-like spirits alternatively believed to live in mines, in households or aboard ships.