Golem in the Gears by Piers Anthony

In the fantasy land of Xanth, a small living golem named Grundy embarks on a quest to rescue a lost baby dragon named Stanley Steamer. Accompanied by various companions, including the Monster Under the Bed, Grundy travels across a magical landscape filled with obstacles like an acid-filled moat and a riddle-telling computer. Along the way, he encounters a beautiful young woman named Rapunzel and discovers that she is being manipulated by the soul-stealing Sea Hag. The group eventually faces the Hag's influence among the elves and is thrust into the subterranean realm of the Demon X(A/N)th. To survive, Grundy must prove his intellect by solving a mathematical prisoner's dilemma, demonstrating that cooperation is more effective than selfishness. Ultimately, the narrative follows Grundy’s evolution from an insecure creature to a clever hero who protects his friends from magical peril.