What’s it about?
Welcome to the world of Thursday Next, where classic literature is enjoyed by the masses, a Will Speak (Shakespeare) machine is on every street corner, and forgery of original works is big business. Plus, the Crimean War is still raging, videos are still done on tape and a computer takes up a whole room, but book worms can create whole new worlds and people can literally stop time.
Complete with a whole new take on the origin of the banana and it’s own version of Blade this world might sound crazy but you quickly accept each new twist on reality because none of it phases the leading character Thursday, who herself is just a little busy trying to solve the mystery of who stole Dickens’ last manuscript ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’, whilst also saving her Aunt and Uncle, finding Acheron Hades, saving characters stolen from original manuscripts; and let’s not forget a little thing like finding a husband too.
Highs n lows
This was my first introduction to Fforde’s extraordinarily clever other dimension. The first of a series of four books about LiteraTec Thursday Next, the last of which came out in 2006, I’m not surprised this has such a huge following.
Fforde obviously enjoys his craft and has a great sense of humour which is woven easily throughout this beautifully written sci fi best-seller, which is strewn with gloriously vivid but efficient character descriptions, and demonstrates a keen sense of pace to match the slightly complicated plot.
Endlessly inventive, engaging, funny, and if you know your classic English literature you’ll probably get even more laughs out of this one. For more suitable ridiculousness, as well as background on the characters and the author visit www.thursdaynext.com
Is it any good?
4 out of 5. Scarily imaginative, and thoroughly enjoyable.
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