Jasper Fforde’s new novel, The Early Riser ,is out now; see review
Fans of Jasper Fforde will cheer as his latest book is released this month. However, it will disappoint those who have been waiting (since 2009) for the continuation of the Shades of Grey series (no, not that one), those who have been waiting for the new Thursday Next instalment (since 2012) and those who have probably given up hope of a new Nursery Crimes (2006).
Then there are (presumably) young fans of The Dragonslayer (last seen in 2014).
Hot off the press — or chillingly off it — is a standalone novel, Early Riser. Among the familiar Ffordeisms are footnotes and introductory “quotes” from books to open each chapter.
In Early Riser, we find a wintery Wales (Fforde’s home) and a society with a Walking Dead tinge, where 99.9 per cent of the human population go into hibernation every winter, having first bulked up — as every calorie is sacred in the preparation for slumberdown.
Main character Charlie Worthing (known as Wonky) takes on a job as novice to celebrated Winter Consul Jack Logan, part of the elite group who protect the population for their annual five-month sleep.
Those who remain awake must be armed (with “Thumpers” and ”Bambis”) for there are Nightwalkers (zombies, often tricksy), dangerous Villains, the fear of Wintervolk and viral dreams to contend with. Oh, and the mysterious Gronk. Then, there are the characters themselves, whom one can never trust to be as they seem.
Dreams are not seen as conducive to good health — or survival — as they use up precious energy. Hence the value of a drug called Morphenox, which removes the ability to dream, though not without risk.
Charlie discovers that dreams are not only viral, they canbefatal.
I found the writing style Ffamiliarly Ffordish but, with so much detail and information to take in while sorting out the setting and characters, it was initially a slow read. Once hooked, it became compulsive — best achieved in front of a fire or in bed.
As usual with Fforde there’s a fun element of spot-thepop-culture references — Tom Jones and Rick Astley appear — and a passing knowledge of Rodgers and Hammerstein lyrics wouldn’t go amiss.
Early Riser will keep you guessing to the very end.