Early Riser

It’s a world as only Jasper Fforde can imagine it: a climate-change alternative history where dreams are suppressed for those who can afford it, villains are obsessed with stamps, and “coffee” is any warm liquid that is brown — it’s probably not toxic, maybe. Charlie gets a new job in Sector Twelve and has to bite off more than he can chew or be chewed by nightwalkers. Who can Charlie trust?

I didn’t love this, but I didn’t hate it either. Since I was disappointed, my beef with this one stands out. The first 50% is a bit of a slog. Charlie is bumbling yet clever and witty, and somehow still manages to be a lackluster character outshined by others in his own story. The humor was too intellectual for me so I missed a lot of it. I never felt cold even though the setting is essentially a tundra. And last, the ending (while worth it) was a little anti-climactic.

I highly recommend Shades of Grey over this one for new readers of Fforde.