From Powells.com
The Best Books of 2019 (So Far)
Staff Pick
For me, there are different levels of book enjoyment, to wit...
Level 3: Oh, there's that book. Reckon I'll read a few pages.
Level 2: I look forward to reading that book when I have a chance.
Level 1: I am MAKING TIME for this book, and will read it at any opportunity, even carrying it with me to appointments in the hope that I will find myself waiting in a lobby somewhere with nothing to do but a chance to read this amazing work.
Jasper Fforde's novel is absolutely in the latter category. It's wildly inventive and funny and convincing. If I could give it the Hugo for Best Science Fiction Novel of the Year right now, I would. Highly recommended! Recommended By Bart K., Powells.com
Sometimes when you wait for a new book from a favorite author and it takes years... the built-up expectations can leave you a little let down. But in this case, Early Riser by Jasper Fforde did not disappoint! Like his previous work, Fforde creates a strange and wonderful cast of characters and builds a unique and fascinating world around them. This amazing standalone novel was worth the wait and I'm excited for whatever Fforde dreams up next. Recommended By Janelle M., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
An instant New York Times bestseller
The new standalone novel from bestselling author Jasper Fforde
Every Winter, the human population hibernates.
During those bitterly cold four months, the nation is a snow-draped landscape of desolate loneliness, devoid of human activity.
Well, not quite.
Your name is Charlie Worthing and it’s your first season with the Winter Consuls, the committed but mildly unhinged group of misfits who are responsible for ensuring the hibernatory safe passage of the sleeping masses.
You are investigating an outbreak of viral dreams which you dismiss as nonsense; nothing more than a quirky artefact born of the sleeping mind.
When the dreams start to kill people, it’s unsettling.
When you get the dreams too, it’s weird.
When they start to come true, you begin to doubt your sanity.
But teasing truth from the Winter is never easy: You have to avoid the Villains and their penchant for murder, kidnapping and stamp collecting; ensure you aren’t eaten by Nightwalkers, whose thirst for human flesh can only be satisfied by comfort food; and sidestep the increasingly less-than-mythical WinterVolk.
But so long as you remember to wrap up warmly, you’ll be fine.
Review
“Charlie’s journey...is so absorbing, and Fforde’s wit so sharp, the reveal that the narrative is also a commentary on capitalism comes across as a brilliant twist....Whip-smart, tremendous fun, and an utter delight from start to finish.” Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Review
“Jasper Fforde is in fine form in his 14th novel, stringing along this adventure with wry wit.” BookPage (Starred Review)
Review
“A wonderfully weird dystopian thriller....As precisely built as an ice sculpture, Fforde’s wintry nightmare glistens with mystery and menace. Though the zombie apocalypse elements spin a darker tale...plenty of pure Ffordian humor pops up.” Shelf Awareness
Synopsis
An instant New York Times bestsellerThe new standalone novel from Jasper Fforde, the bestselling author the Thursday Next series and the forthcoming standalone The Constant Rabbit Every Winter, the human population hibernates.
During those bitterly cold four months, the nation is a snow-draped landscape of desolate loneliness, devoid of human activity.
Well, not quite.
Your name is Charlie Worthing and it's your first season with the Winter Consuls, the committed but mildly unhinged group of misfits who are responsible for ensuring the hibernatory safe passage of the sleeping masses.
You are investigating an outbreak of viral dreams which you dismiss as nonsense; nothing more than a quirky artefact born of the sleeping mind.
When the dreams start to kill people, it's unsettling.
When you get the dreams too, it's weird.
When they start to come true, you begin to doubt your sanity.
But teasing truth from the Winter is never easy: You have to avoid the Villains and their penchant for murder, kidnapping and stamp collecting; ensure you aren't eaten by Nightwalkers, whose thirst for human flesh can only be satisfied by comfort food; and sidestep the increasingly less-than-mythical WinterVolk.
But so long as you remember to wrap up warmly, you'll be fine.
About the Author
Jasper Fforde gave up his career in the fim industry when his novel The Eyre Affair debuted on the New York Times bestseller list in 2002. He is the author of the Thursday Next series, the Nursery Crimes series, and Shades of Grey. He lives and works in Wales.