A recommenndation
- Thread starter BaldJean
- Start date
I've read all of the Thursday Next books and the two Nursery series books.
My assessment is that Fforde is a second-rate imitator of far superior authors. The Thursday Next series is his extended takeoff from Woody Allen's classic short story The Kugelmas Episode. Fforde is clearly influenced by Pterry and Doug Adams and very painstakingly tries to outclever them. In spite of his derivative style, The Eyre Affair was a pretty decent read. Every additional book in the series has seen a geometrical drop in quality, humor, originality and sense, until the last two were nearly unreadable.
The first Nursery book--which apparently Fforde wrote before The Eyre Affair and then rewrote later--is, for me, his best book. The second book in that series is just plain awful.
There's far less to Fforde than meets the eye.
My assessment is that Fforde is a second-rate imitator of far superior authors. The Thursday Next series is his extended takeoff from Woody Allen's classic short story The Kugelmas Episode. Fforde is clearly influenced by Pterry and Doug Adams and very painstakingly tries to outclever them. In spite of his derivative style, The Eyre Affair was a pretty decent read. Every additional book in the series has seen a geometrical drop in quality, humor, originality and sense, until the last two were nearly unreadable.
The first Nursery book--which apparently Fforde wrote before The Eyre Affair and then rewrote later--is, for me, his best book. The second book in that series is just plain awful.
There's far less to Fforde than meets the eye.
To clarify on this Tony and Jean, Jasper was a bit over ambitious and didn't allow for publisher pressure when predicting his book releases. There should have been a third nursery crime book a few years ago but sadly there is none on the horizon. The third dragonlsayer is out October/November this year .
Shades of Greys sequel seems to be shelved for the moment and the next projects are a prequel of Shades of Grey for 2015 and a standalone novel next year. Sadly he seems to have done a lot more of the Thursday Books than was sensible. I'd swap the last 3 for one DCI Spratt book to be honest.
Shades of Greys sequel seems to be shelved for the moment and the next projects are a prequel of Shades of Grey for 2015 and a standalone novel next year. Sadly he seems to have done a lot more of the Thursday Books than was sensible. I'd swap the last 3 for one DCI Spratt book to be honest.
Thanks for the clarification, Pip. I haven't read the last Thursday next book yet, but enjoyed the previous one. I generally don't rush out and buy these like I do with Terry's and Bernard Cornwell's, but wait until they are in paperback. I did buy one Fforde book second hand really cheaply that was advertised as having "cover wear". When it arrived it was a pristine first edition hardback and the cover wear was part of the design. The book had never been opened. 
Must be a thing with his books. The missus loved the Eyre Affair so I went and ordered the rest of his books up to that point second hand . I got six of them for just over a tenner, advertised as worn. Three of them arrived as signed first editions in perfect condition and the rest were immaculate.
Really gotten into Bernard Cornwell the last year. Started with Stonehenge, then The grail series . I've about five of his books on my to read pile now. Think I started because of a combination of you and Dug .
Really gotten into Bernard Cornwell the last year. Started with Stonehenge, then The grail series . I've about five of his books on my to read pile now. Think I started because of a combination of you and Dug .
Jasper said at last years Ffiesta (June) something along the lines that Shades of Grey wasn't well received in forn parts so could he concentrate on Thursday Next. At the time, he was unsure if any more Shades of Grey would ever happen to which the whole crowd started booing him. There were rumours that Nursery Crimes 3 was happening.
I can't remember if he mentioned a film version of Eyre Affair.....
I can't remember if he mentioned a film version of Eyre Affair.....
)
Catch-up said:
I'm so glad! I've never read anything like it and I thought it was fantastic.
I've never read anything like it and I thought it was fantastic.
If you liked it I read another post apocalyptic book recently which was absolutely brilliniant.
Its called Wool by Hugh Howey and its caused a huge buzz on the self published side of things before signing up to publishers on both sides of the Pond. Sequel is already out and final part on its way later this year. Reminded me slightly of Shades in one way but a bit more along the premise of The Penultimate Truth by Philip K Dick.
