| Thursday Next is a government detective in London in 1985 ... but this is another 1985, when the Crimean conflict is still raging; people take airships instead of trains or planes; Dodos have been reinvented due to technological advances and govenerment departments are highly secretive.
Thursday is a literary detective, employed by the state to enforce accuracy in literary circles - after all, gangs of youths hang around on street corners arguing the authenticity of Shakespeare or merit Coleridge - and original manuscripts are enshrined and revered like holy texts. A routine inspection of the theft of an early 'Jane Eyre' manuscript turns out to be more than thursday bargained for. Her ex-tutor and master criminal Acheron Hades has stolen this text and, with the help of imaginative technology, intends to get inside the book and change the course of Jane and Rochester's fate. Thursday's uncle, an inventor, has created a machine that allows one to gain access to works of literature by stepping inside the environment and description created by the author. During an experiment with the machine, his wife ends up in 'Daffodils', but becomes stranded there when evil genius Acheron turns up to kidnap the inventor and his machine. Thursday's mission is to get back inside the book and release the prankster, saving the course of the book at the same time. Can she get in, remove the offender and leave without being trapped in the book herself? ... You'll have to read the book to find out, but be prepared for some wry takes on granted aspects of modern society. Fforde's imagination knows no bounds and will have you in stitches. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - alternate history Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes Explore: Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes Stealing/recovering/destroying Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Descript. of chases or violence - 30 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 % Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can change shapes - super strength - Invisibility - is very quick How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Genius (really!) Setting Earth setting: - 20th century Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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