Something Rotten - Thursday Next, Bk 4 Author:Jasper Fforde Detective Thursday Next has had her fill of her responsibilities as the Bellman in Jurisfiction, enough with Emperor Zhark's pointlessly dramatic entrances, outbreaks of slapstick raging across pulp genres, and hacking her hair off to fill in for Joan of Arc. Packing up her son, Friday, Thursday returns to Swindon accompanied by none other than ... more »the dithering Danish prince Hamlet. Caring for both is more than a full- time job and Thursday decides it is definitely time to get her husband Landen back, if only to babysit. Luckily, those responsible for Landen's eradication, The Goliath Corporation- formerly an oppressive multinational conglomerate, now an oppressive multinational religion- have pledged to right the wrong.
But returning to SpecOps isn't a snap. When outlaw fictioneer Yorrick Kaine seeks to get himself elected dictator, he whips up a frenzy of anti-Danish sentiment and demands mass book burnings. The return of Swindon's patron saint bearing divine prophecies could spell the end of the world within five years, possibly faster if the laughably terrible Swindon Mallets don't win the Superhoop, the most important croquet tournament in the land. And if that's not bad enough, The Merry Wives of Windsor is becoming entangled with Hamlet. Can Thursday find a Shakespeare clone to stop this hostile takeover? Can she prevent the world from plunging into war? Can she vanquish Kaine before he realizes his dream of absolute power? And, most important, will she ever find reliable child care?« less
Another marvelous isntallment in the Thursday Next series. As quirky as the series is, you'd think it'd get tiring. Not so. Fforde is as inventive and funny as ever.
Delightfully loopy fantasy featuring Tuesday Next as she attempts to keep the world of fiction on the straight and narrow while getting her husband un-eradicated and saving the world by winning at croquet.
I only made it part way through. I've read all of the Thursday Next books, somehow in my old age, I yearn for books based a little bit more in reality. A lot of the characters are the same as her previous books, and you sort of need to be in love with them, somehow.
I loved this book--and all of Fforde's books. They're delightfully quirky stories of being inside stories... Fforde is not constrained in any way by the dimensions of time and space--or reality. I was slightly disappointed that the ending of this books makes it seem as if there might not be another...
This is the fourth book in the Thursday Next series. Currently there are five books in this series with the sixth book, One of Our Thursdays is Missing, scheduled for March 2011 release. This was an excellent addition to the series, I thoroughly enjoyed it! The plot is complex and clever, the characters engaging, and the things that happen are ironic and funny. This is one of my favorite series. You definitely need to read the books prior to this one to understand what is going on in the story.
Thursday Next has decided to leave the fictional world and her position as the Head of Jurisfiction; it is time for her to return to the real-world. So with two-year old Friday in tow she moves in with her mother. Along with her is Hamlet, who is on leave from his play. Back in the real world things are a mess; Kane is trying to set himself up as dictator of England, Landon (Thursday's husband) is still eradicated, and Goliath Corporation is trying to set themselves up as a religion. Then Thursday's time traveling dad shows up and tells her that not only is someone is trying to assassinate her, but the fate of the world rests on the outcome of the World Croquette match.
This was a wonderful book and it gives a lot of closure for storypoints that have been left hanging in previous books. This book would actually make a wonderful wrap-up for the series. Hamlet is a wonderful addition to the character cast; with his innate indecisiveness he is hilarious and somewhat crazy. Thursday gets to work with Spike (the werewolf hunter) some more and I love learning more about Spike.
Throughout the book Thursday is also trying to track down the Minotaur who escaped in the last book. Jurisficition hit the Minotaur with a serious case of slapstick; so hilarious slapstick ensues throughout...especially when the Minotaur is near.
This book gives more depth to Thursday's character. Watching her deal with the complex happenings around her, while she tries to find decent childcare and reinstate her husband, adds a dimension to her that makes her even more personable. A lot happens to her in this book. To be honest this was probably the most intense book in the series. I laughed a lot, but there were also points where I was almost in tears...so many bad things happen to Thursday that you just wish she would finally get a break and find some happiness. Well take heart, the book ends on an up note and treats the characters well.
Once again Fforde's ability to weave this extremely complex story without confusing the reader is absolutely amazing. I am in awe of how clever and engaging the story is.
Overall an amazing book. If you love this series you will love this book. If you have never read this series...well...what are you waiting for?! Read it! The tone of this story reminds some of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and other types of spoofy fantasy; but this story blows all of those out of the water. Loved it and can't wait to read First Among Sequels, the next book in this series.
The 4th (and last) book of the delightful Thursday Next series. With all sorts of literary "jokes" and puns I laughed at loud at this series. Wonderfully clever but also with a plot that pulls you in and hangs together.
Renee C. (MerryHearted) - 
