Early Riser

Early Riser by Jasper Fforde, 402 pages

In a world of increasingly cold and snowy winters, humans hibernate through the four-month winter, relying on fat stores created from lavish meals in autumn; winter body-hair growth; and, for the lucky, a dream-avoiding drug that saves precious calories to survive the brutal season. Oh, and there are a few porters and peacekeeping Consuls who hibernate earlier in the year, specifically so they can protect those who are sleeping deeply through winter. Charlie Worthing is a novice Consul, who becomes marooned in one of the most remote areas of Wales while investigating a viral dream involving a blue Buick, disembodied hands, and a pile of rocks. This obviously has something to do with the pharmaceutical company based in that part of Wales, but before Charlie can figure it out, they start dreaming about blue Buicks too.

Oh, how I've missed Jasper Fforde's kooky and seemingly infinite imagination! Fforde is one of my favorite authors, and it's been six years since his last book, so I honestly would have pounced on his next book if it was simply a list of everything he's had for breakfast in the past year. But Early Riser is so twisty, and fun, and full of odd characters! I love the complex world he's created for Charlie, and I'd love to read more about all of the elements in it, from the Campaign for Real Sleep to HiberTech to the Gronk (these will all make at least a bit of sense when you read the book). My only quibble is with the time of year that this book was released: it's not easy to read a book about hibernating through winter when there's ice and snow outside! Other than that, I'm pleased as punch that the Fforde drought is over!