Jasper Fforde: "Sorcerers are easily distracted, and letting them drive is about as safe as as waving around a chainsaw at full throttle in a crowded disco."

Well! It's been awhile. I was on a bit of a reading drought, but I'm back! The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde (Amazon) was the perfect book to pull me out of my slump. Now, this isn't the first time I've written about Jasper Fforde's work. Check out my very first post, about his book Shades of Grey. He also replied to me, and you can read that here.

Anyway, onto discussion of The Last Dragonslayer! This book is, in true Jasper Fforde style, hilarious and original. It combines traditional fantasy-dragons, magic-with modern living. The main character, Jennifer Strange, runs an employment agency for Sorcerers and drives a Volkswagon. Magic is struggling to find a place in the modern world, where modern conveniences have taken over.

If you are a fan of satire, fantasy, Jasper Fforde or dragons, you should definitely check this book out. There is also a sequel, The Song of the Quarkbeast, which I will probably check out soon.

Because I've already written to Jasper Fforde and gotten a reply, I decided not to this time. However, he will be on tour in the US soon, so if you're interested in perhaps meeting the man yourself, check out his tour dates here.

Have a great day!

Author Reply: Jasper Fforde

A very exciting author reply came yesterday: Jasper Fforde! (See my original email here.) He was the first author I wrote to! He is definitely one of my favorite authors of all time. In my email to him I mentioned how one of his books (Shades of Grey) reminded me of The Giver by Lois Lowry. He said that many have pointed out the connection to The Giver, and that there is another book (he didn't say what) that people said was similar. He also said that he's glad that in the entire genre of fantasy, only two books have been mentioned to have similar themes.

I think that it's very cool that he wrote back! I wasn't really expecting him to. On his site he says not to expect it. I have another author reply for tomorrow, so expect that and another review!

The First Letter: Jasper Fforde

Well, technically the title is a misnomer, as I have decided to write an email instead. Anyway, Jasper Fforde is probably not as obscure as many of the other authors I'm going to be tackling this summer. However, I think it will be a good "warm up" sort of email. I will be focusing primarily on Shades of Grey, which was published in 2009. I must say, Jasper Fforde is one of my favorite authors. I highly recommend reading anything you can find by him.

The follow is the email I wrote:

"I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for all of your work. I have read almost everything you have written so far, but I especially wanted to comment on "Shades of Grey." I thought the concept and setting were fairly fantastic. The idea of color, something almost everyone takes for granted, being the driving force behind the world's economy and lifestyle, was ingenious. It reminded me a little bit of "The Giver," by Lois Lowry, a book I really enjoyed when I read it in school (and multiple times after). Just like "The Giver," "Shades of Grey" is the kind of book that when you reread it, you catch things you missed before. I sincerely look forward to the sequel-I'm a little disappointed that I have to wait until 2013, but it's worth it!

I hope all is well with you, and you continue to enjoy creating such wonderfully creative books. Thank you again for sharing your books with the world."

I am currently reading "Of Ducks and Universes" by Neve Maslakovic. I expect to finish it tonight or tomorrow, so expect another post then!