Jasper Fforde: The last Dragonslayer (2010, Hodder & Stoughton)
281 pages
English language
Published Nov. 2, 2010 by Hodder & Stoughton.
"Fifteen-year-old Jennifer Strange runs an agency for underemployed magicians in a world where magic is fading away, but when visions of the death of the world's last dragon begin, all signs point to Jennifer--and Big Magic"--Provided by publisher.
Fifteen-year-old foundling Jennifer runs Kazam, an employment agency for magicians, but it is hard to stay in business when magic is drying up. Then the visions start, predicting the death of the world's last dragon. Book #1
I had forgotten how much I like Jasper Fford. This is not one that plays games with English (like most of his), but it plays games with expectations and goals. Satisfying ending, and surprising circumstances throughout.
Wow. Have you (ahem) written off Fforde because of what happened with the Thursday Next series? Well, he's definitely back. Maybe he felt trapped in there? Last Dragonslayer feels fresh, vibrant, from the heart. Yeah, it's a little heavyhanded -- but it's a kids' book and you knew that coming into it. Despite the constraints of the format, Fforde makes it shine with enough humor and liveliness to keep this adult rapt.
Douglas Adams never got a chance to come back. Fforde is, I believe and hope, not so much coming back as going new places. Rumor has it that this will be a trilogy, as will the exceptional [b:Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron|2113260|Shades of Grey The Road to High Saffron (Shades of Grey, #1)|Jasper Fforde|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275714371s/2113260.jpg|2118671]. I hope he's pacing himself, because I am extra-eager to see what he comes up with next.
