Praise for Early Riser

“Early Riser has all of the elements and sensibility that have earned Fforde a sizable and devoted following. . . . Fforde writes witty, chewy sentences, full of morsels, and delivers them deadpan. . . . [Fforde’s] relentless imagination and his affection for his characters are contagious and irresistible. . . . Every book of Fforde’s seems to be a cause for celebration and a source of pleasure for many people, and for good reason.”

—Charles Yu, The New York Times Book Review

“Fans of Jasper Fforde’s unique blend of comic dystopia and quirky British coziness will not be disappointed with his first novel in six years, Early Riser. . . . Hilarious.”

—The Guardian (London)

“Not your average mystery novel . . . Gleeful . . . Blindingly inventive.”

—The Seattle Times

“Charlie’s journey . . . is so absorbing, and Fforde’s wit so sharp, the reveal that the narrative is also a commentary on capitalism comes across as a brilliant twist. . . . Whip-smart, tremendous fun, and an utter delight from start to finish.”

—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Jasper Fforde is in fine form in his fourteenth novel, stringing along this adventure with wry wit.”

—BookPage (starred review)

“In this richly detailed, dystopic novel from Fforde (the Thursday Next series), most of the population of Wales hibernates in huge Dormitoria through the unbearable Winter. . . . The sprightly characters, such as the murderous Villains maintaining the habits of English sophisticates, and the intimately feuding pair of Chief Consul Toccata and Aurora, the head of HiberTech security, bring absurdity into the ambiance, but behave understandably enough to be credible. Charlie’s confused but determined mundanity is a relatable anchor in this wild winter world, leavened by Fforde’s surrealistic humor. Douglas Adams fans will enjoy the vibe.”

—Publishers Weekly

“A wonderfully weird dystopian thriller . . . As precisely built as an ice sculpture, Fforde’s wintry nightmare glistens with mystery and menace. Though the zombie apocalypse elements spin a darker tale . . . plenty of pure Ffordian humor pops up.”

—Shelf Awareness

“Readers familiar with Fforde’s gleefully pun-heavy world building will relish this standalone novel, confident that everything will work out in the end for the underdog. Give it to fans of John Scalzi and Genevieve Cogman’s Invisible Library series.”

—Booklist

“Veiled commentary on corporate greed, sleep and dreaming, and twisted popular culture highlight why Fforde, perhaps best known for his Thursday Next series, is on par with authors such as Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams.”

—Library Journal

“Addictively propulsive.”

—The Times

“[Early Riser is] worth the wait. . . . There are many laughs and wry smiles to be had from this genre-merging writing—a mad, clever, mix of fantasy, satire, parody and thriller. Well worth staying awake for.”

—Oxford Mail