Last Dragonslayer [Paperback]

Fforde is one of those authors that I found quite by accident while looking another one up and than couldn't help but keep reading. His Thursday Next series (which has a sequel due out this year!) is a delightfully entertaining mystery quasi-fantasy that's full of clever puns and satirical renditions of our own world. The Last Dragonslayer is no different, just its a young adult fantasy series.

While I had no idea this was coming out I'm glad that I came across it because it was pure entertainment to read. The book has a very British feel to it, which it should since British author + British environment, which includes the humor. There's a little slapstick (Gordon von Gordon taking care of some of the reporters was a good laugh), some irony (what happened to the Great Zambini...) and dry humor (The Blessed Sisterhood of the Lobster?). As the kid who grew up on the BBC more often than Nickelodeon it made me all warm inside.

Much of the world is built upon being like ours, but slanted a ways. The UnUnited Kingdoms? I'm guessing because of the magical influence, and the Dragons, things developed differently. The Dragons, after the Dragonpact some 400 years earlier, were each given a fairly large chunk of land, some of which sat in the middle of Kingdoms. Some things, like the Consolidated Useful Stuff business seems to be a direct jab at mega-corporations like Wal-Mart (aka The Evil Empire in my household).

Jennifer, indeed all the characters, don't act like you'd expect. There are several twists and clever plays on how the smallest idea can become a firmly entrenched belief. Or how prophecy will always find ways to make itself come true (though maybe not for the reason you expect). The last dragon, Maltcassion, reminds me of a grumpy old man with the mischievousness of a five year old. He certainly doesn't act like a maneater. He was probably my favorite, next to the Quarkbeast honestly.

In short if you're a fan of Terry Pratchett you will likely enjoy this book honestly. Its just this side of ridiculous with some weighty moral concepts strewn about to keep it from being utterly ridiculous.

Before I start, I'll point out this is a children's book, and I've regarded it, and starred it as such. I think it would be a great read for children around the ages of 10 and 12.

The Last Dragonslayer is the tale of 'foundling' (orphan) Jennifer Strange, and a re-imagined 'Ununited Kingdoms', a UK much similar to one we know, but divided into feuding kingdoms; a place where magic exists, but is dying.

Jennifer works at one of the last two remaining wizard agencies: talent agencies representing wizards. It's a bizarre place, filled with hilarious characters, unpredictable magic, and a Transient Moose.

The world, the characters--the creatures--are characterised by Fforde's typical brand of charming absurdism, and The Last Dragonslayer is genuinely one of the best children's novels I've encountered in a long time. Imagine you're a 10 year old, and Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett (both of whom I'm forever comparing with Fforde) write about a UK where dragons and magic still exist, adults are even weirder than they already are, and you can have a pet that's one part velociraptor, one part kitchen blender, one tenth golden lab, and eats tin cans for breakfast. Wow.

Fforde tells a magical story of corrupt government, corporate (and individual) greed, lobsters, personal sacrifice, values, and it's one where the good guy wins--but at a cost. The story is intelligent, yet never condescending. There's a very strong moral message in the book, butit's not at the cost of a marvellous story.

I often find Jasper Fforde's writing quite dense (not a criticism--just an observation), so it was very interesting reading this, as, while his trademark humour is still there, his writing is much changed for a younger audience.

The Last Dragonslayer deserves to be up there with Harry Potter and The Philospher's Stone and Artemis Fowl--and should appeal to fans of both.

I was instantly a Jasper Fforde fan after reading his first book The Eyre Affair when it came out in 2002. I continue to pick up every one of his books as they're released and he stands as my favorite author. This new book is geared towards young adults however any and all should pick up this light read. Unfortunately it hasn't been released in the states so I had to order it from the UK but it was worth the wait. Once again, Fforde creates an alternate world, the UnUnited Kingdom, in which magic is commonplace and dragons exist. Fforde's brilliant use of words and satire never cease to amaze me.