Something Rotten is a humorous sci-fi novel by Jasper Fforde. This is the fourth book in his Thursday Next series, following on from The Eyre Affair, Lost in a Good Book, and The Well of Lost Plots. It was first published in 2004 by Viking Adult. This review is intended to be free of spoilers, but because it is a sequel, there may be implied spoilers for previous entries in the series. Consider yourself warned! No review copy was provided; I bought and read this book when it first came out and have recently re-read it with a view to re-reading the whole series. There are affiliate links at the end of this review.
Blurb:
Thursday Next, Head of JurisFiction and ex-SpecOps agent, returns to her native Swindon accompanied by a child of two, a pair of dodos and Hamlet, who is on a fact-finding mission in the real world. Thursday has been despatched to capture escaped Fictioneer Yorrick Kaine but even so, now seems as good a time as any to retrieve her husband Landen from his state of eradication at the hands of the Chronoguard.
It’s not going to be easy. Thursday’s former colleagues at the department of Literary Detectives want her to investigate a spate of cloned Shakespeares, the Goliath Corporation are planning to switch to a new Faith based corporate management system and the Neanderthals feel she might be the Chosen One who will lead them to genetic self-determination.
With help from Hamlet, her uncle and time-travelling father, Thursday faces the toughest adventure of her career. Where is the missing President-for-life George Formby? Why is it imperative for the Swindon Mallets to win the World Croquet League final? And why is it so difficult to find reliable childcare?
Review:
After enjoying rereading the first three books in the Thursday Next series, I’ve arrived at the fourth volume; Something Rotten. Now, as I mentioned in my review of The Well of Lost Plots, the third book in the series is actually my favourite. That said, this fourth entry is still excellent.
This book continues the adventures of literary detective Thursday Next, who returns to Swindon from the BookWorld with her son, Friday, and none other than the dithering Prince Hamlet of Denmark. Yes, that Hamlet.
Thursday Next finds herself back in Swindon in her unique, alternative year of 1988, navigating a world where literary characters and real-life events intertwine. Her return is anything but ordinary, as outlaw fictioneer Yorrick Kaine plots for absolute power, and the return of Swindon’s patron saint foretells doom. To complicate matters further, The Merry Wives of Windsor becomes entangled with Hamlet, creating a chaotic mix of Shakespearean drama and real-world intrigue. I always love the cool, meta-fiction elements of these books!
In every one of these reviews I have praised Fforde for his worldbuilding. Here, it continues to pay off, but that shouldn’t suggest that he is now being complacent. The setting continues to grow and develop, and evolve. Fforde’s ability to blend literary fiction with real-world elements is simply masterful. The world he creates is rich with detail and humor, making it a joy to explore, even four novels in.
That’s not to say the setting is all that this book has going for it. Thursday Next is a resourceful and relatable protagonist, and her interactions with both real and fictional characters add depth and entertainment to the story. She also continues to be completely badass.
Fforde’s writing continues to be filled with clever jokes, puns, and satirical references that keep readers entertained and engaged. Readers familiar with classic literature are treated to a wealth of references, and those who have read this series up to this point are rewarded with familiar characters and a comfortable setting.
Something Rotten is a delightful continuation of the Thursday Next series, offering a mix of humor, adventure, and literary intrigue. It’s a must-read for anyone who’s been enjoying the series so far. Just like The Well of Lost Plots, this book fits so well into the Thursday Next series. We’re four books in, with a lot of character and plot development under our belts, which does mean that this novel doesn’t work quite as well as a standalone book. As someone who loves the series, this is not a problem for me, but it does make it less accessible for a casual reader who picks it up with little or no knowledge of the wider series. As a fan of the wider series, this is not a problem for me, personally.
Rating: 4/5
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