Red Side Story

Jasper Fforde

Average Rating 9/10 (1 Review)

It's the UK, but not as we know it: civilisation has rebuilt after an unspoken 'Something that Happened' five hundred years before. Society is now colour-based, the strict levels of hierarchy dictated by the colours you can see, and the economy, health service and citizen's aspirations all dominated by visual colour, run by the shadowy National Colour in far-off Emerald City.

Out on the fringes of Red Sector West, Eddie Russett and Jane Grey have discovered that all is neither fair nor truthful within their cosy environment, and currently face trumped up charges that will see them die of the fatally soporific tones within the Green Room.

Negotiating the narrow boundaries of the Rules within their society, Jane and Edward must find out the truth of their world: What is it, where is it and even when it is. As they unpeel the lies that cloak their existence they come to the worrying conclusion that they may not be alone: That there might be a Somewhere Else beyond the sea, and more, Someone Else living there - and observing them all, purposefully unseen.

Red Side Story delves into the strictures of a society imposed on itself by itself, immovable dogma and the spirit of humans trying to love and survive and make sense of a world that makes no sense at all. Only it does, of course - you just have to look harder, look further, and forget everything you've ever been told.

'Brilliantly inventive.'

'Fforde’s books are more than an ingenious idea. They are written with buoyant zest and are tautly plotted... and are embellished with the rich details of a Dickens or Pratchett.'

Review by Nigel (100224) Rating (9/10)

Review by Nigel
Book Source: Purchased
Rating 9/10
This book has been a long time coming for fans of Jasper Fforde and in particular those wanting to know the continuing story of Jane Grey and Eddie Russett… was it worth it? Most definitely yes, this is a very good book and while the wait has been long it is now finally over.

If you have attended any Jasper Fforde event in the last 14 years you will know there is always one question asked, “When will a sequel to Shades of Grey be published”. It even got to the point where Jasper Fforde would pre-empt the question and explain the situation before the crowd got out of hand.

Well, finally, it is here so we will start with some facts if you are in two minds after the wait…

This is a direct sequel and continues the story of Jane and Eddie, starting one month after the events depicted in Shades of Grey.

This book concludes the story; there is an opportunity for further novels, as with any fictional world, but everything about Jane and Eddie’s story is resolved, one way or another. No more questions about a sequel at Fforde events – I’m sure this was taken into account when being written ;).

That said, I did feel the end was a little rushed without the nuanced storytelling that was present in the bulk of the story and is typical of Jasper Fforde’s work, however, this is a minor point and would probably have led to a sequel being necessary .

Buy, read and enjoy, you will not be disappointed.
Nigel (10th February 2024)

Post Review Note:
We were lucky enough to see Jasper at Newark Book Festival (July 2024) where he confirmed a sequel to Red Side Story is likely, so we were completely wrong there :)

“I like where the story ends and the possibilities from there are intriguing.”
Nigel (15th July 2024)