England, 1985. But, it's not the England you knew or know today. This England is involved in a conflict with Imperial Russia over the Crimean Peninsula--a conflict that has lasted 130 years. Tensions are high with Wales as well, and French revisionists are traveling backward in time to eliminate British heroes (Churchill for one). Long-distance travel is accomplished by zeppelin, and dodos are the pet of choice.

Our heroine, Thursday Next, works for Spec Ops, and her uncle has invented something that is about to change the world. The Prose Portal allows one to step into any book or poem, and while it's a wonderful invention, the world's third most dangerous criminal sees it as a weapon. If he can step into an original manuscript, imagine the havoc he can wreak!

The Eyre Affair is a grand book, full of action, adventure, and a smidge of romance. It's the romance I had the most complaints about. It resolves itself happily entirely too soon, considering this is the first book in a series. I do hope Fforde places some challenges in the path of Thursday and Landen in the coming novels.

It's alternative history and then some. If you're well-read or well-written, I suspect you'll love the many inside jokes. Thursday is a fun heroine, having to be part Nancy Drew and Lara Croft all at once. I enjoyed her adventures and this book. (And hey, Richard III acted out like Rocky Horror? You can't beat that!)

For more about this world, check out www.thursdaynext.com.