Shades of Grey : : the Road to High Saffron

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fantasy / Fforde, Jasper	4-week checkout	Due 05-20-2024

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A Funny Dystopia submitted by Meginator on July 11, 2011, 10:21pm Fforde is known for his humorous spin on familiar tropes, and in this respect "Shades of Grey" is certainly no different. Longtime readers of dystopian literature won't find anything particularly earth-shattering in this story of a boy who, on the precipice of 20, begins to uncover the uncomfortable truths behind the color-based world in which he lives. Fforde's great strength is his humor and the sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant sarcasm that runs throughout the novel and which successfully allows readers to recognize that elements of the satire in this book are relevant to our own sociopolitical reality. Though protagonist and narrator Eddie Russet is often too naive for his own good, and may annoy readers with his forceful ignorance, Fforde has placed his story in capable hands and the narrative wit adds a dimension of entertainment and enjoyment to the book. Though most of the story's elements and even its painful truths are nothing new to seasoned readers, Fforde's decision to create a caste system predicated on color perception is unique and offers him an opportunity to set "Shades of Grey" apart from the pack which, to some extent, he does. All told, this book doesn't strike me as particularly exceptional, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to readers looking for a light, fun read that carries much deeper meaning.

Grandma notices a bee fly by submitted by BickfordT on May 31, 2012, 12:48pm I think it's a good time to write a review although I have not yet finished the book. A patron suggested that I read this book, so I did. We had a good laugh, when at first, I thought the patron was suggesting that I read the "other" shades of grey book. A little hard to get into this dystopian world at first, since each time I'd ground myself in a familiar detail, the author would turn the tables and I'd be back where I started, unsure of what was what. Following the dialogue in this book is almost like learning another language, but eventually you discover that it's really a language you already know, just re-arranged from a three century long game of "operator please". Once you get the hang of this future world you figure out that there is something going on behind the scenes and are guessing about what lies behind the curtain. This book is a mystery as much as it is a love story. I have to say my favorite "moment" is when the grandma notices the bee fly by the window. I appreciate the little bits the author throws in that aren't necessary but SO VERY entertaining!! Laugh out loud moments and I wonder if nerds will be talking Chromo as they do Klingon and Elvish. I suggest that you read this book and pay close attention!

Color Challenged submitted by cherylo on June 18, 2012, 10:08pm An odd fantasy story that seems to be set in a post-apocalyptic world. The people have trouble distinguishing colors. Social standing and careers both rest on how well young people can see one or more colors in this rigid dystopia. Venturing outside the well-worn and defined roles can get you sent to a tiny village at the edge of civilization, which is where our protagonist Eddie Russett arrives with his father. Greys exist somewhat outside society, sort of like a pariah class who supposedly can't see color at all, but may not be telling everything they know and understand, as he comes to understand. A less-surreal offering from Jasper Fforde than his Thursday Next series.

Chromocracy submitted by Jen Chapin-Smith on August 27, 2013, 1:10pm Jasper Fforde begins what he promises will be a trilogy with "Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron" set in an alternate universe in which people live in a hierarchy according to which colors they can see and to what degree. I have dubbed it a chromocracy, although Fforde does not use that term. Colors that everyone can see are a precious commodity regulated and used like electricity or water in our own world. The totalitarian government also enacted frivolous rules, such as outlawing spoon production (hence the shortage of and so high value of spoons) and the number of friends each person can have.

Our protagonist, Eddie Russett, who can see red, has been sent with his father to the nowhere town of High Saffron to conduct a chair census, possibly as punishment for Eddie's practical joke. The pair soon figure out that this is a permanent move for them. Meanwhile, Eddie meets Jane, a grey (someone who cannot see color and so is in the lowest caste) who is involved in a secret movement to overthrow the color dictatorship.

Meanwhile, Eddie gets caught misbehaving by the town council, which sends him on a dangerous mission.

I'm eager to read the sequels to find out how Eddie and Jane's relationship progresses and whether the freedom movement is successful.

Unfinished submitted by bfields on June 26, 2020, 10:26am Fun read, but go into this knowing that it's been a few years now and the sequels still haven't materialized.