This is a fascinating and hilarious book. In this world, possibly a distant future after Something Happened, people have limited color perception. Society is based on the works of Albert Munsell, color scientist and inventor of the Munsell Color System.What colors you can see determine your caste in society, and how much of your colors you can see influences your rank. Purples are at the top of society (aside from the almost-unheard of people who can see all colors), while the unfortunate Greys can see little color and form the working class. Color forms the basis of medical care, drugs, employment, last names, and pretty much every aspect of their lives.
Eddie Russett is a Red. As the story opens, his father has been sent to the town of East Carmine to fill in as relief swatchman - a doctor, who heals people with color swatches. Eddie tags along as a punishment - officially, he’s conducting a chair census. The book follows him as he navigates new friendships (and crushes), marriage contracts, the will of the collective, and the dangers of lightning. Along the way, he learns some things about his society, and of course, about himself.
Fforde has achieved an epic feat of imagination and world-building. The dystopia exists somewhere on the spectrum between teen fiction and classic Orwellian sci-fi, but it’s all dealt with in the deadpan humor of an expert satirist. It drags a bit in the middle when the plot stalls, but the comedy and creativity kept me coming back.
It’s the first of a planned series. You can tell the story is not done, but the book has a reasonably bittersweet conclusion. If you’re allergic to unfinished stories, maybe you should hold off, but there’s no clear indication that the next books are coming anytime soon. Personally, it’s well worth the read for the world-building alone.
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