The Fourth Bear (Nursery Crime, #2)

by Jasper Fforde

“I’ll be frank with you, Frank,” replied the Gingerbreadman, adding hastily, “May I call you Frank?” “I’d prefer Professor Strait.” “Very well. I’ll be straight with you, Strait.

Such a Fforde thing, to name a character Frank Strait just so he can make this pair of jokes.

“Guarantee?” “Yes. I guarantee that this car will never rust or even age significantly.”

Ah hah! I wondered what the point was in having Dorian Gray as a used-car dealer, but I sense the nature of the coming joke now.

Constable Pepper

Any chance he'll get promoted to Sgt. during the story? Or am I thinking too far ahead?

The most dangerous substance on the Class I list is marmalade

I mean, obviously.

No one will ever catch him.

Oh, right. Jeez, I should brush up more on my nursery rhymes before reading these books.

I’m not sure he really is Dorian Gray—the only person I could find of that name was born in 1878.”

Yup. That's the one.

chronosynclastic infundibulum

Vonnegut reference!

“It seems a very laborious setup for a pretty lame joke, doesn’t it?” mused Jack. “Yes,” agreed Mary, shaking her head sadly. “I really don’t know how he gets away with it.”

:)

“Cuclear energy.”

((groan))

as should you.

Fforde is getting too meta now.

“Don’t be,” replied Jack quietly. “He won’t get far.”

Inevitable, but still cool.