Jasper Fforde.com : Fforde's next Book

Electro-magical devices were once everywhere. They ran the Mobile Phone Network, the radar for air traffic control and even medical scanners and microwaves. When the power of magic faded, they were switched off one by one. The only long-term electromagical devices still functioning as our story begins are yo-yos, the extremely useful compass-pointing-to-North idea and the spell that keep bicycles from falling over. And the reason for that is because they're so old no-one knew how to unspell them.

Things are about to change. As the background Wizidrical Power slowly builds after the Big Magic, King Snodd IV of the Kingdom of Hereford realises that the power of magic has untold financial possibilities, and the man that controls Magic controls almost anything. To this end he has appointed as 'Official Court Sorcerer' the odious Blix at Industrial Magic, one of only two Houses of Enchantment left in the world. With Blix's willing assistance, only one person stands between King Snodd and his plans for power and riches beyond the wildest dreams of avarice.

Meet Jennifer Strange, sixteen-year-old acting manager of Kazam, the only other House of Enchantment. She doesn't care for King Snodd or his plans for magic. Ancient decree dictates that Kazam can refuse Snodd's demands, but Blix challenges Kazam to a contest: The first team to rebuild their half of Hereford's collapsed 12th century bridge gains control of the other's House of Enchantment.

Contests are not easily refused, but no-one's worried: A win for Kazam seems in the bag - after all, they have six wizards to Industrial Magic's three, and all of Blix's people are rubbish. But then events take a turn for the worse. Kazam's Lady Mawgon accidentally turns herself to stone and with no-one able to read the ancient spell language of RUNIX, she seems likely to stay that way. Other incidents befall Kazam's other licensed sorcerers, and suddenly things don't look so good.

With only one functioning Wizard and her faithful assistant 'Tiger' Prawns, Jennifer must use ever ounce of ingenuity to vanquish Blix and derail King Snodd's plans. It may involve a trip on a magic carpet at the speed of sound to the Troll Wall, it may involve a second Quarkbeast sniffing around town. It might also involve the mysterious Transient Moose, and a powerless sorceress named Once Magnificent Boo. But one thing is certain: Jennifer Strange will not relinquish the noble powers of magic to big business and commerce without a fight.

Published November 2011. If you want to pre-order, try your local bookshop or Waterstones or, indeed, Amazon