Dodger is a tosher – a sewer scavenger living in the squalor of Dickensian London. Everyone who is nobody knows him. Anyone who is anybody doesn’t. He used to know his future; it involved a lot of brick-lined tunnels and plenty of filth. But when he rescues a young girl from a beating thing start to get really messy. Now everyone who is anyone wants to get their hands on Dodger.
Dodger is just one of Terry Pratchett’s many books out this year; it’s scheduled for September, following Snuff, The World of Poo, and The Long Earth, co-written with Stephen Baxter. It’s set in Dickensian London, not just because it’s the 1800s but because “Charlie” himself features heavily in this mystery thriller. Dodger and Charlie attempt to unravel the mystery as to why a young lady is viciously attacked in an alleyway on a typically British dark and rainy night, although neither trusts the other completely. Dodger is obviously a member of the criminal underclass, if a rather more noble one than most, and he sees immediately that Charlie is clever and incredibly observant – not someone to be trifled with, especially if Dodger wants to stay unnoticed in the backstreets of London.
We’ve only had a taster so far but Dodger is written in Pratchett’s typical witty and winding prose style, full of humour and perceptive observations. I can’t wait to see what happens next…
Dodger by Terry Pratchett is published on 13th September.
