"First Among Sequels" is the fifth installment in the successful "Thursday Next" series by bestselling author Jasper Fforde. In this captivating tale, protagonist Thursday Next returns after fourteen years to face new challenges. She grapples with a rebellious new apprentice, the death of Sherlock Holmes, and the inexplicable absence of humor in the once-comedic novels of Thomas Hardy. While her sixteen-year-old daughter would rather sleep than save the world, Thursday is confronted with a government plagued by a dangerous excess of stupidity. Additionally, the Stiltonista Cheese Mafia is causing unrest in her hometown of Swindon. As reality is threatened by new formats, Thursday must once again prove her skills and push the boundaries of storytelling to preserve the reading experience from certain doom.