AustLit

'Rodney Rowbottom feels alone. His mother treats him like a baby. His father is too busy managing a huge experimental farm, where scientists conduct research into genetically modified crops, to spend time with his son. At school Rodney is stalked by Ben Houlihan - the local bully - and picked on because of his habit of fading away. But Rodney's spirits improve when he meets Mrs Strangeways and discovers the reason for his fading. She teaches him to disappear and reappear at will, which both thwarts and humiliates Houlihan.

'Rodney's fading is a symptom of his ability to switch between Earth and the parallel universes of futuristic Llandringodd and primitive Llondieval. Both are terrible places. In both of them, Rodney becomes embroiled in adventures from which he may not escape with his life...' (Publisher blurb)

'The mystery surrounding Professor Nettleforth’s disappearance is solved when the professor’s remains turn up in the backyard of his former home. It appears he was strangled and eaten by his own houseplant, a fact so bizarre that Frogmore is once again inundated with reporters. At school a new boy, Damien Berkinshaw, is showing a nosy interest in Rodney’s ability to fade. Damien pursues Rodney to obtain photographic evidence, a relentless pursuit that results in several accidents. In Llandringodd, the rule of law has broken down. The opportunistic Rafferty has taken advantage of the country’s environmental crisis and is making himself rich at Llandringoddians’ expense. He’s also depriving political opponents of their liberty. Amongst his prisoners are Chief Inspector Fox, DS Hound, Mr McTavish, Remus, Mrs Strangeways and Evelyn. Can Rodney rescue the two policemen and his friends? Can he help bring about Rafferty’s downfall?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.