First impressions

This week's First Impressions, the competition in which you have to identify a book from its opening line, comes from an emigre millenary: "The drought had lasted now for ten million years, and the reign of the terrible lizards had long since ended."

Entries should be submitted to First Impressions, The THES, Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1 9XY, faxed to 0171 782 3300 or emailed to theschat@thes.co.uk The winner receives a Pounds 20 book token and the closing date is July 29. The winner of last week's competition, who identified Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange, is Ann Black of Oxford.