Book Chop: Good Omens

Title: Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Authors: Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Genre: Magical Realism/Fantasy/Satire
Verdict: A real gem

Note: I listened to the audiobook.

Prior to picking up this book, I'd only read three titles by Neil Gaiman: Stardust, Anansi Boys and The Graveyard Book. The first was a case of "the movie was better than the book " (IMO), the second was something a sleeper that I rather enjoyed, and the latter was quite a treat. I think Gaiman's a cool guy and a talented author, based on those three. I've never read any of Pratchett's work, though I understand he's something of a heavy-hitter.

Good Omens is the story of an angel and a demon who team up to bungle the Apocalypse by causing the delivery of the infant Anti-Christ to go awry. He's raised by an American living in England, and plays with other children like normal. These scenes where he's playing are some of the more philosophical parts of the book, without being preachy or featuring characters that speak much higher than their age level would permit. In the category of "kids say the darnedest things," you see real wisdom in the words of eleven year-olds. (One of my personal favorites was the scene where they decided to be the Spanish Inquisition.)

The exchanges between Aziraphale (the angel) and Crowley (the demon) are also entertaining. You have one character who can't see the faults of being so uptight and rigid and obedient, and another who can't be trusted or valued based on any system of morals because he has none.

There's actually a whole array of interesting characters--a witch-hunter and his apprentice; the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, in various forms; and an antique book dealer who holds the titular collection of prophecies. My personal favorite was the group of bikers who followed the Four Horsemen, adding themselves to the mix with such titles as "War, Famine, Grievous Bodily Harm, Really Cool People," etc. That scene alone makes me want to own the book in print so I can go back and re-read it often.

I appreciate how each scene, each chapter, stood out as its own short story in a way. You could read one portion independent of the rest of the book (at least until you get to the climax) and have plenty to discuss and ponder, theologically speaking.

And above all, the humor is top-notch. I laughed aloud at plenty of it, and stopped to recount certain portions to my wife as I read it. I've been told that Pratchett is a remarkable satirist, and if that's the case I'll be looking into his work (especially since this one was written all the way back in the early 1990s.)

Be warned that there is some profanity speckled here and there. A few S-bombs, one F-bomb, and some Adult Topics that pop up without much warning. Still a PG-13, but not a light one.