Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (Discworld)

Neil Gaiman

I never knew the end of the world could be so much fun! The basic plot is that Armageddon (the...more

I never knew the end of the world could be so much fun! The basic plot is that Armageddon (the ultimate and final showdown between good and evil) is coming and an angel and a demon decide to team up and try to prevent it b/c if evil wins there'll be Hell to pay and if good wins it'll get really boring (in their opinions). And that's all that's basic about it! This is a truly entertaining journey through the imaginations of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. I've been a fan of Gaiman for a while, and I know I need to read (and will probably greatly enjoy) Pratchett, I just hadn't gotten around to it before, but I will definitely be making it more of a priority now. The only thing that really bothers me about this book is the thought of how much of the humor I just didn't get. There are just so many religious, literary, pop culture, etc. references that I'm sure I missed many; and not being British probably didn't help me any! However, there is plenty here for everyone with even the slightest sense of humor to enjoy. And for such a hilarious, fun book there's also quite a bit that will make you pause and reflect on your own beliefs. But that's certainly not necessary if all you want is a fun ride... Pratchett and Gaiman definitely deliver that!   hide

If you lean to the far, far, far right of any religious denomination, I wouldn't recommend this...more

If you lean to the far, far, far right of any religious denomination, I wouldn't recommend this book. For the rest of us who actually have a sense of humor about this sort of thing, have at it. I pretty much love every character in this book (even the "bad" guys like "War" and "Pollution," who took over for "Pestilence" after the invention of Penicillin). I would like to see if I could get Crowley's method of horticulture to actually work (having the 1920's Bentley would be nice too, even if the tape deck turns every tape you put in there into Queen's greatest hits, which really isn't all that bad if you think about it). If I ever have a son, I'd want him to be like Adam Young, a bit of a trouble maker, but deep down, just a really sweet kid. I mean, the truth of the matter really is that there isn't an apple worth eating that isn't worth the trouble you would get in for eating it.   hide

The British humor (read: humour) in Good Omens really lightens and humanizes what should be a dark...more

The British humor (read: humour) in Good Omens really lightens and humanizes what should be a dark and morally ambiguous tale of the gray areas between good and evil. True satire of religion, God, the devil, angels, demons, heaven, hell, and the connection we have to those concepts is hard to come by. But when it does, as in this case, you find yourself having a great laugh. And maybe even a bit of honest soul-searching as to where you stand when it comes to the best and worst of yourself. The realistically absurd scenarios contained, such as the anti-Christ growing up like a normal boy, demons helping angels and vice versa, and the completely unsurprising ways the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse occupy their downtime are not only fun, but blend seamlessly into the plot. Definitely recommend it. Multiple times.    hide

A comedy about The Apocalypse. It doesn't get much better than this folks. Terry Pratchett and...more

A comedy about The Apocalypse. It doesn't get much better than this folks. Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman provide an epic comedy that not only manages to make you laugh, but continue to do so from cover to cover. The authors delve into the such deep theological matters as the actions of the occult and ethereal in the affairs of men, and the dichotomy of good and evil, but always with an air of optimistic sarcasm. Hell comunicates with Crowly through his Queen mix tapes, and the Horseman Famine is a dietitian. The novel really shines where you can see exactly how the authors work together. Pratchett's comedy never overshadows Gaiman's dark visions, and visa versa.   hide

Gaiman and Pratchett both have a knack for warping the shape of myths while sustaining enough of...more

Gaiman and Pratchett both have a knack for warping the shape of myths while sustaining enough of their substance to make a book worth reading and re-reading, not just a quick laugh and quicker trip to the used-book store. I love both authors, and this collaboration is probably my favorite work by either one. (Possible exceptions: American Gods for Gaiman and Monstrous Regiment for Pratchett)   hide