Good Omens

Yes, I'm afraid it's true. Crazy, isn't it!?! Good Omens spent years among my "books to read" piles. Although I knew how good it was, there was always another novel clamoring for my attention.

Why read it now, after more than a decade? Well, I needed to read it at some point, that's for sure. And I was waiting for my review copy of Gaiman's Fragile Things, so I figured it would put me in the appropriate mood.

Written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, Good Omens is an irresistible joyride! Understandably, anything produced by these two authors simply cannot not be fun. The witty sense of humor for which they are both known permeates the entire narrative.

Nevertheless, using Armageddon as the backdrop of the tale was a tall order. That they managed to turn the end of the world into something so hilarious is quite a feat. If you need a break from works by authors such as Hal Duncan, R. Scott Bakker, Steven Erikson and co., Good Omens turns out to be just what the doctor ordered. Intelligent and funny, this book provides a pleasant interlude in between bigger and "deeper" works of speculative fiction.

When the Antichrist is "accidentally" misplaced at birth, the master plan leading humanity toward the Last Battle Between Heaven and Hell takes an unanticipated turn. Crowley, a demon, and Aziraphale, an angel, have grown quite fond of the world and its inhabitants. Which means that Armageddon doesn't necessarily sit well with either of them. Populating this unique take on the eternal battle between good and evil is a cast of memorable characters. Among them, a group of children proceed to re-enact the Spanish Inquisition, hoping to turn it into the British Inquisition. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse become bikers. A witchfinder recruit falls for the witch he was sent to neutralize. Add to the mix aliens, tunneling Tibetans, and the rediscovery of the lost continent of Atlantis, and you've got an enjoyable reading experience ahead of you!

Good Omens is as fun a novel as you are likely to read. If, like me, you have yet to give it a chance, please do so ASAP. You won't regret it!

The final verdict: 8/10

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