I am a fan of Monte Python and British comedy in general so loving this book came naturally to me! Good Omens, The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett (Discworld Series) and Neil Gaiman (Sandman & Coraline) boasts some laugh-out-loud antics around the final days of mankind. Well, I laughed out loud anyway! It’s a wacky story with an abundance of very interesting and comical characters that readers become completely infatuated with. The countdown to the Apocalypse begins with the confused birth and subsequent misplacing of the Anti-Christ (ironically named Adam). What takes place thereafter is a whacky unfortunate mess of what the very detailed and calculated end of the world isn’t supposed to be. But it would be much more fun if it looked like what Gaiman and Pratchett envisioned in this funny-as-hell read!
The authors’ personifications of good and evil come in the forms of Crowley (a mischievous demon) and Aziraphale (a persnickety angel). These two are not looking forward to the coming of The End and decide to collaborate to outwit Armageddon. When their plan to pull the ole switch-a-roo on the Anti-Christ infant goes awry, they stumble over Anathema Device, Witch, and a book written by her ancestor. This book holds the most accurate prophesies ever written (in riddle form, mind you) and could hold the answers to stopping Armageddon. What ensues is a mass of colorful characters sputtering their way to end of mankind to fulfill their destinies. Dare I say, “All Hell breaks loose!“ Trees take over shopping malls, rain comes in the form of fish falling from the sky, and Alien police pull people over and chastise them for what they’ve done to the planet, just to name a few odd happenings.
Once Adam, The Spawn, turns 11 our cast begins a race to Tadfield, a quintessential English village and the place where the war of all wars will begin. He’s been a normal kid until now but he begins to feel differently and sees things in a new light. His friends begin to see him differently as well. Once everyone has gathered, the pinnacle moment takes place as the Metatron (voice of God) and Beelzebub (voice of Satan) meet with Adam and discuss the logic of “the end”. What comes about is a great surprise for such a funny book. Very poignant indeed. But you won’t get details from me! You’ll have to read it to believe it.
As I rate this book, I’m reminded of an Oscar Wilde quote, “We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language.“ There isn’t a truer statement that nails this book down. The humor is certainly British and sometimes very “inside England’s borders” if you know what I mean. Other than that, hilarious footnotes, tons-o-puns, and ironic illusions make this book a winner in my eyes! I give it 4 outta 5 pumps.
