Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Book Description

According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world’s only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.

So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth’s mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist …

Review

The end is nigh! But don’t worry, an angel and a demon have teamed up to save humanity and prevent the apocalypse.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett is a hilarious, satirical read that skillfully skewers religious beliefs and apocalyptic literature. The novel follows the story of an angel and demon who have been living amongst humans for a very long time and have grown to love their life on Earth. When the two discover the imminent arrival of the apocalypse, they work together to prevent it from happening, despite opposition from their respective superiors.

Although I’d watched the version available on Amazon Prime, I adored this book. I read it as an audiobook and marveled at Martin Jarvis’s performance. The book features a large cast of characters, and it was fun to listen to Jarvis switch between them and the omniscient narrator.

Gaiman and Pratchett’s writing styles blend seamlessly, resulting in a story that kept me giggling and light-hearted despite the dark themes. They crafted vibrant characters, and the (often ludicrous) plot twists kept me engaged from start to finish. I loved how the authors used humor and irony to tackle serious social themes.

If you’re a fan of either author, or just enjoy a good laugh, Good Omens is a terrific read. The unique blend of satire, humor, and adventure makes it a classic in its own right. I think the style of humor will appeal to fans of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The Princess Bride. So, if you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh out loud while also providing some thought-provoking commentary on religion and humanity, Good Omens is definitely worth picking up.

Content Warning

Profanity, Religious Criticism, Sexual references, Violence

The header photo is a composite image. Base image photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash