Review: Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Anyone who picks up a copy of Good Omens for the first time is in for a treat. This novel is simply delicious as it pokes gentle fun at humankind ... or to be more specific, humankind, angels, demons and a few other things in the eleven days leading up to the apocalypse.

Aziraphale is an angel, sent to look over the earth and do good works and well, ensure that his side wins the all out war scheduled to occur between good and evil. Crawley is a serpent, who is sent by the other side to do evil and to ensure that his side wins the war. The only trouble is that the pair have found that they both have far more in common with each other, they're both rather sick of their jobs and neither of them are particularly interested in being a part of a war. Meanwhile, various characters who have their part to play in the apocalypse go about playing their part, often with comic results. And then there is eleven year old Adam Young, the rather spirited eleven year old boy and leader of a gang in a small English town that everybody knows as Them who is the key to it all. And what Adam does next will have far reaching consequences ...

This is a rollicking, entertaining read from start to finish. The authors work perfectly together, creating a book that is comical, imaginative and that showcases the worst (and the best) of humanity. Even the little touches--such as the curse placed on humanity that ensures that every cassette left inside a car for two weeks turns into Queen's Greatest Hits--hits that perfect, funny because it almost seems true note. And the ending is pure perfection. 

My only grumble with this one, which is often true with Pratchett's work is that occasionally a paragraph or two will need a second reading as it can become a bit too easy to get lost in the clever humour. 

Overall, an entertaining read. Highly recommended.

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