Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Who Would Like This Book:
If you've ever wondered what would happen if the Apocalypse met British humor, this is your book. "Good Omens" is a hilarious and clever romp through the end times, brought to life by the witty partnership of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. You'll find angels and demons who'd rather hang out in bookshops than start Armageddon, a thoroughly English Antichrist, a book of prophecies that's both shockingly accurate and utterly useless, and the Four Horsemen on motorbikes. The writing is packed with clever footnotes and sharp cultural observations. Fans of Douglas Adams, anyone who loves satirical takes on religion, or readers looking for comic fantasy with plenty of heart will adore this cult classic.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers find the story a bit too rambling, with many subplots and frequent switches between a large cast of quirky characters. If you're easily lost with lots of perspective changes, or if dry, absurd British humor doesn’t tickle your funny bone, this might not be your cup of tea. The frequent use of footnotes can sometimes interrupt the flow. And if you're hoping for a straightforward narrative arc or a super tidy ending, you may find this book a bit chaotic. Those who prefer a more serious or traditional approach to religion may also find the irreverence grating.
About:
"Good Omens" is a witty and humorous take on the end of the world, where an angel and a demon work together to prevent the apocalypse from happening. The story involves a mix-up at a maternity hospital that leads to the Antichrist being raised by the wrong family, setting off a chain of events involving witches, witch hunters, prophecies, and the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The writing style is described as clever, funny, and full of gentle humor, blending the unique senses of humor of both Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett seamlessly.
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From The Publisher:
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 . . .
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17 comment(s)
This is a perfect example of a book that reads like a movie. It's so ridiculous and fun.
With two of my favourite authors colluding on this one it just couldn't fail to be a hoot, and i'm pleased to say it lived up to expectations. Nothing has yet knocked the discworld books off their well deserved top-spot, but this came pretty close to being on a par with a lot of them. Good characterization, nice plot, very humorous throughout with a good few really hilarious moments thrown in for good measure. An excellent read all round.
I would actually rate it 3.5 stars if half ratings were allowed. I had high expectations of this book after numerous people recommended it to me. It just didn't capture me like some other occult-themed fiction books that I've read recently have.
Good Omens had some humorous parts, but on the whole I found it distracting because it jumped around to different characters quite often. Thus, I felt like I couldn't get into a reading groove or feel anything except slight amusement at the clever writing here and there. I do think the book picked up near the end, and that's when I felt a little more engrossed and curious to how things would play out.
I enjoyed the Angel and Demon characters a lot, but couldn't really get invested in most of the other characters.
Overall, my rating is based more on my mood while reading versus a criticism of the writing itself. The story simply didn't capture me as it seems to have captured others. I felt myself eagerly wanting to reach the finish line instead of savoring the act of reading it.
I don’t really want to review this. Having read both authors I can tell you that all the best jokes probably came from Terry Pratchett.
Hilarity ensues.
Great collaboration! This book oozes satire.
DNF
After two dark and dreadful (but wonderful) English crime novels, I needed something completely different. This book is basically the opposite of dark and dreadful, even though it concerns itself with the end of the world. The humor is dry (although I think I missed some jokes, being American). This is one of those books where you can feel how much fun it was to write just by reading it. A must-read for fantasy and science fiction fans, and really even if you don't call yourself one you should read it anyway.
3.5 stars. It was okay. Didn’t love it; didn’t hate it. Could be having seen the series prior to reading the book ruined it for me a bit.
I had a hard time following the story. Reading the afterword explains why -- one author too many.
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Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch?
About the Author:
Neil Gaiman is the creator of The Sandman comic book series and the bestselling author of the novels Neverwhere (1995), Stardust (1999), the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning American Gods (2001), Coraline (2002), Anansi Boys (2005), The Ocean at the End of the Lane (2013), Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett, 1990) and a retelling of the Norse myths: Norse Mythology (2017). His short story collections include Smoke and Mirrors (1998) and Fragile Things (2006). His screenwriting credits include the original BBC TV series of Neverwhere (1996), Dave McKean's first feature film, Mirrormask (2005), two Doctor Who episodes, and Good Omens (2019). Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal, as well as being awarded a knighthood for services to literature. He died in March 2015. terrypratchettbooks.com
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