Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

369 Pages Trade Paperback (Fiction)

Good Omens is a collaboration by Pratchett and Gaiman written before either of them had really hit it as authors. The book starts out 11 years before the Apocalypse. An Angel and a Demon are at a hospital to witness the birth of the Anti-Christ. A quick switch by satanic nuns leaves the pair looking after the wrong child. Both characters think they are better off with the world staying as it is and think raising the child with an equal measure of good and evil will lead to a longer existence on earth.
11 years later we join with Newton Pulsifer and Anathema Device. Anathema is the distant relative of Agnes Nutter. Agnes is the only fully accurate witch to see into the future. Anathema ancestors have all been keeping track of and cross referencing Agnes’ predictions. Ananthema has realized that the end of the world is near. Newton Pulsifer just wants a job and soon finds himself working to rid the world of evil witches. This eventually leads him to Anathema and they soon are working to save the world.

The book is a lot of fun. The quirkiness of the characters makes for interesting things at every page. The Angel and the Demon make for the most fun using minor miracles to make their lives easier. It reads very easily and I was encouraged to keep reading whenever I had a chance.

After the story is done the writers both comment on how the book was made. Each wrote different parts. Then they would work over the phone finishing ideas and tuning other parts. It seems as if it was a true collaboration through and through.

Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read. It was funny and engaging throughout

2 Intellectual/Emotional – It was a fun exersize in seeing the end of the world, but I never felt that invested in the book.

5 Readability/Style – Both writers are great and this book shows it on every page.

3 Long Term – Giaman and Pratchett are both famous writers. This collaboration will stand the test of time. That said, both authors have works that stand better on their own keeping it from earning a 4.

10 out of 13 – I think most readers would find this book worth their time. If you haven’t read either author I suggest this as a lead in and then check out their other books.

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