Apocalypse Now! (Good Omens - Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman)

Member Name: elvis42

Product:	Good Omens - Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
Date:	12/08/00 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything

Disadvantages: Nothing

This really is one of my favourite books around, combining the skills of Gaiman and Pratchett to spin a yarn about the upcoming apocalypse was a truly ingenious idea and I, for one, applaud whoever first thought of it. Pratchett brings his usual tomfoolery and skilful comedic writing together with Gaiman's love of the supernatural and philosophical debates over the heave/hell divide, the story is GREAT and well, the whole package is superb.

The story revolves around the only accurate prophet England has ever seen and her prophecies for the coming of the Apocalypse. Add to this Aziraphale and Crowley, respectively an angel and demon who;ve gone native in their time on Earth and become a little too friendly, and the birth of the anti-Christ and you have the basic seeds of the novel.

The story deals with some very philosophical points - are we evil by birth or environment, but it never dwells on them for very long, moving swiftly onto narrative and fun-packed adventure as Crowley and Aziraphale realise they've been watching the wrong Anti-Christ and now they only have a few days to prevent Armageddon, with unlikely help from the Witchfinder General and Sergeant, a witch (descendant of aforementioned prophet) and the 'gang' of Anti-Christ Adam.

One of my most enduring memories of the novel is the four horsemen of the Apocalypse and the extra 'horsemen' they pick up on the way when they meet some Hell's Angels in a bar, who then struggle to come up with appropriate names, such as 'Low-Alcohol Lager', which somehow doesn't pack the punch that 'Famine' does ;-p

Honestly though, this books packs so many punches and so many excellent passages that it's really hard for me to even describe except to recommend it to anyone who reads. It's completely inspired and I would really truly force any of my friends who hadn't read it to do so immediately.

Summary: