'Gently' entertaining (The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul - Douglas Adams)

Member Name: John Rickard

Product:	The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul - Douglas Adams
Date:	26/06/00 (83 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny, well plotted and better than the first

Disadvantages: Still not Hitch-hikers

This is the second book featuring Douglas Adam's Dirky Gently. Perhaps because expections were not so high after the first book, I enjoyed this one much more. The plot revolves about the retired Viking gods and is based on the fantasy standard that the power of a god depends on the number of their worshippers, which makes these elderly gods rather limited.

Unlike the normal fantasy version, where faded gods become voices on the wind or some such, here they move into retirement homes. Unfortuantly, not all of the Gods are happy with this, and Dirk gets involved in one Gods attempt to gain control of Valhalla and reverse his fortunes. This is a stronger book that Dirk Gentlys Holistic Detective Ageny, with a much better plot, and the familiarity of the main character makes it more immediatly interesting.

Summary: