What to say that hasn't already been said a hundred times better by those more articulate than I. ( )

Wonderful fun, in the way you'd expect a Gaiman/Pratchet to be wonderful fun. A fun and dirty allegory about the apocalypse, I can hardly remember anything about it but I'd recommend it to anyone in an instant.  ( )

I picked this up off the donations table at the library, expecting to find it a mildly amusing quick read that I'd put back on the table when I was done. And that is exactly what happened. I'm not really into reading humor; I just don't find it particularly engaging. That said, the book was really witty and fast-moving, had some great characters and some real tension. I still put it back on the donations pile when I was done. ( )

It's time for Armageddon. We've waited long enough. Heaven and Hell are finally ready for their ultimate battle, and the world is facing impending destruction in a matter of hours. Only one problem: a few years back, someone inadvertently threw a wrench in the works, and now nothing is going according to plan. As a matter of fact, angels and demons may actually have to work together if they want to set things right. Which is to say, set them wrong. But for the right reasons. Er....

This novel is a fun jaunt through all the possible pratfalls that might divert the apocalypse. But rather than show only one side of the epic battle of Good vs. Evil, Gaiman and Pratchett paint a world in which there are no absolutes. After all, there can be no good without evil, and vice versa. In addition to being a remarkably well constructed story, with fun characters and an exciting plot, the story is a good reminder of the wonderful things that come in gray packages, rather than in black and white.

One of the most delightful things about this book is that things of the world that are made by angels, and things of the world that are made by demons, are virtually indistinguishable. In fact, even the angels and demons don't know who's responsible for which, and many of the world's best and worst things are caused not by divine intervention, but by humans themselves. We think. Gaiman and Pratchett certainly don't settle on any one particular dogma (predestination and free will get equal face time)... though the religious elements are decidedly Christian.

This book is much better written than some of Gaiman's, which leads me to believe that Pratchett may have had a controlling influence (in a good way!) that led to a tighter plot and more cohesive story line. The narrative drags a bit in the middle, but the witty banter and nothing-is-as-it-seems twists more than make up for it.

It's possible that some readers might be put off by the humor that is simultaneously reverent and irreverent. Much of what's in this story could be taken in a number of ways, so readers are cautioned to approach with an open mind, expecting a good time. With that approach, you will not be disappointed.

The fact that this book is so humorous and imaginatively-conceived (and passably-well written, as well) more than makes up for whatever offense my religious sensibilities suffered. I had never read Neil Gaiman or Terry Pratchett before, though I was aware of the cult following these two authors have, and I was prepared to be disappointed by another overhyped work I would've more enjoyed in middle school--but I was very pleasantly surprised.

This book is clever, thought-provoking, and amusing enough to make a commute that much shorter. I'd definitely recommend this to my more liberal friends. ( )