Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett - ★★★★.½

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AUTHORS: Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
GENRE: Comic Dark Fantasy, Satire.
RATING: 4.5 stars.

In a Nutshell: Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett – such a writing pair-up ought to deliver, right? Brilliant, humorous, original, thought-provoking, and memorable. 


Story Synopsis:
As per a prophecy written by Agnes Nutter, a 17th century witch, the world is due to end next Saturday. Two people, or rather, two beings – one ethereal and one occult – aren’t happy about this. Aziraphale the angel and Crowley the demon have lived in Earth since ages, and have grown fond of it and its quirky denizens, despite their flaws. They are ready to go against their superiors and stop the upcoming Armageddon. However, with the Antichrist, the Them and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse already stirring things up, and the planet’s last two witch-finders getting ready for a fight, the going is quite complicated. Add to this some weird planetary shifts and zoological incidents, and you will begin to wonder if there are any good omens in the book.
The story comes to us from the third person limited perspective of several characters.


The book has been reviewed thousands of times and many might have watched the show as well. So I don’t have much new to add.


Bookish Yays:
😍 The lead characters: Aziraphale and Crowley have a great connect that elevates the story. Their banter is amazing.

😍 The other characters: Well-sketched and memorable. Quite a few impactful ones among these.

😍 The plot: Wowzah! Amazing how the length doesn’t affect the flow and the handling of so many subplots, especially with two writers at the helm. Everything fits neatly at the end.

😍 The writing: Neil Gaiman. Need I say more! I’ve not read Terry Pratchett, so I can’t comment about him though I am very eager to read his Discworld books. However, Neil Gaiman is among my favourite authors for his writing, his imagination, and his nature. Even when he goofs up, he is better than some other popular writers. He didn’t disappoint me this time as well.

😍 The prose: So many thought-provoking lines, juxtaposed with zingy one-liners!

😍 The themes: Good vs. evil, nature vs. nurture, blind obedience vs. sensible compliance, free will vs. destiny.

😍 The humour: Tongue-in-cheek, just as I love it. Loved how it took the biblical concept of the Apocalypse and the Antichrist, and turned it into a satire. I love books that poke fun at zealots – both religious and otherwise – without resorting to filthy mudslinging. A lot of the content in the book deserves pondering over.

😍 The diversity: Well represented, not in terms of race but in terms of origin. Angels, demons and humans all get enough attention. As do male and female and genderless characters.

😍 The impact: Despite having so many fun elements, the plot has depth, passing an unabashed statement on human values and beliefs and the hypocrisy of “developed” society. This would be the perfect read for a fruitful bookish discussion.


Bookish Nays:
😓 Too many characters and subplots that are sometimes confusing to keep track of.


All in all, despite the length and the medium pace, I relished this book as it provided entertainment as well as food for thought. It offered me everything I expected of it, and then some more.

If you love a combination of introspection and hilarity and some brilliant writing, check this book out!

On to watch the show now! So excited!

(Update 1: 18th Sept 2023: Finally watched Season One of the show, which is based on this book. It was every bit of AWESOME! Impeccable casting, great performances, and a mindblowing screenplay. I loved the novel elements introduced at the climax.

Update 2: 20th December 2023: Watched Season two as well! Whoa! No spoilers. But there better be a Season Three!)

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