The end of the world is nigh, but it is isn’t coming along as smoothly as Good and Evil would have liked. The Antichrist has gone missing, for a start. But they’d have known that if they’d have managed to grab a copy of the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, which is the only reliable guide to the future written by a witch in 1655, just before she exploded. As Judgement Day draws near, a vast cast of weird and wonderful characters try to figure out their role in the end of the world – if it ever happens, that is.
Good Omens is endlessly funny and incredibly clever, but I never expected anything less from Pratchett and Gaiman. It follows the stories of far too many characters to count (including an angel and a demon, the Antichrist himself, a fake Antichrist, a hell hound, the four bikers of the apocalypse, a modern day witch and a mental old witch-hunter) and the plot jumps around all over the place. However, the warm and witty storytelling style ensured that I didn’t get fed up even when I was totally confused as to what was going on.
One thing about Good Omens that I really loved is how very silly and shambolic and British it all is. Of all the places in all the world, the apocalypse centres around a quaint village in the English countryside, which gives plenty of scope for bizarre rural happenings and eccentric characters. I particularly enjoyed the Them – a gang of young kids which is inadvertently headed up the 11-year-old Antichrist – as they roamed about the countryside philosophising about the world and getting up to no good.
All in all, Good Omens is a truly charming and very funny fantasy tale that will show you there isn’t that much difference between Good and Evil after all.
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what was the contribution of Neil Gaiman in this book
I believe the basic premise for the story was originally Gaiman’s and after chatting with Pratchett about it they decided to write it together.
Ah..interesting. Did you watch the TV series?
Not yet but I’ve seen the trailer and it looks brilliant – I hope it lives up to the book!
I’m going to have to get this! Thanks for the reminder that the book’s out there waiting to be read.
I’ve read this so many times my paper copy is falling apart. And now it’s been dramatised on Amazon!
Yes I’m really looking forward to the series, I must start watching it soon. Have you watched it? I hope it lives up to the book.
Not yet, but it has David Tennant and Michael Sheen in it so I have high hopes!