Good Omens

Neil Gaiman · Terry Pratchett

Nov 2011 · Random House

About this ebook

GOOD OMENS SEASON 2 COMING 28TH JULY ON AMAZON PRIME.

The book behind the Amazon Prime / BBC Series starring David Tennant, Michael Sheen, Jon Hamm and Benedict Cumberbatch.

'Ridiculously inventive and gloriously funny' Guardian

What if, for once, the predictions are right, and the Apocalypse really is due to arrive next Saturday, just after tea?

It's a predicament that Aziraphale, a somewhat fussy angel, and Crowley, a fast-living demon, now find themselves in. They've been living amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and, truth be told, have grown rather fond of the lifestyle and, in all honesty, are not actually looking forward to the coming Apocalypse.

And then there's the small matter that someone appears to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .
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What readers are saying about Good Omens:

***** 'A superb recipe for disaster. I didn't stop grinning from beginning to end.'
***** 'Both Gaiman and Pratchett are great authors and they complement each other brilliantly.'
***** 'Superbly enjoyable read. Seamlessly co-written.'

Ratings and reviews

This book is genuinely rip-snortingly funny. I may occasionally raise a wry grin or even a subdued chuckle at a book but this one had me guffawing all over the place, so much so my other half banned me from taking this one in to work to read - fearing, I think, they would think I had lost my last fragile grip on sanity. The humour is relentlessly British which has a strange sort of comfort to it and there is no attempt made to gussie things up or explain them for a non-British audience. Not only did the strength of the humour surprise me but the book does not read like a collaboration at all, it has a distinct voice with the odd bit that makes you go clearly a Gaiman idea or I can see Pratchett all over that thought. The writing blends seamlessly together and you get the idea that the authors had an absolute blast creating this version of our world. I did find it went off the boil a little bit towards to the end - a bit too much Newt Pulsifer and not enough Aziraphale or Crowley, but that is a minor niggle. But it does point to the fact that it was the back and forth between the Angel and the Demon that made this one for me. Having spent so long putting up with Humanity on the Earth they have become rather fond of them and don't really want to see them destroyed so when the call comes in from their diametrically opposed Heads Of Department that Armageddon is due both of them feel a sinking sense of disappointment and get their heads together to see if they can divert the ineffability of it all. Fortunately, thanks to Sister Mary Locquacious, the Anti-Christ seems to have gone missing and without him things are going to be a bit tricky to get going. Still, the Four Bikers Of The Apocalypse are primed and ready so there's that going for the Great Plan. I could spend hours dissecting this book and reeling off favourite passages and little tics that pleased me. I shall, for once, refrain. Apart from saying that the fact The Devil gets the M25, Manchester and Glasgow makes an awful lot of sense - I work in the Transport Industry and the M25 strikes dread in to all our hearts; I'm from Lancashire and Manchester is, well, Manchester (enough said); I'm married to a Glaswegian. Finally it makes sense, it's all Crowley's fault! The interplay between the characters is superbly written and the story sucks you right in. I am sure there is much I missed as I didn't so much read this book as absorb it over two sittings. Sadly these two sittings were a week apart. My big issue now is whether or not to watch the serialisation of the book.

Ever since I first read Good Omens 20ish years ago, it has been my all-time favourite. It is full of excellent storytelling and lovable characters - never knew one could love a Hellhound so much! It's funny and witty and clever, but also deep and fantastical, containing (at least) two of my top favourite quotes: -- "It may help to understand human affairs to be clear that most of the great triumphs and tragedies of history are caused, not by people being fundamentally good or fundamentally bad, but by people being fundamentally people." -- and -- "Anyway, if you stop tellin' people it's all sorted out afer they're dead, they might try sorting it all out while they're alive." I cannot recommend Good Omens – or either of the authors independently – enough. Neil and Sir Terry (may he rest in peace) are truly masters of their craft.

I could just say "A classic . . . Fullstop"! But, I'll add . . . As good as you would expect from two masters of the genre, at the top of their game(s), teaming up a la Spiderman and Ironman, to punch out an amazing novel. Not only funny, with interesting characters, but keeps you enthralled. The aligned environmental topics seem even more relevant when you realise the book was published nearly 30 years ago. Just buy it and read it. You'll be doing yourself a favour.

About the author

Neil Gaiman (Author)
Neil Gaiman is the acclaimed creator of the graphic novel series SANDMAN and of such novels for children as Coraline and for adults as American Gods and Stardust. His comics and novels have sold in their tens of millions. Like Terry, his works have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and also like Terry, he is the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. Unlike Terry, he has never been awarded a knighthood for services to literature, although his mother thinks that sooner or later the Queen will read one of his books and immediately knight him if she likes it, and that to be on the safe side he should leave out the rude words.He does have the Newbery Medal, though.
www.neilgaiman.com

Terry Pratchett (Author)
Terry Pratchett is the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. Raising Steam is his fortieth Discworld novel. His books have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he is the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal, as well as being awarded a knighthood for services to literature. After falling out with his keyboard he now talks to his computer. Occasionally, these days, it answers back.

www.terrypratchett.co.uk
@terryandrob