Numerous tales about the end of times – the apocalypse – have been told and retold since the very beginning of time. On the screen, on the page, in the news, on the stage, yes, it’s even in the Bible. Endless waves of fire, death and destruction thrusted upon the human race. Resistance is pointless, the end is near, and everyone will burn in the hottest pits of Hell – at least that’s how the Bible tells it.
In 1999 a great deal of the world’s population was certain that the world would end as we moved into the year 2000. People quit their jobs, sold their houses, and moved into the forest where they waited for the world to end. I bet they feel pretty stupid now. Some people believed that the robots would rise up and murder every single human being until they ruled the earth. I don’t get why the robots would to that, to be honest. Seems a bit pointless. At least put us in cages and use us for entertainment. Anyway… It`s safe to say that a great deal of stories have been told about the apocalypse, however, I guarantee that you have never experienced anything quite like this.
They say that everyone needs a friend sometimes and that friend can be found in the oddest of places. It is safe to say that Crawley, a demon, and Aziraphale, an angel, indeed met in the oddest of places. Their “friendship” was forged right outside the garden of Eden at the very beginning of time. They both agree that almighty God might have overreacted a tad when he evicted Adam and Eve. It was, after all, just a bloody apple, right?
Over the millennials, Crawley and Aziraphale continued to bump into one another from time to time, one trying to outsmart the other. The demon trying to crucify some woodworker, the angel trying to distract the romans, the demon making rats carry a particularly contagious disease, the angel trying to learn humans how to wash their hands – you get the point. Not making the world a bad place, but not exactly a good place either. Basically canceling each other out for the next 6000 years. Yes, the world is 6000 years old. It`s also a libra.
As the millennials go by, they grow quite fond of each other’s company and the company of humans, and all the great stuff humans invent. Being an immortal being on earth is pretty grand. However, as it was predicted since that fatal evening in the garden, the world must come to an end. This is agreed upon by both the devil and God almighty. That`s just how the cookie crumbles, so to speak. And who brings forth the apocalypse? The antichrist of course, or, as the demons call him, the Adversary, Destroyer of Kings, Angel of the Bottomless Pit, Great Beast that is called Dragon, Prince of This World, Father of Lies, Spawn of Satan, and Lord of Darkness. Crawley finds this name excessive.
Crawley is trusted with the great honor of delivering this ticking bomb unto the world and bring forth the apocalypse. However, he quite likes the world and doesn’t really care for an apocalyptic scheme. Aziraphale agrees. After all, heaven is pretty boring. All the good musicians and writers are in Hell, and he would quite like to not spend eternity listening to Salieri. Who even is Salieri?! Beats Aziraphale.
The unlikely pair therefore forge an ingenious plan to influence the antichrist (the Adversary, Destroyer of Kings, Angel of the Bottomless Pit, Great Beast that is called Dragon, Prince of This World, Father of Lies, Spawn of Satan, and Lord of Darkness) with both good and bad impulses. To cancel him out so to speak – not making him good, but not really making him evil. This involves years of tacky costumes and various kidnappings. It`s quite a clever plan. After what feels like decades (in reality it`s 11 years, but Crawley hates children) of conspiring against divine powers, the time has come to see if their efforts have borne fruit. There is only one problem. The child they have tended to turn out to not be the antichrist after all. They seem to have misplaced him…
Good Omens is written by Terri Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, two incredible fantasy writers, and is incredibly clever, funny, and surprising. The writing completely catches you off guard and forces you to take turns you didn’t know would be possible. It is an entirely new and satirical take on the “inevitable” apocalypse, and I promise you that you have never seen anything like this before. I loved every single page of this book and have read it multiple times. My copy is so worn out and tired that I have considered just putting it to rest, but I might just read it until the whole thing falls apart. Then I will buy a new copy.
Read this book. You won`t regret it.
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