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0 of 1 members found this review helpful.Stilted prose, predictable story
“The kindest thing I can say about this book is that I have read worse.
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-11-11.
A few chapters are okay, almost, when the story manages to stay focused and grounded, not in the sense of being grounded in reality (which is impossible in a story about an apocalypse), but in the sense of following the narrative, maintaining a consistent voice, and keeping the reader immersed. Most of the time, this book fails at all of the above.
Authors should feel free to add jokes to their books, but when the story stops completely for the sake of a joke that adds nothing to the plot, then perhaps the joke would be better off demoted to a footnote or perhaps excised altogether. The early goings are rife with this sort of chicanery, the narrator rambling on about speculative metaphysics and the points of view of characters who disappear ten pages in. Although not a deal breaker, this is a bit annoying, especially when the tone finally shifts to something more conventional. While variety is to be commended in prose, when an author achieves it by concatenating a joke book onto a novel and stirring, the result is usually very little to admire.
The story itself manages nothing new. Once you figure out the personalities of the characters, you know pretty much how it has to end, and the book does nothing to challenge the obvious notions. Anywhere. A novel by someone often described (by his fans, at least) as a satirist ought to be a bit braver. This story could have been interesting. It could have offered us some new thoughts, some novel insight into the human condition, some fresh take on the stale fantasy genre. Yet it does not. Once the characters are set up, it grinds to its inevitable conclusion, not once stopping to question where it is going or why.
Occasionally a dull plot can be salvaged by memorable characters, at least to some degree, but this does not happen here. The angel and devil pictured on the cover spend the entire story accomplishing little other than taking the initial dull impressions they give off in the early chapters and reconfirming them, and even then not as the audience is meant to view them. Crowley, who could have been so much more, comes off as even more boring and stuffy than Aziraphale, affecting throughout tired stereotypes of vaguely upscale hipster evil. At least Aziraphale spends a little bit of the plot expressing love for a bookstore, which ends up being the only endearing trait between them. As the rest of the characters are cut wholesale from stock cardboard, little more need be said about them.
A last chance to save the book might have been the writing style, but this fails on many levels. Despite having two authors, the book manages to be filled entirely with one repetitive sentence structure and approximately zero bits of interesting imagery, zero instances of imaginative metaphor, and nothing whatsoever that might be suitable as a sample of what the heights of our modern literature can reach when truly inspired authors create their art. The prose, simply put, is boring. Little would be lost in reading someone's detailed synopsis of the story instead of the book itself. Say what you want about the story, but it fails as literature. As writing. It fails at being in any way interesting.
The book retains two stars mainly for its (unrealized) potential. Perhaps someday a more talented author will take up the challenge of writing a humorous apocalypse. I'd certainly like to read that.” -
Terry Pratchett fans will like it! Best Neil Gaiman book I've ever read!
“Hilarious, witty, constant laughs and very smartly written.
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-09-22.
Unfortunately it confirmed a fear of mine. I have tried, but I just don't like Neil Gaiman's writing. This is by far the best of the books with his name on it I read, but the parts I liked had Terry Pratchett's signature all over them...had it not been for Terry I don't think I'd like it at all.
Moral of the story - if you like Terry Pratchett, you'll probably like this book. If you like Neil, you might anyway.” -
The Apocalypse.....
“has never been more exciting. I thouroughly enjoyed this book. I would compare Gaiman & Pratchetts' writing style in this book to that of Douglas Adams (Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy). I especially liked the 4 "bikers" of the Apocalypse. If you have an open mind and can laugh easily this is the book for you!!! ”
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-09-09. -
a hilarious apocalypse!
“This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I went for it because I love Terry Pratchett's writing. I have never read Neil Gaiman before, but after this I'm eager to get my hands on something of his. I can feel the influences of both authors in the book, and the whole is cohesive and delightful in a fabulously dark way. This edition also has extras at the end, including essays by the authors about one another and how they made the book. I loved every page of this and will reread it many, many times.”
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-08-29. -
I see a good time
“This is a very fun book about the expected end of the world, and the unlikely group that forms to stop it from happening. I was entertained and amused through the whole book, the characters, the descriptions, it was all a lot of fun. With some nuggets thrown in that you can chew on for a while, if you're feeling so inclined.”
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-08-22.
