Good Omens - by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Cafe Society
1

In the last month or so, the Raven has had to revise for upcoming exams. She has therefore taken the opportunity to procrastinate with renewed vigour, and has read every book that has been steadily piling up on her bedside table since September.
And thus she has discovered Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, and is pleasantly surprised, as she does not enjoy tales of the Discworld.

[She’s sick of talking about herself in the third person now]

Has anyone else read this book? I enjoyed it so much that I figured I couldn’t be the only one… and I found it so fresh and different that I thought I’d share, and recommend it to those who haven’t heard of it before.

Hail, the Four Horsepersons of the Apocalypse…

2

I loved Good Omens, but it’s been a few years since I read it. The way they put Famine top work was probably my favorite part of the book, after the, um, hazardous materials scene. :slight_smile: I can’t remember if it’s a tag line or a blurb I’m remembering, but I always think of the line “The Apocalypse has never been funnier!”

If you’re in a mood to read more Apocalyptic humor, try Chabon’s new book Summerland.

3

Kinda funny, the Raven not being very fond of Discworld tales. I thought liking them and Good Omens, would go hand in hand.

That said, yes, it’s an absolute favourite, which I read at least once a year. It’s take on good and evil is very profound.

Which DW books have you tried? If you like GO, I’d be surprised if you don’t like Small Gods or The Amazing Maurice and his educated Rodents.

4

I love that book! I’ve probably read it about twenty times - it’s a comfort novel for me. Aziraphale and Crawley are the most lifelike angel and demon I’ve ever come across in fiction, and the kids remind me of me and my friends when I was young (I was Pepper).

If you don’t like Discworld stories, you could try The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. It is is a discworld story, but for some reason a lot of people who dislike Discworld (inc. my GF) do like this book.

5

Oh, this is one of my favorite books.

Crowley and Aziraphale… they are so fabulous. Especially Crowley. I looooove him.

6

Let me be a ditto head here and say Me Too! Good Omens is a delightful book, that has kept me up at night many a time.

Of course I abhor just about everything the two have done seperately, but that is another issue.

7

I’ve read Good Omens at least six or seven times, and I never get tired of re-reading it. Unbelievably brilliant.

8

I did enjoy Pyramids. I tried another couple of them, but found them less engaging. I’d tell you which ones, but I’ve forgotten the titles… um… Hogfather? Or did I just make that up?

Thanks for the recommendations. I didn’t know The Amazing Maurice… was a Discworld novel - didn’t it just win an award as a children’s book?

9

Never got into the Discworld thing, but Good Omens I thought was excellent (or at least the first three quarters was - I never was one for endings)

The Naming of The Four Bikers of the Apocolypse was classic.

10

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read Good Omens it’s one of my favorites. When I finally got round to reading a couple of Discworld books last year, I was very disappointed. I didn’t find them at all amusing.

11

Good Omens was my first introduction to Neil Gaiman. Though it seems to owe more to Pratchett (Death is his, not Gaiman’s). I liked it, but it isn’t the best of either writer.

12

I loved it too, but it is not Gaiman’s best. I was able to get through it, putting it above any other Pratchett work I’ve seen. Anyone have any nonsuck-uhm-discworld books to recommend?

13

I loved the hellhound, and the “buy not Betamacks” prophecy of Agnes Nutter.

When I read a few years ago that Damon and Affleck were playing angels in their new movie, I was terrified they were doing this one. Instead the movie rights are currently controlled by Terry Gilliam who keeps putting it on back burner.

It’s been done several times here, but I’ll give my dreamcast for the movie just for shites and giggles (far from complete):

Crowley- Jude Law
Azirophale- Hugh Grant

Shadwell- Billy Connelly
Newton- Nicholas Brendan

Agnes Nutter- Judi Dench

War- Salma Hayek
Famine- Michael McShane
Pollution- Bob Hoskins

14

Gaiman and Pratchett acknowledge that the writing was about 10/90 split in Pratchett’s favor. Gaiman’s contribution were more plotwise. They’ve been offered what they call “a truckload of money” for a sequel but have refused, though they say they’d be willing to write an unrelated second novel together.

15

I haven’t read it in ages but aye it’s a great book. Just to balance out all the Crowely love one usually hears I’d like to mention my deep fondness for Aziraphale. Surely I’m not alone in this preference?

I like the look of that cast list Sampiro, Billy Connelly as Shadwell strikes me as particulary inspired.

16

I loved the book so much I tracked down a signed first edition :slight_smile:

I love the whole book, and reread it all the time (once every few months)

My favorite the “other” four horsemen. I even have a screen name on AOL being “Mancoveredinfish”

17

I only just discovered this book a bit ago. Some of my pals on another board were discussing favorite writers and Pratchett came up, then I found Good Omens at the thrift store for 20 cents, so I picked it up. Throughly enjoyed it.

Can’t see Salma Hayek as War, though. I think I’d love to see Kristin Johnson in that role.

18

Nope. I love him, too. I especially love the fact he’s “gayer than a treeful of monkeys on nitrous oxide.”

19

My favorite bit in the whole book was:

How all the cassettes in Crowley’s car turned to Queen tapes after 20 days of sitting in the car. Fat Bottomed Girls by Vaughn Williams and such.

20

A very good book, I’ve read it three or four times.