THE ILLUSTRATED GOOD OMENS

Description

There is a hint of Armageddon in the air. According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (recorded, thankfully, in 1655, before she blew up her entire village and all its inhabitants, who had gathered to watch her burn), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. So the Armies of Good and Evil are massing, the four Bikers of the Apocalypse are revving up their mighty hogs and hitting the road, and the world''s last two remaining witchfinders are getting ready to Fight the Good Fight. Atlantis is rising. Frogs are falling. Tempers are flaring, and everything appears to be going to Divine Plan. Except that a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon are not particularly looking forward to the coming Rapture. They''ve lived amongst Humanity for millennia, and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle. So if Crowley and Aziraphale are going to stop it from happening, they''ve got to find and kill the AntiChrist (which is a shame, really, as he''s a nice kid). There''s just one glitch: someone seems to have misplaced him. This edition features a new revised text, approved by Neil Gaiman and the Pratchett Estate, which clears up many typos and errors from previous editions. It also features twelve full colour illustrations from Paul Kidby - Terry Pratchett''s artist of choice - and further pencil drawings. Review: A book I will re-read, and re-read and re-read again! - Terry Pratchett is a firm favourite author of mine. I love the discworld and cannot wait to continue journeying through the series. Neil Gaiman is another firm favourite. He is a literary superstar! (American Gods, Anansi Boys, and Neverwhere are all due rereads too!) Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman together? A match made in Heaven (Or perhaps not, depending on how deeply you read into Good Omens). I first read Good Omens back in 2017, whilst on a binge read of Neil Gaiman’s books. I adored it! Fast forward to this month, when I reread it, and enjoyed it just as much – If not more! In the beginning there was Aziraphale (an angel; originally a guardian of the gates of Eden) and Crowley (a demon; originally the serpent who tempted Eve). Having been enemies for thousands of years, they were “almost friends” long before the apocalypse began. Although the book is a comedy about the birth of the son of Satan, and the coming of the End Times, it is also a love story of epic proportions. Firstly, that of Aziraphale and Crowley’s asexual love for one another (Or perhaps sexual, who am I to decide?). Secondly, that of Adam and the “Them,” and their love for one another as friends. Finally, the attraction of Witchfinder Private Newton Pulsifer to the occultist, Anathema Device. Interestingly, Anathema Device is one of several characters in Good Omens named after the original Pendle witches, as well as Agnes Nutter, a prophet burned at the stake. The Pendle Witches are a never ending source of curiosity for me. Good Omens also parodies Matthew Hopkins’ title of “Witchfinder General.” Matthew Hopkins (Approx. 1620-1647) was indeed a witchfinder by trade, and though he claimed to hold the office of Witchfinder General, that title was never bestowed by Parliament. Finally, I found the modern versions of the Four Horsemen (although War is a woman) of the Apocalypse to be artfully depicted. War spreads conflict as a war correspondent; Famine promotes starvation and deprivation as an entrepreneur and dietician; Pollution ensures mass environmental disaster through a wide variety of jobs (Having worked at Chernobyl just before the plant went into meltdown), and; Death – being the leader of the four – reaps the souls of the dead, in the style of the traditional grim reaper. Here's to many more rereads to come over the years! Review: lindo - Maravilhoso