Review by Booklist Review
An amiably zany novel of religious and social satire featuring a devil and an angel who join forces to prevent Armageddon (which would spoil their comfortable life-styles) by chasing down the Antichrist, a nice but invulnerable 11-year-old boy. This novel is definitely an acquired taste, but when one considers the popularity of authors such as Pratchett himself and Douglas Adams, it's obvious that there are plenty of readers who have indeed acquired the taste. For collections where Pratchett, Adams, and the like have found readers. --Roland Green
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This zany tale of the bungling of Armageddon features an angel, a demon, an 11-year-old Antichrist and a doomsaying witch; unmistakably British humor is in abundance. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
The birth of the Antichrist in a London hospital begins the countdown to Armageddon. As the forces of both Heaven and Hell anticipate the coming battle to decide the world's fate, a desperate few--including an angel with a taste for rare books, a demon in mirrorshades, the descendant of the world's most accurate prophetess, a part-time witchfinder, four young children, and a dog--race against time to prevent it. Irreverently funny and unexpectedly wise, this collaboration between comics writer Gaiman and Discworld series author Pratchett fuses fantasy and comedy into an untrammeled romp through the latter days. Highly recommended for fantasy and general fiction collections. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
YA-- The end of the world is nigh! At least according to the prophecies of Agnes Nutter, a witch whose predictions are usually accurate but seldom heeded. Eleven years before the deadly Last Saturday Night, the ancient rivals of good and evil personified by the angelic Aziraphale (otherwise living as a London book dealer) and the demonic devil and former serpent Crowley clash in substituting the Antichrist during the birth of a baby. But the babies are switched as an unexpected third child enters the picture. The confusion picks up pace as witch hunters Sgt. Shadwell and Newton Pulsifer pursue modern Nutter follower Anathema Device. Along the way, countless puns, humorous footnotes, and satirical illusions enliven the story. A book that's sure to appeal to devoted fans of Douglas Adams.-- Diana C. Hirsch, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
This publisher's first novel is a gay, demented eschatological farce in which the Antichrist doesn't really have his heart in it. Eleven years before the end of the world foretold by accurate but obscure Agnes Nutter's prophecies, Sister Mary Loquacious--the Satanist charged with switching the infant Antichrist with another infant--flubs the job when a third infant is introduced into the scenario, and the Lord of Darkness gets shunted aside in favor of Adam Young, who grows into boyhood with an uncomfortable sense of mission. Awaited with fear by angelic Aziraphale and demonic Crowley--friendly rivals who don't want their worldly tug-of-war to end--with zealous hatred by Witchfinder Sgt. Shadwell and harlot-masseuse-medium Madame Tracy, and with ecstatic anticipation by latter-day Nutterite Anathema Device and Newton Pulsifer, who bounces from Shadwell's employ into Anathema's bed, the apocalypse looms--dripping with throwaway allusions, giggly footnotes, and broad swipes at the decline of the West. It's the ultimate Saturday night bummer, fueled by a miraculous thousand-ton theft of nuclear fuel and the determination of Adam's gang Them to follow the trail of the Four Bikers of the Apocalypse. Hilariously naughty, and just what you'd expect from a collaboration between comics-veteran Gaiman and fantasist Pratchett (Strata, 1981; The Light Fantastic, 1983). A best-seller in England, and a book to watch here. It could catch on with the Douglas Adams crowd. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
