Good Omens: the nice and accurate prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

A couple of months ago I watched the first episode of the series, Good Omens, and ended up binge watching the entire series, not realising that there were six one hour episodes. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The television series was written by Neil Gaiman based on the book, Good Omens, that he and Terry Pratchett published in 1990. Naturally I then had to read the book.

In 1655 Agnes Nutter wrote a book predicting the end of the world. As the time of the Armageddon approaches Aziraphale (angel) and Crowley (demon) who have been guarding earth for hundreds of years decide that they do not want the world to end and attempt to do something about it, even though it will enrage their superiors. Meanwhile eleven years earlier the Antichrist was brought to earth as a baby to be swapped for a human baby. The swap did not go to plan so there is much confusion as the other parties involved in organising the future chaos start coming together.

The authors have a great time introducing the reader to  angels, demons, the M25 motorway, Manchester, raining fish, dolphins, Atlantis, tunnelling Tibetans, witches, witch-finders, whales, Hell's Angels, Queen and Freddie Mercury, junk food made of junk, nuclear power, a flaming car, satanic nuns, plus many references to Americans and footnotes for Americans. The four bikers of the Apocalypse represent famine, pollution, war and death. There is lots of humour but it is sobering reading a book commenting on life and how humans are destroying their environment in 1990 and realising how little life has changed thirty-three years later.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. 

Readers who enjoyed The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams should enjoy this book.