Filled with wit and comedy, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch is a delightfully demonic collaboration between Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet. With a star-studded TV adaptation aired in 2019, this fantasy-comedy has increased in popularity since its publication in 1990. Although a sequel was hinted at, it unfortunately never materialized, leaving many fans wondering where they could get their fix for more of Crowley’s sarcasm. Take a look at our suggestions for your next dose of heavenly (or not) humour.
1. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
If you’re looking for more of Gaiman’s light-hearted turn-of-phrase combined with a little fairytale magic, you may just want to catch a fallen star… and put it on your bookshelf. Written in the style of a pre-Tolkien fantasy, Gaiman delivers the charming tale of Tristran Thorn. Living in the little English village of Wall, the young man promises to catch a falling star and deliver it to the object of his affections. But once he reaches the landing site, Thorn is surprised to discover that the fallen star is actually a living woman.
Now thrust into the dangerous world of Faerie, Tristran’s task is no simple one. When he returns he will certainly not be the same man, if he even manages to make it back alive. Considerably more adult than its film adaptation, Stardust is yet more proof of Gaiman’s storytelling genius.
2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams’ mastery of the fantasy comedy genre has earned him a reputation throughout the galaxy. He was a huge influence on Gaiman, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in particular was voted one of America’s best-loved novels. The story follows Arthur Dent, an Earthling who is whisked away from Earth mere seconds before it is due to be demolished for a galactic freeway. Accompanied by his friend, a researcher for the revised Guide, he hitchhikes his way through space and time to discover the answer to life’s ultimate question. Kind of.
Insanely quotable and filled to the brim with Monty Python-esque british humour, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is still cracking readers up more than 40 years after its first publication.
3. Mort, by Terry Pratchett
The fourth book in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld universe, Mort is a favourite among Pratchett fans and the beginning of Death’s plotline. A surprisingly likeable fellow, Death is a cat person and has become tired of his soul-collecting career. Fascinated by humanity, he decides to take on an apprentice while he takes time off to discover what all the fuss is about. But new apprentice Mort finds his new occupation is not all it was cracked up to be. Despite the company benefits, such as unlimited use of the company horse, Binky, he finds that work soon starts interfering with his love life.
Set against a backdrop of utter madness and illogic, Pratchett’s humour and wit is on full display in Mort and is an excellent place to begin your voyage into the Discworld novels.
4. The Gentleman, by Forrest Leo
When the devil turns up to Lionel Savage’s costume party, Lionel is surprised to discover the two get on like a house on fire. But once the party is over, Savage discovers that he has accidentally sold his wife to Satan. Frantic, the poet assembles a team of witty and eccentric characters for a rescue mission.
Written with a Monty Python-esque flamboyance, The Gentleman is a hilarious twist on the classic tale of Faustus. What’s more, it contains several gems for the reader, with amusing footnotes from the editor and illustrations throughout. Fans of Terry Pratchett and P.G. Wodehouse will find this Victorian comedy an absolute riot.
5. The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig
The #1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, The Midnight Library tastefully tackles some difficult topics. Matt Haig transforms purgatory into a library, taking the protagonist on a journey of self discovery. Nora Seed begins her story in the wake of an attempted suicide, full of regret. But the library between life and death gives Nora the chance to revisit every life changing decision she ever made, to see how things might have been different.
Despite the difficult subject matter, the novel remains warm and humorous and celebrates the life changing power of books. Beautifully written, Haig’s uplifting novel is a poignant story of hope and second chances.
6. The Weirdness: A Novel, by Jeremy P. Bushnell
Aspiring writer Billy Ridgeway wakes up hungover and late for work, only to find Satan is sitting on his couch with a cup of fair-trade coffee and the opportunity of a lifetime. All Satan wants is for Billy to find his missing Lucky Cat in exchange for a place on the bestsellers list… and of course Billy’s soul.
The Weirdness is as inventive as it is funny, containing many moments of good vs. evil and political commentary. The inclusion of Starbucks’ enslaved baristas, enchanted to hide their terror beneath their cheery exterior, is a particularly funny highlight. A literary wonder in its own right, The Weirdness is unlike anything you’ve read before in the best way possible.
7. Johannes Cabal the Necromancer, by Jonathan L. Howard
If Crowley was your favourite Good Omens character, you’ll love the protagonist of Jonathan L Howard’s Johannes Cabal the Necromancer. Johannes Cabal is not a “goody” by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, he willingly sold his soul to the devil to discover how to raise the dead. But now Cabal has changed his mind and wants his soul back. However, the price for such a trade is steep; 100 souls in 1 year. Attempting to play the devil at his own game and with the aid of his vampire brother, Cabal accepts the challenge and attempts to retrieve his own soul from the festering bureaucracy of Hell.
A laugh-out-loud series written with a rich vocabulary, this is a darker and more adult version of Terry Pratchett interspersed with moral dilemmas and moments of gravitas.
8. The Devil’s Detective, by Simon Kurt Unsworth
As one of Hell’s detectives, Thomas Fool is assigned the case of finding the murderer of some gruesome, unidentified bodies. But in a place where everyone has a criminal record and murderers are commonplace, where in Hell is he meant to start? Middle-aged and beaten down by the hopelessness of a life in the underworld, Fool is not the demon-slaying babe-seducer that you might expect in such a setting. Instead Unsworth delivers a classic detective with his own complex internal battles. An unusual blend of crime, suspense, and horror, The Devil’s Detective delivers some vivid and graphic descriptions of Hell while his protagonist searches for a needle in a haystack.
9. The Library of the Unwritten, by A.J. Hackwith
In the neutral corner of Hell resides the Library of the Unwritten where you will find all the stories that were never finished. Claire, an unflinching librarian, reigns supreme in this corner of Hell and terrifies all who meet her. Her primary role is to ensure that no restless characters materialise and escape from the library’s many pages. But when one character escapes in search of their maker, Claire must venture back to Earth to retrieve it. Accompanied by her assistant and a demon crippled with anxiety, any mistakes will alter the lines between Heaven, Hell, and Earth forever.
The Library of the Unwritten is potentially the first book in your new favourite series. If nothing else, it will make any budding writers think twice before abandoning their unfinished manuscripts.
10. What in God’s Name, by Simon Rich
Heaven Inc. is not what it used to be. For as long as anyone can remember, the founder and CEO (known as “God” by some) has been slacking on the job. But now God has decided to retire and open an Asian Fusion restaurant… and destroy Earth. Two underpaid angels named Craig and Eliza actually like their jobs and are not willing to say goodbye to Earth any time soon. To save their careers, they manage to strike a deal with their boss: if they can get the planet’s two most socially awkward people to fall in love, he will call off Armageddon.
What in God’s Name is a perfect read for fans of Aziraphale. Funny and light-hearted, Rich’s novel is reminiscent of TV shows like The Good Place. This comedy mocks humanity in the way that only angels can, and with some heart-warming romances, too, this really is a pleasure to read.
11. Horns, by Joe Hill
If your tastes tend more towards the satanic, but you are looking for a little more suspense and angst than Good Omens, Horns will be right up your alley. Bestselling author Joe Hill’s second novel, this is a clever and thrilling story with some great twists.
Ig Parish’s childhood sweetheart has been brutally murdered, but despite his innocence, Ig is the prime suspect. In response, he goes on a drinking binge and wakes up to find horns growing out of his head, hate in his heart, and power coursing through his body. Desperate for justice, he decides to take matters into his own hands. With revenge as his new agenda, Parish soon discovers that vengeance is a dish best served hot.
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