From the Bookshelf of She-Geeks…

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Terry Pratchett

Start date: October 1, 2015

Finish date: October 31, 2015

Discussion: Themed reads

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 23 topics — 105 comments total

Themed reads

August 2016 Read 1 (Warrior Women): Company Town
By K.N. · 3 posts · 26 views

last updated Aug 27, 2016 05:15AM

August 2016 Read 2 (Warrior Women): The Girl with Ghost Eyes
By K.N. · 2 posts · 30 views

last updated Aug 19, 2016 11:35AM

showing 1 of 1 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Oct 03, 2012 Nicolo rated it really liked it

Shelves: paperback

No diss to Neil Gaiman, but the best comedy novel he has ever written is only possible because Terry Pratchett was doing the heavy lifting. It has the comedic tone that one would associate with Pratchett's work and Gaiman doing a great job vibing with it. ...more

44 likes · Like · see review

Oct 06, 2007 Nicole rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy-adult, satire, read-more-than-once, favourite-characters, magic-slingers

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. First read October, 2007; re-read 30 Mar – 11 April 2012; listened to the audiobook 2024-2025.

A friend recommended this book to me c. 2006. After attending Comic-Con in 2007 and hearing Neil Gaiman speak there, I picked up Good Omens shortly thereafter. It was my third Gaiman book and my first Terry Pratchett book.
My first reading of Good Omens left a completely favourable impression on me. I’ve recommended it to people, loaned my copy, and bought two people copies as gifts. Some aspects of it First read October, 2007; re-read 30 Mar – 11 April 2012; listened to the audiobook 2024-2025.

A friend recommended this book to me c. 2006. After attending Comic-Con in 2007 and hearing Neil Gaiman speak there, I picked up Good Omens shortly thereafter. It was my third Gaiman book and my first Terry Pratchett book.
My first reading of Good Omens left a completely favourable impression on me. I’ve recommended it to people, loaned my copy, and bought two people copies as gifts. Some aspects of it have stuck with me, especially Crowley’s creative use of holy water and an answering machine; Crowley’s car; the Queen music references; the paintball business conference; Adam, his dog, and his friends; Anathema Device; and Newton Pulsifer and the Witchfinder Army. On repeated readings, I've started to find the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and some of the business surrounding them somewhat tiresome. Maybe there's a bit too much Shadwell and Madame Tracy.
I’ve read other Pratchett books that I like more than this. I prefer Pratchett’s general worldview to Gaiman’s; it’s not quite as dark and edgy. And I’ve yet to see anything in a Pratchett book like Gaiman’s maggot scene in this. That being said, there’s still plenty to laugh at and savour in Good Omens.
Aziraphale (“An Angel and part-time rare book dealer”) palling around with Crowley (“An Angel who did not so much Fall as Saunter Vaguely Downwards”) is brilliant. Snarky comedy gold. Both characters are delightful on their own, as well. Anathema Device--witch and “professional descendant” of psychic witch Agnes Nutter--is clever, brave, and kind. Her influence makes such a difference to Adam and Newt—and the fate of the world. Nerdy Newton “Newt” Pulsifer, part-time Witchfinder Private and disaster with electronics, is someone to root for. Adam Young, eleven-year-old Antichrist-in-possible-development, is somewhat like an English Calvin (without the tiger) or Dennis the Menace. He’s all boy on one level and a bit unsettling on others. But his important choices are ultimately essentially decent. Same goes for his friends Pepper, Wensleydale*, and Brian. (I tend to forget about Brian; his personality isn't as distinct as the others'.)
I like the commentaries on human nature, the nature of good and evil, and the “ineffable Plan”--especially Crowley’s observations about how, at their worst, humans are capable of coming up with far worse stuff than demons do.
Typical of Pratchett’s and Gaiman’s works, there’s plenty of fun poked at humanity’s foibles, especially our stupidity; but there’s always room for hope that people could rise to the challenge with style. Good Omens is a book I think a lot of people would enjoy.**

* BTW, someone has even created a line of fragrances inspired by Good Omens. See it at www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com/goodom.... I’m not much of a perfume-wearer, which is why I like the description of “Wensleydale.”

** Especially if you like footnotes. The footnotes are pretty funny. ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Oct 28, 2007 Michelle Hall rated it it was amazing

Shelves: must-read-again

Possibly the funniest book I've ever read. Seriously.

Incredibly crafted, amazingly witty. A fast-paced, ingenious read. The authors craft their ideas of what the apocalypse is really all about; the anti-Christ is a young boy. Very charming and well-done. I can't say enough about this novel, other than go out and read it. If you've already done so, read it again. It's that good! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 18, 2018 Jessica rated it liked it

Shelves: humor, almost-read, fantasy, audiobook, science-fiction, nonhuman-pov

I'm disappointed in this book. I shelved it back in 2012, and finally got around to it in 2018. One of the reading challenges I'm participating in had a prompt for books with two authors, and I thought it was perfect!

I liked the strange friendship between the angel and demon. I was on board with the plot, and quite enjoying myself, when Adam and his friends were introduced. They are written much younger than their supposed ages, and they prattle on for pages at a time. I just couldn't get past t ...more

Like · see review

Jul 11, 2011 Jah H. rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, fantasy-supernatural

I read this back in 2014, and just watched the mini-series during a week stuck in bed with the flu. Not to sound too much like Aziriphale, but the show was absolutely perfect in every way, and I now I’d like a re-do of both book and show. Adding this the to-be-reread (very soon) pile.

Like · see review

Nov 17, 2008 Jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'm already loving this book. It's got a great narrator and I can tell it's going to be fast paced and exciting, and with the quirky British humor that I enjoy. ...more

Like · see review