Coffee and Contemplation: Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

I’m discussing only the book and not the Amazon Prime TV show. I did enjoy the show, but this post is about the book. This was fun to read and was the first Pratchett book I ever read. This caused me to be sucked into the Discworld books from which I will never escape. This was a fun read. It was goofy and quirky and an all-around good time. This is not a horror novel but there are many supernatural characters and supernatural elements. I also think it’s a fun book for teens and pre-teens to read. 

There’s some adult humor but nothing crude or gross. There’s nothing scary in the book but maybe pre-teens won’t like some parts. The story follows an angel and a demon who become close friends on Earth. Their friendship begins at the Garden of Eden and the develop a system to help them both look good to their side of things but never gaining one way or the other. It’s a balance. And they both develop a liking to Earth and most humans. They even like it enough to stop the Apocalypse. It’s a fun Heaven and Hell story.

I recommend this book to everyone.

Spooky Spider Scale (How scary was the book?): 3/10 spiders 🕷️🕷️🕷️

Overall rating: 5 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Hellpets – Part 9

Read Part 8


            “Don’t do that again. That was very bad. Bad Duke. Bad dog.” Charles said.

            “I’ve failed my mission.” Hinn said.

            “It’s not that bad.” I said.

            “I don’t deserve the air I breathe.”

            “Now you’re being over dramatic.”

            “They’ll send me back to the pit. I’ll be punished. Oh no! They’ll put me in…The Box. Not The Box!”

            “What’s the box?”

            “I should do the honorable thing and take my life.”

            “Slow down there pup. I think Hell would prefer bad dogs.”

            “I can’t do it. Will you? Just kill me. I have nothing left to live for.”

            “I mean, yeah, I guess. But it feels unnecessary. And probably messy.”

            “It must be done before the other Hellhounds find out.”

            “Everything’s gonna be fine. Relax. Drink some water.”

            “You don’t understand. I can’t go in The Box. I won’t. I’d rather burn in Hell than go in The Box.”

            “Well you’re made of Hellfire, so I don’t see –”

            “Ah! Who is that!? Don’t let it take me!”

            “That’s Ligur, my manager. He’s not here for you. Go sob over there so we can talk.”

            “What’s his problem?” Ligur said.

            “I’m…a…bad…dog! Ahahaha!”

            “Ignore him. He’s being a baby.”

            “Okay. Well all parties involved are pleased with this experiment so far.”

            “I’m not pleased.”

            “Is something wrong?”

            “Yeah, the Hellhound’s an idiot.”

            “Most of them are. Anything else?”

            “Why can’t you get someone else to do this?”

            “You have seniority. You’re the most qualified.”

            “Dammit. Hey, you ever meet a Hellhound named Amy?”

            “Ewe. He always smells. We’ve met. Why?”

            “He’s this idiot’s manager. I don’t like him.”

            “Neither do I.”

            “He’s too bossy. Is that normal for Hellhounds?”

            “It is for Amy. Though Hellhounds do have a more militant mindset to their ranks.”

            “How much longer do I have to do this?”

            “We agreed to give him the same training we give to all our new Hellcats.”

            “Then should he be running missions already?”

            “What do you mean?”

            “He went to collect a soul yesterday.”

            “That’s not right. He just left? Did he smell a dead body or something?”

            “No. Amy ordered him to go. He said it was Hinn’s first assignment.”

            “They were supposed to wait until his training was finished. I’ll have a word with Amy and his superiors. I should inform the elder Hellcats too. Let me know if they send him out again. And try to convince him not to go if possible.”

            “Should he know about this?”

            “The sobbing pup? I wouldn’t say anything yet. He’s probably being used but we don’t know for sure. For now, do your best with his training.”

            “Fine. But I’m gonna complain the whole time.”

            Ligue smiled before poofing away.

            “Did your friend leave?” Hinn said.

            “He’s not my friend, he’s my manager. Are you friends with your manager?”

            “Well, no, but no one likes Amy much.”

            “Yeah I figured that out.”

            “What should we do now?”

            “Weren’t you upset?”

            “Upset about what?”

            “Bad dog?”

            “Where!? I’ll fight him. Show me the bad dog.”

            “I lose braincells every time you speak.”

END


Thank you for joining me on my first attempt with serializing stories. Please tell me what you think in the comments. The Hellpets will return…or will they?

Hellpets – Part 8

Read Part 7


            “Hey, I’m back.” Hinn said.

            “Damn.”

            “Did the human notice?”

            “You were gone for like five seconds.”

            “Is that a long time?”

            “No. You’ll get used to Earth time.”

            “It’s really convenient when you’re already up here fetching souls.”

            “Who was it?”

            “The soul? Some retail manager. Suicide.”

            “Retail’s a tough job.”

            “You think so?”

            “I wouldn’t want to deal with humans complaining all the time.”

            “Did anything happen while I was gone?”

            “A fly came inside.”

            “A fly!? Where is this intruding fiend? How dare you enter a Hellhound’s home.”

            I shouldn’t have said anything.

            “There you are. Hah. Hah.”

            He’s trying to eat the fly. This is almost entertaining. I’ll snuggle up here on the back of the couch and watch the show.

            “Owe. You made me trip. Come back here you furry swine!”

            “Hinn, I’m starting to dislike you less.”

            “You like me?”

            “That’s not what I said.”

            “Could you give me a hand with this Earth creature?”

            “But you’re doing so well.”

            “He’s too cunning and nefarious for me.”

            “That isn’t saying much.”

            “What?”

            “Nothing.”

            “What should I do?”

            “Try staying in one spot and wait for it to come closer.”

            “Good idea.”

            “Why do you look like you’re about to poop?”

            “I’m…trying…not…to…move.”

            “Wow.”

            “He’s…coming…closer.”

            “Ugh. Why do you snort when you chomp at him?”

            “I missed. He’s a slippery one.”

            “So nefarious.”

            “I know, right? How do Earth dogs handle this stuff?”

            “You should try asking an Earth dog?”

            “Great idea! Hey! Hey other dogs! Hey! Hey!”

            “Stop barking, you idiot.”

            “But dogs are shouting back.”

            “I changed my mind. I dislike you a lot now.”


Read Part 9 (the final part).