I was just going to put a suggestion in here for a book, that I haven't read in ages, but that is so incredibly amazing!
The books is written by Neil Gaiman (the dark and gloomy world view) and Terry Pratchett (writing very fun books), and at first, I was thinking that the combo was, for sure odd, but a bit intriguing. I was amazed how very well executed the books was!
For anyone who has seen the film Dogma (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120655/) from 1999 with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, you will sort of get the idea with the book. They are not extremely similar, but, some bits are.
Plot
Aziraphael and Crowley... An angel, and a demon, a part of the Great Plan. Both have their own mission and this unlikely friendship which has became trough thousands of years of spending time together, has made them look out for their others, not ruining to much for each other.
Anti- Christ is born.
(that's mostly Crowley's fault)
Armageddon is coming.
Soon...
As soon as next saturday.
The Four Bikers of the Apocalypse are on their way and Aziraphael and Crowley tries to solve the problem, as they have became fond of living on earth. So the idea is to kill Anti-Christ, it's just... He seams to have been misplaced!
Opinion
What's interesting is that, to understand this book, you have to assume that, all Christian beliefs and values are true. If you do not set your mind to that stage, you will most probably think the books is silly and weird and hard to understand.
The books is rather "jumpy", just because a chapter ends in a way, does not mean the next start even closely similar! At the same time the book is thick, but it is so worth it to read trough it, and (just as with the Watchmen comic) the more times you read it, the more you get, the more jokes gets funny and so on.
The story is hilarious, and, you can really see (well, read) that Pratchett have been a part of it, but it seams like Mr Gaiman has once again managed to do a book based on religion (other books with the same theme from him is for example American Gods, Anansi Boys and Odd and The Frost Giants http://aiki-samurailady.blogspot.com/2011/02/bit-inspired.html)
Seriously, if you haven't read it... Do it! It's sooooo worth the time and effort if you like fantasy!
