Monday, June 23, 2008

The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror review

The Stupidest Angel is one of Christopher Moore's book to be set in the town of Pine Cove, California. Strange things has happened to Pine Cove, California. A couple of years before a lustful lizard called Steve reigned terror on the town whose many crazy residents were unknowingly taken off their medication in exchange for placebos because the resident psychiatrist felt guilty by the apparent suicide of one of her patient. Before that in Practical Demonkeeping, the town played host to Travis and his demon servant Catch, where Travis attempts to seek a lost incantation necessary to get rid of his annoying green pal - whose hobby includes eating the people he meet.

It is almost Christmas in Pine Cove and Lena Marquez has just accidentally killed Santa Clause, her ex-husband Dale Pearson. Josh Barker, a seven year old child, witnesses the apparent death of the red fat guy and immediately prays for a Christmas miracle. Naturally no one believes him. Tucker Case, years after saving a bunch of cargo cult worshipping cannibals from an island, agrees to help Lena by providing an alibi, as well as sleeping with her. Constable Theo Crowe, already busy investigating a seemingly blonde 'robot', doesn't believe her - but a blackmail by Tuck only incensed him further. Meanwhile the angel Raziel is sent to earth to grant one child a wish that can only be fulfilled by divine intervention, and immediately misinterprets and grants Josh's wish and instead reanimated the town's dead - all of whom developed a liking for brains and Ikea furnitures! Further complicating matters is El Nino.

We see the return of many key Christopher Moore characters from his other books, including the archangel Raziel (from Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal), Tuck and his Ray-Ban wearing Micronesian talking fruit bat Roberto from Island of the Sequinned Love Nun, as well as some of the residents of Pine Cove, such as constable elect Theo Crowe and his samurai bearing warrior babe partner Molly Michon, friends Gabe and his dog Skinner, as well as Valerie (The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove) and Mavis Sand (Practical Demonkeeping, and the previous aforementioned title). Centre to the theme, these characters are brought together through their desire to be with one, a key Christopher Moore theme.

You will never read a more witty book that any of Moore's book. They tend to lead you to an unimaginable setting, often told through ridiculously exaggerated plotlines. His characters are very unique, indeed one of the many unique traits his characters has are how dysfunctional each of them are in their own right. The Stupidest Angel isn't a long book (it is one of his shortest work), but the entertainment is second to none. It is one of the most brilliant books I've read recently and comes close to Lamb as my favourite Christopher Moore book.

Christopher Moore books are very rare and difficult to come by. They are available on the eReader e-book platform.

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