Good Omens by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett (2006, Paperback, Reprint)

In itself that is enough but for those who want a little more, then all I can say is that this is truly a remarkable book. If fantasy is your thing you will like it, no matter what sort you usually go for. Fans of Pratchett will love it for the wacky humor and off the wall ideas. Gaiman fans will adore the darker twists in the tail and almost tangible word-painting that characterises his work.

The plot may not sound startling original - Armageddon comes to Earth and is humorously foiled (think Matthew Thomas, Robert Rankin etc.) - but the two central characters are works of genius. A demon and an angel who have both 'gone soft' through spending too long on Earth in the the company of humans. (I do wonder if there was a little autobiographical content there with Gaiman's darker writing personified in Crowley and Pratchett's rainbow fantasy in Aziraphael.) This sets up one of the best observations of the human condition that I have seen in any novel, humorous or not, and it is at once engaging, funny, touching and at times so close to the truth that you will be squirming.

Don't get me wrong, the plot line is certainly original, despite the premise, and the gags are perfectly crafted - I was rolling on the floor at the real origins of the M25 (Crowley's finest infernal creation he took over 3000 years perfecting).

Really, I cannot reccommend this highly enough as an intelligent and honestly witty book showing just what two fine writers can do when brought together.