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grubstlodger's review
4.0
If 'Good Omens' by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman has a cult following and a multi-million pound TV adaptation, I see no reason why this hasn't. Personally, I found this a funnier take on the same sort of material.
caterinaanna's review
3.0
Actually read in the [b:Dead Funny|371032|Dead Funny Flying Dutch and Faust Among Equals|Tom Holt|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174229553s/371032.jpg|360999] omnibus but since the correct edition of that does not show, nor can I add it, I thought may as well have this incorrect cover as the other, especially as I did read the two books within a book separately.
Most reviews on here of that combined edition rate this above book:Flying Dutch]. I disagree. The premise of this is less tight and the characters' motivations are very woolly at times - but then I suppose one might expect that from people who have been double-crossing each other for centuries. Hell as a theme park provided a pretty gruesome location for a final chase that would give any CGI team something to get their teeth into but otherwise got in the way a bit. I did like the idea that Helen of Troy has some pretty unappealing faults. In the end I wasn't really cheering for - or even bothered about - either Faust or Lundqvist: even comedy fantasy anti-heroes still need to rouse some sympathy to pull the reader in, methinks. Still, the usual compliment of daft minor characters and silliness meant it was still fun.
Most reviews on here of that combined edition rate this above book:Flying Dutch]. I disagree. The premise of this is less tight and the characters' motivations are very woolly at times - but then I suppose one might expect that from people who have been double-crossing each other for centuries. Hell as a theme park provided a pretty gruesome location for a final chase that would give any CGI team something to get their teeth into but otherwise got in the way a bit. I did like the idea that Helen of Troy has some pretty unappealing faults. In the end I wasn't really cheering for - or even bothered about - either Faust or Lundqvist: even comedy fantasy anti-heroes still need to rouse some sympathy to pull the reader in, methinks. Still, the usual compliment of daft minor characters and silliness meant it was still fun.
gengelcox's review
3.0
Almost back to his original stride, this is probably the Holt that I’ve enjoyed the most in the last five books. That enjoyment can also be summarized in one word: Eurobosch. Yes, following DisneyWorld, the MGM Grand Theme Park, Atlantic City, and Cyberia, the most famous theme park in all of history is now open for business. Based on that mad genius Hieronymous Bosch and his most famous work, “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” and operated by the holding company of Beelzebub, et al. You don’t have to take the painting and imagine what thrilling rides and attractions are available–Holt has it down.
That’s just a part of the book, though. The plot concerns a certain George Faustus who has managed to effect an escape from Hell, right during an impending audit. Now that Hell’s operated as a business– once you start reinventing government, it was inevitable–the loss of a major asset can’t be tolerated, and the chase is on.
The good parts here are equal to his previous best, parts like Helen of Troy being a lovely and perfect little woman with a slight penchant for decorating. In the time of Homer, that couldn’t amount to much (what? a curtain over the castle window?), but with centuries of design to choose from…. And Leonardo da Vinci–wasn’t he just the greatest geek that ever lived? And that’s only a couple of the strange yet amusing additions to the lives of historical and fictional personages in the story.
That’s just a part of the book, though. The plot concerns a certain George Faustus who has managed to effect an escape from Hell, right during an impending audit. Now that Hell’s operated as a business– once you start reinventing government, it was inevitable–the loss of a major asset can’t be tolerated, and the chase is on.
The good parts here are equal to his previous best, parts like Helen of Troy being a lovely and perfect little woman with a slight penchant for decorating. In the time of Homer, that couldn’t amount to much (what? a curtain over the castle window?), but with centuries of design to choose from…. And Leonardo da Vinci–wasn’t he just the greatest geek that ever lived? And that’s only a couple of the strange yet amusing additions to the lives of historical and fictional personages in the story.
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