I downloaded this audiobook from Libby (one of our ebook & audiobook platforms). It was the full-cast BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of the above title. The audiobook brought to life this great apocalyptic novel, set in Britain. The book describes several days prior to the prophesised End of Days. The two main characters are Aziraphale (an angel) and Crowley (a demon) whose jobs it is to either stop the antichrist or to enable him, depending on which side you are on. Problem is, that over the eons, these two have become friends, and they have hatched a plan to prevent the apocalypse. But then a mix-up at the hospital puts everything at risk. When the expected appearance of the Hellhound on the Antichrist’s 10th birthday fails to come to fruition, the pair realise they have been following the wrong child! What follows is a comical / frantic search which eventually leads them to a small village of Lower Tadfield, England. Adam Young (the real antichrist), and his three friends, along with his newly acquired dog (ahem hellhound) have been leading pretty normal lives. But now Adam has come into his power and is inadvertently changing the world. He is also starting to experience visions. As Aziraphale and Crowley arrive at the village in search of Adam, a whole array of other quirky characters are also arriving. These include a relative of the witch who prophesised the end of days, and a witchfinder who is hellbent on destroying any witches he finds. Then War, Famine, Pollution (because Pestilence retired) and Death arrive as bikers – heading to the local army base to start a nuclear war. All of the characters converge on the army base. Will evil win, or will Aziraphale, Crowley, a witch and witchfinder? Or will Adam and his friends control the final outcome? I absolutely loved this rendition. The dramatization was so well done I found myself laughing out loud far too often. Whether you are a fan of the absurd or not, I think everyone would enjoy it.
Reviewed by Heather Taylor
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