Good Omens
Score Modern
What it's about
According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, the only reliable guide to the future, the world will end next Saturday, just after tea. The armies of Good and Evil are massing. There's just one problem: an angel and a demon who have grown rather fond of Earth have misplaced the Antichrist, who is growing up as an ordinary boy in an English village.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the BBC's Big Read and has become a cult favorite, adapted for television. It combines Neil Gaiman's imagination with Terry Pratchett's humor.
You'll love it if you liked
Hogfather, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or Night Watch
Good to know
It's very British and full of footnotes. You don't need to have read either author before.
Quick answers
Is Good Omens worth reading?
Yes. It's on the BBC's Big Read and has become a cult favorite, adapted for television. It ranks #362 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 80.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Good Omens about?
According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, the only reliable guide to the future, the world will end next Saturday, just after tea. The armies of Good and Evil are massing. There's just one problem: an angel and a demon who have grown rather fond of Earth have misplaced the Antichrist, who is growing up as an ordinary boy in an English village.
How long does it take to read Good Omens?
About 12 hours (491 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Good Omens?
If you liked it, try Hogfather by Terry Pratchett, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams or Night Watch by Terry Pratchett.
By the numbers
- Readers82 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller74 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On the BBC's The Big Read list. 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2018.
Where it ranks
- #4 of the 35 humor books we rank
- #44 of the 461 fantasy books we rank
- #180 of the 1,575 modern books we rank
- #362 of the 2,819 books we rank
Bestseller
- 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2018
On the lists
- BBC's The Big Read
Reads as
Funny, Adventurous, Thought-provoking
