What do you think?
Rate this book
An Ungodly Child
An Ungodly Child follows Harold Waterman, an unlikely hero, and his summoned demonic familiar Jasfoup. When Harold is infected by an incurable disease when he meets Jedith, otherwise known as the Angel of Pestilence, he turns to the black arts to find a cure. Jasfoup is only too happy to help, as long as Harold can pay for his services. Meanwhile, the three angels of destruction are out to prove that there could be an antichrist, if only Harold would believe it. Gillian, Harold's vampire girlfriend, is not so sure.
- GenresSchool
336 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2008
27 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 17, 2008
Hey - this is mine - I'm bound to rate it high!
January 7, 2010
As an unpublished manuscript, this novel won a regional prize in the Undiscovered Authors competition in 2007. It is easy to see why.
In the opening chapter, or preface (Chapter 0), three angels watch a screen that shows events in the mortal plane. They see a mortal woman enjoying sex with an incubus while she is already pregnant by the Devil. The angels look forward to the birth of the antichrist, who will presumably start the apocalypse. However, the angel Senoy says:
"'She's definitely carrying a boy, and to be the opposite of Big J [the anti-Christ:] you'd have to be a girl.'"
Sansenoy responds: "'Whoever heard of the antichrist being a girl?'"
Senoy explains: ''It's a sign of the times, isn't it? Women are getting to be as powerful as men these days. Look at England. They had a woman Prime Minister in the eighties, and look at what she achieved: the destruction of British socialism and a minor war.'"
This conversation looks like a prelude to a plot about global chaos instigated by a powerful woman, a more clearly infernal version of Margaret Thatcher. The mention of Adam's missing first wife, Lilith, seems promising.
Despite these hints, there is no antichrist of any gender in this novel, and Lilith is never found. There are not even any lesbian characters, despite the author's polyamorous lesbian lifestyle.
Harold, the baby boy who is born to demon-loving Ada, is a likeable child with a kind of inborn capitalist desire to collect things and make a profit, but no other infernal qualities. He is lovingly raised by his mother and Uncle Frederick in the fictional town of Laverstone, in commuting distance of London.
In a blog on Laverstone, the author explains: "Like a spider's web the magical energies snake across the British Isles, and at the centre of the web lies Laverstone. It is no coincidence that the town attracts so much supernatural activity--entities gravitate to it."
Harold grows to manhood, watched over by angels who are far from protective. While running his curio shop, Harold is approached by an attractive customer, Jedith the Angel of Pestilence, whose brief touch gives him a rare, fatal disease.
This crisis prompts Ada (who seems as ordinary as her son, although she is part-fairy) to give him a gift from his father, Louis C. de Ferre (Lucifer), a magical book of spells. The plot heats up as Harold summons a demon, Jasfoup, to help him find a cure. As it turns out, Jedith is Jasfoup's ex-wife.
Just as different supernatural beings can cross-breed in this fictional world, Jasfoup and the minor demons that Harold contracts to do his bidding are better company than the angels who plot destruction. The demons' taste for human blood (which binds demonic contracts) is matched only by their British love of tea.
With Jasfoup's help, Harold is able to take a shortcut to Milan (through Hell, which resembles a train station) for a fashion makeover, and back in time to the Garden of Eden, where he meets his half-brother, Cain.
Along the way, Jasfoup explains the author's cosmology:
"'Italy is full of them,' he said. 'Angels that meddle in the affairs of mortals and honest demons alike. It's all very well having an 'ineffable plan', but the trouble with it is that it needs constant tweaking to make sure that everything goes your way. You have the white-suited chaps running all the church religions, sowing seeds of diversity as they go so that everyone benefits from the healthy competition, then they have to run to Satanist churches, which are really Christian under another names, and then--'
'Hang on,' interrupted Harold, 'How can angels be running the Satanist churches? Isn't that a bit out of their jurisdiction?'
Through a series of leading questions, Jasfoup gets Harold to admit that war fuels "an increase in technology and invention, and a re-interpretation of the social and political mores of society as a whole." This explains the desire of the angels to cleanse the earth through an apocalypse.
Jasfoup continues: "'But what if the other side doesn't want to have a war?'
Harold is catching on. He answers: "'Then you have to invent an enemy, naturally, just as the Americans did in the sixties.'
“'And if there is no enemy that you can put the blame on?'
“Jasfoup could see the change in Harold's face as realisation dawned. 'Then you have to rename part of your own force as the enemy, even though they're really your own troops underneath the different uniforms.'
“Jasfoup nodded. 'Thus we have The Fall. What happens to the splinter group thus created?'
“'They become cut off from their home, disillusioned and eventually become the enemy you invented in
the first place.'
“'Quite so.' Jasfoup tapped his claws on the table. 'For your bonus point, then, what happens if your people are apathetic towards the war and no longer believe in the enemy?'
“Harold guessed the conclusion he had been cleverly led towards. 'You start up factions of the enemy amongst the common populace, engendering confusion and vilification and shock value to rally the people to your own cause.'
“'Thus we have the people upstairs starting and running the Satanist churches.'
“'Wow.' Harold was amazed. 'I've never reasoned it out like that before.'
When Jasfoup tells Harold that the Pope is from Hell, this comes as no surprise. And when a renegade putto (an angel who is tired of appearing to be two years old for eternity) reveals the "secret" that God is both gay and a woman-hater, this is no surprise either.
The author's droll wit runs throughout Harold's adventures, which include violent encounters with would-be assassins both from Above and from Below. In a kind of supernatural bar, however, Harold and Jasfoup never drink anything stronger than tea, and the sly references to body parts which run throughout their dialogue never lead to a more sexual relationship than an eternal bond of damnation. Harold is incurably straight, and is pleased when Jasfoup snags him a cute vampire girlfriend.
Rachel Green has continued Jasfoup's adventures in several blogs (www.leatherdyke.blogspot.com,
www.leatherdyke.co.uk) and a series of short videos in which he appears as a hand puppet with a deep, manly voice supplied by the author herself. Her fictional world is so vivid and complex that it seems unlikely to end with one novel. This reviewer plans to keep watching for signs of a sequel or three. The female antichrist might well be on her way. And like Lucifer and his minions, she might have all the best lines.
Buy link: http://tinyurl.com/5rxve6
In the opening chapter, or preface (Chapter 0), three angels watch a screen that shows events in the mortal plane. They see a mortal woman enjoying sex with an incubus while she is already pregnant by the Devil. The angels look forward to the birth of the antichrist, who will presumably start the apocalypse. However, the angel Senoy says:
"'She's definitely carrying a boy, and to be the opposite of Big J [the anti-Christ:] you'd have to be a girl.'"
Sansenoy responds: "'Whoever heard of the antichrist being a girl?'"
Senoy explains: ''It's a sign of the times, isn't it? Women are getting to be as powerful as men these days. Look at England. They had a woman Prime Minister in the eighties, and look at what she achieved: the destruction of British socialism and a minor war.'"
This conversation looks like a prelude to a plot about global chaos instigated by a powerful woman, a more clearly infernal version of Margaret Thatcher. The mention of Adam's missing first wife, Lilith, seems promising.
Despite these hints, there is no antichrist of any gender in this novel, and Lilith is never found. There are not even any lesbian characters, despite the author's polyamorous lesbian lifestyle.
Harold, the baby boy who is born to demon-loving Ada, is a likeable child with a kind of inborn capitalist desire to collect things and make a profit, but no other infernal qualities. He is lovingly raised by his mother and Uncle Frederick in the fictional town of Laverstone, in commuting distance of London.
In a blog on Laverstone, the author explains: "Like a spider's web the magical energies snake across the British Isles, and at the centre of the web lies Laverstone. It is no coincidence that the town attracts so much supernatural activity--entities gravitate to it."
Harold grows to manhood, watched over by angels who are far from protective. While running his curio shop, Harold is approached by an attractive customer, Jedith the Angel of Pestilence, whose brief touch gives him a rare, fatal disease.
This crisis prompts Ada (who seems as ordinary as her son, although she is part-fairy) to give him a gift from his father, Louis C. de Ferre (Lucifer), a magical book of spells. The plot heats up as Harold summons a demon, Jasfoup, to help him find a cure. As it turns out, Jedith is Jasfoup's ex-wife.
Just as different supernatural beings can cross-breed in this fictional world, Jasfoup and the minor demons that Harold contracts to do his bidding are better company than the angels who plot destruction. The demons' taste for human blood (which binds demonic contracts) is matched only by their British love of tea.
With Jasfoup's help, Harold is able to take a shortcut to Milan (through Hell, which resembles a train station) for a fashion makeover, and back in time to the Garden of Eden, where he meets his half-brother, Cain.
Along the way, Jasfoup explains the author's cosmology:
"'Italy is full of them,' he said. 'Angels that meddle in the affairs of mortals and honest demons alike. It's all very well having an 'ineffable plan', but the trouble with it is that it needs constant tweaking to make sure that everything goes your way. You have the white-suited chaps running all the church religions, sowing seeds of diversity as they go so that everyone benefits from the healthy competition, then they have to run to Satanist churches, which are really Christian under another names, and then--'
'Hang on,' interrupted Harold, 'How can angels be running the Satanist churches? Isn't that a bit out of their jurisdiction?'
Through a series of leading questions, Jasfoup gets Harold to admit that war fuels "an increase in technology and invention, and a re-interpretation of the social and political mores of society as a whole." This explains the desire of the angels to cleanse the earth through an apocalypse.
Jasfoup continues: "'But what if the other side doesn't want to have a war?'
Harold is catching on. He answers: "'Then you have to invent an enemy, naturally, just as the Americans did in the sixties.'
“'And if there is no enemy that you can put the blame on?'
“Jasfoup could see the change in Harold's face as realisation dawned. 'Then you have to rename part of your own force as the enemy, even though they're really your own troops underneath the different uniforms.'
“Jasfoup nodded. 'Thus we have The Fall. What happens to the splinter group thus created?'
“'They become cut off from their home, disillusioned and eventually become the enemy you invented in
the first place.'
“'Quite so.' Jasfoup tapped his claws on the table. 'For your bonus point, then, what happens if your people are apathetic towards the war and no longer believe in the enemy?'
“Harold guessed the conclusion he had been cleverly led towards. 'You start up factions of the enemy amongst the common populace, engendering confusion and vilification and shock value to rally the people to your own cause.'
“'Thus we have the people upstairs starting and running the Satanist churches.'
“'Wow.' Harold was amazed. 'I've never reasoned it out like that before.'
When Jasfoup tells Harold that the Pope is from Hell, this comes as no surprise. And when a renegade putto (an angel who is tired of appearing to be two years old for eternity) reveals the "secret" that God is both gay and a woman-hater, this is no surprise either.
The author's droll wit runs throughout Harold's adventures, which include violent encounters with would-be assassins both from Above and from Below. In a kind of supernatural bar, however, Harold and Jasfoup never drink anything stronger than tea, and the sly references to body parts which run throughout their dialogue never lead to a more sexual relationship than an eternal bond of damnation. Harold is incurably straight, and is pleased when Jasfoup snags him a cute vampire girlfriend.
Rachel Green has continued Jasfoup's adventures in several blogs (www.leatherdyke.blogspot.com,
www.leatherdyke.co.uk) and a series of short videos in which he appears as a hand puppet with a deep, manly voice supplied by the author herself. Her fictional world is so vivid and complex that it seems unlikely to end with one novel. This reviewer plans to keep watching for signs of a sequel or three. The female antichrist might well be on her way. And like Lucifer and his minions, she might have all the best lines.
Buy link: http://tinyurl.com/5rxve6
February 1, 2020
A temática é parecida com Good Omens, tem o humor parecido também. Achei a leitura bem tranquila, mas tinha algumas cenas que pareceram repetidas.
April 30, 2012
“Does it matter if we don’t have an actual antichrist, if everyone thinks we do?” says Semangalof to his brother angels, thus setting in motion a plot to bring about the apocalypse.
An unusual annunciation follows.
“You, madam, are carrying the antichrist. The seven seals will be broken when he comes of age.”
“He’ll get a damn good hiding if it’s him that breaks them.” Ada laughed. “You’re having me on, aren’t you? My little baby the antichrist? I don’t think so.”
The baby in question is one Harold Waterman, the unlikely hero of this charming and engrossing tale of demonic goings-on in middle England. Touched by the Angel of Pestilence, Harold needs help if he’s not going to an early grave with an incurable disease, so he summons the demon Jasfoup. Thus begins a lifelong alliance which will have the reader questioning their preconceptions of ‘good’ and ‘evil’. Demons, vampires and imps must behave according to their nature, and angels according to theirs, but the results are not what you would necessarily expect.
Harold learns some surprising facts about his parentage, but takes it all in his stride, along with his relationship with his Uncle Frederick, which takes an unexpectedly ghostly turn halfway through the book.
And then there’s Gillian…
“Would you like tea?” he asked, “or would you prefer coffee?”
The woman sat at the kitchen table and stared at him almost insolently. “Blood.”
Imagine a cross between “The Life of Brian” and “Dogma”, but played out in an English village with quietly understated wit and intelligence, and you’ll have an inkling of the world this book inhabits. You’ll know the characters; recognise them instantly. This is “Cider with Rosie” or “Cranford” with an unexpected edge, a slight tweak at the edges of reality, a blurring of the demarcation between the seen and unseen.
It’s also very funny.
An unusual annunciation follows.
“You, madam, are carrying the antichrist. The seven seals will be broken when he comes of age.”
“He’ll get a damn good hiding if it’s him that breaks them.” Ada laughed. “You’re having me on, aren’t you? My little baby the antichrist? I don’t think so.”
The baby in question is one Harold Waterman, the unlikely hero of this charming and engrossing tale of demonic goings-on in middle England. Touched by the Angel of Pestilence, Harold needs help if he’s not going to an early grave with an incurable disease, so he summons the demon Jasfoup. Thus begins a lifelong alliance which will have the reader questioning their preconceptions of ‘good’ and ‘evil’. Demons, vampires and imps must behave according to their nature, and angels according to theirs, but the results are not what you would necessarily expect.
Harold learns some surprising facts about his parentage, but takes it all in his stride, along with his relationship with his Uncle Frederick, which takes an unexpectedly ghostly turn halfway through the book.
And then there’s Gillian…
“Would you like tea?” he asked, “or would you prefer coffee?”
The woman sat at the kitchen table and stared at him almost insolently. “Blood.”
Imagine a cross between “The Life of Brian” and “Dogma”, but played out in an English village with quietly understated wit and intelligence, and you’ll have an inkling of the world this book inhabits. You’ll know the characters; recognise them instantly. This is “Cider with Rosie” or “Cranford” with an unexpected edge, a slight tweak at the edges of reality, a blurring of the demarcation between the seen and unseen.
It’s also very funny.
January 4, 2009
Harold Waterman is a perfectly normal, perfectly respectable Englishman with a modest junk emporium to his name. He is therefore rather surprised when the Angel of Pestilence walks into his shop one day and infects him with an incurable disease, giving him just months to live. He would be even more surprised to learn the facts about his true parentage, or exactly why a trio of meddling angels seem convinced that Harold is a potential candidate for the role of Antichrist and want him to trigger Armageddon.
It's a good job that Harold can (with the aid of a bit of careful research) summon the erudite demon Jasfoup to his side to help him work out just what the hell (literally) is happening. All Jasfoup requires in return is a nice cup of tea and maybe a biscuit.
Oh, and the head of a saint.
This is a charming and engaging first novel, featuring a sprawling cast of demons, angels, some who fall somewhere in between, vampires, ghosts and others. It is full of sly biblical allusions, groan worthy puns, a sword fight or two and plenty of inventive ideas. The plot may be a little tortuous in places, but the journey is an enjoyable one and it promises good things for more books in the sequence.
Two thumbs up!
It's a good job that Harold can (with the aid of a bit of careful research) summon the erudite demon Jasfoup to his side to help him work out just what the hell (literally) is happening. All Jasfoup requires in return is a nice cup of tea and maybe a biscuit.
Oh, and the head of a saint.
This is a charming and engaging first novel, featuring a sprawling cast of demons, angels, some who fall somewhere in between, vampires, ghosts and others. It is full of sly biblical allusions, groan worthy puns, a sword fight or two and plenty of inventive ideas. The plot may be a little tortuous in places, but the journey is an enjoyable one and it promises good things for more books in the sequence.
Two thumbs up!
March 4, 2009
I've never read a novel quite like this one. Rachel Green describes it as 'urban fantasy'.
I thought that I knew what to expect as I had first stumbled upon Rachel's writing when I found her blog 'Laverstone Tales' which is full of delightful characters who regularly embark on a wide variety of adventures.
What I wasn't prepared for was the rich vein of humour that underscores each chapter, the ability to poke fun at the absurdity of human nature and all else beyond it. The characters in 'An Ungodly Child' go through exquisitely choreographed journeys of self awareness .
This book in many ways reminded me of Stephen Shieber's collection of short stories 'Being Normal'. Forget that one of the main characters of this book is a demon called Jasfoup and you'll see that this novel is actually all about being and accepting others for being normal, whatever they may chose to define that as.
This is a book full of beauty, life, laughter and the enduring strength and acceptance that comes with true love. It enriched me and I am grateful that I was able to experience it. I know that I will read it again and again. I am sure many other readers will too.
I thought that I knew what to expect as I had first stumbled upon Rachel's writing when I found her blog 'Laverstone Tales' which is full of delightful characters who regularly embark on a wide variety of adventures.
What I wasn't prepared for was the rich vein of humour that underscores each chapter, the ability to poke fun at the absurdity of human nature and all else beyond it. The characters in 'An Ungodly Child' go through exquisitely choreographed journeys of self awareness .
This book in many ways reminded me of Stephen Shieber's collection of short stories 'Being Normal'. Forget that one of the main characters of this book is a demon called Jasfoup and you'll see that this novel is actually all about being and accepting others for being normal, whatever they may chose to define that as.
This is a book full of beauty, life, laughter and the enduring strength and acceptance that comes with true love. It enriched me and I am grateful that I was able to experience it. I know that I will read it again and again. I am sure many other readers will too.
May 4, 2020
Humorous and witty. I quite love this book, it's amazing! I actually had to read this novel for my English class in University and I'm so happy we did. It's very comedic and there's a lot of plot twists in the book. It is satirical and does poke fun with some religious events but it is done so in a humorous way. It was fun to read for me and I will definitely reread in the future!
June 6, 2010
I thoroughly enjoyed chuckling through Ungodly Child and probably would have finished it sooner if I wasn’t constantly "rewinding" to laugh again. This was a visit with friends I’ve gotten to know over the years so it was a pleasure to finally hear about the beginning. I was anticipating the book before it came into the world.
Mixing together an Englishman, a demonic familiar, angels, a vampire, and other imaginative ingredients would make a lousy cup of tea. But put that on paper and one has an engaging and humorous Ungodly Child.
This urban fantasy tells the tale of a rather unlikely hero, a perfectly respectable Englishman by the name of Harold Waterman. After being infected with an incurable disease by the Angel of Pestilence, Harold turns to help from below. All Jasfoup wants in return is the usual payment expected for such services, the head of a saint. Adding to the story are the angels of destruction who want to prove Harold’s the antichrist, family secrets, and unexpected love.
Rachel provides some keen insights into the psyche, heart, and social structures. This amusing novel is chock-full of Biblical allusions, witticisms, and puns galore. With its comedy, horrors, clichés, wordplay, and repetitious tea drinking, theatre of the absurd comes to mind, though this didn’t leave a headache in its wake. The characters and author are British so the tea’s understandable, it’s their answer for everything.
For other comical tales and antics of Harold and Jasfoup there’s Jasfoup’s Dribbles. I recommend Ungodly Child and the dribbles.
Mixing together an Englishman, a demonic familiar, angels, a vampire, and other imaginative ingredients would make a lousy cup of tea. But put that on paper and one has an engaging and humorous Ungodly Child.
This urban fantasy tells the tale of a rather unlikely hero, a perfectly respectable Englishman by the name of Harold Waterman. After being infected with an incurable disease by the Angel of Pestilence, Harold turns to help from below. All Jasfoup wants in return is the usual payment expected for such services, the head of a saint. Adding to the story are the angels of destruction who want to prove Harold’s the antichrist, family secrets, and unexpected love.
Rachel provides some keen insights into the psyche, heart, and social structures. This amusing novel is chock-full of Biblical allusions, witticisms, and puns galore. With its comedy, horrors, clichés, wordplay, and repetitious tea drinking, theatre of the absurd comes to mind, though this didn’t leave a headache in its wake. The characters and author are British so the tea’s understandable, it’s their answer for everything.
For other comical tales and antics of Harold and Jasfoup there’s Jasfoup’s Dribbles. I recommend Ungodly Child and the dribbles.
February 16, 2011
Sheer brilliance.
The tale of Harold and Jasfoup is quintessentially English, richly lined with a dry, intelligent wit, filled with extraordinary and fanciful tales (though doubtless the magnificent demon Jasfoup would want a word about that last part) and peppered with an extraordinary exploration (and a fully wielded comprehension) of horror, religion and wry humour.
Much like the author really!
The tale of Harold and Jasfoup is quintessentially English, richly lined with a dry, intelligent wit, filled with extraordinary and fanciful tales (though doubtless the magnificent demon Jasfoup would want a word about that last part) and peppered with an extraordinary exploration (and a fully wielded comprehension) of horror, religion and wry humour.
Much like the author really!
February 25, 2016
This book was such a fun and interesting read. It was recommended-- and required reading-- by an English professor I had (who carried around a suitcase of copies of the book because it was not in print at the time). This was by far the best fictional book I ever had the pleasure of reading for marks! Dark and funny, this book easily could have gone into clumsy territory, but Rachel Green artistically wove the two opposites together to create a compelling and enjoyable read.
September 6, 2015
OMG this would make the most awesome film!!
I loved the characters, and so many times found myself thinking "this should be a movie/this would look ultra awesome in a movie!"
I just loved it! Cant wait to read the next one NOW!!!
I loved the characters, and so many times found myself thinking "this should be a movie/this would look ultra awesome in a movie!"
I just loved it! Cant wait to read the next one NOW!!!
April 28, 2016
Nice twist of events throughout the book, also very humorous. A simple and well written book!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews