Where I Deduce that the Title Is Ironic

Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fun book, and I enjoyed it. Fast read. I started my Christopher Moore journey with his most recent books, which I loved, and so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about his first book. Well, not surprisingly, it isn't quite as satisfying as his later novels (IMO), but also not surprisingly, it's funny and witty and has a rough version of the author's later voice--so good, overall.

A demon is coming to Pine Cove, and we get to know quite a few of the odd folks in that town while they deal with the mayhem and disappearances. They're sort of modern-day versions of Dickens characters; more realistic, perhaps, but still eccentric and highly varied. Other novels take place in the same town, and that makes sense. He's invented a fully realized town of oddballs and might as well make use of them.

The demon and other supernatural elements of the novel give this a sort of fantasy feel, but it's always closer to a comedic novel than fantasy. (I like both, so... whatever; it works.) It reminds me of John Scalzi's Agent to the Stars, which is a SF book but has the same sensibility. Both are humorous sort-of action novels where the main characters are aware of unusual goings-on, but the rest of the world is ignorant, and in both the comedy comes largely out of interactions with the alien/demon. The tone is light, but the action still has consequences and stakes for the main characters.

I bet he coulda made it longer, but I'm glad he didn't. This was a pleasant read, funny and engaging, and it didn't outstay its welcome. What it did to is make me look forward to reading the other three books I have by Christopher Moore but haven't read yet. (Not to mention the new one out in hardcover. Anxious to get ahold of that one.)

Recommended for those who like their action with quirky characters and a nice touch of comedy.

Like me.



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