Customer Reviews

E. Godz

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I expected more from two of my favorite authors, but either it didn't gel between them or neither really wanted to put some effort into it. The premise is thin and the story line starts off slow and gets slower. You can't identify with any characters, (which are more two-dimensional that I've seen in any published work in years.) The finish is almost a relief, and you can see it coming by the third chapter. I'd avoid this book, even in paperback. Anyone want my copy? Cheap?

I was hoping for a more humorous book. I loved the MYTH, Phule, and Time Scout series. This book was dull and the plot was not very original. After 100 pages, I jumped to the climax of the story near the end of the book so I could finally be done with it. I wished I had at least waited for the paperback edition. Although I don't think paying a cheaper price would make up for the time I wasted on it.

E. Godz is a novel about earth magic in its many guises. Edwina Godz was an independently wealthy flower child in the 60's who paid closer attention than most to her gurus and spiritual guides. Using the sharp mind and business acumen inherited from her father, Edwina started a holding company, E. Godz, Inc., for spiritual organizations, providing tax advice and administrative support. Along the way, she also had two children by different fathers, but found that her managerial talents were much stronger than her maternal instincts.

In this novel, Edwina is very upset that her daughter and son cannot stand each other. She has tried every trick and manipulation in her repertoire, but nothing has worked. Now she is down to her last card: she decides to die.

She sends faxes to Peez and Dov stating that her last medical checkup has uncovered an inoperable condition that will kill her within a few months. Since they cannot cooperate in managing the business, she has determined that E. Godz, Inc., and the bulk of her estate will be left to only one of them. Her decision as to her heir will be made as soon as possible.

Peez and Dov are electrified and fly off to round up support from the major subsidiaries of the company. They each visit the same people, but in reverse order: the witch, the Egyptian revival, the totem pole carver, the California cult, the Indian shaman, and the voodoo priest. Each carries a magical construct as a companion; Peez has her Teddy Tumtum and Dov has Ammi the amulet.

This novel is a quest for spiritual enlightenment for both parties. At first the subsidiaries are just accounts and statistics, but they begin to see some of Edwina's purposes in supporting these people. They also begin to become independent of their emotional security blankets; the laughing-out-loud funniest scene in the book is when Teddy gets thrown out the window of Sam's pickup.

This story is about character and love and spirituality and has little to do with action or even plot. Label it a spiritual coming of age or a finding your own inner self story, but the tale is about delving underneath the public persona to discover one's basic personality.

This is written by two authors known for their humor and it shows throughout the story. However, it is mostly quiet humor, with a touch of Jewish satire and some situational comedy. Teddy is pure Asprin, with a cutting wit reminiscent of Aahz the Pervect, but Edwina is pure Friesner, depicting a somewhat atypical Jewish mother (what mother is willing to confess to behaving like Edwina).

Since the authors are known for moralizing, it may not come as a shock that this story has a moral, but I am not certain what it is! Maybe that Mother Nature doesn't like siblings to quarrel with each other? In any case, the ending is quite in character with the rest of the story and satisfying to boot. Although I am still not sure what the squirrel has to do with anything.

Of course, none of the enjoyment I found in this volume excuses the authors from producing more of the Skeeve and Chicks books.

Recommended for Asprin and Friesner fans and anyone else who enjoys tales with quiet humor and self-enlightenment.

-Arthur W. Jordin

I've read most of Robert Asprin's books, and a lot of Esther M. Friesner's work, and I was disappointed with this. I wish I had waited for it in mass-market paperback, because I feel I paid too much for it. I have always liked Asprin and Friesner, and think they are both fine authors, but feel that this one was predictable in too many places, and not anywhere near as well crafted as I've come to expect from either of them. There were a couple of pleasant surprises, and it was a fun read, but not up to the quality I've come to expect from these authors.

I've read most of Robert Asprin's books, and a lot of Esther M. Friesner's work, and I was disappointed with this. I wish I had waited for it in mass-market paperback, because I feel I paid too much for it. I have always liked Asprin and Friesner, and think they are both fine authors, but feel that this one was predictable in too many places, and not anywhere near as well crafted as I've come to expect from either of them. There were a couple of pleasant surprises, and it was a fun read, but not up to the quality I've come to expect from these authors.

I picked this book up at the local library as just something to kill time, and wasn't expecting very much from it. I wasn't expecting anything more than something to occupy my time at the bus stop, but in the end, I got much less. This book ended up raising my hopes as I read further into it, only to cruelly dash them later.

It starts of slowly, explaining the premise and the characters, and takes its sweet time speeding up to anything remotely close to a pleasant pace. Several of the characters are just downright obnoxious and completely spoil every scene they are in. Despite this, the middle third picks up considerably, and I began to wonder if it would end up being a book I enjoyed after all. Silly me.

Most of the second third follows a fairly solid, well reasoned, and logical plot twist, which I found myself enjoying, right up until the last few pages, where it is all tossed out the window for one of the most insipid, horribly written, and flat out insulting endings to any book I've ever read. I was literally angry at the authors for wasting my time as I read the last few pages. I won't spoil it in case you are some sort of masochist intent on subjecting yourself to painful reading, but I strongly advise staying away from this book.

Another thing that bothered me was that for a book about a company based on magic, there is surprisingly little magic in it. Only a handful of spells are cast by any of the characters, and almost none of them have any impact on the plot at all.

Just stay away from this book. Do not buy it, do not rent it, just save yourself the hassle and ignore it.

While I agree with other reviewers that the book ending was a little weak, I found myself really enjoying the character development. As the siblings each met with the same characters in different order, it gave the book continuity. The humor was more subdued than the two authors usually use, but it was perfect for this book.

This is a magic book, and I don't just mean that it involves magical artifacts, cantrips, quests, errands of mercy, dirty politics with and without sorcery, showmanship, spirituality, sibling rivalry, plots, counter-plots, and, oh, yes, the kitchen sink.

It starts off slowly, with Edwina Godz children going on a quest to take over the family business. There's lots of glitz and glamor as the kids take off to sell themselves to the big clients as THE great hope of the future, and along the way...

Let's just say that there's real life, and then there's REAL life, and the book gets into both without ever losing the light touch. As just one example, there's a Teddy Bear who makes sarcasm into a High Art. We watch as the kids get the comfortable illusions that have sustained them for years get stripped away, and with each chapter and revelation, the quest gets sharper and more real until...

But then, that would be telling, and I don't want to spoil it.

These days, I generally don't have time to re-read books, but THIS one goes back in the stack to be gone/lived/dreamed/laughed/wept through again. It's a long, strange and wonderful trip, and them's hard to find.