Revealing the intimate details of his sudden elevation to Godhood, this shockingly mischievous satire follows one of America’s most intellectually-radical science fiction authors as he takes on the most coveted and misunderstood position in the universe. Wearying of the world’s religious schisms, doctrinal heresies, and manifold sins, Thomas M. Disch has taken it upon himself to embrace divine authority, unless his outlandish enemies emerging from the depths of a dissatisfying hell manage to prevent him. Revealing the hidden conspiracies that link the author with Philip K. Dick, Mel Gibson, Santa, L. Ron Hubbard, and eternity itself, this darkly comedic polemic holds nothing sacred and is as controversial as it is incontrovertible.
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With this odd blend of fiction and satiric philosophy, sf veteran Disch fires another salvo in the ongoing debate between atheists and believers. Not content to adopt the sober polemical stances taken by such prominent atheists as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, Disch instead assumes the role of God himself. Taking the helm of the deity allows Disch free reign to channel his own long-standing atheism into a series of amusing and subversive rants about the intersection between religion and human folly. In irreverent, bite-size chapters, Disch correlates Santa Claus and a Christian God who knows if we’re naughty or nice, points out the absurdities of an everlasting hell, and imagines how appealing Jesus would be had he appeared 2,000 years later in the form of the Good American Cowboy. Historical musings mingle with pertinently illustrative stories and verse, and also a biographical reflection on Philip K. Dick’s semireligious, paranoid visions. Although Disch’s fans may find the philosophical departure somewhat startling, they will delight in his characteristically witty observations on human nature. --Carl Hays
Review
"The careful reader will tease out many solid truths from the tangle of humor, history, surrealism and speculation. The density of ideas packed into this short book is as impressive as Disch’s mastery of his craft." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Amusing and subversive . . . veteran [Thomas M.] Disch fires another salvo in the ongoing debate between atheists and believers. —Booklist
"Thomas M. Disch isn't afraid of backlash for what some might consider the writings of a heretic . . . extraordinarily funny." —Kirkus Reviews
"One of the most remarkably talented writers around." —Washington Post Book World
"While Disch's frequent references to suffering and the afterlife can be painful to read after his recent suicide, they make for a fitting coda to a career spent perfecting the art of the unsettling. A-." —Entertainment Weekly
"Diversely gifted . . . entirely original . . . joyously versatile . . . a unique talent." —Newsweek
"When it comes to Thomas Disch, label makers scratch their heads." —Minneapolis Star-Tribune
"Constructs a more complex relationship between the reader and what is read, between the implied author and the real author and the implied reader and the real person . . . between reportage and fictionality, between text and pretext, than any book I can remember encountering." ——SCI FI Weekly
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Finally, God Takes on God!,
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This review is from: The Word of God: Or, Holy Writ Rewritten (Paperback)
It's strangely edifying, being lectured about the idiocies of religion by God himself, but that's pretty much what happens in Tom Disch's last (sadly, really last) book. It meanders, it dispenses with plot per se, but it bristles with perverse little pockets of delight. When I was packed off to Vacation Bible School as a kid, I might have kept going longer (instead of walking away with a taste of vomit in my mouth) if I had heard from a God who would tell you (e.g.) to go get laid. At least I might have stayed around till I discovered independent thought. This is a fun read, well worth the price of admission. And (hallelujah) probably nobody will ever get beheaded or stoned to death over THIS particular Holy Writ!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Actually, the Last Testament...,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Word of God: Or, Holy Writ Rewritten (Paperback)
I started reading this book, Disch's final work, just before Christmas (2009.) When I learned of the circumstances--that he committed suicide just three days after publishing it--I could not finish it. It gave me the creeps, willies and heebie-jeebies (all at once!)
I only started reading this book because I heard Disch lambasted my guy, Philip K. Dick in it. As it turns out, most of the those pieces, like "Ranch House on the Styx" were written long ago. The Word of God is not a novel, it's a collection of old stories, poems and essays "re-writ, like the Writ." Even without knowing Disch killed himself, it's painfully obvious how depressed he was. Fans confirm many known problems he faced back in 2008: loss of his long-time companion, severe financial difficulties and he was not receiving the critical acclaim he wanted for his various works. A blog I found (sorry, can't remember which one) said Disch explored "the desolateness of the human condition because that's what obsessed him--what drove him." And, his own publisher said Disch was "too deep and dark" for SF fans." Publisher Jacob Weisman really nailed the problem with this comment: "When mainstream critics assess science fiction, in their own minds they're slumming," Jacob said. "They're looking for those raw, powerful ideas that people in science fiction might be working with--" and now I'm going to finish this quote as I see it: but they don't like finding it in the SF realm. That's the truth and why the movie Avatar ultimately could not win the 2009 Academy Award, also. You see, it's now March 2010, and I finally finished the book, which reads more like a Last Testament than the Holy Writ. Egads, it's still extremely hard to read, even months later knowing the facts. Clearly, Disch was conflicted about his love and admiration for Phil. While his own career was desolate he watched PKD sky-rocket to posthumous fame. Perhaps Disch thought he could do that for his own career by blowing his head off. (Phil did not OD or kill himself, he died of a stroke and subsequent heart attack.) Knowing the extent of Disch's despair - the act of taking his own life - I find this book morbid, like watching a TV anchor person off themselves on live television. He should have been getting some help and encouragement from his fan base and publishers. Instead he was getting more bad reviews (as evidenced here by negative comments posted even before the novel was officially published*) Bad reviews combined with an embarrassing radio/podcast interview that aired just before he took his life, might have pushed him over the edge. Just be forewarned should you buy and attempt to read this--someone's personal hell (not sci-fi or satire.) * The Word of God was published July 1, 2008, by Tachyon Publications. Yet, a negative review was posted in June 2008 (by someone who had an advance copy. Tragic!) BTW, Philip K Dick was not a right-wing nut. He was so far left he fell off that side! He was accused of being a "commie" in the 50s and a fruit-cake in the 70s, but never a "right-wing bigot" as another blogger/reviewer called Phil. No!
8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
meandering with interesting bits,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Word of God: Or, Holy Writ Rewritten (Paperback)
I pre-ordered this book based on the description. Thomas Disch nominating himself to be God sounds like fun. But the book itself was rather disappointing. it is Disch rambling on about religion and belief structures, which has its own merits, but it isn't really about how Disch would handle the job of Deity. If you like Disch's essays and more philosophical elements, this is worth reading, but it's not really what it's being described and sold as.
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