The Word of God: Or, Holy Writ Rewritten (Paperback)

~ Thomas M. Disch (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

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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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Tachyon Publications (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892391775
• ISBN-13: 978-1892391773
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #705,271 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally, God Takes on God!, July 28, 2008

By	Donald R. Burleson "Donald R. Burleson" (Roswell, New Mexico) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars meandering with interesting bits, July 10, 2008

By	James S. Kosmicki (Grand Island, NE) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Meandering Advert with No Real Point, September 5, 2008

By	A. Tatusko "http://notes-from-offcenter.com" (Duncansville, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The beginning had promise. Then it got bogged down in Philip K. Dick's fabricated demise and turned into nothing but an advert for Disch's previous work. I could not bear the second part long enough to maintain interest. So I killed God today and put it to rest.