Burn, Beautiful Soul

December 15, 2020
Even Hell, with its collections of tortures and assortments of flame, can get dull after a while. So demon Basil leaves his realm and heads to fresher climes, the Cornhusker State of Nebraska. There, this gigantic hellion with horns and hooves lands a job in advertising and starts to build relationships with the locals. But not all want to give their new neighbor a friendly welcome: a band of bikers and the town's resident religious fundamentalist stand ready to make Basil's new life on Earth a living hell. The novel is strongest when playing on the absurdity of its central premise: a demon ginning up slogans for ag-state clients yields some funny moments (although there are repeated examples of rape and bathroom humor that might put off some readers). The transitions to serious scenes of violence are a little strained by comparison, but the creative plotting and plentiful humor make for an enjoyable work of satire.

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