Have a book stuck in my head, maybe about the apocalypse?
October 29, 2016 1:40 PM Subscribe
I'm trying to remember a story I read some time ago. I'm 83% sure it was a novel, but there's a slim chance it was a short story. One key phrase sticks in my head: "Been down, goin' up!" I think the plot of the story was an intervention of a couple who, if left to their own devices, would give birth to the Antichrist. I don't think this was a religious book, instead I keep picturing a Neil Gaiman-esque author. Fantasy writing, but more along the lines of an American Gods-style fantasy.
Here's what I recall from the plot: The woman had potential to be brilliant and good, though she was currently with a man who had a lot of potential for evil. Outside forces (angels? gods?) intervened and made the couple think they died on the night they were going to sleep together and they were whisked away to their respective versions of heaven. Basically they wanted to have her wise up and fulfill her potential without being held back by him.
I don't remember much about her version of of the afterlife, but I remember his turned into a totalitarian nightmare with him as the dictator. His motto/slogan when he was initially running for office was some form of the phrase "Been down, goin' up!" He was a redneck from the backwoods who blamed everyone else for his problems, so when he had control of his afterlife, things went about as poorly as you would expect.
Is this ringing any bells with anyone? Anything I try to google brings me to some pretty dark corners of the internet. Thanks in advance!
Here's what I recall from the plot: The woman had potential to be brilliant and good, though she was currently with a man who had a lot of potential for evil. Outside forces (angels? gods?) intervened and made the couple think they died on the night they were going to sleep together and they were whisked away to their respective versions of heaven. Basically they wanted to have her wise up and fulfill her potential without being held back by him.
I don't remember much about her version of of the afterlife, but I remember his turned into a totalitarian nightmare with him as the dictator. His motto/slogan when he was initially running for office was some form of the phrase "Been down, goin' up!" He was a redneck from the backwoods who blamed everyone else for his problems, so when he had control of his afterlife, things went about as poorly as you would expect.
Is this ringing any bells with anyone? Anything I try to google brings me to some pretty dark corners of the internet. Thanks in advance!
Response by poster: Thank you thank you thank you! That was almost worse than having a song stuck in my head.
posted by Moondoggie at 3:46 PM on October 29, 2016
posted by Moondoggie at 3:46 PM on October 29, 2016
What a great book. I reread it more often than Good Omens. Perhaps I'll read it again now. Damn fine book. Thanks for making me think of it especially in the current electoral context.
posted by irisclara at 7:10 PM on October 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by irisclara at 7:10 PM on October 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Yeah, that's what's kept Roy's character in the back of my mind for the past few months.
posted by Moondoggie at 6:18 PM on October 30, 2016
posted by Moondoggie at 6:18 PM on October 30, 2016
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