Waiting for Godalming
Stuff and nonsense reign supreme as Lazlo Woodbine and Barry the  faithful Holy Guardian Sprout that lives inside Woodbine's  head are called upon to solve "The greatest case that ever was":  Who Killed God? Was it His wife, Eartha, or one of His  children Jesus, Colin or Christene? Rankin (Snuff Fiction,  etc.), an outrageous British humorist often compared to Terry  Pratchett and Douglas Adams, strikes a singular chord in this  winsome tour-de-farce. Using a slippery stream-of-consciousness  narrative style, Rankin parodies everything from current British  and American culture to 1950s private-eye novels. Woodbine is a  "lone-walking, smart-talking, pistol-packing" London PI who  reluctantly teams up with his brother, Icarus Smith, and a  midget named Johnny Boy to uncover a sinister plot devised by  demons who aim to take over the world. In the process, the three  men bust up a brainwashing operation run by the Ministry of  Serendipity, converse with Jesus and engage in multiple car  chases. This madcap spoof is more charming than sacrilegious,  and fans of SF, mysteries and Monty Python will be heartily  entertained. (Aug.) Forecast: An electric cover featuring one of Rankin's own  sculptures a teacup swathed in red leather, skimpy lace and a  black boa will stop readers in their tracks as they peruse the  shelves.Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.