I, Lucifer: Finally, the Other Side of the Story

by Glen Duncan

Book Overview

The end is nigh and the Prince of Darkness has just been offered one hell of a deal: reentry into Heaven for eternity--if he can live out a well-behaved life in a human body on earth. It's the ultimate case of trying without buying and, despite the limitations of the human body in question (previous owner one suicidally unsuccessful writer, Deelan Gunn), Luce seizes the opportunity to run riot through the realm of the senses. This is his chance to...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802140149
• ISBN13: 9780802140142
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Brilliantly Written

Lucifer, aka Satan, is the first person narrator of this deliciously witty tale. Old Scratch gets an offer from God to test-drive a mortal body for a month - the recently vacated corpse of writer Declan Gunn (an anagram of Glen Duncan-in case you didn't notice). After one month, if Satan decides to stay mortal, he may be eligible for re-admittance to heaven under the normal rules. Glen Duncan's brilliant writing shows Satan as Legion, indeed, forever getting lost in digressions and asides, altering his own story to fit circumstances, lying to the reader, himself, and anyone else who will listen. It's like Satan as played by Eddie Izzard. (If you haven't seen him-check him out in the DVDs-hilarious) The story is rich with irony as Satan loses his head in the same hedonistic pursuits for which he has ridiculed humans, and increasingly falls prey to Declan's emotions. A story to read again and again - each time picking up something you missed before.

a great read

This is one of my favorite books of all time. It's extremely funny, to the point where you will laugh aloud, and Mr. Duncan has a way with words and ideas that allows him to deal with multiple concepts at once without confusing the reader. Besides being entertaining, this novel is guerrilla-style philosophical; Lucifer's commentary on divine topics forces the reader to reflect on their beliefs, regardless of creed, and learn about themselves. Overall, a great book, with a very strong and unforseen ending. Give it a shot, you won't be dissappointed!

Tickles Both Sides

Being a fan both of popular fiction and the meatier, more literary kind, I was delightfully surprised to find, at the end of this novel, that Mr. Duncan has written a masterful piece that ably straddles both sides of the fiction genre. It is an immensely entertaining read, with a tempo that varies like a classic symphony in four movements and a lead character that you will find, almost aghast and perhaps in spite of yourself, you carry around with you in your coat pocket, so charming is he! Mr. Duncan's insights into the human condition, through the eyes not only of Lucifer but also of the bona fide humans he interfaces with, enrich this work further. Wit, wisdom, sometimes lyrical, sometimes harsh and ugly (he IS Lucifer, after all), Mr. Duncan's novel encompasses it all. Don't miss this gem!

Not For The Faint Of Heart

Telling the basic plot of this story won't give anything away: God offers the Devil a deal: come to earth and take over the body of a poor soul who has just committed suicide, stay out of trouble for one month in this body, and gain re-entry into Heaven. The story is told as a confession by Lucifer himself.From this promising premise, Glen Duncan takes the reader on a verbal rocket ride which ends...well, that doesn't matter, the ride is so enjoyable. Duncan is well-versed in literature going well beyond the obvious Blake (whom Lucifer dubs "Blakey") and Milton, and clearly has a deep knowledge of New York as well as London, modern as well as ancient history. At least in its references this book is surprisingly erudite.The passages describing Lucifer's embodiment into a human being, and his evolving responses to possessing five senses, are realized fully enough to rate this book worth reading just for that vicarious experience. The author's main achievement, however, is his imagining a fully believable, fascinating, and yes, dammit, likeable Lucifer. At once biting, arch, and occasionally oddly touching, Duncan's Lucifer makes P.J. O'Rourke sound like Mister Rogers.If you are easily offended by criticism of the Almighty, of organized religion, and just about everything else, this is not the book for you. If you like your humor without cream or sugar (as for example in the film "Dogma"), give this book a try.

5 stars

Awesome. If the idea of the devil as a guy with horns, wings, red scaly skin, a forked tail, and pitchfork makes you laugh and you appreciate some well constructed vulgarity you should give this a read. It felt to me like the author wished he could be the devil himself, and really enjoyed writing this book. The character he creates is every bit as mischievous and cunning as you would expect, and half the time you don't know whether to believe him or not. Particularly amusing are the potshots he takes at religious figures such as Adam, Eve, Gabriel, Christ, etc. Not recommended for anyone who actually believes that anything in the bible really happened (you know who you are).