I Lucifer

Glen Duncan's second novel is based on a brilliant idea. God gives Lucifer one last chance of redemption. He can be readmitted to the hierarchy if he agrees to live out a reasonably sin-free life on earth. Lucifer agrees, if he can first of all have a trial period, 'a summer holiday, in a human body, with all the delights of the flesh'. The body is that of Declan Gunn, a failed writer and human whose suicide is interrupted only by God's decision to park the Devil in him for a while. This is a flawed masterpiece, but a masterpiece for all that. The start of the novel is jokey-funny, the ending shrouded in appalled pathos and a bitter courage and the whole thing shot through with a truly wicked sense of humour. In between, there is some superb writing that takes us a lot closer to the Devil and to humanity - which comes out of this novel refreshingly well - but some way away from God. The problems which chip away at Duncan's book are the same ones that beset Milton when he tried to tell a version of the story from the other side. God knows everything. He has to. That's the way the story is. This makes him incredibly boring, as well as omniscient. It also means that a manipulative, cynical being with some incredible powers such as Lucifer can easily look a fool for fighting a foregone lost cause, as well as raising questions about why the fight happened in the first place. Duncan wins the battle as well as anyone ever has. His Lucifer is made tragic by God's omniscience, rather than merely stupid. Duncan's problem is that he is writing a very modern book on the basis of very mediaeval theology. In history, theology and tradition, God is... God. In 2002 we need to have him as the President of the United States, both pre-and post-Watergate. I Lucifer is still startlingly witty, original and beautifully written. Glen Duncan is a very real talent. Martin Stephen is High Master of Manchester Grammar School and author of The Desperate Remedy. (Kirkus UK)