Carmichael's Dog

For God's sake, please ignore the pathetic Kirkus review of this outstanding novel--obviously they skimmed (for that matter, avoid Kirkus as a matter of policy, like avoiding sex with machinery). Carmichael's Dog is one of the finest novels I have ever read--bawdy, witty, profoundly wise in matters of creativity and human nature, and actually gripping. There is, I assure you, a real story here, every bit as compelling as the dimestore potboilers Mr. or Ms. Kirkus seems to prefer slobbering over. It may be difficult to find a copy, but do it. Buy several; give them to friends. Koster deserves to be more widely read than any ten mega-authors combined.

An excellent novel. A whole lot going on all at once -- an altered-reality United States, a novelist grappling with that life, the improbable love inspired by dogs, demonic possesion, the seven deadly sins -- all narrated by an inocuous demon occupying the well-possessed central character! It sounds big and confusing, but in fact it's a hilarious story, easy to follow as you get sucked into it bit by bit, as a tiny cute lapdog goes to work as a professional exorcist, ready to turn Carmichael back into a decent human being. I can't imagine why this book went out of print.