Review – Demon: A Memoir

What if someone could go back in time through a firsthand account and hear about the reality before the world’s creation? What happened in the heavens before humans inhabited the earth? And what ramifications to those happenings have for us now? Did Biblical events such as Creation, the Fall, the Flood, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection really happen? If so, how and why?

That’s what Clay is going to find out. Lucian, a fallen angel, is on a mission to explain his personal story with Clay so that it can be published. Contrary to his better judgment, Clay allows himself to be drawn in by Lucian’s fantastic tale and agrees to author a corresponding novel. Clay hangs on for the ride of his life, unable to rest unless he has faithfully dictated Lucian’s every word, to the detriment of all else. But anything will be better than his depressing existence as a divorcee and not-too-successful editor, or is it? Before long, Clay’s obsession turns into more than a book deal. Lucian’s story is Clay’s story-but what is the ending?

I confess to not having read anything by Anne Rice or C. S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters (so sue me), so I won’t be another reviewer who compares this tale to the aforementioned. I must say, though, that I’ve never empathized so much with a fallen being before-Lucian, though evil and narcissistic, provoked at least a little sympathy in regards to his plight.

Without giving anything away, I was hard-pressed to find a down side to this book. Perhaps the fact that all ends weren’t tied up at the end may be a hindrance to some-or, that may be a selling point. But whatever the end is, you will not see it coming. No way will you see it coming. And you will not be able to stop thinking about Lucian or Clay or the God who created them both.

There are few other novels so stunning and original-I highly recommend it.