The Afterword: A Novel

by Mike Bryan

The Afterword is the afterword to a best-selling novel that doesn’t exist. It is a stunning, deliriously original work of fiction about the nature of faith in the modern world.

Genres: Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Mike Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theology. A gimmicky point of view. Bible quotes.

This book has all the ingredients for the recipe of bad book. Somehow Mike Bryan took the fixuns and made a tasty dish that is not only clever and entertaining, but insightful and meaningful too.

In The Afterword, author Mike Bryan tells the story in the form of an Afterword to his bestselling novel, The Deity Next Door. But The Deity Next Door doesn’t actually exist.

Bryan shows us the interesting back story to a story that doesn’t really exist. The Deity Next Door becomes a bestselling book almost overnight and the author has a lot of questions to answer to his fans.

Bryan’s non-existant novel follow the story of a modern-day messiah named Blaine – a secular computer nerd from NYC who figures out that he has diving powers. Not just I-can-see-through-walls powers like Superman. He can control objects and cure cancer…serious shit.

This book, written through the eyes of a journalist, explains the theological questions that come to mind when encountering a modern-day messiah.

In ten words: I wish more authors created unique ways of storytelling like this.

[Tamara Barillaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sort of gives you a mix of modern perspective on a deity. Though I do t think the author intended it to also possibly be a guide on how to go about writing and developing your own story for those who want to be writers one day the author does give tips throughout the book and what his struggles were in writing, I also found the author gave good advice on how to write and begin writing a character if you wanted to learn how to make your own novel and develop a character ironically this book also gives you that insight. This book pretty much had a little bit of everything with a modern stance on perspective and the world view now a days on religion and different aspects. It was quite a invigorating read.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not live up to its promise whatsoever. Very disappointing.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'm as devout a philatelist as the next reader of ancient history, student of art history, and/or stalker of thomas pynchon so i could not but be whelmed and driven to a veritable distraction by the premise of the divine walking — on water, completely in secret — among us, exercising miraculous powers and still remaining true to his deeper-than-divine rogue male qualities. You go, Blaine!

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clever little book written in the guise of an afterword to a book that doesn't really exist. In this innovative format, the author discusses theological questions and the creative process as well as society in general.

[Frederick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good concept. Not such a good read.

[Kellaura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't even get halfway through it, there are too many good books waiting to be read. Interesting concept but it just didn't hold together