Anti-Christ: A Satirical End of Days

by Matthew Moses

For the past two millennia, there has been a Cold War between Heaven and Hell. All that changes tonight in this epic satirical tale of a failing philosophy student whose feud with Jesus will lead to his unwittingly fulfilling prophecy and bringing about Armageddon. Biblical and blasphemous don't even begin to describe his journey.

392 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2007

Reviews

[Inferus · Rating 5 out of 5]

As told in "Anti Christ: A Satirical End of Days", the world is in chaos – proving reality infuses fiction. Russia is eliminating democracy, returning to an authoritarian government. The US is fighting government corruption charges as a possible war between Pakistan and India formulates. Now China wants to rule Taiwan…the global issues never end.

On a civilian scale, Matthew Ford is an average college guy, suffering the usual issues. After waiting three hours, his internet date is a no show, the bookstore refuses to refund a book he just bought, and then his car gets a flat tire as it begins to snow. Arriving home, Matt’s horrendous day ends peacefully once he throws out the ghost, haunting him for the last time. Okay, so this act is not usual however, it garners the attention of Heaven now commercialized and a power hungry Hell, both warring against the other to gain Earth peoples’ majority support. As for his awareness of the previously mentioned world issues, Matt was busy watching professional wrestling; his priorities are quite clear.

Mr. Moses composes an engaging, humorous parody, drawing from timeless world events and American life. The U.S. President Lucas is a ditz, believing that Kashmir – in India - is a sweater company, and cannot understand why Pakistan wants that particular cloth. It’s not material they want, it’s all about the land. Russia’s President Romanov wants to return his country into greatness. He dissolves the Duma, their legislative body, assuming sole leadership. After President Lucas’ lengthy warning that the U.S. will defend democracy, Romanov, a taciturn man, replies with a barbed curse, “F--- America”. Now that is honest communication.

The true witticism shines as Matt begins an enlightened journey first to Heaven, followed by Hell, then to the mystic Buddhist temples, and then back again to Heaven. Instigating this trek are two cherubs who abduct Matt, claiming the “Boss” wants to meet. Once in Zion (Heaven), the cherubs loose Matt, who wanders into a place called “Gabriel’s”. God’s Archangels now congregate in a local tavern since Heaven and Hell signed a peace treaty two thousand years ago, outlawing wars. They drown their sorrows in unending chalices of holy water or engage in wrestling smack downs in the tavern’s backroom; releasing pent up hostilities. The crowning moment is when Matt finally meets Jesus demanding that he take back the ghost he threw out; Heaven is overcrowded since Christ took over management.

The slapstick continues with attacks on big business, worker’s unions, fad diets, immigration, military assistance in foreign countries, reincarnation…not even the Pope is exempt from this fast paced, captivating farce. Still, when Satan entices Matt into becoming the world’s elite guru of wisdom, the amusing dialog turns gloomy. They attend congressional sessions discussing stem cell research and lecture overweight people simply to stop eating; naming only a few topics that some readers may not find amusing, in any form.

Yet, "Anti Christ" is a satire, “a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule”_ (definition from Dictionary.com)…hmmm, Mr. Moses has done his job well. His characters are well formed, genuine, aptly supporting this cabaret of imaginative intrigue. Even the typo, right at the beginning, “CwHyAPTER 1” only adds to this wacky novel. And yes, I roared with laughter throughout this distinctive book.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Satire is a dangerous vehicle. There is a fine line between farce and simply being absurd, between making a point and clobbering the reader over the head with it. At times, those lines, particularly the latter, blur for Matthew Moses in his Anti-Christ: A Satirical End of Days . Yet there are probably many in its intended audience who will view it all as a reflection of the renowned mantra from Network, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this any more!"[return][return]oses is mad about two things in particular -- religion, especially the Roman Catholic church, and the current state of politics and government. At the outset of the novel, his protagonist probably could care less about either. Matthew Ford is, quite simply, a pathetic loser for whom nothing goes right. In his fourth year of college, he still lives with his parents, a phobic mother and a father who retreats to the basement to watch porn. But then, Matthew isn t a model human being either. He's "a man whose mouth proved the asshole of his mind."[return][return]Thus, Matthew is an unlikely fulcrum for the eruption of open warfare between Heaven and Hell, which have been in a lengthy Cold War. But when Matthew throws a ghost out of his bedroom, he sets off a chain of events that not only brings him face to face with God, Jesus, Satan, and Buddha but ultimately brings about Armageddon.[return][return]Read rest of review at http://prairieprogressive.com/?p=994

[Lori Whitwam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Borrrrrring. It was a good concept, and didn't fail entirely, but there were long, rambling trivial passages, and the shifting motivational focuses were confusing and annoying. The hero, Matthew, was okay, and the explanation for life on earth and the nature of heaven and the ongoing struggle was pretty good, but overall it didn't hold my interest.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love satire so this book was perfect from the first words. I liked the main character and laughed out loud at some of the situations Matthew put him into. The ending was a great take on the whole "apocalypse and revelation" bible story; I did not see the whole ending coming - and I loved that!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of potential, but kind of fell short to me.