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Prosper's Demon #2
Inside Man
K.J. Parker returns to the amoral world of
Prosper's Demon
with a wry, sardonic novella that flips the eternal, rule-governed battle between men and demons on its head.
An anonymous representative of the Devil, once a high-ranking Duke of Hell and now a committed underachiever, has spent the last forever of an eternity leading a perfectly tedious existence distracting monks from their liturgical devotions. It’s interminable, but he prefers it that way, now that he’s been officially designated by Downstairs as “fragile.� No, he won’t elaborate.
All that changes when he finds himself ensnared, along with a sadistic exorcist, in a labyrinthine plot to subvert the very nature of Good and Evil. In such a circumstance, sympathy for the Devil is practically inevitable.
An anonymous representative of the Devil, once a high-ranking Duke of Hell and now a committed underachiever, has spent the last forever of an eternity leading a perfectly tedious existence distracting monks from their liturgical devotions. It’s interminable, but he prefers it that way, now that he’s been officially designated by Downstairs as “fragile.� No, he won’t elaborate.
All that changes when he finds himself ensnared, along with a sadistic exorcist, in a labyrinthine plot to subvert the very nature of Good and Evil. In such a circumstance, sympathy for the Devil is practically inevitable.
127 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2021
69 people are currently reading
2,072 people want to read
About the author
K.J. Parker
133books1,596followersK.J. Parker is a pseudonym for Tom Holt.
According to the biographical notes in some of Parker's books, Parker has previously worked in law, journalism, and numismatics, and now writes and makes things out of wood and metal. It is also claimed that Parker is married to a solicitor and now lives in southern England. According to an autobiographical note, Parker was raised in rural Vermont, a lifestyle which influenced Parker's work.
According to the biographical notes in some of Parker's books, Parker has previously worked in law, journalism, and numismatics, and now writes and makes things out of wood and metal. It is also claimed that Parker is married to a solicitor and now lives in southern England. According to an autobiographical note, Parker was raised in rural Vermont, a lifestyle which influenced Parker's work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
September 30, 2022
K. J. Parker regresa en "Infiltrado" al mundo amoral de "El demonio de Próspero" con una sarcástica e irónica novela que le da la vuelta a la larga batalla que libran hombres y demonios, y donde nada es inmutable, ni siquiera las más sagradas reglas de la eterna lucha entre el bien y el mal
Tras una experiencia traumática, y designado por sus superiores como "frágil", un demonio pasa sus días en un convento distrayendo a los monjes de sus obligaciones religiosas.
Su tediosa existencia termina cuando le encargan una nueva misión en la lejana Antecira, donde un duque amenaza con dar al traste con el gran plan que ha regido la humanidad hasta entonces. Pronto se verá metido de lleno en un enrevesado complot de consecuencias insospechadas.
Sin embargo, lo más grave de todo ello es que tendrá que vérselas de nuevo con su peor enemigo y el causante de todos sus males, un exorcista sádico al que poseyó en el pasado.
Esta segunda entrega cambia un poco el todo y está llena de una irreverencia tan descarada y sarcástica que te hace pasar un buen rato riendo.
Narrado desde el punto de vista de un demonio menor que está en un estado frágil, después de una asignación algo traumática. Se relaciona vagamente con la teología y la historia tal como las conocemos, pero se aparta un poco para que sea más divertido, conteniendo sorpresas y giros.
Las cosas que este demonio tiene que pasar mientras realiza las tareas que le han sigo asignadas, hasta la ridícula burocracia y los procedimientos que él y sus, "amigos" se ven obligados a realizar. Son hilarantes.
No tenemos una gran construcción de mundo, ni siquiera es una trama de un nivel digamos, muy elaborado. Es sencilla. Y funciona.
Una novela breve y bastante sarcástica, humor y monólogos internos en situaciones extremas. Reales como metafóricas. Y las verdades sobre los orígenes de la fe y la burocracia.
La historia desde el punto de vista del demonio en lugar del exorcista o la víctima.
Obtenemos información sobre los demonios, su naturaleza, su jerarquía y su lucha interminable sin resultados claros contra las huestes del cielo.
Las nociones de libre albedrío, compasión, el lugar que ocupa cada uno y más cosas. Estoy sorprendido de que el autor haya podido incluir tanto en tan poco.
Es divertido, eso sí, enfocado hacia aspectos algo oscuros y muy sarcástico. Pero también toca temas serios, qué es el libre albedrío, el mal..
"Infiltrado" es independiente aún transcurriendo en el mismo mundo que "El demonio de Próspero" pero recomiendo no leer este sin haber leído el primero.
Se disfruta más y mejor..✍️
Tras una experiencia traumática, y designado por sus superiores como "frágil", un demonio pasa sus días en un convento distrayendo a los monjes de sus obligaciones religiosas.
Su tediosa existencia termina cuando le encargan una nueva misión en la lejana Antecira, donde un duque amenaza con dar al traste con el gran plan que ha regido la humanidad hasta entonces. Pronto se verá metido de lleno en un enrevesado complot de consecuencias insospechadas.
Sin embargo, lo más grave de todo ello es que tendrá que vérselas de nuevo con su peor enemigo y el causante de todos sus males, un exorcista sádico al que poseyó en el pasado.
Esta segunda entrega cambia un poco el todo y está llena de una irreverencia tan descarada y sarcástica que te hace pasar un buen rato riendo.
Narrado desde el punto de vista de un demonio menor que está en un estado frágil, después de una asignación algo traumática. Se relaciona vagamente con la teología y la historia tal como las conocemos, pero se aparta un poco para que sea más divertido, conteniendo sorpresas y giros.
Las cosas que este demonio tiene que pasar mientras realiza las tareas que le han sigo asignadas, hasta la ridícula burocracia y los procedimientos que él y sus, "amigos" se ven obligados a realizar. Son hilarantes.
No tenemos una gran construcción de mundo, ni siquiera es una trama de un nivel digamos, muy elaborado. Es sencilla. Y funciona.
Una novela breve y bastante sarcástica, humor y monólogos internos en situaciones extremas. Reales como metafóricas. Y las verdades sobre los orígenes de la fe y la burocracia.
La historia desde el punto de vista del demonio en lugar del exorcista o la víctima.
Obtenemos información sobre los demonios, su naturaleza, su jerarquía y su lucha interminable sin resultados claros contra las huestes del cielo.
Las nociones de libre albedrío, compasión, el lugar que ocupa cada uno y más cosas. Estoy sorprendido de que el autor haya podido incluir tanto en tan poco.
Es divertido, eso sí, enfocado hacia aspectos algo oscuros y muy sarcástico. Pero también toca temas serios, qué es el libre albedrío, el mal..
"Infiltrado" es independiente aún transcurriendo en el mismo mundo que "El demonio de Próspero" pero recomiendo no leer este sin haber leído el primero.
Se disfruta más y mejor..✍️
Want to read
April 27, 2023#1) Prosper's Demon ★★★★�
"As if Deadpool had slipped into the body of the Witcher Geralt"
me : *vibrating at a frequency that shatters glass*
me : yeah i'm anticipating this a normal amount
� �
April 17, 2023
Segunda novela de El demonio de Próspero.
La trama reflexiona sobre temas como el libre albedrío y la lucha entre el bien y el mal. Esta vez el protagonista es el demonio, que narra de forma sarcástica y divertida, y que tiene un trabajo tranquilo en un convento después de sus traumáticas experiencias con el exorcista. Hasta que le encargan una misión en la que además lidia con la burocracia de su mundo.
Muy divertida y entretenida.
La trama reflexiona sobre temas como el libre albedrío y la lucha entre el bien y el mal. Esta vez el protagonista es el demonio, que narra de forma sarcástica y divertida, y que tiene un trabajo tranquilo en un convento después de sus traumáticas experiencias con el exorcista. Hasta que le encargan una misión en la que además lidia con la burocracia de su mundo.
Muy divertida y entretenida.
September 2, 2022
What if the good and bad entities of Heaven and Hell lived in an eternal pencil-pushing bureaucratic battle of stabilized opposition? What if you threw in one interesting, free-thinking oddball into the mix?
Welcome to Inside Man.
Humor: ★★★★�
Unique factor: ★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★�
Unlike the majority, apparently, I thought this was LEAGUES better than the first novella in this world, Prosper’s Demon. K.J. Parker is becoming an all-time favorite and I'm coming to love anything he writes in this irreverent narrative style.
This is not a deep-dive into world building, or frankly even a medium-level plot. This is a short and snarky novella about humor, internal monologues, extreme situations both real and metaphorical, and the core truths about the origins of faith and organized bureaucracy.
Describing this novella in detail would literally ruin it for you as a reader—this thing is so short—so I won't.
I'll just say that I loved it, I could NOT stop cackling, and I ultimately fell in love with this weird, not actually corporeal demon pencil-pusher with a penchant for fragility (he'd rather not talk about it, thanks).
This is literally the perfect recommendation for anyone who enjoyed Good Omens, or similar tropes of good vs. bad characters snarking each other out of existence.
|
Welcome to Inside Man.
Humor: ★★★★�
Unique factor: ★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★�
Unlike the majority, apparently, I thought this was LEAGUES better than the first novella in this world, Prosper’s Demon. K.J. Parker is becoming an all-time favorite and I'm coming to love anything he writes in this irreverent narrative style.
This is not a deep-dive into world building, or frankly even a medium-level plot. This is a short and snarky novella about humor, internal monologues, extreme situations both real and metaphorical, and the core truths about the origins of faith and organized bureaucracy.
Describing this novella in detail would literally ruin it for you as a reader—this thing is so short—so I won't.
I'll just say that I loved it, I could NOT stop cackling, and I ultimately fell in love with this weird, not actually corporeal demon pencil-pusher with a penchant for fragility (he'd rather not talk about it, thanks).
This is literally the perfect recommendation for anyone who enjoyed Good Omens, or similar tropes of good vs. bad characters snarking each other out of existence.
|
March 20, 2022
Definitely my least favorite of the novellas so far, though it's still Parker and therefore was a joy to read. This series just isn't my favorite of his works, but I liked Prospect's Demon better.
More to come.
More to come.
June 16, 2021
"I distinctly remember telling them all, back in the day. It'll all end in tears, I told them. But they wouldn't listen, and they went ahead, and the rest is theology."
I adored this. It's dripping with cheeky, snarky irreverence and I swear I couldn't stop giggling. Told from the POV of a minor demon in a "fragile" state, after a traumatic assignment of which we will not speak... It loosely ties into theology and history as we know it, yet departs enough that it feels both surprising and amusing. I loved everything from the minor nuisances and annoyances the demon so enthusiastically engenders while performing his assigned tasks, to the ridiculous bureaucracy and procedures he and his, um, colleagues are forced to operate by.
I adored this. It's dripping with cheeky, snarky irreverence and I swear I couldn't stop giggling. Told from the POV of a minor demon in a "fragile" state, after a traumatic assignment of which we will not speak... It loosely ties into theology and history as we know it, yet departs enough that it feels both surprising and amusing. I loved everything from the minor nuisances and annoyances the demon so enthusiastically engenders while performing his assigned tasks, to the ridiculous bureaucracy and procedures he and his, um, colleagues are forced to operate by.
Read
July 17, 2021KJ Parker getting closer to his Tom Holt persona here with a strong Good Omens flavour. Tale of exorcism told by a demon, very much about the Ineffable Plan, with a lot of excellent jokes to go with the Miltonic wrangling. A bit, oh, lightweight, which was obviously deliberate: it's an entertainment and I enjoyed it a lot.
June 20, 2021
The sequel to Prosper's demon is told in the perspective of.... well... Prosper's Demon.
An intriguing twist where the story follows from the point of view of the Demon instead of the exorcist or the victim. But this isn't just a story of a demonic possession, nor is it one following the rivalry between the Demon and the exorcist (both of which were the subjects in Prosper's Demon). We get more information about the working of demonkind, their nature, their hierarchy and their unending and unwinnable "fight" against the host of heaven. Notions of free will, compassion and one's place in the cosmic order of things are also sprinkled in here and there. I'm quite surprised the author was able to include so much of this (along with a ton of worldbuilding) in such a short story, suffice to say I loved it more than the first book.
An intriguing twist where the story follows from the point of view of the Demon instead of the exorcist or the victim. But this isn't just a story of a demonic possession, nor is it one following the rivalry between the Demon and the exorcist (both of which were the subjects in Prosper's Demon). We get more information about the working of demonkind, their nature, their hierarchy and their unending and unwinnable "fight" against the host of heaven. Notions of free will, compassion and one's place in the cosmic order of things are also sprinkled in here and there. I'm quite surprised the author was able to include so much of this (along with a ton of worldbuilding) in such a short story, suffice to say I loved it more than the first book.
December 18, 2021
A great follow-up to the first, with a new perspective that really leaned into the tone that I think I'm going to call cosmic humour. There's an almost Pratchett-y vibe when it really picks up, paired with some pretty thought-provoking, beautifully written, more serious sections.
This is a great pair of books and short enough to make for a great afternoon read.
This is a great pair of books and short enough to make for a great afternoon read.
October 29, 2021
I’m fairly sure I’d enjoy reading a shopping list written by this author. But in the context of much of his excellent writing I was a little disappointed by this novella.
It’s the follow up to which portrayed the life of an exorcist, and the professional familiarity that he could develop with the demons/devils he expelled from people, with wry humour and in the characteristic Parkeresque Medieval style world. In this novella roles are reversed and we see things from the point of view of the demons or devils! I could explain the plot in detail and you’d still be missing much of the content which is concerned with amusing theological musings on the relationship between good and evil.
Sounds a bit heavyweight but I’d say it was more in the style of Terry Pratchett than anything from a college philosophy department. Not an insult at all to the author, as many of his earlier works (under the Tom Holt name) were in that comedic style and Sir Terry is a literary saint as far as I’m concerned.
Much of the story considers the dependency on each other of the forces of good and evil - if you create light, you create darkness at the same time, etc. A jokey twist involves the possibility that they might actually have to cooperate for once in the face of a new problem.
In the context of much of the fantasy I read this novella was clever, amusing and entertaining but in comparison to the author’s other works, and even the preceding , I’m afraid it rates only a 3.5* for me�
It’s the follow up to which portrayed the life of an exorcist, and the professional familiarity that he could develop with the demons/devils he expelled from people, with wry humour and in the characteristic Parkeresque Medieval style world. In this novella roles are reversed and we see things from the point of view of the demons or devils! I could explain the plot in detail and you’d still be missing much of the content which is concerned with amusing theological musings on the relationship between good and evil.
Sounds a bit heavyweight but I’d say it was more in the style of Terry Pratchett than anything from a college philosophy department. Not an insult at all to the author, as many of his earlier works (under the Tom Holt name) were in that comedic style and Sir Terry is a literary saint as far as I’m concerned.
Much of the story considers the dependency on each other of the forces of good and evil - if you create light, you create darkness at the same time, etc. A jokey twist involves the possibility that they might actually have to cooperate for once in the face of a new problem.
In the context of much of the fantasy I read this novella was clever, amusing and entertaining but in comparison to the author’s other works, and even the preceding , I’m afraid it rates only a 3.5* for me�
March 25, 2025
Pues llegué aquí porque el primer libro me había gustado mucho, pero no fue el caso de esta segunda parte. Siento que ya no conecté con el humor del autor y aunque es un libro corto, se me hizo eterno. De hecho, lo leí hace unos meses y ya no recuerdo nada.
July 25, 2024
The sequel to Prosper's Demon, narrated from the perspective of the demon, this time, as he works with a psychotic exorcist on an inside job to subvert the very nature of Good and Evil. Snarky, irreverent humor mix with the bureaucracy of Heaven and Hell in a grand operation where everything follows the Plan, and everyone's work, whether angelic or demonic, is of equal value and follows the Plan.
K.J. Parker is always fun to read. This novella was no exception.
K.J. Parker is always fun to read. This novella was no exception.
April 16, 2022
Sadly, this was a pretty meh read. The roles have changed from Prosper's Demon and this story is told from the POV of a demon with the exorcist from the first book nowhere in . The "hell is a mismanaged office full of red tape" was kind of funny the first couple of pages, but got old really quick. Most of the humor in this one just didn't really land for me. This is supposed to be set in the middle ages of another world, yet we still get comments like "this is all second-archer-on-the-grassy-knoll stuff" that just take me out of the story.
I liked Prosper's Demon, despite it being kind of hard to follow. Unfortunately, the sequel has all the hard to follow tangents without the fun of the first book. When I first read Prosper's Demon and Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City, I really liked K.J. Parker's style of story telling and found it to be a breath of fresh air. Maybe it's me, but now it feels kind of stale and more like Parker is a one trick pony. The stuff I found unique in the first couple of books, just felt tedious this time around. This book felt like a chore to get thru, even though it was only a little over a hundred pages.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to be taking a break from K.J. Parker for awhile. I've been in a major reading slump this year and don't know that Parker has anything out there that's going to hold my interest at the moment. I might eventually give the sequels to Sixteen Ways... a try eventually, but might not. I'm not a big fan of indirect sequels and since I don't think there are any returning characters I might give them a pass.
I liked Prosper's Demon, despite it being kind of hard to follow. Unfortunately, the sequel has all the hard to follow tangents without the fun of the first book. When I first read Prosper's Demon and Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City, I really liked K.J. Parker's style of story telling and found it to be a breath of fresh air. Maybe it's me, but now it feels kind of stale and more like Parker is a one trick pony. The stuff I found unique in the first couple of books, just felt tedious this time around. This book felt like a chore to get thru, even though it was only a little over a hundred pages.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to be taking a break from K.J. Parker for awhile. I've been in a major reading slump this year and don't know that Parker has anything out there that's going to hold my interest at the moment. I might eventually give the sequels to Sixteen Ways... a try eventually, but might not. I'm not a big fan of indirect sequels and since I don't think there are any returning characters I might give them a pass.
June 30, 2021
Like the other novellas/shorts with an immortal demon as the main character, this one is funny, darkly ironic, but also touching upon serious issues from what it means to be omniscient, what is free will, evil etc; not to be missed for both fans of the author but also for a good introduction to his style; while related with other works (and with allusions at pretty much all his fantasy oeuvre), the novella is independent;
September 28, 2022
Secuela de El Demonio de Próspero, pero no continuación directa. Aún y así, mejor leer El Demonio de Próspero antes para entender el funcionamento del mundo creado por Parker.
En esta ocasión cambiamos de punto de vista del protagonista y la historia no está narrada por un exorcista si no por un Demonio. Lo que nos aporta su visión particular del mundo de la novela. Todo ello narrado con el estilo mordaz que ya venía utilizando en El Demonio de Próspero.
Es interesante la vuelta de tuerca que le da el punto de vista porque se nos planeta el dilema de lo que es el bien i que es el mal (me ha dado la sensación que criticando un poco a la religión) y que todo depende de dónde se mire. Además, entran en juego varios elementos e intrigas que dotan a la trama de más complejidad que el primer libro.
Si bien en El Demonio de Próspero la trama se cerraba, en esta secuela quedan dos o tres hilos de los que tirar en un futuro, por lo que apuesto a que el autor regresará a este mundo para contarnos más historias sobre él.
En esta ocasión cambiamos de punto de vista del protagonista y la historia no está narrada por un exorcista si no por un Demonio. Lo que nos aporta su visión particular del mundo de la novela. Todo ello narrado con el estilo mordaz que ya venía utilizando en El Demonio de Próspero.
Es interesante la vuelta de tuerca que le da el punto de vista porque se nos planeta el dilema de lo que es el bien i que es el mal (me ha dado la sensación que criticando un poco a la religión) y que todo depende de dónde se mire. Además, entran en juego varios elementos e intrigas que dotan a la trama de más complejidad que el primer libro.
Si bien en El Demonio de Próspero la trama se cerraba, en esta secuela quedan dos o tres hilos de los que tirar en un futuro, por lo que apuesto a que el autor regresará a este mundo para contarnos más historias sobre él.
July 18, 2021
A snarky, sarcastic novella about the eternal war between demons and angels, demonic possession, and THE PLAN (but does it exist?). There is a lot of philosophy, too, thrown in rather casually. AND Hell has a very impressive bureaucracy - I appreciated this very much :-)
I love K J Parker’s dry humour and skillful world-building, I can’t get enough of his books.
I love K J Parker’s dry humour and skillful world-building, I can’t get enough of his books.
Read
August 2, 2021I enjoyed Prosper's Demon, but the sequel really didn't work for me. I am all here for snarky Bible takes, but 1. this leaned a bit too much into the classic antisemitic tropes to my taste (I will spare you the quotes, but honestly tempted) 2. it was all rather superficial and not particularly funny even minus the Really Uncomfortable takes about Secondary-World Ancient Israel being dirty, smelly, populated by "losers" etc. Sure, one could say it's narrated by a demon and why should you believe a demon, but the book does lean into it and it wasn't enjoyable to read or subversive in an interesting way. (Or, any way at all.)
I thought the plot and pacing were also rather haphazard; the novella tried to set up an adventure when already two-thirds into the wordcount...?
Spoiler:
A big disappointment, and I'm a fan. It'll make me more hesitant to read Parker's work going forward. Sigh...
_____
Source of the book: Lawrence Public Library
I thought the plot and pacing were also rather haphazard; the novella tried to set up an adventure when already two-thirds into the wordcount...?
Spoiler:
A big disappointment, and I'm a fan. It'll make me more hesitant to read Parker's work going forward. Sigh...
_____
Source of the book: Lawrence Public Library
June 27, 2021
3.5/5
As always, KJ Parker can be counted on to make me smile with his witty, wry humor and interest in dabbling here and there with philosophy.
This was a quick diversion and one I was happy to consume but unfortunately it doesn't quite reach the heights of some of his other works. The story felt a bit more thin than the previous installment and bit too much is going on in terms of gags.
I will say, the world remains interesting and it's always a pleasure to get something from Parker. It was a nice appetizer to his longer works and certainly pacey.
As always, KJ Parker can be counted on to make me smile with his witty, wry humor and interest in dabbling here and there with philosophy.
This was a quick diversion and one I was happy to consume but unfortunately it doesn't quite reach the heights of some of his other works. The story felt a bit more thin than the previous installment and bit too much is going on in terms of gags.
I will say, the world remains interesting and it's always a pleasure to get something from Parker. It was a nice appetizer to his longer works and certainly pacey.
March 20, 2022
4.75. Super weird but I kind of loved it. Preferred it to Prosper’s Demon as I think the humour is excellent. Definitely not going to be for everyone.
I’ll be doing a full review of Prosper’s Demon and Inside Man soon!
I’ll be doing a full review of Prosper’s Demon and Inside Man soon!
December 18, 2021
TL;DR: 4.x? rounded down. Good, but with a lot of distracting elements.
A demon is ordered to team up with a sadistic exorcist he has history with.
This was not my best KJ Parker reading experience. While I think the story itself and the writing were fine there were several things going on here that I found very distracting.
The first is that this is billed as a sequel or related to which I read like a year and half ago. Given I have a terrible memory for characters even while actively reading the book, add Parker's penchant for unnamed first person narrators, and the fact I couldn't give you more than the vaguest gist of an idea what occurred in Prosper's Demon at this point, I spent a good chunk of this novella wondering if any of these were supposed to be the same characters (I still don't know, but maybe not?) or if indeed what I was getting here was going to be the same story as Prosper's Demon, just from the demon's POV.
On top of that, the geographical description of the major location in the story is a clear analogue for Israel, right down to the southern neighbor that mummifies cats. This is so heavy handed even my ordinarily symbolism blind self couldn't help but see it, which immediately had me wondering if there's some political statement going on that I'm not picking up on.
Now, Parker's stuff in general probably has a lot of historical analogues that I'm just too ignorant to pick up on, but the religions in his world generally have enough of a twist on them that while I can see certain parallels the heretical aspects amuse me and are enough to keep it from breaching the boundary between fiction and real world that I need to maintain immersion in the story. But the backstory here is basically Paradise Lost and I wasn't really mentally prepared for that.
Knowing the title of Parker's next novella, (scheduled for March 2022), is and that phrase comes up near the end of this one a couple times, I'm going to assume it's related to this in a way I hadn't realize prior to reading this. So I think when that does come out and I get around to it, I really should reread Prosper's Demon and Inside Man before starting that one. So technically I should give this 5 stars since "would reread" is my criteria for that. But I'm not gonna. So :P
As a final aside, I'm still feeling a touch of disappointment at the increasing amount of actual "fantasy" in Parker's work. The first several Parker works I read were what I class as "non-magical fantasy", meaning secondary-world imaginary history, heavy on the intrigue. The occasional supernatural type stuff was ambiguous enough you could easily take a materialistic / atheistic type reading of it, which I really liked. Of course the voice is what keeps me coming back to Parker moreso than the details of the content, but non-magical fantasy always feels like it's in short supply and I'm a bit sad to see more unambiguously supernatural stuff creeping in, even if he does it very well.
A demon is ordered to team up with a sadistic exorcist he has history with.
This was not my best KJ Parker reading experience. While I think the story itself and the writing were fine there were several things going on here that I found very distracting.
The first is that this is billed as a sequel or related to which I read like a year and half ago. Given I have a terrible memory for characters even while actively reading the book, add Parker's penchant for unnamed first person narrators, and the fact I couldn't give you more than the vaguest gist of an idea what occurred in Prosper's Demon at this point, I spent a good chunk of this novella wondering if any of these were supposed to be the same characters (I still don't know, but maybe not?) or if indeed what I was getting here was going to be the same story as Prosper's Demon, just from the demon's POV.
On top of that, the geographical description of the major location in the story is a clear analogue for Israel, right down to the southern neighbor that mummifies cats. This is so heavy handed even my ordinarily symbolism blind self couldn't help but see it, which immediately had me wondering if there's some political statement going on that I'm not picking up on.
Now, Parker's stuff in general probably has a lot of historical analogues that I'm just too ignorant to pick up on, but the religions in his world generally have enough of a twist on them that while I can see certain parallels the heretical aspects amuse me and are enough to keep it from breaching the boundary between fiction and real world that I need to maintain immersion in the story. But the backstory here is basically Paradise Lost and I wasn't really mentally prepared for that.
Knowing the title of Parker's next novella, (scheduled for March 2022), is and that phrase comes up near the end of this one a couple times, I'm going to assume it's related to this in a way I hadn't realize prior to reading this. So I think when that does come out and I get around to it, I really should reread Prosper's Demon and Inside Man before starting that one. So technically I should give this 5 stars since "would reread" is my criteria for that. But I'm not gonna. So :P
As a final aside, I'm still feeling a touch of disappointment at the increasing amount of actual "fantasy" in Parker's work. The first several Parker works I read were what I class as "non-magical fantasy", meaning secondary-world imaginary history, heavy on the intrigue. The occasional supernatural type stuff was ambiguous enough you could easily take a materialistic / atheistic type reading of it, which I really liked. Of course the voice is what keeps me coming back to Parker moreso than the details of the content, but non-magical fantasy always feels like it's in short supply and I'm a bit sad to see more unambiguously supernatural stuff creeping in, even if he does it very well.
April 13, 2024
His Loyal Opposition has a story to tell - well, I mean, one of his minions.
So K.J.Parker has this way of writing that is both hilarious and disturbing. His Demonologist/Exorcist in Prosper's Demon was so morally dubious he might as wellhave been a demon.Lo! And...well ..behold. Part 2 of that duology rests squarely on the shoulders of a demon jumping from one monk to another in a monastery where monks are bought by rich folk asPay-To-Pray-The-Sins-Away.
But that's just scratching the surface of the shenanigans that are about to unfold. Shenanigans I fully reveled in and enjoyed to the very last period, full stop. Angels, fallen or not are DEVIOUS.Se magnifique!
A demon left battered after an encounter with an exorcist he once possessed from the womb. It/he/she/they waste their time away at a monasterycausing distractionto the monks prayingfor the souls of the shitty dead to keep them forgiven in heaven. I mean that alone makes for aluring tale. Add in everything else that happened thereafter and you've sold me gold.
Characters: Is it weird that I really feel for the demon, the "Inside Man" and I'm a little annoyed if not fearful of the exorcist - but I also feel for him - but more for the demon. Feels like a slippery slope to hell but hey...whatever.
Favorite scene: The Demon and the Exorcist meet again for "cooperation" not collaboration. What goes on in the mind is fascinating. Also, I mean that exorcist is HELL.
Favorite Quote/Concept: Cry Havoc! And let slip the squirrels of War! (Demon on the lower level task of possessing a monk name Brother Eusebius)Also: I remember our ridiculously complicated attempts at security—how do you conspire against the Omniscient?—passwords and coded messages and passing secret information in plain sight. We were clowns. We deserved to lose. (The Demon, on The Great Rebellion in Heaven and THE FALL)
StoryGraph Challenge: Top 22 Male Authors
Challenge Prompt:K.J. Parker series or Standalone
So K.J.Parker has this way of writing that is both hilarious and disturbing. His Demonologist/Exorcist in Prosper's Demon was so morally dubious he might as wellhave been a demon.Lo! And...well ..behold. Part 2 of that duology rests squarely on the shoulders of a demon jumping from one monk to another in a monastery where monks are bought by rich folk asPay-To-Pray-The-Sins-Away.
But that's just scratching the surface of the shenanigans that are about to unfold. Shenanigans I fully reveled in and enjoyed to the very last period, full stop. Angels, fallen or not are DEVIOUS.Se magnifique!
A demon left battered after an encounter with an exorcist he once possessed from the womb. It/he/she/they waste their time away at a monasterycausing distractionto the monks prayingfor the souls of the shitty dead to keep them forgiven in heaven. I mean that alone makes for aluring tale. Add in everything else that happened thereafter and you've sold me gold.
Characters: Is it weird that I really feel for the demon, the "Inside Man" and I'm a little annoyed if not fearful of the exorcist - but I also feel for him - but more for the demon. Feels like a slippery slope to hell but hey...whatever.
Favorite scene: The Demon and the Exorcist meet again for "cooperation" not collaboration. What goes on in the mind is fascinating. Also, I mean that exorcist is HELL.
Favorite Quote/Concept: Cry Havoc! And let slip the squirrels of War! (Demon on the lower level task of possessing a monk name Brother Eusebius)Also: I remember our ridiculously complicated attempts at security—how do you conspire against the Omniscient?—passwords and coded messages and passing secret information in plain sight. We were clowns. We deserved to lose. (The Demon, on The Great Rebellion in Heaven and THE FALL)
StoryGraph Challenge: Top 22 Male Authors
Challenge Prompt:K.J. Parker series or Standalone
December 31, 2021
Boom! Wow! Officially my favorite novella of 2021 as of now.
I loved this even more than ...which was my second favorite novella of 2020. Prosper's Demon introduces the characters of the exorcist and demon and is ultimately the story of a single dramatic episode. Inside Man takes the demon's perspective and is much more philosophical and speculative. But it remains snappy and snarky and hilarious in a dry, macabre way. The prose is simply outstanding. Lots of interesting vocabulary is used, the humor, really smart references to Christianity, and fascinating theological speculation (not necessarily serious, but also not necessarily not). On The Fall: "We fought the Lord and the Lord won." 😂
Sexual violence? No. Other content warnings? Religion....and not much else. The exorcist sometimes beats up the demon.
I loved this even more than ...which was my second favorite novella of 2020. Prosper's Demon introduces the characters of the exorcist and demon and is ultimately the story of a single dramatic episode. Inside Man takes the demon's perspective and is much more philosophical and speculative. But it remains snappy and snarky and hilarious in a dry, macabre way. The prose is simply outstanding. Lots of interesting vocabulary is used, the humor, really smart references to Christianity, and fascinating theological speculation (not necessarily serious, but also not necessarily not). On The Fall: "We fought the Lord and the Lord won." 😂
Sexual violence? No. Other content warnings? Religion....and not much else. The exorcist sometimes beats up the demon.
April 14, 2023
Irgi trumpas ir maloniai susiskaitęs tęsinys, šįkart � iš demono perspektyvos. Skaitydama „Prosper's Demon� svarsčiau, ar čia alegorija, ar šiaip žaidimas idėjomis, tai ši knyga užtvirtino „žaidimo idėjomis� teoriją.
Demonų / agnelų pasaulis vaizduojamas itin biurokratiškas, kas visai juokinga, bet vietomis atrodo kaip perteklinis trivializavimas. Demonai neturi kūno, bet pasakotojas emocijas išreiškia per kūnišką veiklą, visur pridėdamas „metaphorical� ar „proverbial�, maždaug, „I put my metaphorical head on my metaphorical knees�. Ok, nuoseklu, bet tas „metaphorical� po kiek laiko ima erzinti.
Kaip ten bebuvę, tikrai smagi knyga. Ypač patiko tos alternatyvios visatos geografija ir valstybių santykiai!
Demonų / agnelų pasaulis vaizduojamas itin biurokratiškas, kas visai juokinga, bet vietomis atrodo kaip perteklinis trivializavimas. Demonai neturi kūno, bet pasakotojas emocijas išreiškia per kūnišką veiklą, visur pridėdamas „metaphorical� ar „proverbial�, maždaug, „I put my metaphorical head on my metaphorical knees�. Ok, nuoseklu, bet tas „metaphorical� po kiek laiko ima erzinti.
Kaip ten bebuvę, tikrai smagi knyga. Ypač patiko tos alternatyvios visatos geografija ir valstybių santykiai!
July 21, 2023
Buen cambio respecto al primer libro, esta vez la historia es narrada por el demonio que es maltratado por el exorcista que protagoniza .
Me gustó este cambio de voz narrativa porque muestra el lado burocrático de los demonios y también el narrador es más simpático, Parker logra que prefieras un ser maligno por encima del que supuestamente trabaja para el lado bueno.
Aunque no tuvo los mismos giros que el anterior, fue una lectura muy entretenida y ligera, con el tipo de humor que me gusta.
Me gustó este cambio de voz narrativa porque muestra el lado burocrático de los demonios y también el narrador es más simpático, Parker logra que prefieras un ser maligno por encima del que supuestamente trabaja para el lado bueno.
Aunque no tuvo los mismos giros que el anterior, fue una lectura muy entretenida y ligera, con el tipo de humor que me gusta.
November 15, 2023
Un demonio, traumatizado por el trato recibido por un exorcista, que suena mucho al protagonista de ‘El demonio de Próspero�, es requerido para un misión importante en Antecira. Y es que un duque pone en peligro el Plan Divino.
No me ha gustado tanto como la otra novela corta ambientada en el mismo universo. Eso sí, el autor sigue igual de sarcástico y socarrón.
No me ha gustado tanto como la otra novela corta ambientada en el mismo universo. Eso sí, el autor sigue igual de sarcástico y socarrón.
August 11, 2024
4.25 rounding to 4 - a very worthy sequel to Prosper's Demon. Loved seeing the other side to the coin, this time from the perspective of a demon (namely the demon we meet in Prosper's Demon) and how he comes to heads with his rival from the first book too. Definitely subverted expectations while still continuing the exploration of how politics comes into play when opposing sides enter a conflict with each other.
This is a very smart, clever, funny duology of fantasy/horror novellas that uses the battle of good versus evil as an incredible way to look how world powers engage with each other and explores the nature of how battles and opposing ideologies sustain themselves over time. The quirky, snarky comments of our protagonists in both books just make it all the more entertaining and poignant.
Ending is a little rushed here, and not entirely clear to me, but overall almost as good as Prosper's Demon. Would highly recommend this duology.
This is a very smart, clever, funny duology of fantasy/horror novellas that uses the battle of good versus evil as an incredible way to look how world powers engage with each other and explores the nature of how battles and opposing ideologies sustain themselves over time. The quirky, snarky comments of our protagonists in both books just make it all the more entertaining and poignant.
Ending is a little rushed here, and not entirely clear to me, but overall almost as good as Prosper's Demon. Would highly recommend this duology.
February 9, 2022
I mean it's kind of just The Screwtape Letters for Reddit atheists. Also felt like a misstep to emphasize the real-world parallels this time around, with the action centering on Totally Not Palestine—I preferred the approach in
Prosper's Demon
, where it was like our world, but not. (Among other things, I wasn't so distracted by Parker's questionable political implications that way.) For the most part, though, if you liked the first book you'll probably get along fine with this one; it's more of the same, and a little extra too.
February 1, 2023
Reseña completa:
January 3, 2025
Diabolical fun
May 27, 2023
4.4�
Quite different from the ones I ve read so far by the author. The story revolves around through the perspective of the demon here, and how an incident gets turned out to be part of the long game. It was genuinely sad at one point, and witty as usual.
Quite different from the ones I ve read so far by the author. The story revolves around through the perspective of the demon here, and how an incident gets turned out to be part of the long game. It was genuinely sad at one point, and witty as usual.
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