William Hjortsberg (1941–2017)

This sequel to Falling Angel, written almost 40 years after the original, is compelling from start to finish. You may have a feeling where it is going to end up, but Hjortsberg delivers the goods right to the end. I remember recommending Falling Angel to my wife to read--and her disgusted reaction! She would react the same to this sequel, no doubt. But like its predecessor, Angel's Inferno is an incredible blend of noir, detective story, devil worship, and (at least in this case) travelogue show more as Johnny Favorite travels to Paris and Rome in his pursuit of the devil. There is something here to offend just about everyone, especially faithful Catholics, but the book does (if you accept its premise) explain the rise of Donald Trump. I wouldn't be surprised if he is one of the Council of Thirty...

Highly highly recommended. I will now go back and re-read Falling Angel, which should take on new meanings in light of this sequel.

For some reason, this book doesn't even seem to be published in the USA, other than a very limited edition that has sold out. I ordered mine via Amazon from Britain. Do the same! show less

Hjortsberg's first novel is an apocalyptic joyride with a wedding, newlyweds, sex (interspecies included), perversion, mountain climbing, nuns, a howitzer, avalanches, betrayal, and--oh yes--cannibalism. It's a black comedy, of course, and Hjortsberg's fascinating career was off to a great start. So, even if you aren't a Hjortsberg completist, if you have a weird sense of humor and like a good (and short) novel--and if the interspecies thing and a few other plot points don't bother you--jump show more right in. show less

Mexico, 1968. An American wakes up covered in blood, next to a dead female acquaintance with her throat cut. His wife and three other companions have disappeared and taken all their stuff with them. He sets out in his VW Camper, "Bitter Lemon", to find them--and discover whether he is a murderer, since the last thing he remembers is a heroin needle going into his skin. His drug, beer, and tequila-filled quest takes him to many places and he meets many people. This book succeeds in so many show more ways. First, as a travelogue, it creates a vision of Mexico that will have you reaching for old guidebooks or perhaps trying to see some of the places on Google Maps. Second, as a tale of a somewhat morally ambiguous character surrounded by many who are even more ambiguous, there is a dark fascination that pervades the story. It all works because Hjortsberg's writing is so good. Only a couple of times does it rise to near poetic heights, but there is hardly a false note or unnecessary word in the entire novel. While the first half proceeds at what some might think to be a leisurely pace, the atmosphere the author creates is so real, so hot, so dusty, so tinged with alcohol and drugs, that the book is hard to put down. Never does Hjortsberg lose the narrative drive, however. As events unfold, we watch Tod, the first-person narrator, stumble from one bad scene to another, and the suspense builds until a well-done finale. What a pleasure to see Hjortsberg produce something that creates the same type of totally immersive experience his classic FALLING ANGEL did over 35 years ago. Highly, highly recommended. show less

This is sequel to Falling Angel. But, even with that do keep in mind that this sequel is no longer about Harold Angel, this is for all means and purposes story of Johnny Favorite.

From the start it is visible that our protagonist slowly changes from framed (but still possessed) PI into something very different. He is intent to take his revenge on Cypher, and at the beginning one can understand him. Ways are slightly weird - lots of people are disposed off without second thought, but then when show more you look at it not one of these was a good guy. So, while leaving trail of body and using very interesting skills to hide his identity, reader might still see Harry/Johnny as some sort of anti-hero.

But then, revenge plot starts to go wild. Our protagonist is on outside acting as one person but in truth his violence and bloodthirstiness become more and more otherworldly, and it is like it's emanating from somewhere else. As story progresses we can see how Johnny slowly sheds Harold as snake sheds its skin, with every move he makes. All of the nefarious activities with Dark-Ones' disciples slowly become something he is more and more comfortable with. As he approaches the Cypher and slowly discovers the control Cypher's devotees have on the world (and pretty powerful unholy bureaucracy created to control Cypher), Harry/Johnny [in almost instinctive manner] starts to use more and more dark knowledge to destroy his opponents.

It is terrifying to watch how someone who in the first book tried his best (although maybe unsuccessfully) to defeat evil, slowly becomes a beast, power figure that gives no quarter to anyone on his path, always ready to indulge in perversions of any sort, from sex to gory murders. This downward spiral accelerates with every page, culminates with Johnny makes the ultimate sacrifice (this was very sad, but again it is not like innocents were hurt) and finally becomes a very incarnation of vengeful, bloodthirsty demon. And ending ....... oh, boy...... let us say it is as expected.

Not one character in this book, excluding maybe Szabo, the historian, and police inspector, is everyday person. We are presented a very dark underground scene, linked via swinging, orgies, sex slave trade and most dreadful religious cults. Johnny goes through them like hot knife through butter, utterly destroying them, and by doing that it seems his does the very important role of culling the depraved powerful elites. Book has some very difficult scenes, lots of blood and dead bodies and atmosphere is very dark. Imagine walking with deranged person and listening to all the crazy talk, black magic, rituals and weird ritual blades getting stuck into everyone in its path. Even when Harry/Johnny sees innocents being maltreated, he does not react - even if he does not torture them he is not ready to help them. He just sees them as sheep, cattle for slaughter. And most terrible thing is that he does not even try to justify his stand, he does not even bother himself with thinking about these people.

To make things worse, if you ask me, this level of dark worshiping seems to be something common to elites through time. Maybe not as worshiping the Fallen One directly but definitely acting as untouchables that have ultimate power over life and death of common folk, and see them as things to sell, buy and use. Terrible.

Difficult book, with very powerful presentation of character change in a dreadful imperceptible way. Everything seems like a dream from which terror raises its ugly head.

Recommended to fans of horror. show less