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catarina_'s review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
timeforgsopinion's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
madmooney's review against another edition
5.0
I have to say, I find myself becoming more and more charmed by the fantastical/theological world that K.J Parker (AKA [a:Tom Holt|9766|Tom Holt|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1246502762p2/9766.jpg]) is slowly weaving together. Much like [a:Terry Pratchett|1654|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg]'s Discworld series, it is completely fantastical, but with blatant, hard connection points to our own history.
This is my 2nd KJ Parker set in "Parkerland" (an unfortunate term I found online to describe his universe), with [b:Pulling the Wings Off Angels|59808627|Pulling the Wings Off Angels|K.J. Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1654655907l/59808627._SY75_.jpg|94199556] being my first, and I am definetly here for the ride.
[b:Inside Man|55246108|Inside Man|K.J. Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603383058l/55246108._SY75_.jpg|85876126] provides the account of an unnamed demon, one who has been relegated to the 'easy' work assignment of providing distractions to interrupt the continuous praying and chants of Monks of the Third Horn Monastery. The idea is that the monks are praying for the deceased (who provided large sums of money prior to their deaths) in order maintain their Heavenly afterlife, and that any interruption gives them brief glimpses of hell that make the deceased appreciate paradise all the more.
While not the most evil of demonic assignments, it is provided thus as our main character is 'broken', after suffering some serious spiritual damage...so he has basically been given a desk job. The unnamed demon gets pulled into some sort of conspiracy that is being perpetuated by 'both sides' - and that is all I will say plot-wise.
Inside Man reminds me much of [b:Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch|12067|Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch|Terry Pratchett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1615552073l/12067._SY75_.jpg|4110990], especially in the idea that after thousands of years 'angels' and 'demons' become more of corporate rivals rather than universal enemies.
I use our world's terms of angels/demons, but really in the book they are all servants of "The Plan", orders of both sides who 'work on different sides of the pyramid' to support the top. The only difference is that one side that lost the Great Argument does less preferable jobs to support "The Plan".
This title is supposedly the 2nd in a duology, with [b:Prosper's Demon|50905325|Prosper's Demon|K.J. Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565123933l/50905325._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72621511] being the 1st. I am currently reading Prosper's and I do not think anything was missed here- so I would say that these two books complement each other, rather than having sequential plots.
One added thing:
it is in this title that we discover the fate of Saloninus from [b:Pulling the Wings Off Angels|59808627|Pulling the Wings Off Angels|K.J. Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1654655907l/59808627._SY75_.jpg|94199556]:
This is my 2nd KJ Parker set in "Parkerland" (an unfortunate term I found online to describe his universe), with [b:Pulling the Wings Off Angels|59808627|Pulling the Wings Off Angels|K.J. Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1654655907l/59808627._SY75_.jpg|94199556] being my first, and I am definetly here for the ride.
[b:Inside Man|55246108|Inside Man|K.J. Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603383058l/55246108._SY75_.jpg|85876126] provides the account of an unnamed demon, one who has been relegated to the 'easy' work assignment of providing distractions to interrupt the continuous praying and chants of Monks of the Third Horn Monastery. The idea is that the monks are praying for the deceased (who provided large sums of money prior to their deaths) in order maintain their Heavenly afterlife, and that any interruption gives them brief glimpses of hell that make the deceased appreciate paradise all the more.
While not the most evil of demonic assignments, it is provided thus as our main character is 'broken', after suffering some serious spiritual damage...so he has basically been given a desk job. The unnamed demon gets pulled into some sort of conspiracy that is being perpetuated by 'both sides' - and that is all I will say plot-wise.
Inside Man reminds me much of [b:Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch|12067|Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch|Terry Pratchett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1615552073l/12067._SY75_.jpg|4110990], especially in the idea that after thousands of years 'angels' and 'demons' become more of corporate rivals rather than universal enemies.
I use our world's terms of angels/demons, but really in the book they are all servants of "The Plan", orders of both sides who 'work on different sides of the pyramid' to support the top. The only difference is that one side that lost the Great Argument does less preferable jobs to support "The Plan".
This title is supposedly the 2nd in a duology, with [b:Prosper's Demon|50905325|Prosper's Demon|K.J. Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565123933l/50905325._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72621511] being the 1st. I am currently reading Prosper's and I do not think anything was missed here- so I would say that these two books complement each other, rather than having sequential plots.
One added thing:
Spoiler
it is in this title that we discover the fate of Saloninus from [b:Pulling the Wings Off Angels|59808627|Pulling the Wings Off Angels|K.J. Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1654655907l/59808627._SY75_.jpg|94199556]:
"As it so happens, I met Saloninus once, not lot after his death. Once he'd got his bearings and realized where he was and what had happened to him, and who I was, he gave me an enormous grin.
"You were wrong," I told him. April fool."
He laughed. "Oh, that's all right", he said, "I was pretty sure I was wrong. Nice to have that confirmed though."
misterwisp's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It's well written, but seems clever and witty kind of just for it's own sake without really going anywhere in my opinion. Not as strong as the previous novella "Prosper's Demon". The fun aspect of it is the snarky satirical tone, and some of the concepts are neat. The writing is good. The separate parts just didn't feel like they added up to a satisfying whole. It's a quick read though and didn't put me off wanting to try more by the author.
Content Warnings
Minor: Excrement
eleniphant's review
challenging
funny
medium-paced
3.25
I personally did not find as much payoff and overall enjoyment as the first one. This one was a bit more distracting to follow. Inside Man had interesting elements, some humor that comes with demons operating in a bureaucracy, and neat observations of religion.
remontoire's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
floralvarezr's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Inside Man was a delightful read. It touches on the everlasting balance between good and evil, a carefully contructed peace where God actually allows the demons to do their jobs -and they are jobs, with departments, bureaucracy and orders included. Our protagonist is a demon with a conscience, who was once an angel that partook in the Revolution where Lucifer and his comrades fell, thus creating this whole corporation of wrongdoing that contributes to the supposed "Plan" that God has. If this plan exists, our protagonist doesn't believe in it. He doubts but he can't help but follow the orders his superiors give him -it's his sole purpose in an infinite life.
The novella is very well-written, with a fun tone troughout, even when dealing with important matters, which gives our protagonist a clear characterisation, he is an unserious guy dealing with serious matters and actually considering them with the proper weight they have. He is inquisitive and doesn't hesitate to investigate when things become weird.
I loved the bond he had both with Brother Eusevious -a voice of serenity and wisdom- and with the exorcist whose body he inhabited for 17 years from his tenth week of gestation -a nightmare who tortured him relentlessly, and still, his human.
Upon finishing this novella I discovered that it's actually a sequel, which is a bummer, but thankfully it's written in such a way that allows you to understand everything even out of context -provided you know at least some angelic lore.
The novella is very well-written, with a fun tone troughout, even when dealing with important matters, which gives our protagonist a clear characterisation, he is an unserious guy dealing with serious matters and actually considering them with the proper weight they have. He is inquisitive and doesn't hesitate to investigate when things become weird.
I loved the bond he had both with Brother Eusevious -a voice of serenity and wisdom- and with the exorcist whose body he inhabited for 17 years from his tenth week of gestation -a nightmare who tortured him relentlessly, and still, his human.
Upon finishing this novella I discovered that it's actually a sequel, which is a bummer, but thankfully it's written in such a way that allows you to understand everything even out of context -provided you know at least some angelic lore.