Infinite possibilities! 6000 years of untold Ineffable stories! Anything could have happened at any time. Even though it feels a bit odd to consider fics set in the second half of the 20th century as 'through the ages', I've decided to include here any fic set before the events of the book/S1. This might change as the list grows. As always, feel free to reblog with more (self)recs!
From Whose Womb Came The Ice? By Werpiper. Rated G, 9k. P. Dec 25.
This lovely story is set immediately after the events narrated in A Companion To Owls and is about the importance of keeping asking questions and looking for answers. We get to know Sitis, Ennon, Keziah and Jemimah better as they get to know the snow.
Lap Of Luxury, by Savyl. Rated T, 4k. P. Jan 26.
I am so blessed that my friend wrote this lovely, romantic and funny in-universe story for me! I can’t begin to tell you how much I love it! The humour is outstanding as always in Savyl’s stories, and their love and bravery are so heartwarming! Aziraphale and Crowley are relaxing in the bookshop. When they get too close for heaven and hell’s liking, Soho is hit by a thunderstorm.
Giddy Up, by KaeRaeSketches, NaturallyTeal. Rated E, 11k. P. Jan 26
Lovely through the ages in-universe fic set in 1871. Aziraphale is riding a sleigh in the West Siberian Plain when all of a sudden he comes across Crowley in need of a ride. A story of love, lust, temptation and endless pining, with the sweetest epilogue.
The Least Eligible Bachelor, by fellshish. Rated E, 37k. P. May 26.
In-universe canon divergent/pre-armageddon fic, full of humour, longing and incredibly hot sex scenes. Aziraphale takes part in a reality TV show where he’s a bachelor who has to be wooed by the contestants. The contestants are, of course, demons. There will be roses, there will be bananas, there will be snakes, there will be love. This fic gave me early-canon vibes, which I was and still am yearning, and I’m grateful for them. As usual, this author has the beautiful ability to make you laugh and cry in the same sentence, and feel all the emotions in-between. Highly recommended!
A Masquerade In Every Sense Of The Word, by The_Rogue_Bard. Rated G, 500 words. P. Oct 24.
Lovely and funny through the ages fic. Aziraphale is at a masquerade ball talking with Oscar Wilde. Or, is he? Sweet and short, featuring just-enough-of-a-bastard Aziraphale.
Knight Of Swords and Knight Of Swords (Reversed), by ireallyneedmoretea. Both rated G, 666 words each. P. Jun 26.
Lovely canon compliant fics inspired by the tarot card Knight of Swords, which, I learned in the author’s note, signifies a man or a woman on a mission. Set after the 537AD scene, these fics imagine what could have happened at the court of king Arthur and what happens next. Funny and sweet!
The Weather Outside Is Frightful, by IneffableMoot, Savil. Rated T, 5k. P. Dec 25.
Funny and sweet pre canon story in which Crowley and Aziraphale exchange gifts and challenge each other to a duel on Christmas day. The humour is great as always with this writer, and the art is lovely!
Miracles On The No 34 Bus, by CuriousPupsicle. Rated G, 6k. P. Nov 25.
This story is set in 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Aziraphale is sent to New Orleans to observe the humans, but he uses miracles to help them instead. As a punishment, Gabriel temporarily suspends his ability to perform miracles and instructs him to go back to London the human way. What do you know, our angel doesn’t need superpowers to make miracles, after all! Very sweet.
Genesis, by Dbacklot99. Rated M, 690 words. P. Feb. 25.
Abel and Cain from the point of view of the angel and the demon who were stationed on earth. This fic reminded me a lot of A Companion To Owls both in plot and tone and it was a pleasure to read.
Give A Man A Mask, by Ventriloki (feral_but_fluffy). Rated T, 5k. P. Oct 23.
Beautiful and heartbreaking through the ages fic. Aziraphale is taking part in a carnival party in Venice when he's approached by a man wearing a mask and a costume so that no part of him is at all visible. They start chatting and walk away from the main hall. The man reminds Aziraphale of Crowley, but he's not Crowley. But it could be. But it's not. But it could be. Oh, the longing in this fic! Argh!
Human Bonding Rituals As Emulated By An Ethereal/Occult Dyad, by graywings. Rated T, 1,2k. P. Sep 25.
Hilarious crack fic! It is narrated in the form of a study by God, Almighty; Christ, Jesus; Spirit, Holy on whether Aziraphale and Crowley are displaying human-like courting behaviour during their meeting in 1793. I laughed from the first word to the last, including the notes!
Floating Through A Dark, Blue Sky, by AlwaysBeMyBaby, AlwaysTuesdayToday, shatteredwriters. Rated G, 6k. P. Sep 25.
A beautifully written and at times heartbreaking exchange of letters between Aziraphale and Crowley from 1827 to 1967, with beautiful artwork by AlwaysTuesdayToday. Some of the letters were sent, others remained unsent and the stark difference in tone between the sent and unsent letters is heartshattering. The writers do a magnificent job of taking all the deep feelings running through the unsent letters, whether they are love or anger, boldness or fear, and disguise them as a business-like conversation in the sent letters. Some truly poetic moments in this fiction, I highly recommend it.
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I love a pining Crowley so much. Especially if he is afraid of going too fast again and is very careful with his angel. Do you happen to have fic recs on this? ❤️
one thing i will say is that yes i occasionally rec fics but i am not a fic rec blog in the sense that sadly i do not have enough time to read enough. it’s always best to go with such a request to rec blogs like @aziraphales-library or @aziraphales-hidden-gems
that being said…. immediately contradicting myself…. have some recs:
willing, not able (G, 2.8k): desperate, tender 1941 kiss… i have read this several times, the emotions are EVERYTHING
phersu (M, 104k): one of the most underrated fics to me, length vs kudos wise. aziraphale and crowley are both tasked with influencing a young nero. the pining is off the charts. this fic will stab you 23 times and you will say thank you
the sandford flower show (E, 46k): crowley has repressed his feelings so long… and suddenly a flower show gives him a glimmer of hope. “Eve had looked at the apple from all angles before she'd taken the best bite of her life.” i MEANNNN
that’s not what i asked (G, 1.3k): pining while kissing: these two idiots can do it
maybe someday (G, 7k): aziraphale decides it’s up to him to go faster. oh the miscommunication. the PINING. putting the idiots in ineffable idiots. stretched out suffering and heartbreak… and so well written too
parlay (G, 2.3k): they meet on the high seas. “Crowley's hand moves, slowly, sinuously, across the space between them, and, with cautious movements, first his fingertips and then his knuckles and then his palm, he slips his way under Aziraphale's hand and holds on. Gently. Slowly. The opposite of a serpent striking.”
break the rules (G, 1.4k): crowley is obsessed with aziraphale’s new beard…. yearns to touch it…. beardziraphale nation, rise!
a lighthouse (burning) (M, 108k): they meet at a lighthouse. such a special atmosphere, such a tender love between crowley and aziraphale, and such an imaginative, impressive plot. and an amazing first kiss
the least eligible bachelor (E, 37k): dating show fic with so much mutual pining. aziraphale is cast as the bachelor, tasked by heaven. “Not that I ever imagined — but if I had imagined my, well, my first… kiss,” Aziraphale says, “It wouldn’t have been like this. With some random human fellow. All for, oh you know, for the cameras. As some sort of cinematographic show that they wish to sell in as many countries as possible.” (self rec… sue me)
@ people feel free to add your own
and remember if you read any of these: kudos and comments make an author’s day/week/month/year
would you please find some long human AUs with lots of pinning, a slow burn, angst, but a happy ending? thank you so much!!
We have tags for all these: #long fic, #human au, #pining, #slow burn, #angst, so jump in and have a look around! Here are more fics to add to all the tags...
Lessons in the Humanities by Greenathena (M)
Aziraphale Fell teaches English at Eden Midtown Academy. His new co-worker, Anthony Crowley, is a bit of a wild card, who doesn't mind ruffling a few feathers. Over the course of the school year, their friendship seems to be growing into something more.
That is until Aziraphale is offered a high-stakes job, overseeing state testing for the whole of the Massachusetts Department of Education.
They're in love, your honor. Possibly. Probably. It's ineffable complicated.
Like Sunshine After Rain by amelia_airheart (E)
Coffee shop proprietor Aziraphale Fell meets Anthony Crowley at a difficult moment in his life. They are drawn to each other but can't seem to connect as anything more than friends. Can Aziraphale keep a lid on his growing feelings for Crowley while trying not to push him away?
The Listed Building Dilemma by Nadzieja (E)
Anthony J. Crowley is a talented architect (between jobs, temporarily). He has everything he ever wanted—a posh flat, a vintage car, and his plants. He should be happy and yet happiness eludes him.
Until his friend introduces him to Aziraphale—a kind stranger who has just inherited a cottage which is in dire need of renovating.
Could the two of them put their differences aside and overcome their anxieties for long enough to build something new and beautiful together...?
Lavender Apiary Of Your Honey Eyes by snek_of_eden (E)
The first thing Aziraphale registered was fiery red hair matted with sweat. The second thing was the man’s face, sharp and intelligent and a little guarded, sunlight dappling a spray of freckles. Upon seeing this, two contradictory thoughts crossed his mind: ‘Gosh, he’s pretty’, and ‘I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a man use that many expletives in the space of a minute’.
“Oh,” he said, swallowing hard. “Hello, then.”
__________
When Aziraphale inherits a small, cosy cottage in the countryside, he finds unexpected company in a gardener he didn't even know he had. Crowley is sweet, and strange, and about as foul-mouthed as you can get. Before he knows it, he's falling pretty goddamn hard for a man whose friendship he's terrified of risking.
Ah, the foils of love.
Angel of Music by ItsScottiesStark (E)
Aziraphale Fell, a violinist on his last year of his university degree, is a proud classical musician. He has worked hard for his skills, has spent countless hours practicing and perfectioning his repertoire. What happens when a project comes up in which contemporary composer and pianist Anthony Crowley has to compose a piece for him to play that by no means resembles what the violinist would call music?
The musicians AU I've always wanted, feel free to tag along.
Starry Night by zinpin (T)
The somewhat famous couturier and former engineer Anthony J. Crowley needs a set for his upcoming fundraiser fashion show. Unfortunately, the only one available to work on such short notice is no other than Aziraphale Z. Fell, heir of the Fell family, the face of everything that is wrong with this world. He will have to keep him at an arm's length if he doesn't want him to spoil the Eden he built for himself and those he wants to protect.
---
Or the tale of two idiots one-upping each other prank-wise while they begrudgingly work on the same fashion show. Picture book edition.
After crying my eyes out over @phoen1xr0se splendid fic, I wanted to make a short list of the fics that touched me and say why. And above all, to say THANK YOU to the writers for the gifts they give us.
1 - An Angel For Christmas by @phoen1xr0se
This fiction is a Christmas tale about hope, grief, trust, resilience, single parenthood… all wrapped in snow and colorful baubles.
It's the most recent fiction I've read, so I'm still emotional and not objective, but it's just… amazing. The writing and the messages of tolerance conveyed by these stories are so good. I'd even say, it's an essential candy-story (especially in our time). One that can't leave you indifferent
2 - Sand Between Fingers by Between_stars_and_Nebula
This fiction hit me like a hammer blow. It's very harsh and speaks of control and abuse, but the writing isn't overly graphic; it's rather very sensory. It's a fiction about resilience and building trust. The vivid writing touches my heart, and it's one of the stories whose updates I'm most looking forward to (and I have a soft spot for insecure Crowley).
3- Til Death Brings Us Back Together by atearaday
How can you not fall in love with this story where Aziraphale and Crowley find themselves beyond death on a quest to the heart of hell to try to understand who they are? The blend of present and past is very captivating, and the story is truly gripping. I've loved every moment of reading so far, and the author's fierce passion for his story. Aziraphale as an angel lost in hell is extremely endearing. And there are some truly funny moments.
4 - Are We Meant to Read the Footnotes? by @riathedreamer
Yet another fic where I cried, cried, cried, cried. This story of love and quest is simply heartbreaking, and the Aziraphale/Crowley relationship is truly powerful. This is one of those fics that grabbed me by the gut and never let go. This author's work is simply PHENOMENAL.
5 - Because I missed you (and I like it when you bite) by megzseattle @ineffably-good
One of the most feel-good fictions. It's hilarious and Crowley's jealousy of Aziraphale's snake is just adorable. It's the fic I go back to read most often and it always makes me smile.
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spectacular version. Tennant and Tate are on fire. Their comedic and dramatic chops are outstanding. They both should have gotten Tonys for this production. Tennant has always had the gift of making Shakespeare sound spontaneous and contemporary, but Tate more than holds her own with him.
I’m an absolute dumbo when it comes to Old Will and I laughed my head off at these glorious idiots. Tate and Tennant really do make it sound like this is how they speak all the time, and the comedic timing of… well, everyone, is top notch.
Do you have any go-to Good Omens comfort fics? I'm afraid I'm having a very difficult week and could use something soft
i’m so sorry to hear you’ve been having a difficult week. especially someone as wonderful as you.
i remembered making a list of comfort fics before and i found it but then i saw it was also an ask by you. perhaps there are still some recs in the reblogs that you haven’t read…
here are some comforting fics i’ve read since then:
az fell & co: the yelp chronicles (50k, T): always makes me laugh, and laughter IS the best medicine — a fic told in yelp reviews
putting the “bet” in “bethrothed” (22k, T): another funny one. they make a bet on who can live as a human the longest. so many golden lines
you’re back (3.5k, T): aziraphale cares for crowley after he returns from hell… a healing read
no second eden (31k, M): aziraphale keeps getting kidnapped, crowley keeps having to rescue him. one of my favourite fics ever and criminally underrated
as always: begging people to add (self) recs to this post because i’d love to know what people’s comfort fics are. please share the comfort and the joy
*shuffles into this post from the invisible outskirts of the fandom* erm, i've never self rec-ed before so this might be awkward 🥺👉👈 but perhaps my fic yellow might be a lil bit of comfort to somebody having a rough week 🤞 or at least, comfort was the vibe i was going for while writing it 😂🤷♀️ anyway, here's hoping it cheers up OP or anybody who might read 🥹 much love ❤️
Hi there! I’m in search of the perfect M rated fics - where aziracrows intimacy and desire is explored but perhaps not in such an explicit way. Bonus points for great kissing scenes. Any ideas? X
Hello. Here are some intimate M-rated fics...
Of Words and Wonder by AJ_Constantine (M)
When Aziraphale idly wonders what kissing is like, Crowley impulsively show hims. This sparks feelings between them that they’d never felt before, which is as shocking as it is wonderous.
Aziraphale attempted (and likely failed) at a casually light tone, as it came out rather breathless and wobbly, “So, er, that’s what kissing is like?”
Crowley leaned forward, his mouth against Aziraphale’s ear, breath tickling against sensitive skin as he hissed, “No, angel. That wasss not what kisssing is like. That wasss … sssomething elssse entirely.”
like real people do by rabbitinrain (M)
The couple on the screen tumble about some more. Little gasps escape their throats. One of them throws their head back in a silent moan.
“I meant,” Crowley says through gritted teeth. “Do you. Ugh. Should we try that?”
“Ah. Do you want to try it?”
Crowley grimaces. If they were anyone else, in any other circumstances, then Aziraphale might take offence to such a reaction. Fortunately for Crowley, they’re two sexless beings who have only just mastered the art of kissing (and communicating) properly, so it’s only natural for him to still be somewhat wary about this.
What he eventually settles on, after mulling it over for so long that the couple on the screen have had ample time to finish up their activities and get a good night’s sleep to top it all off, is this: “Eh, maybe.”
Or; Crowley and Aziraphale try something new.
A Warm Day In the Third Circle by Kat_Rowe (M)
(A fic in which it is acknowledged that what you want isn't always as wonderful as what you already have.
Also a fic in which a great deal of gluttony occurs. Gluttony for food, gluttony for touch, and gluttony for the sensation of being deeply and completely loved.)
For reasons best not explored too closely, Crowley and Aziraphale are covered in flour and bits of pastry dough. A shared bath seems like the only natural response to this turn of events. Crowley being Crowley, alcohol is involved. Aziraphale being Aziraphale, so are sweets.
Their relationship is changing, and so are they. Things that wouldn't have been possible a few months ago have become commonplace. Crowley finds a lot of it overwhelming, but being overwhelmed isn't always a bad thing.
Noisome Breath by DiminishingReturns (M)
Six thousand years of wanting comes to a head after the stress of the failed apocalypse, and Aziraphale and Crowley get swept away in a heated moment. Swept away to someplace... else. Someplace where they can finally take a breath and slide the last piece of the puzzle into place.
Hope Is The Thing With Feathers by Gefionne (M)
Because they can’t see each other more than once every few decades, Aziraphale suggests that he and Crowley write to each other to pass the time apart. As quills for their letters, they exchange wing feathers: a gesture of great intimacy that Crowley is convinced only he perceives the depth of. But time will tell that it’s not just him who sees it that way.
Effortless Intimacy by Quefish (M)
Aziraphale and Crowley, learning each other. There is more to intimacy than sex, thank Somebody.
A couple of my favourites in that list, and the others are now in my TBR list.
I'll add my all time favourite fic, please, please, PLEASE check it out! It's got an incredible plot, the characterisation is spot on and the humour is chef's kiss! And there's pining throughout!
The Beginning Of The End (Again) by @addledmongoose, rated M, 78k.
And of course, I won't pass off the chance to self rec mine!
Not sure my complete fiction can be considered on the longer side, I guess it's something in between (25k), but I'll throw it in there. Post season 2 and post (failed) second coming, it focuses on Aziraphale and Crowley reconnecting with a bit of fighting the baddies, a 1941 flashback, and a sweet ending. Rated T, Second Chances And Second Choices.
And my current WIP (currently 58k, chapter 11/15). Season 3 fic where Aziraphale is supreme archangel and Crowley is grand duke of hell. The plans for the second coming are being rolled out and they are, of course, not talking. Rated E, And I Did.
Ooohh, and how could I forget the absolutely excellent Among The Stacks. (65k, not rated). Incredible. So, so good! Set a year after the events of season 2. Suddenly Crowley stops feeling Aziraphale's presence. He assumes the angel's been destroyed, but he finds him working in a library. The problem is, Aziraphale doesn't know he's Aziraphale. This is a bit on the angsty side at time, but with a great, happy ending, and honestly, so good.
Hello and thank you for this blog! Do you have fanfictions where Crowley and Aziraphale (and maybe Jesus) go together on a roadtrip? It doesn't have to be with Jesus, normal roadtrip fic is alright! (I hope the fics would be over 10k words)
Thank you!!
Hi! Here are some road trip fics for you...
Do You Yearn The Way I Do? by leporidaecervinae (E)
A lonely desert road is a meditation's best friend. Aziraphale and Crowley are not talking. Not properly. Armageddon has been averted for a second, and final time. It takes a road trip, and a trip through cosmic uncertainty to investigate exactly why things are left unsaid. The Crooked Roost signals shelter, a safe harbour, and a solution to problems the pair haven't realised they've had yet.
For Aziraphale and Crowley, finding their way back to stability is going to entail processing, whether they want it or not.
Consent can not be granted when the psyche has not yielded. The ego must be dismantled in order to achieve truth.
Burning Through the Sky by ausgezeichnet (T)
Crowley, panic-stricken about the end of the world, flees into space in defiance of god and gravity, but Aziraphale won’t let him leave so easily. Will Crowley make the brave choice, and turn back to fight alongside Aziraphale for the planet that has become their home?
Or: Crowley and Aziraphale go on a very strange road trip. Hijinks ensue.
Pray for Plagues (To Come Down on this Egypt) by A_J_Crowley, veganthranduil (M)
A couple of miles short of the Romanian border, Aziraphale regained consciousness again for a while.
“Whose car is this?” He asked.
“Someone else’s,” Crowley forced out between gritted teeth.
OR how busting your boyfriend out of Heaven and the subsequent escape across the continent might ruin your day, week, and month.
Lonely Planet by Eighty_Sixed (G)
Aziraphale and Crowley go on a road trip to find God. What they find are a magic book, scared relics, dancing mystics, sublime mountaintops, several nice restaurants, and some insights into the human condition. Also, God. Eventually.
My Heart is in Ohio by smokeythewizard (M)
Seven years after assuming the position of Supreme Archangel, Aziraphale is no closer to thwarting the Second Coming despite his efforts in Heaven, until the day he receives a cryptic note from Hell's head office.
The End Times have officially begun and the angel and demon are forced into an American roadtrip to save the world.
Part III: Not Single Spies by beardo (E)
A man with pale hair turns up in Saint Peter's Square, naked and without memory, and Crowley's old sense of Aziraphale's location snaps like a twig.
Heaven is down another Supreme Archangel—but the new Christ is already on Earth (in France, to be precise) and the Second Coming is well underway. And Crowley works for Hell now, but really, he works for the good of humanity; pulling on every friend he has to stop the end of the world.
Everything comes to a head with a delivery van, a flaming sword, a road trip, a prophecy, a wheat field and a miracle of rather significant proportions.
NB The E-rating only applies to a small number of sections, and they're all clearly marked and skippable. The rest of the fic is T.
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I finished The Crow Road and had a little time to think about it. I'll put my thoughts under a Keep Reading in case anyone is trying to avoid spoilers.
As I speculated before, I think it's likely that The Crow Road is more related to Good Omens in philosophy than in plot. I mean, it's not that the plots necessarily have nothing in common, and we could be very surprised in the end of course, but now that I've read the whole book, its philosophical commonalities with GO are both apparent and kind of inspiring. Also, if I were a writer, I'd be more interested in dropping hints about what themes are important than telegraphing my whole plot ahead of time.
So here, I will describe the book and point out themes that I believe may reappear in Good Omens 3.
This is a long post. If you read it, make a cup of [beverage of choice].
Below are mentions of suicide, death/murder, and sexual acts.
The Crow Road centers around a character named Prentice McHoan, a university student in Scotland who starts to sort out his complicated relationship with his complicated family as he explores the mystery of his uncle Rory's disappearance. Although the book is mostly from Prentice's perspective, the narration jumps around in time with the McHoan family. There are quite a lot of important characters to keep track of; the bare-bones summary I put below doesn't even include some of the important ones. I wanted to make the summary even shorter and simpler than this, but the truth is that this book is not short or simple, and if I made the summary any simpler, it might be downright misleading.
There are at least three major cultural aspects of The Crow Road that I am inexperienced with: the overall culture in the 1950s-1980s (I was born in 1988, so of course wasn't here for the relevant decades), the international experience of the Gulf War (again, born in 1988), and the history and culture of Scotland itself (I'm USAmerican with only reading as a source). As a result, I'm sure there are important dimensions to the book that I've missed. If someone has a different perspective taking some of these things into account, I'd love to know about it.
Also, keep in mind, there is a great deal of descriptive writing in this book. There are a lot of pages about the geography of Scotland, and about Prentice as a kid, and about Prentice's father and uncles hanging out together in their youth, and about various family incidents, and about Prentice spending time with his brothers and friends. At first, these passages seem to just make things more confusing, and in my head, I accused them of being "filler." But they definitely serve a purpose. They're a way of showing and not telling the characters' attitudes and relationships to each other. More importantly, because we get to actually live these experiences with the characters, they are what give all the plot points below their deeper emotional impacts. In other words, the everyday experiences give the plot its deeper meaning. They resonate with one of the core themes in the novel: that our experiences in life, rather than any supposed existence after death, are what matters.
The Crow Road's story is like this:
Prentice is rather directionless in life, and he seems to have trouble investing any energy in his own future as he moons over his unrequited feelings for an idealized young woman named Verity. Soon, Verity ends up in a romance with Prentice's brother, Lewis, and Prentice feels that Lewis "stole" her from him. Prentice has also become estranged from his father, Kenneth, over spirituality. Prentice believes there has to be something more after death because he feels it would be incredibly unfair if people didn't get anything other than this one life; Kenneth is in fact offended by the notion of an afterlife.
Prentice's uncle Hamish, Kenneth's brother, has always been religious, although his religion involves a number of bizarre and offbeat ideas of his own, with inspiration from more traditional Christian notions. Prentice is not really sure about this ideology, but he's willing to talk to Hamish about it and even participates during Hamish's prayers, whereas Kenneth is openly scornful of Hamish. Hamish interprets this as Prentice being on "his side."
Prentice has a few opportunities to go back and talk to his father, and is begged to do so by his mom, Mary, with whom his relationship is still good. Mary doesn't want either of the men to give up their inner ideas about the universe; she just wants them to agree to disagree and move on as a family. Prentice says he will visit, but he just keeps putting it off and off and off.
Prentice acquires a bunch of his missing uncle Rory's notes in the process of hooking up with Rory's former girlfriend, Janice Rae, who seems to have taken a shine to Prentice because he reminds her of Rory. Early in the story, Prentice wants to piece together the great literary work (of an uncertain nature) that Rory left unfinished, which Rory titled Crow Road; however, it becomes apparent that Rory didn't turn his concepts into anything substantial and only had a bunch of disconnected notes and ideas.
Prentice also spends a lot of time with a young woman named Ash. They've been good friends since childhood and seem to have a somewhat flirtatious dynamic now, but they aren't in a romantic relationship; mostly, they drink and hang out together. Ash tells Prentice bluntly to get his life back on track when she finds out he's failing at school, avoiding his family, and engaging in shoplifting. She is a voice of reason, and when Prentice insists to her that he's just a failure, she reminds him that actually, he's just a kid.
Prentice's efforts to figure out Rory's story or location stagnate, and he continues to fail at school and avoid his father. He then receives word that Kenneth was killed while debating faith with Hamish. In fact, Kenneth dies after a fall from a church lightning rod, which he was climbing in an act of defiance against Hamish's philosophy when it was struck by lightning; Hamish is convinced that Kenneth had incurred God's wrath. Ash is there for support when Prentice finds out about the death.
With Ash's help, Prentice returns to his hometown again to help manage Kenneth's affairs. Prentice speaks with a very shaken Hamish, who is handling Kenneth's death with extreme drama and making it all about his own feelings. Hamish tells Prentice that Kenneth was jealous that Prentice shared more in common with Hamish's faith than with Kenneth's lack of faith. However, this isn't really true, and as he contemplates his father's death, Prentice begins to internalize one of the last things Hamish reported that Kenneth had argued: "All the gods are false. Faith itself is idolatry."
As the chapters go on, Prentice is compelled by some of the meaningful items related to Rory that he discovers in his father's belongings. He gains a renewed sense of purpose trying to solve the mystery of where Rory went and what happened to him. Among the interesting items are an ancient computer disk of Rory's that Prentice can't access with any equipment he can find; Ash uses her connections in the US and Canada to find a computer expert who can finally open the files on it. This takes quite a while, since the disk has to be mailed and Ash's connection is investigating the disk only in his free time.
Prentice also discovers that his feelings for Verity have changed. He no longer feels angry with Lewis for "stealing her." At first, Prentice's narration describes this as his feelings "cooling" as a result of the trauma of losing his father, but interestingly, this soon means Prentice gets to know Verity as a sister-in-law without getting caught up in jealous romantic feelings. Verity gets along well with the family, and Prentice is actually happy to discover that she and Lewis have a baby on the way. Prentice's relationship with Lewis improves greatly as well, partly because he is no longer jealous and partly because he realizes he does not want to lose Lewis, too.
Ash's friend who was looking at Rory's computer disk comes through and sends the printed contents of the files to Prentice. The files reveal to him that Rory likely knew Prentice's uncle, Ferg, murdered his wife by unbuckling her seat belt and crashing their car. Rory had considered writing a similar plot point into Crow Road. It's unclear whether Rory would ever have reported Ferg, but people would likely have connected the dots in Rory's work and become suspicious of Ferg. For this reason, Prentice believes Ferg murdered Rory as well.
Prentice confronts Ferg. He doesn't get a confession and leaves Ferg's home with no concrete proof of anything; Ferg denies it all. But Prentice is soon physically assaulted in the night, and it seems Ferg was almost certainly the culprit, because he hadn't been home that same night, and he had injuries (probably from being fought off) the next day. A day or two later, Ferg's body is found unconscious in the cockpit of a plane, which crashes into the ocean. It's uncertain whether this was a suicide, but Prentice suspects it was. Rory's body is then soon recovered from the bottom of a waterway near Prentice's home, where Ferg had sunk it years ago.
As the mysteries are solved, Prentice realizes his feelings for Ash are romantic love. However, it's too late, he thinks, because Ash is about to take a job in Canada, where she may or may not stay. Prentice also hesitates to approach her because he's embarrassed about his previous behavior, venting all his angst about Verity and his father. He isn't sure she would even want to be in a relationship with him after that. But the very night before Ash leaves, she kisses Prentice on the cheek, which leads to a deeper kiss. They finally connect, have sex, and confess their mutual feelings. Ash still goes to her job in Canada, but says she'll come back when Prentice is done with his studies that summer.
The relationship's future is somewhat uncertain because something could come up while Ash is in Canada, but Prentice is hopeful. The book ends with Prentice getting ready to graduate with his grades on track as a history scholar, fully renouncing his belief in an afterlife while he acknowledges the inherent importance of our experiences in our lives now, and enjoying his time with Lewis and Verity and his other family members.
What's the point of all these hundreds of pages?
Well, look at all of the above; there's definitely more than one point. But the main point I took away is that we get this one life, with our loved ones in this world here and now, and this is where we make our meanings. There is no other meaning, but that doesn't mean there's no meaning at all. It means the meaning is here.
It's not death that gives life its meaning. It's the things we do while alive that give life its deeper meaning.
The Crow Road is described (on Wikipedia) as a Bildungsroman, a story focusing on the moral and philosophical growth and change of its main character as they transition from childhood to adulthood ("coming-of-age novel" is a similar term that is interchangeable, but more vague and not necessarily focused on morality/philosophy). And, indeed, all of the plots ultimately tie into Prentice's changed philosophy.
After his argument with Kenneth, Prentice feels childish and humiliated after their argument, and as a result, he refuses to go back home, which leads to a spiral of shame and depression. Kenneth dies and Prentice realizes it's too late to repair the relationship, which also leads him to realize it's what we do in life that matters, and that therefore, his father's argument was correct after all.
At the end of the novel, Prentice outright describes his new philosophy. However, I can't recall one specific passage where Prentice describes the process of how he changed his mind (if anyone else can remember something I missed, do let me know). There is, however, a moment when his narration indicates that Hamish seems less disturbed by his own part in the incident that led to Kenneth's death and more disturbed by the notion that his beliefs might actually be true: there might actually be an angry, vengeful God. In other words, Hamish's philosophy was selfish at its core.
My interpretation is that when his father died, Prentice realized three things: how utterly self-serving Hamish's devout faith is, how Kenneth's untimely death proves the importance of working things out now rather than in an imaginary afterlife, and how much profound meaning Kenneth had left behind despite having no faith at all. After these realizations, a determined belief in an afterlife no longer makes our lives here more profound like Prentice once thought it did.
Also, it's worth noting that this incident changes Prentice's idea of partnership, too. He loses interest in this distant, idealized woman he's been after. In love as in the rest of life, Prentice lets go of his ideals, and in doing so, he makes room for true meaning, both in a sincere familial, platonic connection with Verity and a sincere intimate, romantic connection with Ash.
But what about the sex scene?!
Yes, indeed, at the tail end of the story, when Prentice and Ash finally hook up, they have sex. Prentice's narration describes them sleeping together and having intercourse not just once, but many times, including some slow and relaxed couplings during which they flex the muscles in their private parts to spell out "I.L.Y." and "I.L.Y.T." to each other in Morse code. This is relevant because earlier, they had been surprised and delighted to discover that they both knew Morse code; it isn't a detail that came from nowhere.
I didn't get the impression that this scene was trying to be especially titillating to the reader. It was mostly just a list of stuff the characters did together. I felt the point was that they were still anxious about being emotionally honest, a little desperate to convey their feelings without having to speak them out loud, and awkward in a way that made it obvious that their primary concern was the feelings, not the sexual performance. They cared about each other, but they weren't trying to be impressive or put on a show; contrast this with previous scenes where Prentice would act like a clown in front of Ash to diffuse his own anxiety. I've always thought that being able to have awkward sex and still enjoy it is a good sign.
Okay, so what does this all have to do with Good Omens?
Here's where I have to get especially interpretive. I'm doing my best, but of course, not everyone reading this will have the same perspective on Good Omens, the Final Fifteen especially. I believe similar themes are going to resonate between The Crow Road and Good Omens regardless of our particular interpretations of the characters' behavior and motivations, but I suppose it could hit differently for some people.
The TL;DR: I see similar themes between The Crow Road and Good Omens in:
The importance of mortal life on Earth
Meaning (or purpose) as something that we create as we live, not something that is handed to us by a supreme being
Sincere connection and love/passion (for people, causes, arts, life's work, etc) as a type of meaning/purpose
Relationships as reflections of philosophy
The dual nature of humanity
Life on Earth as the important part of existence is a core theme in Good Omens, and has been since the very beginning. We all already know Adam chose to preserve the world as it already is because he figured this out, and we all already know Aziraphale and Crowley have been shaped for the better by their experiences on Earth. But Good Omens isn't done with this theme by a long shot. I think this is the most important thematic commonality Good Omens will have with The Crow Road. Closely related is the notion that we create our meanings as we live, rather than having them handed to us. Isn't this, in a way, what Aziraphale struggles with in A Companion to Owls? He's been given this meaning, this identity, that doesn't fit him. But does he have anything else to be? Not yet.
Partnerships as a parallel to the characters' philosophical development also resonates as a commonality that The Crow Road may have with Good Omens. Prentice's obsession with Verity goes away when he starts to embrace the importance of life on Earth and makes room for his sincere relationship with Ash. Note their names: "Verity" is truth, an ideal Prentice's father instills in him; "Ashley" means "dweller in the ash tree meadow" in Anglo-Saxon, according to Wikipedia, and "ash" is one of the things people return to after death. Prentice literally trades his high ideals for life on Earth. We see in Aziraphale a similar tug-o'-war between Heaven's distant ideals and Crowley's Earthly pleasures, so I can see a similar process potentially playing out for him.
I don't particularly recall a ton of thematic exploration of free will in The Crow Road. However, there is a glimmer of something there: Prentice feels excessively controlled by Kenneth's desire to pass down his beliefs, and part of the reason Prentice is so resistant to change is simply his frustration with feeling censored and not being taken seriously. As the reader, I do get the feeling that while Prentice is immature, Kenneth made major mistakes in handling their conflict, too. And Kenneth's mistakes come from trying to dictate Prentice's thoughts. There is likely some crossover with Good Omens in the sense that I'm pretty sure both stories are going to take the position that people need to be allowed to make mistakes, and to do things that one perceives as mistakes, without getting written off as "stupid" or "bad" or otherwise "unworthy."
Suffice it to say that the human characters in Good Omens will also certainly play into these themes, but it's hard to write about them when we don't know much about them except that one of them is almost certainly the reincarnation of Jesus. This also makes me suspect perhaps the human cast will be 100% entirely all-new, or mostly new, symbolic of how Aziraphale and Crowley have immersed themselves in the ever-evolving, ever-changing world of life on Earth. Alternatively, if we encounter human characters again from Season 1 or 2, perhaps the ways they've grown and changed will be highlighted. For example, even in real-world time, Adam and Warlock have already, as of the time I'm writing this, gone through at least one entire life stage (from 11 in 2019 to 16 in 2024). They'll be legal adults in a couple of years, and if there's a significant time skip, they could be much older. If characters from Season 1 do reappear and themes from The Crow Road are prominent, I would expect either some key scenes highlighting contrasts and changes from their younger selves or for stagnation and growth to be a central part of their plot.
The more I write, the more I just interpret everything in circles. Hopefully this post has at least given you a decent idea of what The Crow Road is like and its similarities to Good Omens.
I'll end this post with a quotation that feels relevant:
Telling us straight or through his stories, my father taught us that there was, generally, a fire at the core of things, and that change was the only constant, and that we – like everybody else – were both the most important people in the universe, and utterly without significance, depending, and that individuals mattered before their institutions, and that people were people, much the same everywhere, and when they appeared to do things that were stupid or evil, often you hadn’t been told the whole story, but that sometimes people did behave badly, usually because some idea had taken hold of them and given them an excuse to regard other people as expendable (or bad), and that was part of who we were too, as a species, and it wasn’t always possible to know that you were right and they were wrong, but the important thing was to keep trying to find out, and always to face the truth. Because truth mattered.
Iain Banks, The Crow Road
After reading this book, there's no question why Crowley gave THAT ONE to Muriel. With the multiple strong and opposing viewpoints on religion, the appreciation of the earth in general (the way the environments are described honestly made the book for me), and the multiple kinds of interpersonal relationships, including loyalty, betrayal, familial strife, fights with loved ones, it really is such a shorthand way to show a new visitor to earth, "this is what living here is like."
been thinking about how tied crowley is to gay (british) culture in both the book and the show.
how his swagger is compared to famous british, gay and bisexual rockstars like freddie mercury and david bowie. how he casually calls aziraphale by a drag name reminiscent of underground gay clubs of the 1800/1900s and of pet names between gay men. the pointed comment about the police taking an interest in other's love lives when we know he was present in soho nightlight during the 1960s when raids and police harassment of gay clubs happened frequently both before and after legalisation in 1967. golden girls, a show that was beloved by the gay community because of it's positive, non-judgmental and well developed portrayal of gay characters, being his favourite show. the fact that he is clocked as gay in both the book (by shadwell) and the show (by nina).
and that's without going into how closely crowley's experiences mimic that of a gay man raised in and cast out of an insular religious community or how a/c's relationship development reflects gay rights in england as they live through it.
seeing crowley as a homosexual man adds such a complex and beautiful dimension to the character.
additional thoughts: how the tv show shows aziraphale and crowley's relationship and it's development (since both establishing themselves in england) as a reflection of the english gay scene, and progresses at the same rate as gay liberation.
((longer post under cut))
prior to the 1960s they can't be open. they're living in fear of being caught 'fraternising' and understand the consequences for themselves and the other but are unable to deny how much better life is with the other's companionship. they are forced, by necessity, to sneak around.
they communicate where and when to meet in code reminiscent of the way the gay community adopted various forms of code and polari so they could communicate without fear of persecution if overheard. they deny they know or like each other in public and deflect accusations; their association with one another would be enough to condemn them without heaven and hell knowing about any other connection they share, like homosexuality pre-legalisation, when guilt was by association was largely used as justification for arrest and interrogation.
despite all that they are close and intimate behind closed doors and occasionally in public when they think they are alone (although for not as long).
they let their guard down in 1941 and are "caught". both, but especially crowley, face the threat of their connection becoming known and the consequences that would follow. allegorically it's the threat of an outing in an era where there were barbaric punishments. alongside that, aziraphale's demeanour (previously his normal and happy, flamboyant self) instantly changes when someone else enters the room and it's no longer just him and crowley, which i don't think can be overlooked; even before he knows the other is a demon, he instantly takes off the feather boa and his voice drops. it's like he's trying to put on a mask of traditional masculinity to avoid suspicion.
in 1967 (the same year homosexuality is legalised in england) crowley gets his holy water "in case anything goes wrong". crowley still isn't safe from hell in the same way homosexuals still weren't safe from police harassment, but he has a degree of security now that he didn't have before that point. he feels secure enough to, at least vaguely, voice what they have. and aziraphale, despite asking him to slow down, also puts a voice to his wants for them to go on dates.
after 1967 we see them more open around each other. they occupy the same spaces without looking over their shoulders or hushing the other when they talk. they don't seem to be scared of being seen as friends despite small plays of resistance in admitting their close between the two of them. they occasionally talk in code but it seems so rarely used by then they can't even remember what stands for where (they mostly just come out and say it).
by season two and (mostly) free from their oppressive systems, they're enjoying each other's company, entering each other's space, touching and being intimate in public, and openly acknowledging their friendship to others (including in front of other angels and demons).
what i'm saying is, aziraphale and crowley have always been gay men. their relationship reflects the historical and current struggles of gay men. and that is an incredible and wonderful thing that i wish was acknowledged more.
The level of DETAIL in this show, and they fact they were like "Oh wow you guys figured that out? There's so much more we put in behind the scenes that you don't know..."
I am FERAL with determination that we must know ALL OF IT!
It was said like they thought we wouldn't care about this kind of detail - like hellooooo this fandom is as totally unhinged as Aziraphale in the damn ball scene subverting the will of humans just so he might get to touch the hand of the love of his life!!
FERAL.
So. I'm off to repaint my whole house in Va Va Voom... what's everyone else up to today?
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Archangel Aziraphale sacrificed his relationship with Crowley for the greater good. But when Metatron ordered him to murder the love of his eternal life as part of the Second Coming plan, he fled. Now he and Crowley are fugitives, chased by Angels and Demons, and nowhere is safe for them. They need to learn how to live as humanly as possible to avoid being tracked. They need to hide, constantly move, fight, find moments of sanity in the insanity... but most of all they need to learn how to communicate - or they will not survive.
Broken Wings (one shot)
Will Aziraphale manage to catch Crowley before it is too late?
A Game between Satan and God (in progress)
Aziraphale is now the Archangel on a mission with not a single friend by his side. Crowley has been offered to become the Duke of Hell, a job he does not want, but might need to take if he wants do keep his Angel and their world safe. Both are wrong about the reason the other left.
A war between Heaven and Hell is coming.
The God and Satan are placing bets.
Were Aziraphale and Crowley the plan all along?
What If We Chose Us? (in progress)
That day Aziraphale chose Crowley.
Now they need to escape Metatron who's right outside the bookshop.
Is Crowley powerful enough to hold Metatron back?
Why Metatron wants Crowley gone?
What will happen next?
Sinner (one shot)
Aziraphale discovers that Crowley likes to fix things the human way which he finds fascinating. He also discovers that it often involves Crowley getting sweaty, dirty, and shirtless. Aziraphale decides that breaking things is the answer, because he is ready to sin.
Funny and sexy one shot inspired by that moment in the show where Crowley explains to Shax how to fix the boiler. I think a certain angel would find a hands-on demon very sexy.
