Second Breakfast

This book is sub-titled “A Novel of the Dominion”, which makes me think that this is the beginning of a series. There’s certainly enough interesting material here to warrant further development, and Kadrey’s quirky style is interesting and fun.

The basic premise of this book would be familiar to Neverwhere fans, but with a definite Buffy/Angel flavor. Spyder Lee is a tattoo artist in San Francisco. After a mugging by a demonic attacker in a back alley, Spyder discovers that the world is far different than he imagined it to be, full of angels, demons, and a variety of strange monsters. Infected with magical sight which reveals these wonders, he is unable to return to his former life.

He is thrust into a metaphysical conflict that takes him to the depths of Hell itself, and he ends up playing a pivotal role in a battle for control over the netherworld.

Spyder is a reasonably entertaining anti-hero, but the most interesting character I think here is Lucifer, which Kadrey portrays in a particularly sympathetic manner, and who seems like much more of a “nice guy” (or at least an understandable one) than I’ve ever seen before. Subversive? Perhaps.

It reminds me of this little gem, which I’ve quoted elsewhere:

In his Bostan, Saadi of Shiraz stated an important truth
when he told this miniature tale:

A man met another, who was handsome, intelligent, and elegant. He asked
him who he was. The other said: “I am the Devil.”
“But you cannot be,” said the first man, “for the Devil
is evil and ugly.”
“My friend,” said Satan, “you have been listening to my
detractors.”

- Idries Shah Reflections, (taken from Burke, James / Ornstein The Axemaker’s
Gift)