The Old Man and Mr. Smith: A fable - Hardcover

Actor-author Ustinov's fable about God and Satan on an inspection tour of planet Earth is offbeat, witty, touching, profound and frequently hilarious. God--irascible, world-weary, pontificating--is the Old Man, or Godfrey; Satan poses as a Mr. Smith. But the otherworldly duo often change disguises as they traipse around the U.S., where "absurd optimism" prevails, and visit England, a fast-crumbling Soviet Union, strife-torn Israel, India, China ("The Dictatorship of the Geriatric Ward"caps ok ) and Japan, where efficiency has been elevated to a new religion. Thrown in jail for counterfeiting, able to disappear and reappear at will, constantly avoiding arrest by FBI agents who suspect they're Soviet spies or extraterrestrials, God and Satan measure the fall of humanity through encounters with the American president, the Soviet First Secretary, a whore, a drug-addicted hobo, an evangelist preacher and sundry others. Within this loquacious novel's cosmic banter, Ustinov offers priceless philosophical nuggets, as well as scathing satirical barbs, which, though sometimes arch or high-handed, are more often on target.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

If Ustinov hailed from certain parts of the world, a death squad would be looking for him now regarding his irreverent portrayal of God and the Devil. Fortunately for Ustinov's readers, that is not the case. In this fable, God visits Earth to take a close look at his creation. He admits that he hasn't paid much attention for a few millennia. God invites Satan to join him. After God apologizes for shoving the Devil out of Heaven, they travel to a variety of countries in the guise of the Old Man (God) and Mr. Smith (Satan), with the FBI and Interpol in hot pursuit. They examine the highs and lows of human evolution and return home with more questions than answers. The story is superb, the characters varied and entertaining. The work is, in turn, poignant, hilarious, meaningful, and just plain silly. Highly recommended. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/91.
- Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Connecticut at Torrington Lib.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.