Somnium Deus

I bought this book on untainted impulse when reading the blurb about Christopher Hitchens who suddenly appears in a celestial debate in the court of heaven. I sensed that the story offered a unique challenge to one's intelligence setting one's conscience as a participating witness in the trial of God vs His own conscience.

The Satanic Dream will probably be the most famous book most people will "never" read. Why? It is reserved for the seeker of philosophical contests, true logic and reason. This book will be praised ONLY by the very educated (they are not very large in number); will be denigraded by the ignoramuses, stoned by the narrow minded and set on fire by fanatics (the common herd,) and will be spat by the barefooted philistines--the sheeple--those lacking intellectual pursuit or esthetic refinement. It is a real shame, because at the center of all the extreme judgment that environs the book, the condemnation, acclaim and analysisis, is an incredible and accessable novel, far greater than the sum of its controversial parts.
If you are a pretentious reader looking for literary explosion in originality, this volume is for you. I highly reccomend it!

What an unexpected finale! This story goes much beyond the Divine Comedy and The Satanic Verses. As for the expected genre, the book draws a textual mixing or hybridity featuring a startling cast of characters in a narrative filled with an astonishing fusion of genres: satire, magic realism, drama, postmodern metafiction, philosophy and religious allegory—all predominantly branding it as a "nonfiction novel" since (arguably) all the characters are real historical figures; all heavily committed to mythical dialogue, the story dressed in real events.

THIS IS A VERY CONTROVERSIAL AND FIERY BOOK that had just "exploded" into the market, Rushdie's style. In fact the editor did not want her name acknowledged, fearing death. Both, the publisher and Mark, have already received serious threats from those who think the blurb contemptuous, only because it promises to reveal not only Prophet Muhammad's character but also the Qur'an's true face value.

Yet, nobody should judge a book by its covers; although it is the cover bearing the wonderful oil painting of The Sleeping God by Rodan and its flagging blurb that made me buy it "hot," off the oven. While speaking about the blurb, I'll introduce it here with a small intro:

"After He finished His work, God fell asleep, dreaming of His own Creation. When He awakes after 18 billion years He sees a world in chaos, His active dream a total nightmare. God’s Conscience takes God to trial in the Court of Heaven.

To God’s defense comes Adam, his first son, and Plato. The Prosecution brings in Rufus and Cicero with Lucifer joining them. Among the witnesses are Eve, Adam’s wife, Jesus of Nazareth, St. Augustine, Mark Twain and Christopher Hitchens.

During the trial one hundred new commandments are released to Muhammad. The Prophet weeps and grovels in court praying to save Islam.

While the defense tries to prove God "not guilty" by virtue of mere absenteeism, the prosecution shows beyond a reasonable doubt a universe that evolved by itself. Will evolution exonerate the existence of God, leaving mankind in the hands of science and to his own moral equity, or will God reform the chaotic universe led into evil by the satanic dream?"

"HITCHENS: I’m speaking under the hypothesis that God made the universe. Religion says that God only produces “good,” and that evil is the product of the devil. So, in reference to “good” being greater than “evil,” here are some examples to prove the contrary: pain is above pleasure; death is longer than life; youth is short, stupidity is inexhaustible while intelligence is limited. Where’s the superiority of good in that? But okay, because I have a good heart and good morals, I’ll be willing to compromise once and to condone the following idea: I’ll accept, devoid of contempt, the idea of a sleeping deity for this trial’s sake who did step out of the scriptures to rest on his seventh day after creation and became a victim of his own nightmare. I’ll go along with that, let’s say, and I’ll postulate for a moment that all of it is true. And I’ll even push it further supposing that we do have an All-Good father who’s even willing to change everything for the better, to patch up the errors, to redo the blue print, to redesign the world for the sake of righteousness. I’ll offer that absurdity for a fact. But the question is, will He do that?

RUFUS: My question to you is a very important one: in your opinion, is religion God inspired?
HITCHENS: Oh no, definitely not.. The being called God is totally dormant; therefore as good as dead.... Religion drowns in errors.
....
And do you think that unto such as you,
A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew,
God gave the Secret, and denied it me?
Well, well, what matters it! Believe that too."

From SOMNIVM DEVS — THE SATANIC DREAM

Highly recommended!