'Good Omens' by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
In my opinion, two of the best British writers alive today. I have read this book at least 5 times, and I'll probably read it again in the future. It never fails to raise a chuckle, and I've actually burst out laughing on a packed train while reading (one way to get a seat all to yourself).

It's essentially about the battle between heaven and hell, and the latter's attempts to bring about Armageddon by introducing the antichrist to the world. However, owing to a mix-up at the maternity wards, the antichrist ends up being taken home by an English accountant, rather than the American ambassador. I don't want to spoil any more of the plot - let me just say that if you haven't read this book, I can't recommend it enough. It's funny, intelligent, thought-provoking and witty, with just a hint of pathos brilliantly peppered throughout. The characters are all memorable and brilliantly realised, and every line is quotable. I could sing it's praises from now until the end of time, but I think it's best to leave you with a quote.

"God does not play dice with the universe: He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players [i.e. everybody], to being involved in an obscure and complex variant of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time."
(Pavlov's Frog figures no-one really reads sigs anyway, Thu 15 May 2008, 19:52, 8 replies)

I own
almost everything by Pratchett, and that book got me into Gaiman.

Agreed, its a wonderful read, and makes me smile a lot.
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 15 May 2008, 19:58, closed)

100% agree
One of the few books by two authours that actually gains the best of both their styles. I try not to read it when my girlfriend's asleep, as my giggling tends to wake her up.

My personal favourites are the satanic nursery rhymes...
(Axeman Jim, Thu 15 May 2008, 20:02, closed)

The bit that never fails to crack me up...
...is "Dog." I love the idea of the satanic hell hound chasing cats, because he's been called 'Dog' instead of 'Destroyer' or something similar.

(I haven't read it for years, yet just typing that has made me chuckle. Mr Fluffy Bunny thinks I'm crazy).
(deviant fluffy bunnies has nothing funny to type here, Thu 15 May 2008, 20:35, closed)

The bit that always, always gets me,
is the tapes in Crowley's car.

*click*
( Maladicta, Fri 16 May 2008, 0:06, closed)

...
"...neither was as good as Tchaikovsky's Fat Bottomed Girls"
( Mockingbird Practitioner of SCIENCE, Fri 16 May 2008, 9:50, closed)

My copy is signed by Pratchett
one day I'll track down Gaiman as well

*clicks*
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Fri 16 May 2008, 10:48, closed)

Right...
...I'm off to the library.

Never heard of Gaiman but this sounds like the book for me.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Fri 16 May 2008, 14:42, closed)

@Che Grimsdale
Gaiman is the chappy who wrote The Sandman series of Graphic Novels* and a bundle of other reasonable to rather excellent things.
Recently his novel "stardust" was made into a most entertaining film which even bears a passing resemblance to the book, but with all the extraneously irrelevant plot twist gubbins take out and given the decent burial they deserve...

*Comics for grown ups
( DukeEuphoria Comes highly reccomended, Fri 16 May 2008, 16:27, closed)