Godshome

A master of humorous SF and fantasy tackles, with only moderate success, the old tale of human desperation leading to war among the gods. In Florida, Professor of Comparative Mythology Arthur Fenn, facing financial ruin due to unsuccessful stock speculation, uses the spell that allowed King Solomon to communicate with the gods and his own academic knowledge to travel to Godshome, a nursing home for retired and crippled deities. Fenn hopes to find a High God who can help him out of his difficulties, but the only one willing is a trickster named Leafie. When some of Leafie's less pleasant friends show up to help found the New Awesome Religion of the Wonderful Ancient Gods (NARWAG), Fenn realizes that losing his fiancee and having to become a televangelist are only the beginning of his troubles. Indeed, the High Gods know that the fabric of the universe is in danger. The less humorous second half of the novel concerns the High Gods' scattershot efforts to keep the universe intact. Afflicted with adolescent-style cynicism, jerky pacing and a good deal of silliness, Sheckley's (The Alternative Detective) latest fails to measure up to his usual standard. (Jan.)