Anthony Miller’s What Would Satan Do? takes one of the oldest questions in theology and gives it a refreshingly irreverent spin. The premise is straightforward enough: what if the Prince of Darkness were forced to spend time on Earth, navigating the mundane frustrations of daily life alongside his more familiar infernal duties? It is a comedy with teeth, and Miller wastes no time establishing a tone that sits somewhere between satire and farce.
The Premise
The novel follows Satan as he attempts to manage his eternal responsibilities whilst dealing with the sort of petty irritations that plague anyone who has spent time in the mortal realm. Bureaucracy, small talk, traffic, the general absurdity of human customs. The joke works because Miller plays it straight. Satan is not a cartoon villain here; he is a weary administrator with an impossible workload, and Earth is just another assignment he would rather avoid.
What makes the premise land is the contrast between the cosmic and the commonplace. The Devil has seen empires rise and fall, yet he cannot work out why the coffee is always different at every petrol station. It is not subtle humour, but it is well-timed, and Miller knows when to let a scene breathe before delivering the punchline.
Writing Style
Miller’s prose is conversational and quick-footed. He favours short chapters with punchy endings, which keeps the reading pace brisk. The dialogue is where the book earns most of its laughs, particularly the exchanges between Satan and the various humans he encounters. There is a nice ear for the way people actually speak, with all its hesitations and non sequiturs, which makes the absurdity feel grounded.
Where the writing falters is in the longer descriptive passages. Miller is at his best in dialogue and action, less so when he pauses to set a scene. A few interior monologues run longer than they need to, and the book occasionally repeats a joke that was already funny the first time. These are minor complaints in a comedy, but they are noticeable in the middle third where the pace dips slightly.
Pacing and Structure
The novel moves quickly. Chapters are short, the plot is episodic, and there is always another ridiculous situation around the corner. This is both a strength and a weakness. The episodic structure keeps things lively, but it also means the book lacks a strong through-line. Satan does not have a clear goal beyond surviving his earthly sojourn, which can make the story feel like a series of sketches rather than a novel with a destination.
That said, the individual sketches are genuinely entertaining. Miller has a talent for finding the comedy in awkward social situations, and several set pieces had me laughing out loud. The restaurant scene and the attempt to navigate a DIY shop are particular highlights.
Who Would Enjoy It
Fans of comic fantasy in the vein of Terry Pratchett or Christopher Moore will find a lot to like here. It is not as layered as Pratchett at his best, and it does not have the satirical bite of Moore’s early work, but it shares the same impulse to find the ridiculous in the sublime. Readers who enjoy humour that does not take itself seriously but is written with genuine craft will get on well with it.
It is less suitable for readers who want a plot-driven novel with high stakes and a clear resolution. The enjoyment here is in the moment, not the destination.
Rating
3.5 out of 5 stars
What Would Satan Do? is a fun, fast read that delivers on its central conceit without overreaching. Miller writes with confidence and a good sense of timing, and whilst the episodic structure limits the book’s emotional payoff, the journey is consistently amusing. A solid choice for anyone who likes their comedy with a theological twist.
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