Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #344439 in Books
• Published on: 1999-04-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 247 pages

Book Jacket
The narrator of this brilliantly original novel was made on November 3, 2022, in an industrial estate on the outskirts of Chelmsford. After three weeks of childhood he is sent to work in ShopAlot, St Pancras, next to the most famous little church in the world. He's a supermarket trolley with a faith in God.

In the church he meets Edgar Malroy, founder of Scepticism Inc., owner of the Metaphysical Betting Shop, soon to be the richest man in the world. Edgar takes bets on metaphysical propositions and never loses; but Edgar's Achilles' heel is his love for Sophia, a ridiculously beautiful woman who thinks she is a messenger from God.

"Scepticism Inc, is a venomously intelligent and funny novel with a highly European combination of whimsy and seriousness ... This book's rare pleasure is that, as well as numerous running gags, it boasts a wealth of conceptional and structural jokes'
--Guardian

"Beguiling, humane and very funny ... This is a serious satire on belief and the desire to believe which surprises and delights"
-- Time Out

"Scepticism Inc., engages in interesting debates and cracks some good jokes ... It is refreshingly quick-witted, easy to read and easy to please, with thought- provoking ideas"
--Observer

"Fowler's account of one man and his trolley against the zealots is a shaggy dog story of cosmic proportions. This outrageous, irreligious first novel launches an exciting new talent upon the world. Dare I say it, I have great faith in him"
--Literary Review

Synopsis
Narrated by a supermarket trolley, this novel is a satire on the lunacies of organized religion.

Customer Reviews

Ever thought anything about religion ever? Read this book.
An essential book about religion. More important than the Bible (probably). This is a totally irreverent novel about a sentient shopping trolley, a man who sets up a Metaphysical Betting Shop through which religious people can bet on their faith and who ends up becoming the world's richest man, and his beautiful female nemesis.

If this book took more targeted attacks at specific religions and religious leaders then it would have gained an incredible notoriety and possibly a fatwa or two. But as it is its intelligent breadth kept it under the radar.

If you've ever given any thought to religion in any way, whether you're religious or not, you should read this book- you'll enjoy it and be challenged by it. Excellent stuff.

It rocks.
There will be those who didn't really grasp what and why Fowler did what he did when he wrote this book. It's essentially anarchic but not nihilistic in the way it treats the nature of existence.

The explanation at the end is what it is and exists to stop people arguing the toss over the interpretation. Bo Fowler is obviously aware and responsible enough to not allow the same mis-interpretation to happen to his book as happens to scripture on a daily basis. Somebody above seems to have missed that point in the book completely.

It's a bit strange at first because it seems so serious at the beginning but then goes on to be the funniest book I've ever read. A lot of minor detail might go over some people's heads because they aren't very aware of some religious beliefs but that won't mean they won't understand every little joke in the book. Don't read it on the train if you commute to work because you'll just get ridiculous fits of giggles and won't be able to stop even if you put the book away. In fact, don't even think about the things that happen in the story while in a public place - you might end up wetting yourself.

If you are an intelligent realist with an appreciation of being generally silly, you should read this book.

Genius
this is one of the best books i have ever read. i would definately recommend the authers other book 'The Astrological Diary of God'. I used to know the author, he was my G.C.S.E english teacher. He was one of my favourite teachers and is the nicest guy you could ever meet. He deserves awards for his work. It was an honour to be tought by him and i can't wait for his next book.
Liam Sheridan