In the literary world, comedy and divinity seldom cross paths in the way that they do in Aaron Asadi’s latest novel, “Ohmigod!” The book presents a unique blend of humor, existential dread, and celestial drama through the eyes of Sam Dalton, a man who abhors even the slightest alteration in his daily routine. Set on a seemingly ordinary Tuesday, Asadi’s narrative kicks off with an extraordinary event—God returning to Earth.
Sam Dalton: An Everyman Against Change
Sam Dalton is your typical homebody who finds solace in the predictability of his everyday life. His days are marked by simple pleasures and minor achievements—like getting his garden sorted. But the sudden reappearance of God on Earth throws a wrench into his meticulously planned existence. As divine interventions shake the world, causing global panic and forcing everyone, from local townspeople to powerful governments, to reevaluate their beliefs and lifestyles, Sam is faced with his biggest fear: change.
What makes Sam an intriguing character is not just his resistance to change but his possibly autistic nature, as suggested by Asadi. This aspect of his personality makes him both sympathetic and relatable. Readers are given a front-row seat to his internal struggles and comic misadventures as he attempts to maintain his routine in the face of apocalyptic disruptions.
Divine Comedy and Mundane Struggles
Aaron Asadi, with his background in consumer media and a knack for storytelling, crafts a narrative that’s both profound and playful. “Ohmigod!” is not just a story about the return of God; it’s about the personal upheaval that ensues when a fundamentally unchanging individual is forced to confront a supreme change. The juxtaposition of mundane concerns like bin days and grocery shopping with the return of a biblical God offers not only humor but a poignant commentary on human nature and resistance to change.
Through Sam, Asadi explores the theme of control—or the lack thereof. Sam’s futile efforts to keep his life from unraveling highlight a universal human trait: the desire to control our environment and the often humbling realization that some things, especially those of divine or cosmic scale, are beyond our grasp.
Reflections of the Author
Aaron Asadi himself brings an interesting dimension to this work. Describing himself as a noticeable fool due to his height and an individual with a long career in media, Asadi’s self-awareness and humility permeate through his writing. His decision to finally pen down stories that reflect his personal ideologies and experiences adds authenticity and depth to “Ohmigod!“. Asadi’s approach to storytelling—infusing his narrative with personal flaws and philosophical musings—turns the novel into a metaphorical snow globe, offering readers a glimpse into the turbulence of adjusting to the divine and the new.
In conclusion, “Ohmigod!” by Aaron Asadi is more than just a comedy; it’s a reflection on life’s unpredictable nature and our responses to unforeseen changes. With a blend of humor, philosophical insights, and relatable struggles, Asadi provides a fresh take on what it means to face the divine in everyday life. This novel is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys stories that make them laugh, think, and perhaps, reconsider their own responses to change. Whether you’re a fan of celestial tales or comedic escapades, Sam Dalton’s journey from resistance to acceptance offers a compelling trek through chaos and comedy.
We had the pleasure of interviewing the author. Here are the excerpts from the interview:
Hi, It’s great to have you with us today! Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.
I’m Aaron. Here are some interesting facts about me:
I once fit a whole pack of Jaffa Cakes in my mouth. Before then, I was living in the southwest of England. And since.
I’ve had a twenty-something-year career in consumer media, most notably as an exec at Future. I have, at one time or another, ran most of the biggest print and online brands there. It was all very successful, but such is the way of business; one is never sure how much they really had to do with any of it. I suppose some people are more sure than others, but I don’t know how they can be. Perhaps they had the right amount of hugs as a child. Or too many. Definitely not too few, I suspect.
Anyway, I have always enjoyed writing. I like how words sneak into your brain from the page or screen and sometimes do something unexpected. Zebra fish.
When I was young, my brother and I would talk to each other in the gap between our bunk bed and the wall, plotting stories and casting them. Inventing such things has always been an itch; I couldn’t ever find the time to scratch. But now that I am finally scratching it, the itch is getting worse.
Please tell us about your book.
I was raised Catholic and eventually became an atheist through no fault of my own. And the arguments surrounding these things grip me. One day, I had this idea for a story about God coming back to Earth and being very Old Testament about it. It was a struggle initially because I was trying to write from different perspectives, but I eventually asked myself the question, “but what would it be like for me?”. It was much easier then.
It’s a story about a man who is very adverse to change, is quite probably autistic, and who has no real purpose in his life other than carrying on his depressing routines. So when God comes down and starts doing his thing, Sam, the hero of the book, starts to worry how bin days, shopping, and dealing with new people are going to change. But, as is often the case, there’s only so much you can control, and eventually, there is no escaping what’s going on.
So, in short, God comes down, tedious, mad, and tries to keep his sham of a life together. Oh, and it’s called Ohmigod!.
Please tell us about your journey.
Writing the book has been fun. I suppose it lived in my head for a while before my fingertips tapped keys. But while it gestated, lots of videos were watched about God and beliefs, lots of neurodivergent articles were read, and the notion of free will existing was explored.
And that last point is definitely a theme in the book. I have been really taken with this idea from Dr Robert Sapolsky that in truth we are just biological robots and not actually making a choice to do anything, however much it might feel like that. This idea that people are trapped by themselves and their instilled beliefs, genetics, and experiences is really compelling, I think.
Once I was able to satisfy myself that these ideas were well represented in the plot, it was really just a case of sitting down on speaking on behalf of the characters involved (apart from God, whose words I took from the bible). I have never really had a problem focussing on a task I enjoy – it’s always been more problematic to find the time to do it.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
I certainly haven’t been successful as an author. I don’t suppose I will be. Selling books is hard as it turns out. But I do now feel good that, no matter what, I can say a wrote a thing all on my own. And I guess that was achieved in a few stages:
- Just being clear about what the plot was going to be, and in some detail.
- I found a rhythm that suited me (it really took a while to understand when I was more productive during the day).
- Setting small targets along the way that meant I felt I was on plan and making progress.
Rome was not built in a day, but the laborers involved would certainly have had daily targets to build Rome.
Any message for our readers?
There is some controversial stuff in this book, and I think some of the more sensational aspects might unnerve folk who hear about it but don’t read it. In truth, though, it is very much about a person’s struggle with the world, about the little panics that define his life no matter what else is going on, and about the low self-esteem so many of us can’t ever seem to escape. Hopefully, people find this funny, too, although I admit the comedy isn’t obvious to anyone who has read this interview.
Thank you so much, Aaron, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!
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