And you thought your college dorm-mate was bad.

"What matters is that we're stuck with each other and we can't go back. Me, a timeless devouring force, and you, a delicious chewy morsel wrapped around a crunchy calcium treat..."

So says Vom the Hungering to Diana, aka Number 5, in A Lee Martinez's Chasing the Moon.

All Diana wanted was a cheap apartment. She was even willing to put up with that creepy landlord West when she found out the utilities were paid. Little did she know that the Apartment 5 came with a monster in the closet.

Literally. An all-devouring creature from another universe named Vom the Hungering lived in the closet. And after she accepted the rooms, the only way out was to open the door to the hungering creature who can't help but eat everything in his path. With a self-refilling refrigerator and basic cable, she's also unable to age and nearly immortal.

"Stay as long as you're able, Number 5. Leave whenever you're willing."

 But even after she and Vom strike something of a civil bargain, it's not like life can just go back to normal, albeit with a rather bizarre roommate. Now that she's seen the tears in the universe that most cannot, it's hard to go back to working retail at the mall. Besides, cosmic awareness has some rather interesting side effects that'll take a bit of getting used to.

Not all creatures tuck in our universe are as good-natured as Vom, either.Oh, they mostly don't really want to cause trouble, and would much rather just go back to whatever universe they came from. It's just that these pesky Earth creatures are in the way of that.

And what exactly is that big, green, tentacled thing in the sky?

A Lee Martinez is a rising name in the world of humorous fantasy. He has the knack for putting everyday people into absolutely absurd situations, and yet they feel perfectly reasonable at the time. Add to that an ear for dialog and the ability to bring out the humanity in the most unhuman of creatures, and you get some of the most entertaining reading available.

Highs: It seems so reasonable that these beings would have worshipers that it's almost a given that there'd be a doomsday cult with one at the head.

Lows: I wish Diana had been able to gain a bit more insight after her trip to one particular other universe.

Verdict: If this book, along with Divine Misfortune are indicative of his other works as well, I'd make him an author to pre-order.

Further Reading: Divine Misfortune, The Android's Dream 

If the pantheon was real, they'd probably have to advertise like everyone else.

Thankfully, in our world, any gods and goddesses that might exist take a very hands-off approach to their followers.  Even if a person has an altar to Zeus in his living room and provides regular tribute and sacrifices to the Thunder God, he is very, very unlikely to get a lightning bolt thrown down to smite a vindictive boss.  In fact, as hard as many people try to blame natural disasters and other coincidences on the pantheon or witchcraft, no one has come down to claim credit for their handiwork in a very long time.

However, in Divine Misfortune by A. Lee Martinez, that lightning bolt is quite a bit more likely.  The pantheon exists, and many of the gods listen quite closely to their followers.  Being the follower of a god, however, has quite a bit of bureaucracy behind it.  Which is probably a good idea, seeing as most gods would frown upon polytheism.  Making it all nice and legal also makes clear the consequences for things like human sacrifice and the rights and responsibilities of all involved.

Teri and Phil have been devout atheists all their lives.  But as they see their coworkers excel, while their own lives are comfortable but middling, they wonder if perhaps their lives might be easier with a god in their corner.  So they head to Pantheon.com and page through some profiles to see who might give them just a bit of an edge.  

They end up finding a rather obscure god named Luka.  A racoon god with the domain of luck, he requires very little in the way of tribute, and in kind offers just a bit of an increase in the luck department.  So with the paperwork filed with the Bureau, and their altar set up in the corner, Teri and Phil get ready to receive a bit of luck in their lives.

Then the doorbell rings.

A raccoon-headed being wearing a distressingly loud Hawaiian shirt and carrying a suitcase stands on their doorstep.  It turns out that Luka (call him Lucky) doesn't much like the Mount Olympus set and would much rather stay with his followers.  And since the Robinsons have a spare bedroom and all, well, who wouldn't want a god crashing with them?  Especially a god who  lets his god buddy Quetzalcoatl crash on their couch and throws parties that breach their Home Owner's Association agreement.

What follows is a rollicking ride through a modern-day world not unlike our own, but with the chaos that only a large group of immortal, powerful and supremely petty beings could bring.  Not every god is as benign and easygoing as Lucky, either.  While most gods follow the rules of modern society, in any group of beings there will be the antisocial elements.  These gods revel in the human sacrifice and suffering that the less moral devotees are willing to provide, in exchange for money and power at levels that could hardly be acquired on one's own.  On top of that, when dealing with immortals, issues like heartbreak, revenge and general bad blood can last a very, very long time.

Highs:  Who would have thought that Quetzalcoatl would have mellowed out into such a cool dude?

Lows:  It's hard to tell from the beginning what kind of story you'll be getting, but if the reader is willing to get past that, it's well worth the trip.

Verdict:  The perfect story for fans of the more absurd science fiction and fantasy, or anyone who took long car rides listening to The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy radio plays.

Further Reading:  Chasing the Moon, Princess of Wands