Customer Reviews
the idea of it sets you up to be disappointed - By: nubeyfan, 29 Aug 2008 
OK. Bought this based on the reviews. Sadly it just doesn't live up. The idea is good (using ethically dubious areas of the bible & saying...clearly there MUST be another side to this) but unfortunately the execution is poor.
It almost lost mein the foreword which seems to have been tagged on at the end to explain & give credibility to the book. But it is done SO badly it actually TAKES credibility from it. You'd be forgiven for thinking that the foreword was that of a children's book. In fact, for any Fast Show fans it smacks of "So yesterday I was upstairs mooching aroundin the attic & I came across an original copy of the bible......which was nice."
After that, the book was always going to struggle to impress. And despite trying to be optimistic about where it was going it just doesn't achieve. There's loads of "Yeah"s & "Hereafter"s & a few "Thusly"s to make it have a biblical feel but often these just getin the way & make it feel like a gimmick.
You hope this story is going to go somewhere on it's own, cleverly throwing up references to biblical stories that the reader can feel gratifiedin thinking "Ahhh, I know what story that relates to....hmmm clever interpretation". But it doesn't. As the book goes on it becomes a hollow experience that feels like biblical stories have been plagurised & had few tweaks to make them darker. In trying to be clever & keeping to the variations of the bible it becomes pointless. I started the book so I decided to finish it but the end almost became a page counting exercise to see how long I had left.
Great idea, even a few interesting moments but should have been so much better
An interesting spin on a best-seller - By: PB, 25 Sep 2007 
How interesting that there are some reviewers who are appalled at this book because it is "a fiction" & "takes liberty with a revered source." If nothing else, this book shows how truly accepting & liberal views from Middle Eastern religions are: i.e. not at all. It also puts an interesting theory to the questions:
"if God exists, why does he allow such suffering to befall us?" &
"if God truly exists, why does he not simply show himself & end this nonsense of 'faith'?" and
"if 'God is love', why does he allow so much hatred & death to occurin his name?" and
"if God exists & wants his 'flock' to worship him, why does he only reveal himself to one person to be his messenger?"
The book goes no way to guiding the reader to "worship the Devil" but does go some way down an atheist view to exercise freewill with compassion & respect, to strive for greater understanding & to reach for the potential of humanity through self-actualisation as the ultimate goal - not out of fear of God, but out of aspiration for self. The book does follow the Creationist/Intelligent Design argument, so it is not a "serious/modern book on atheism". The philosophy it espouses is very akin to Buddhism, though (regarded by many as a non-religion ~ usually the same people who say "my religion isn't just a religion - it's a way of life". What else is a religion if not a way of life?!).
Anyway, those who have criticised this book for its "wicked ways" should look to the Far East & recognise that the period of Buddhist proliferation was the region's greatest timein terms of social & scientific advancement - all brought about by a peaceful & loving (not a God-fearing, revealed or conversionist) "religion". For the uninitiated, Buddhism teaches that one should find sprititual awakening through oneself rather than an external Godhead - to focus on doing the right things through life & not trying to convert other's to one way of thinking.
The book is an interesting romp, rather like the Bible itself. And just like the Bible, it is a work of fiction & revisionism. It is not presented as a (real) book of Faith or the word of God any more than the Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. To take the book more seriously than any other paperback is ridiculous & highlights just how odd the concept of blasphemy is (as well as how simple-minded people can be!).
The book asks: Does it make any sense at all that man, a creature with free will, intelligence & an inquisitive mind - apparently gifted to him by God - is not allowed to question the Word? And thatin doing so, is offending his benevolent creator & damning his eternal soul?
Hopefully, this book will make those who accept Biblical stories realise how barbaric they are & how they can do no more than promote barbarism & ignorance (this applies to all versions of the stories, whichever text they relate to: Bible, Koran or Torah). If it does that, it is a work of genius. However, even if it does not do that, it should entertain -- & thatin itself should be enough.
Bottom line: If the Life of Brian offended you, this is probably not the book for you.
Mezmerizing and enchanting work of...? - By: TheQuietStorm, 02 Jul 2004 
I personally believe that this book that I just finished reading 5 minutes ago & was entranced to seek others who have read it is religious fiction. Presented with the genre of Apocrypha, validated with antiquity, originated from the land of the papacy (how appropriate). I think it is the work of De Vito & my hats off to him because I have never read a whole bookin such a short time.
After reading the Devil's Apocrypha I put on Goldsmith's score of The Omen, I found solacein what is known as "the deep things of Satan." I no longer fear Satan, I find comfortin him & now I fear God's wrath for feeling this way.
So do you believe that God has our best interests at heart or does Satan? Choose now or choose when Armaggedon begins. Peace to the most beautiful & destructive force that has ever existed, the Human Race.
A Work Of Fiction, Not Fact - By: , 28 Apr 2004 
If John A. De Vito intended to present a 'true' viewpoint on God, TheCreation, Mankind & End-Time Prophecies, as seen from the perspective ofSatan, he has failed miserably. What he presents to the reader is amuddled, gap-filled & self-indulgent fantasy narrative that robs bothhimself & this book of all credibility or authority.
Had he possessed more integrity at the outset of writing this verboseseries of untruths, he would have presented this book to its readership inthe more honest vehicle of a fictional novel, for that is what it shouldhave been written as. To claim that this work is more than this is anoutright insult to any intelligent, impartial & biblically well-readhuman being.
We must always remember that it is Satan himself who is describedin thebible as 'the father of all lies.' This book perpetuates that simple,God-given truth.
The plotline & arguments are flawed throughout - do not waste your timeor moneyin purchasing this rubbish if you genuinely seek the truth. Theonly truth that we need to know is that the One God who created us lovesus still & He will forever be opposed to Satan's evil plans. Thisbitter & deceitful fallen angel abhors Mankind & desires only ourtotal destruction. Part of Satan's plan to achieve our doom is to spreaddisinformation & doubt among us. The author assists Satanin this taskby writing this book. Please do not let this book deceive you or convinceyou otherwise.
God can write scripture for his own ends - By: J. Kelly, 12 Mar 2004 Now this is an interesting fish; the story of the Creation & the saga of the Men & God told from Lucifer's perspective. While it's not an entirely original idea, it is refreshing to see God portrayed as an evil, vindictive, needy entity, with Lucifer simply looking out for us little people.
While the initial explanation of where God & his fellow supernatural beings came from is humdrum & far-fetched, & the supposed discovery of the manuscript a tired & hackneyed device, the essence of the story is excellent. It follows the movement of the truth (being that God is manipulating us for his own ends & that Lucifer is our salvation) through time to the present. On the way, well-known & less well-known Christian myths & invertedin ways that, while not stunning & revolutionary, are still interesting to read.
As a work of fiction, "Apocrypha" is not the best story out there but is still worth a read. It is certainly persuasive enough to encourage some healthy doubt as to what is & isn't true. As a work of non-fiction, it's a farce, & I have no doubts that the author has only presented this work as such as a story-telling device. Fundamentalists, this man is not the Devil Incarnate. He's just trying to tell a story. And it's a story worth reading.
