An 11-year-old boy, his dachshund and an outcast demon must stop hell on Earth. At their most primal levels, science and fantasy are both about that which might be. In his second novel aimed at both younger readers and open-minded older ones, Connolly (The Book of Lost Things, 2006, etc.) pushes both disciplines to their limits with a hilarious story about a battle between good and evil. Our hero is Samuel Johnson of Biddlecombe, who comes across evil incarnate simply because it happens to live next door. The Abernathys of 666 Crowley Avenue use a mysterious black book to open a tentative portal between this mortal coil and the gates of hell, behind which lurks The Great Malevolence ("The Beast, Satan, etc," as he signs his correspondence), eager to launch an invasion. His chance comes when some escaped energy from the infamous Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland pokes a hole in the proverbial time-space continuum. Sound wild? It is, even before Samuel is attacked by the malevolent Darkness, finds a genuine monster under his bed, and the dead return to life. The book's best invention is Nurd, the obnoxious, self-appointed "Scourge of the Five Deities," who was banished to a remote corner of hell. Falling through a rift, the reluctant demon soon discovers the joys of hanging out with humanity. "Ooooh, that's good," Nurd says, scarfing down a jelly bean. "That's very good. Fluffy. Jelly beans. Big metal things that move fast. What a world you live in!" Wielding a healthy dose of real-life physics and historical facts, Connolly has huge fun playing with the conventions of science and magic, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Learning to walk the fine line between fantasy and reality, he employs a lighter touch than in previous work, and a new infusion of humor is also welcome. Any reader who appreciates the imaginative fantasy of Neil Gaiman or the gentle wit of Christopher Moore will find a kindred spirit here. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

It's Halloween, and something suspicious is going on at 666 Crowley Avenue yes, this is a horror novel with its (forked) tongue in cheek. Precocious 11-year-old Samuel is getting a head start on trick-or-treating when he witnesses his neighbors' satanic incantation and the swirling blue portal that opens up in their basement. The adults soon become vessels for demons who hearken the arrival of the Great Malevolence. Meanwhile, a down-on-his-luck demon named Nurd also finds himself mysteriously shuttling between his Wasteland kingdom and Samuel's bedroom, where he and the lad hit it off rather well. It's an appealing B-movie scenario, though Connolly's bemused tone fits uncomfortably between horror and parody. His snark works best in footnotes that provide droll historical commentary. The plot is largely devoid of surprise but has plenty of impish fun when the inept (and unflaggingly polite) army of darkness finally unleashes its onslaught. With its poised young protagonist and puckish plot, this is a natural for young-adult readers making a pit stop on their way to Stephen King.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2009 Booklist

With nothing on the package cover to indicate otherwise, Connolly fans might expect a gritty horror thriller; what they'll find instead is a comic yarn about a British boy, Samuel Johnson, and his dog, Boswell, who are attempting to stop the opening of the gates of hell. The footnote-laden opening unfolds in a jaunty, conversational style reminiscent of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, only not as amusing. Once the footnotes fade, the plot grows more compelling, allowing Jonathan Cake to show off his vocal versatility by portraying dotty scientists, snarling denizens of the dark domain, an undead and unpleasant bishop, a surprisingly likable subdemon named Nurd, and the dark lord himself, herein called the Great Malevolence. The author includes numerous satiric swipes at science, religion, British lifestyle, and horror fiction. But much of the material is arch and condescending, and the reading is tediously tongue-in-cheek. An Atria hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 31). (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved