In the Image of Man

A Small God, a Handful of Followers and the End of the World

De: Mark Long

Narrado por: Nicky Griffiths

Allow me to introduce Bob, the small god of vending machine repair and computers. He may be new at the job, and he is still learning, but he is a very hard worker.

As the story unfolds, there is an ancient godling adrift in Berkshire, England, and he needs believers if he is going to keep existing. This tiny god, who comes to be known as Bob, is small, powerless, and unseen. Drifting through the ages, he is brought to consciousness following a tragedy and must gain followers to stay alive - and without belief, there is no capacity for miracles.

Bob goes to work, invisible and inexperienced, silently watching and hoping for people to love him. He learns all about vending machines and then computers, but humans prove much more complicated. As the days pass, his power increases as his unknowing colleagues mutter “oh God” and start to believe, even if only a little.

But modern life takes its toll, even on a higher deity. Bob needs a sacrifice, a token of dedication. Not any old sacrifice, though - no blood and guts are needed here, just a chocolate bar given freely in his name.

Ray Charles and Mary Callaghan had no idea that their lives were going to be changed forever when this weak but desperate small god introduced himself. Ray’s anger over his wrecked car tire draws Bob like a beacon to him. Mary’s emotional turmoil teaches Bob all about love and betrayal. He watches over her, but not even a god is safe from making serious mistakes. Soon, a psychiatrist, the police, and even the Pope are brought into the confusion. On top of all that, Bob finds that he needs a far bigger congregation if he is going to save the world from impending doom. Can he do it?

The first in a quirky, fun trilogy, written in a tongue-in-cheek style by author Mark Long, this story looks at human nature and belief systems in a distorting mirror. It is charming, sweet, and thought-provoking.

©2018 Mark Long (P)2021 Mark Long

it's just a cool, interesting story

it's been a few months since I read this and I can't stop thinking about it. I wish everyone would read it so I could reference it in everyday conversation. seriously, it's a damn good story. funny, interesting, thought provoking. It's perfect!

I believe in you Bob!

A captivating compelling story

This story captures attention right from the start. It is different but compelling. I listened to it most evenings and looked forward to it.

I was keen to find out whether Bob was able to reach his full potential and what happened to those who encountered him. If you are looking for a well written book which is beautifully narrated, this is worth a listen.

Love the story!!!

I love the story and have listened to it a couple of times now! It's amazing how Ms. Griffiths is able to keep all the English accents straight! This audio version is akin to taking a wee trip to England! I won't give anything away on the story, but it sure will be a nice escape for anyone who listens to it! I wholeheartedly recommend this book! kudos to the author and the narrator! 💜

Baskerville Book Reviews

Bob was a god. I occasionally mention in my reviews that I prefer to go into books without knowing anything about them. I pick review copies based on genre and ignore the summary, other reviews, or ratings. In the Image of Man was one of those rare cases. I listened to the sample and viewed the ratings on Scumazon and they were overwhelmingly 4 and 5 stars, positive. Wow. When the hell does the internet ever agree on something that much? I had to know.

First off, In the Image of Man gets extra points for being extremely creative. Bob, an eternal spec of nothingness who wasn’t aware of anything until he was. From there, he gained his power from belief. The lore of this world explains every other religion, cult, and even schizophrenia in some cases in the context of its world. Bob doesn’t know of and can’t find any other gods. It raises the question. Did they stop existing because belief in them waned? Maybe!

Every aspect of this story seems well thought out. Even his name has a sensible origin story. He had to learn about humans as he goes along. He blunders and makes mistakes along the way, but he’s always trying to do better. The characters are all human. Obviously not bob, but what I mean is they’re all real. They’re believable. They have thoughts, feelings, and emotions past the current plot contrivance that makes them relatable. It’s rare that I talk about or appreciate characters because they’re usually bland, uninteresting, and forgettable to me. Even if I enjoy them or the story, they’re almost always puddle deep.

The plot starts out a little slow and builds up until the end where you’re sitting on the edge of your seat, desperate to know how things play out. In the Image of Man is one of those stories that sticks with you and leaves you thinking about it after you’ve finished it. Maybe that’s the case for most people. But I tend to finish a story and move on.

The narrator is overall pretty damn good. She mispronounces a couple of words, which readers of my reviews know, I find completely insufferable. I don’t know where the hell people get ape out of Apricot. What I find 10x more insufferable is when people say “Nukeuler”, which much to my annoyance, cums up several times in the story.

The review from this point on will contain spoilers. You’ve been warned.

Mary’s cat is alright. You’re welcome. I know you don’t know what that means yet, but I just saved you a lot of anxiety.

NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.