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{{Short description|Novel by Christopher Moore}}{{More citations needed|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox Book

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Infobox book
| name = Practical Demonkeeping
| name = Practical Demonkeeping
| image = [[Image:practicaldemon lg.jpg]]
| image = practicaldemon lg.jpg
| caption = First edition
| author = [[Christopher Moore (author)|Christopher Moore]]
| author = [[Christopher Moore (author)|Christopher Moore]]
| country = [[United States]]
| country = [[United States]]
| language = English
| language = English
| genre = [[Humor]], [[Fiction]], [[Absurdist fiction|absurdist]], [[horror fiction|Horror]], [[comic fantasy]]
| genre = [[Humor]], [[fiction]], [[Absurdist fiction|absurdist]], [[horror fiction|Horror]], [[comic fantasy]]
| publisher = [[St. Martin's Press]]
| publisher = [[St. Martin's Press]]
| release_date = Original Hardcover: January, 1992
| release_date = Original Hardcover: January, 1992
| isbn = ISBN 0-312-07069-1 (Original Hardcover)
| isbn = 0-312-07069-1
| isbn_note = (Original Hardcover)
| oclc= 62912461
| oclc= 62912461
| followed_by = [[Coyote Blue]]
| followed_by = [[Coyote Blue]]
}}
}}


'''''Practical Demonkeeping''''', published in 1992, is [[Christopher Moore (author)|Christopher Moore]]'s first [[novel]]. It deals with a [[demon]] from [[Hell]] and his master. The novel has been translated and published in German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Russian.
'''''Practical Demonkeeping''''' is a novel by American writer [[Christopher Moore (author)|Christopher Moore]], published in 1992.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=November 1, 1991 |title=PRACTICAL DEMONKEEPING |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/917180655/E396B2DE17BE47ADPQ/1 |access-date=2024-12-24 |work=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref> His [[first novel]], it deals with a [[demon]] from [[Hell]] and his master. The novel has been translated and published in German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian.


==Plot summary==
==Plot summary==


Travis was born in 1900, yet he has not aged since 1919, because he accidentally called up a [[demon]] from hell named ''Catch'' as his servant, presumably forever. Ever since then, Travis has been trying to get rid of Catch, but is unable to do so because he has lost the repository of the necessary incantations. He traces their whereabouts to a fictional town called Pine Cove, along [[Big Sur]] coast, where he thinks the woman he gave them to may be residing. Interactions with the townspeople and with a [[genie|djinn]], who is pursuing Catch, create considerable complications.
Travis was born in 1900, yet he has not aged since 1919, because he accidentally called up a [[demon]] from hell named ''Catch'' as his servant, presumably forever. Ever since then, Travis has been trying to get rid of Catch, but he is unable to do so because he has lost the repository of the necessary incantations. He traces their whereabouts to a fictional town called ''Pine Cove'', along [[Big Sur]] coast, where he thinks the woman he gave them to may be residing. Interactions with the townspeople and with a [[genie|djinn]], who is pursuing Catch, create considerable complications.


Several characters from this novel continue their lives in later novels by Moore; in addition, the setting of ''Pine Cove'' itself is revisited for ''[[The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove]]'' and ''[[The Stupidest Angel]]''. The fictional town of ''Pine Cove'' is described as being within easy driving distance of [[San Luis Obispo, California]], and seems to be modeled after the town of [[Cambria, California]].
Several characters from this novel continue their lives in later novels by Moore. Catch appears in a later book (''[[Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal|Lamb]]''), but a much earlier period of history; in addition, the setting of ''Pine Cove'' itself is revisited for ''[[The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove]]'' and ''[[The Stupidest Angel]]''. The fictional town of ''Pine Cove'' is described as being within easy driving distance of [[San Luis Obispo, California]].


==Trivia==
== Reception ==
''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' described ''Practical Demonkeeping'' as a "Good-natured, often funny, but excessively complicated tale", observing that "First-novelist Moore throws in more plot twists than the [[Pacific Coast Highway (California)|Pacific Coast highway]] has curves".<ref name=":0" />
*Although [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] has bought the [[film]] rights to the novel, it has not been made into a motion picture as of yet.

*This novel includes one of the earliest literary examples of [[Online dating service|Internet dating]].
==References==
*The demon in the story, Catch, is also featured in another of Moore's novels, ''[[Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal]]''.
{{reflist}}
* The character of Mavis Sand also appears in Moore's novels ''[[The Stupidest Angel]]'' and ''[[The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove]]''.
* The character of Alphonse Rivera appears again as a detective in Moore's novel ''[[Bloodsucking Fiends]]'', ''[[A Dirty Job]]'', ''[[You Suck: A Love Story|You Suck]]'', and ''[[Bite Me: A Love Story|Bite Me]]'', and briefly in ''[[Coyote Blue]]''.
* The character of Augustus Brine and his house of pleasure 'Kings Lake' are briefly mentioned in ''[[Coyote Blue]]''.


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.chrismoore.com/practical_demonkeeping.html Book Homepage]
*[http://www.chrismoore.com/practical_demonkeeping.html Book Homepage]
*[http://www.chrismoore.com Christopher Moore.com]
*[http://www.chrismoore.com Christopher Moore.com]
*{{isfdb title|id=16163|title=Practical Demonkeeping}}
*{{isfdb title|id=16163|title=Practical Demonkeeping}}


{{Christopher Moore}}
{{Christopher Moore}}


[[Category:1992 novels]]
[[Category:1992 fantasy novels]]
⚫
[[Category:1992 American novels]]
[[Category:Absurdist fiction]]
[[Category:Absurdist fiction]]
⚫
[[Category:Debut novels]]
[[Category:Novels by Christopher Moore]]
[[Category:Novels by Christopher Moore]]
[[Category:1990s fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Novels set in California]]
[[Category:Cambria, California]]
[[Category:Mass media in San Luis Obispo County, California]]
[[Category:Novels about demons]]
[[Category:1992 debut novels]]



{{1990s-horror-novel-stub}}
[[es:La comedia del diablo]]

Latest revision as of 21:16, 24 December 2024

Practical Demonkeeping
First edition
AuthorChristopher Moore
LanguageEnglish
GenreHumor, fiction, absurdist, Horror, comic fantasy
PublisherSt. Martin's Press
Publication date
Original Hardcover: January, 1992
Publication placeUnited States
ISBN0-312-07069-1 (Original Hardcover)
OCLC62912461
Followed byCoyote Blue 

Practical Demonkeeping is a novel by American writer Christopher Moore, published in 1992.[1] His first novel, it deals with a demon from Hell and his master. The novel has been translated and published in German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian.

Plot summary

[edit]

Travis was born in 1900, yet he has not aged since 1919, because he accidentally called up a demon from hell named Catch as his servant, presumably forever. Ever since then, Travis has been trying to get rid of Catch, but he is unable to do so because he has lost the repository of the necessary incantations. He traces their whereabouts to a fictional town called Pine Cove, along Big Sur coast, where he thinks the woman he gave them to may be residing. Interactions with the townspeople and with a djinn, who is pursuing Catch, create considerable complications.

Several characters from this novel continue their lives in later novels by Moore. Catch appears in a later book (Lamb), but a much earlier period of history; in addition, the setting of Pine Cove itself is revisited for The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove and The Stupidest Angel. The fictional town of Pine Cove is described as being within easy driving distance of San Luis Obispo, California.

Reception

[edit]

Kirkus Reviews described Practical Demonkeeping as a "Good-natured, often funny, but excessively complicated tale", observing that "First-novelist Moore throws in more plot twists than the Pacific Coast highway has curves".[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "PRACTICAL DEMONKEEPING". Kirkus Reviews. November 1, 1991. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via ProQuest.
[edit]


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