Good Omens Fan Fic Recommendations
With the premiere of Season Three of Good Omens upon us in just twelve days (TWELVE DAYS!), I thought I would look back to a time when we hadn’t even seen Season One, when Aziraphale and Crowley were mere names on a page and not so closely associated with Michael Sheen and David Tennant.
If you have never read the book (what, you haven't read the book?!), I encourage you to do so.
Here are four stories I consider Book Omens. There are plenty more, but these are ones I really enjoy and have read multiple times.
I hope you enjoy them too.
Anthophilia by FortinbrasFTW
Published: July 2014, 49.5K words
Author’s Summary: Anthony J. Crowley's life seems like it's finally falling into place: his floral shop has begun to gain an undercurrent of appreciation in the design elite of London, and he might have even finally found a boyfriend who looks just right lounging on his Tenreiro sofa. Things seem almost perfect, until one day the empty shop across the street is leased to frumpy fellow Oxford alumni, who doesn't seem to remember Crowley nearly as well as he remembers him, which really shouldn't bother him as much as it does - it was ten years ago after all, and it wasn't even that good of a kiss.
My Take: I’ll start with a disclaimer—if you are a stickler for spelling, punctuation, and grammar, you might be annoyed as your read along. Hang in there. I have read this more than once. Maybe more than a half dozen times, but who’s counting? I found it to be such a lovely human AU, and one of the few written so early—2014. Things are revealed slowly, sweetly, and the ending is well worth the wait. BTW, an anthophile is a person who loves, admires, or is deeply fond of flowers, often drawn to their beauty, scents, and colors. Hence, the title.
Except You Enthrall Me (orphan account)
Published: September 2019, 3758 words
Author’s Summary: The point is that old habits die hard, and when you’ve spent six thousand years repressing your feelings because your feelings are very dangerous for everyone involved, it turns out there’s not a switch that you can flip to make you wholeheartedly accept the tenderness that your beloved bastard angel offers you. or, "Tie Me Up and Tell Me I'm Important: The Anthony J. Crowley Story"
My Take: I only read this story recently, and while the author doesn’t say this is a Book Omens story, I feel it absolutely is. The attitudes of both Aziraphale and Crowley are spot on for the book. Crowley’s guilt is high, as is his insistence that not only does he not know how to deal with his feelings for Aziraphale, he doesn't feel he as if he deserves to be treated so well. Aziraphale, on the other hand, is ready to share all of his feelings, and one or another, he's going to force Crowley to sit still and take it. It’s all in how you tie the knot, you see…
It’s Funny Because Nobody Ever Says “Burkina Faso” by indieninja92
Published: October 2021, 5K words
Author’s Summary: Aziraphale gets stuck in a time loop. The first Crowley knows about it is when the angel shows up at his flat one morning armed with knowledge he could only possibly have got from Crowley's previous self.
My Take: The author writes that they “kind of pictured this as book boys while i was writing, but it certainly doesn’t have to be.” I humbly disagree. While it was written after Season One, this story relies heavily on Book!Aziraphale and Book!Crowley. Would either of the television versions ever smoke?
I have read this multiple times and it never fails to amuse me. It's funny and well written, and offers a take on Aziraphale and Crowley we don't often see. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Aid and Comfort by TurnSpitDog
Published: November 2023, 13K words
Author’s Summary: NOW IT IS TIME FOR QUESTIONS FROM OUR LISTENERS. TODAY WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM BYLETH, COMMANDER OF THE MEPHITIC LEGIONS. OH, IT’S A QUESTION FOR THE ANGEL.
Crowley’s hands clenched on the steering wheel.
BYLETH, COMMANDER OF THE MEPHITIC LEGIONS, WRITES, “CROWLEY IS A CRAVEN TRAITOR SO WE UNDERSTAND WHY HE ASSOCIATES WITH AN ANGEL. BUT WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE ANGEL? WHAT IS HE GETTING OUT OF THIS?”
“That’s a good question,” said Aziraphale.
Crowley glared at him. “No, it isn’t.”
Cut off from access to Earth, the hosts of Hell find other ways to torment Crowley. Aziraphale provides a refuge.
My Take: While this was written after Season Two was released, this fic is set shortly after the end of the book and is definitely a Book Omens story. In fact, the author says so!
I’m cheating a little, because I already wrote a review for Aziraphale’s Hidden Gems and I’m going to use pretty much the same one here. (If you don’t know Hidden Gems, follow the link; you won’t be disappointed)
In this fic, Aziraphale and Crowley don’t live in each other’s pockets, and Aziraphale is actually rather snippy and somewhat protective of his private space. But when Crowley starts having a problem with Hell, Aziraphale immediately steps up to help him.
With funny, clever dialogue, we’re treated to multiple scenes showing how Hell is slowly driving Crowley mad, until all seems lost. But it's not. In the end, our angel and demon come to the conclusion that they are better off (and safer) together than apart. It's a very happily ever after of a different sort, and one I think you'll enjoy.
I know it's hard to believe, but by the time I write my June Fic Recs, we will be well past Season Three, hundreds (if not thousands) of new fics will have been written based on what we have learned, and we'll be in a completely new Good Omens era. Until then, I hope you enjoy reading these and many other fan fics. Don't forget to leave kudos and comments! See you on the other side of Season Three!
I'm cross-posting this to my main blog for those who might be seeing this twice. Just so you know.
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