"VOLTAIRE: Would you please pass me that book called Bubble Gum--oh, sorry, the Christian Bible gun?"
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Ascension of Satan by Jemadari Vi-Bee-Kil Kilele Trafford Publishing
book review by staff
The action of the play follows Satan and his motley crew of earthly philosophers, including Karl Marx, René Descartes, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Joseph Stalin, as they engage in a rambling debate with God regarding Satan's true mission on Earth. God plays dumb throughout, arguing that he has never met any humans beyond Adam and Eve, while Satan's little helpers do their best to argue that God is evil and Satan is actually the better choice for a divine ruler. Satan insists that God and his minions have besmirched his good name, and demands restitution.
This appears, perhaps, to be a clever way to show the failings of Satan. With ridiculous arguments from historic characters, such as Communist Stalin's hilarious insistence on "democratic rights," the plot assumes readers have a passing familiarity with arguments that are not fully explained within the text. If Satan does have a point, it would be wise for him to make it much more clearly than he does. The plot's endgame relies heavily on an accident, leaving the audience perplexed about what has just transpired, as well as its importance. The idea of Satan as a good or heroic character, rather than the Prince of Evil, is an intriguing one, yet the book lacks Biblical or imagined evidence, although the potential of this reverse argument for God is clear. It's a lot like listening to the loser make his case in after the election results have been tabulated.