And as the burning embers of the world fell, the god of calamity sat and did nothing. He had won, and in so doing, had lost everything. Within his imagination, the ghosts of lost dreams took root, safe from the gnashing teeth of reality. Here, deep in his thoughts, he was safe. And so he remained for an eternity and then another and a good part of another, until all the world had forgotten. Those who came after would rest upon his figure, worn smooth as stone. Some were moved to tears, others to somber song, though not one among them knew why.

This, my dear child, last of my friends, is how it should have ended. This is how I should have ended. But nothing is as it should be in this world where the love of beautiful lies is eclipsed only by the hatred of bitter truths.

What’s that? A bait and switch, you say? This is neither the god nor the death you signed up for? Am I, god of mischief and of chaos, not god enough for you? Is my death not worthy of spectacle? Hold fast the faith, my friend. Whatever god you seek will soon enough make his appearance. And just as well, he will depart. Before our tale is through all the gods will fall. All in due time. Patience. Slow and steady. This is how you do it. This is how you kill a god.

I have been called a liar, a deceiver, a fraud. But we are, all of us, storytellers. All of us, liars. Must a story be believed to offer wisdom? Must a belief be true to offer comfort? Listen and I shall tell you my story. For I have lived a million lifetimes across the ten thousand worlds.

I am Enki and Ekwensu. I am Coyote and Prometheus. I am Loki and Sinbad and Lucifer. I am the whisper upon the wind, the laughter in the din, the heir of prayers unanswered. I have been here since the dawn of all things and I share the gifts of the gods with mortal kind.

I am Anansi, the spider, and I cast my web across the ten-thousand worlds. From the watchtower at World’s End to the deepest crevasse at the bottom of the Guff. From the ruined city of Dis to the highest crag atop Mount Olympus. My web of chains traverses each hallway, each room and antechamber of the Ever Maze and stretches clear across the Dune Sea.

Listen, my child. Listen, but take heed. For words are deadly things.

21 Ways to Kill a God is a dark fantasy novel chronicling the exploits of the trickster god as he attempts to fix a broken world and understand his place within it. Here are the first two chapters...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BW41VGViM1dlVZlZ_1j_qCzaBJE7viC9/view?usp=sharing

MP3s:

🔊 Chapter 1

🔊 Chapter 2