The Book of the Dun Cow

A classic tale of Good Vs Evil, with a deeply flawed but well-meaning protagonist and a literal menagerie of hilarious characters. But don't let the talking animals fool you, this is no lighthearted children's book. Dystopian themes, unflinching violence, and a sweeping darkness that may leave readers depressed for days. Beautifully written in a highly lyrical, saccharine style that belies the unfolding destruction. The sequel, The Book of Sorrows, is just as good but even darker, if you can believe it. (The third book can and should be ignored outright, written after three decades as a quick cash grab by an author who very obviously got swept up in the recent alt-rightening of the evangelical crowd. Gone is the allegory, gone is the beauty, leaving nothing more than a ham-fisted sermon.)