A 2014 novel by Jeremy P. Bushnell. Billy Ridgeway is an aspiring writer who works in a sandwich shop. He doesn't have much money, his relationship with his girlfriend is rocky, and his writing's going nowhere. One day, everything changes when a man claiming to be the Devil shows up in his apartment with some fair-trade coffee and an offer...
This Book Contains Examples Of:
- Affably Evil: The Devil is actually a pretty nice guy. Even brought fair trade coffee.
- Animorphism: Lucifer created three Elite Mooks that can turn into hellwolves. Billy is one of them.
- Auto Erotica: Billy's apartment is so crowded he considered signing up for a ZipCar solely to hook up with his girlfriend.
- Big Applesauce: Billy lives in Brooklyn. It's expensive, full of artists, kind of dirty, but still home.
- Camera Fiend: Denver, though it's with a video camera. She saves Billy with it towards the end, threatening to take video of a guy committing murder gives him enough pause for Billy to retaliate.
- Celestial Bureaucracy: What gods and demons can and can't do are defined by treaties and agreements. In particular, interfering with those of a different faith (thus belonging to another deity) is forbidden.
- Crossover Cosmology: At the very least, the Judeo-Christian Devil and Hindu deities exist.
- Deal with the Devil: The Devil shows up in Billy's apartment with an offer. Billy initially refuses it on principle, as he didn't want to do anything for the devil, even if it was something he'd have done anyway. Billy later agrees to one to save Anil, but it is voided because Anil is Hindu, this using him as leverage is against the rules.
- Deus ex Machina: At the end, Billy and his fellow hellwolves are saved from their contract by a Hindu god citing a thus far unmentioned treaty that Lucifer broke, turning the Bitter Sweet Ending into a happy one.
- Devil, but No God: Mentioned by Anil. Billy still doesn't believe in God, but he does believe in the Devil (because the Devil made him via mind rape). The Right Hand Path are looking for evidence of God as well, but they know (and combat) the Devil. Turns out that there are plenty of gods.
- Erudite Stoner: Billy has shades of this. His Establishing Character Moment was taking 20 minutes to get money from an ATM because he was struck by the ridiculousness of the idea of commerce. Having a literary background and academic parents caused him to become randomly philosophical.
- I Have Many Names: The Devil, Lucifer Morningstar, Satan... he is the trope namer, after all.
- MacGuffin: The Maneki Neko. The Neko is so valued because it waves. Always. With no power source. Thus making it a source of perpetual energy, which means that some think it can be harnessed for profit, while others think it can't be controlled and will destroy the world.
- Maneki Neko: Lucifer wants Billy to find his missing Lucky Cat. An evil Maneki Neko is the very striking cover art.
- The Masquerade: The fact that there are wizards and demons is hidden from the populace.
- The Men in Black: The Right Hand Path maintain the masquerade, including wiping the memories of those who know too much.
- Mind Rape: Lucifer has the ability to reach into someone's mind and change their beliefs. He requests permission to do so, as it's "intimate." But once he's in he winds up doing a bit more than he said he would, which freaks Billy out. Turns out, it's only Billy whom he needs to ask permission from, due to an earlier ward placed on him. After the ward is dispelled, Lucifer needs no such safeguards.
- Perpetual Poverty: Billy and most of his friends. They live in an expensive city, and aren't exactly the most successful at work.
- Sequel Hook: The books ends with Billy agreeing that Satan can ask him for a favor again leaves the door open for further resources.
- The Slacker: Billy. He dropped out of school and works as a sandwich maker. He does still put work into his writing, at least.
- Tomato in the Mirror: Billy was born through a ceremony designed to create powerful soldiers for Lucifer, and he can turn into a hellwolf.
- Xanatos Gambit: Lucifer sends Billy to get the neko, knowing that either he'd get it, or the evil wizard would remove Billy's ward, giving Lucifer a powerful footsoldier.
