Most people have friends from childhood. Jesus Christ once, too, was a man—and he had a childhood friend, nicknamed Shmyak. Very conveniently, because the childhood and youth of the Son of God are shrouded in darkness. More precisely, they were shrouded—until the heavenly powers decided to send Shmyak back to Earth so that he would write a truthful story of the first thirty-three years of his divine friend’s life. From infancy, Joshua (better known as Jesus) knew he was chosen and that his father wasn’t an ordinary one. But the young Messiah didn’t know anything else—why he was chosen, and for what purpose. To clarify it, Joshua and Shmyak set off for lands where all questions still receive answers today—eastward. During their travels, each does what is closest to him: the Son of God explores the depths of the Spirit, while the good fellow Shmyak follows the twists and turns of the flesh. But both come to the same conclusion: a little love for people will not hurt. “The Lamb” is a coming-of-age novel, an intelligent satire, and above all it’s a fairy tale with an unknown plot and a known ending. Those looking for blasphemy will, of course, find it; the rest will enjoy the fantasy and humor of Christopher Moore—and perhaps try to love their neighbor, too.