Ok, I did a search and found no mention about this book by Steven Brust, To Reign In Hell, the story about the revolt in Heaven and how Satan eventually got cast out. There's a lot of similarities with Neil's work, it reminds me of Murder Mysteries quite a bit. Someone here must have read it?

I love Stephen Brust!!

Thanks Sunday's, I'm going to check this out.

Great, pkitty! Let me know how'd you find it then!

Actually, it's the only one so far I've read from Steven Brust (but oh, how many times!)..

Any recommendations?

um, I have his CD... haven't read his books though

I've read the first six or so Vlad books (his primary series), and the first few chapters of To Reign In Hell. Also am about halfway through The Phoenix Guards, which takes place about 1000 years before the Vlad series, features some of the same characters, and has spawned a series of its own. Phoenix Guards is written in stylistic tribute to the Three Musketeers, and is quite entertaining. I really love all the Vlad books... he manages to make a hero out of an assassin quite well.

Thematic similarities between him and Neil might well come from the fact that the two men are quite good friends. Brust actually shows up twice in Sandman, once at the World's End when the characters see the Endless walking across the night sky, and once at the Ren. Fest with Hob in the Wake.

Oh yes, recommendations... I suggest you find The Book Of Jhereg. It is a compilation of the first three Vlad novels (which are all fairly short). Or, if you're looking for the aforementioned Musketeer stylings, read the Phoenix Guards.

Thanks for the suggestions, supersnazz.

I couldn't find any of the books from the library database, even though it is pretty vast, but I'll see if I can at least find Phoenix Guards from a book store, sounds like something I'd like.

I didn't know Brust made an appearance in Sandman I have to check that out!

He's wearing a big wide brimmed hat with one side of the brim folded upwards. I can't remember if there's a feather in it or not, but it's the kind of hat that goes well with a feather. He really does wear that kind of hat, too.

If "The Book of Jhereg isn't at your library, try just Jhereg, the first novel. I believe this is followed by Yendi, and then Teckla, and then Taltos. the books as there were written were not in chronological order, but they read well in the order he wrote them, or in chronological order, or in any order you choose (the original Vlad books do, anyway).

At first I thought You were talking about Dante's Inferno. I'd say that influenced both Neil and Steven Brust pretty heavily, just going by your description.

supersnazz, unfortunately my library has only "Agyar" and "Issola" by Steven Brust, besides TRiH, but I'll check them out..

Issola is one of the Vlad books (I don't know about Agyar). So, if Brust succeeded in his intent, you should be able to read Issola without having read any of the others. I myself have not made it to Issola yet, so I couldn't say any more about it.

Maybe it is too old but I will try: do not start with Issola. Taltos' world is quite complex in some aspects and if you start with this book you may dislike it. Try to find the compilation Supersnazz mentioned, it is the best way to enter in this se-ries and to understand it.

Regarding similarities and differences between Gaiman and Brust view of the Devil's revolt, I understand that the most disrupting view is Brust's view. Let me explain:
Gaiman in some way explains the motivation of Lucifer's revolt due to an "injus-tice" by God, because there is no free will in Heaven, all is God's will.
In Preacher, Garth Ennis explains Lucifer's revolt more plainly: when God creates humanity and gave them free will, some angels do not understand it.
Finally, Brust is the only one who does not believe the "winner version" and plainly says that Yahvé was not the Creator, that he only was the "Primus inter pares" and that he was not entitled to ask submission to the other Great Powers, and shows the revolt of Lucifer not as such revolt but as a Civil War. in fact, Brust himself says that at some point, when he was writing the story, he had to stop and say "Hey, guy, it seems that Lucifer is going to win..."

Sorry for my English, I do not have time to check it properly but I preferred to give you my comments.