Cain

by Jose Saramago.

Saramago is my second favourite author after Coetzee.  This is his last book, published, posthumously.
His previous book about an elephant was a disappointment but this one certainly reflects his intelligence and wicked sense of humour.

The book is about Cain (of Cain and Abel).  In this story Cain kills his brother and is sentenced to wander the earth by God.  However, while he wanders, he doesn't just wander in space he also wanders through time to be present at other significant biblical events, Abraham and Isaac, Tower of Bable, Noah's ark, etc. 

Saramago plays with the bible stories, for e.g. implying that there were other people on earth at the same time as Adam and Eve, which probably is more in line with the true development of homo sapiens.

The story is basically about Cain challenging God and his authority and decisions (unfair and irrational) and in the end it seems that Cain is able to outsmart God.  I found it a clever and engaging story.