Desperation is the only one of King's novels in which God is actually a character. In The Green Mile, God miraculously influences events from behind the scenes, sending the mouse, Mr. Jingles, and the healer, John Coffey, to Cold Mountain Prison's death row. In Desperation, "The big G," as Ellen Carver calls Him, speaks directly to David Carver, Mary Jackson, and Johnny Marinville. Desperation's God even "enters" David and, ultimately, Johnny to guide their actions. When Johnny tells David that God has chosen him, not the child, to die, David asks: "Is God in you? Can you feel him in there, Johnny? Like a hand? Or a fire?" Desperation's God resembles Tak in taking "possession" of a person He has chosen to do His will. God is, however, more respectful of humanity than Tak because He observes "the free-will covenant." Persons whom God has touched have the option...