Point of View

Biff has two points of view, his modern self who writes in the hotel room and his ancient self, whom he remembers through his gospel. Whether Biff's memories are strictly accurate is up to conjecture. No memoir is ever strictly accurate, having been colored over time.

At first, the modern world frightens and confuses both the angel and Biff. The angel, not understanding how fiction works, takes soap operas seriously. Biff tries to explain fiction to Raziel, but the lack of free will in angels thwarts his efforts. Angels cannot lie and so fiction is a meaningless concept.

Biff relates Joshua's point of view as best he can through conversations and observations. Joshua knows he is the Messiah but has no idea what this means in his youth. Biff supposes that being in such a position makes Joshua feel lonely much of the time, like the...