Satan and the Comrades

In Short

This whimsical fantasy presents a version of Hell where Satan, known as "Nick," decides to modernize his realm with electronics and propaganda to irritate his celestial superiors. After a vacation on Earth, he discovers a plot by Soviet officials to invade his domain. In response, he orchestrates a satirical intervention in Moscow, utilizing forged documents, endless gold, and the power of absurdity. It endures as a lighthearted, ironical exploration of power, greed, and the ultimate folly of human—and demonic—bureaucracy.

The Story

Nick, the Prince of Darkness, concludes a year-long sabbatical spent posing as a college student to study modern electronics. Returning to Hell, he finds his realm bustling with new amenities: heated roads, golf courses, and clever advertising designed to lure shades into a false sense of security. His ultimate goal is to modernize Hades, hoping these diversions will annoy "The Big Boss Upstairs" and distract the watchful angels, Michael and Raphael, from his secret plan to eventually reclaim Heaven.

Upon arrival, Nick encounters the ferryman Charon, who has just returned from a vacation in Moscow, sporting a red tie and smelling of vodka. Charon reveals a plot: Soviet leaders, having learned of Nick’s absence, are torturing political prisoners and promising them a "revolution" in Hell to overthrow the devil. Nick is amused but annoyed by the infiltration. He quickly identifies an intruder in his palace—the shade of Adolf Hitler, who has been forging documents to secure a bridge-tending job. Nick promptly banishes the "Paperhanger" to the burning lake.

To counter the Soviet threat, Nick tasks his mischievous scout, Cletus, with infiltrating the Kremlin. Posing as a wealthy Persian prince named "Navi," Cletus brings bags of gold to entice the Soviet elite. Meanwhile, Nick inhabits the body of Vichy Volonsky, a high-ranking Minister of Culture. Together, they manipulate the Soviet leadership, led by the greedy Premier Andrei Broncov. Nick uses his power to manifest tons of gold in the Kremlin, causing the floor to collapse under the weight of the illicit fortune. The gold crushes the entire Inner Council, while simultaneously, the sight of the wealth sparks a spontaneous, joyous uprising among the populace, who believe a new Tsar has arrived.

The guards, suddenly emboldened by the chaos and the "truth" printed in a manipulated edition of Pravda, execute the remaining leaders. The revolution effectively dissolves the Soviet regime, restoring a sense of order to the people. Cletus, having been tricked by Nick into taking responsibility for the country, is left behind to rule as "Tsar Ivan." Nick retreats to the upper atmosphere, chuckling at his success, though he is momentarily troubled by the realization that he has accidentally performed a "good deed"—a mistake he plans to rectify in the next century by reclaiming the gold.

How It Unfolds

The Return to Chaos Nick descends from his sabbatical, inspecting the "modernized" roads and luxurious amenities his engineers have built in Hell. He finds his kingdom running smoothly but learns of a brewing conspiracy from his ferryman, Charon.

The Trial of the Paperhanger Nick discovers Hitler lurking in his palace, attempting to forge official signatures to seize power. After a brief interrogation, Nick dismisses the former dictator to a long, hot punishment.

The Infiltration of Moscow Nick and his scout Cletus arrive in the Soviet capital to sow discord. Nick inhabits the body of a government official while Cletus poses as a wealthy prince, baiting the greedy Premier Broncov with promises of gold.

The Kremlin Collapse The plan culminates in a scene of absurd excess where Nick manifests enough gold to crush the Soviet leadership beneath the palace floors. The sudden wealth and political vacuum trigger a public uprising that sweeps the regime away.

The Accidental Benefactor Left with a new country to manage, Cletus assumes the throne of a transformed Russia. Nick departs, unsettled by the realization that his prank has resulted in an act of genuine benevolence.

The People

Nick (Satan): The jovial, sardonic ruler of Hell who possesses "X-ray eyes" and moves at "thought speed." He is motivated by the desire to irritate his celestial rivals and regain his standing in Heaven. He is a master of manipulation who enjoys the irony of his own schemes.

Cletus: A dimpled, curly-haired imp who serves as Nick’s most effective scout. Though he possesses an angelic appearance, he is a trickster at heart. He is forced by Nick to take responsibility for the Soviet Union, a fate he finds tedious.

Charon: The long-serving ferryman of the River Styx. He is described as "not very bright" and easily influenced, having picked up the habits and speech of his Soviet hosts during his vacation.

Andrei Broncov: The greedy, plump Premier of the Soviet Union. He is driven by paranoia and a lust for wealth, which eventually leads to his undoing when he is crushed by the very gold he sought to steal.

Vichy Volonsky: The Minister of Culture whose body is temporarily usurped by Nick. He serves as a vehicle for the devil’s infiltration of the Kremlin and represents the corruption of the Soviet bureaucracy.

In Its Own Voice

Nick summarizes the dark philosophy behind his plan to use propaganda to sow confusion among his mortal enemies:

"Those Commies can't stand ridicule."

Nick reflects on the irony of his successful manipulation of the Soviet power structure:

"That caper, he told himself gleefully, will fool The BBU about my plan. Or, will it? Great Hades! I did a good deed."

What It's Really About

The book explores the interplay between greed, power, and the absurdity of authoritarianism. By placing a supernatural trickster at the center of a rigid political system, it argues that such regimes are fundamentally brittle, relying on fear and lies that can be easily dismantled by the right amount of mockery. The struggle between Heaven and Hell acts as a framing device for a deeper inquiry into the human condition: even the Prince of Darkness finds himself baffled by the complexity of "good" actions, suggesting that morality is a wild, unpredictable force that even the most calculated plans cannot fully govern.

Why Read It Today

This story will appeal to readers who enjoy satirical fantasy in the vein of early-to-mid-20th-century speculative fiction. It feels like a brisk, cynical dispatch from a bygone era, written with a punchy, rhythmic style that mimics the hardboiled dialogue of the 1950s. The humor is dry and biting, relying on the juxtaposition of supernatural elements with the grim, gray reality of Soviet-era politics.

Readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes, particularly the Cold War tropes and caricatures that define the portrayal of the Soviet Union. The plot moves with frantic, "thought-speed" velocity, rarely pausing for deep introspection, which makes it an entertaining but fleeting experience. If you enjoy stories where the antagonist is the protagonist—and where the outcome is less about moral triumph and more about the chaotic, unintended consequences of cosmic-level pranks—this book will stick with you. It is a curious artifact of its time, capturing a specific mid-century anxiety about power and ideology through the lens of a mischievous, laughing devil.