Editing The Urantia Book (section)

== Consideration as literature ==
''The Urantia Book'' has been enjoyed by some as a form of [[science fiction]], [[historical fiction]], or [[fantasy]]. ''The Urantia Book'' is noted for its high level of internal consistency and an advanced writing style. Skeptic Martin Gardner, in a book otherwise highly critical of ''The Urantia Book'', writes that it is "highly imaginative" and that the "cosmology outrivals in fantasy the cosmology of any science-fiction work known to me."{{sfn|Gardner|1995|p=12}} Gooch says that for nonbelievers, the book is a mixture of being "fascinating, inspiring, compelling, haunting, entertaining, annoying, incomprehensible, and always wordy."{{sfn|Gooch|2002|p=23}}

Parts I, II, and III are chiefly written in expository language. The papers are informational, matter-of-fact, and instructional. Part IV of the book is written as a biography of Jesus' life, and some feel it is a rich narrative with well-developed characters, high attention to detail, woven sub-plots, and realistic dialogue. Considered as literature, Part IV is favorably compared to retellings of Jesus' life, such as ''[[The Gospel According to Jesus Christ]]'' by [[José Saramago]] and ''[[Behold the Man (novel)|Behold the Man]]'' by [[Michael Moorcock]]. Martin Gardner considers Part IV to be an especially "well-written, impressive work," and says, "Either it is accurate in its history, coming directly from higher beings in position to know, or it is a work of fertile imagination by someone who knew the New Testament by heart and who was also steeped in knowledge of the times when Jesus lived."{{sfn|Gardner|1995|p=312}}