I read the article about American Gods in Dragon #324, but I haven't researched the author as of yet. I guess I need to surf the internet a bit and then scoot over to the library to see if they have American Gods available.
Chief Technical Officer
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The first thing I ever read by Neil Gaiman was Don't Panic, a book about Douglas Adams and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. A couple years later, people started talking about Sandman, and saying Gaiman was brilliant, and I just kept thinking that while I liked Don't Panic, calling the author a genius was a bit unbelievable. So I didn't cave in.
About halfway through the Sandman run, though, I was given a hardcover collection as a gift, and was thoroughly impressed.
Sandman is one of the most brilliant comics ever created. Unfortunately, the first seven issues are the weakest, but there's some necessary setup there. Once it hits issue eight, though, it started becoming probably the most literate comics series ever.
I've read all the Gaiman I can get my hands on. Of his novels, I think American Gods is by far the best.
-Vic.
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What's always impressed me about Gaiman was that he could do the deep intense brooding symbolic stuff one minute, and then segue smoothly into a perfectly captured deadpan-delivery line the next -- something that wasn't out and out hilarious, but was just so perfectly indicative of the character of the speaker that it made you smile.
Offhand, I still remember (sans spoilers) the protagonist of American Gods having his soul judged, and the line made about the feather. Silly, throwaway line, but it perfectly established the character of the speaker.
(Vague enough to avoid spoilers, I'm hoping...)
I met Neil at a library convention of all things and had him sign a few books for me after he gave a great speach on the need for books, librarians, and reading.
I enjoyed _American Gods_, but his crowning achievement will be his work on Sandman. Probably my favorite comic book series ever.
D
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Raise Dead Thread...
So I'm about halfway through American Gods (which I'm really enjoying by the way), but am having this really weird experience with it.
I'm pretty certain that I've never read this book before (it was only written in 2001, 2002 or something, so I think I would remember). I have no idea (beyond guesses) what's going to happen next, major plot points, or how it will end. But after reading many, many (but not all) scenes of the book I am getting an incredible sense of deja vu. Like I'm certain that I had read certain passages, events, chapters before.
But pretty sure I haven't.
Anyone else experienced anything like this? Or know if stuff from American Gods has cropped up elsewhere? (Like maybe some of Gaiman's short stories or something?)
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I was talking about the kfc thing on another thread; I think it was in American Gods; not sure.
I also think Dragon did a little snippet piece with a npc or two like the guy...who vows to...you know who I'm talking about, the Russian guy?
Yeah, i had read your and Sebastian's KFC thing a couple days before I started the book ... And the inital scene that Czernobog (sp?) was one of the familiar ones, so maybe thats it ... its just kind of weird thats all.
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The more I think about it, it seems to me that the flavor of that book read a lot like some of Steven King's stuff.
It's funny, but of all the myriad books I've read, I think I remember the most details about American Gods. I think I remember more details about a book if there's a game based on it like Stormbringer, but that one really has no game support.
He also reminds me a lot of a guy named Alan Dean Foster; some of his more contemporarily timed fantasy//horror works were along those lines.
The more I think about it, it seems to me that the flavor of that book read a lot like some of Steven King's stuff.
Hmm, now that you mention it, yes...American Gods does have King flavor.
Personally I am not that big fan of his novels, I read them and the are good but...his best works are still comics (especially Sandman), short stories and Good Omens (done together with Terry Pratchett). And he is a fun speaker so if you have opportunity to hear him give a speech, go.
I've also seen him speak, and he was quite funny. He signed a couple of my Sandmans and was a very nice man. Personally I think Sandman is his masterpiece, none of his other stuff has seemed quite so intense or original to me.
So I'm about halfway through American Gods (which I'm really enjoying by the way), but am having this really weird experience with it.
I'm pretty certain that I've never read this book before (it was only written in 2001, 2002 or something, so I think I would remember). I have no idea (beyond guesses) what's going to happen next, major plot points, or how it will end. But after reading many, many (but not all) scenes of the book I am getting an incredible sense of deja vu. Like I'm certain that I had read certain passages, events, chapters before.
But pretty sure I haven't.
Anyone else experienced anything like this? Or know if stuff from American Gods has cropped up elsewhere? (Like maybe some of Gaiman's short stories or something?)
YES! I had EXACTLY the same feeling! I'm glad someone else felt that. I'd read Sandman a litte while before, and some of his shorts, but I kept thinking that some bits of Gods were re-hashes of bits forom Sandman or short stories. Especially the serial killer convention in Sandman, I'm about 70% sure he has a short story with the same idea in it but I can't find it. I think that's Gaiman's style, he has ideas that you can tell he thinks are really cool, and so they recur across his writing. It's like he is influenced only by his own writing instead of other writers' stuff. Wierd.
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Sandman was my first experience with Neil Gaiman's work, and I have nearly the entire run of that very excellent series. The next time I picked up was American Gods and I loved it. Since then I've read Anansi Boys, Smoke and Mirrors, and Fragile Things (which has a Shadow short story in it). I keep meaning to pick up some of his other writings, but haven't had the time yet.
I'm working on The Ananzi Boys right now.
What a trippy book.
I've been meaning to pick that one up, since I loved American Gods with a passion. I suppose if you would describe it as trippy, it must be right up my alley.
Someone just gave me Neverland today. Is it anygood?
Neverwhere ranks fairly low on my personal list of Gaiman fiction—but it's nonetheless an interesting and fun read, with many great moments. It's just not the giant bag of pure genius that American Gods is.
I disagree. American Gods is a good book, but I prefer Neverwhere. It's one of my personal favorites.
Neverwhere ranks fairly low on my personal list of Gaiman fiction—but it's nonetheless an interesting and fun read, with many great moments. It's just not the giant bag of pure genius that American Gods is.I disagree. American Gods is a good book, but I prefer Neverwhere. It's one of my personal favorites.
Guess I'll have to look for American Gods and read 'em both. :o)
Thank you both for your input.
The thing to remember about Neverwhere is that it was written as a screenplay for a BBC mini-series, so the adaptation to a novel still has the vestiges of the limitations of a television production, especially one with the budget limitations of the BBC at the time. Still, it is perhaps one of my favorite Gaiman stories, even though the execution lacks at times due to these limitations.
-M
The thing to remember about Neverwhere is that it was written as a screenplay for a BBC mini-series, so the adaptation to a novel still has the vestiges of the limitations of a television production, especially one with the budget limitations of the BBC at the time. Still, it is perhaps one of my favorite Gaiman stories, even though the execution lacks at times due to these limitations.
-M
Did the BBC follow through with the series?
I loved it! This is the wiki on the BBC version. The Marquis, and, of course, Mr's. Croup and Vandemar were perfectly cast. If you can Netflix it, do so. It's good.
Did the BBC follow through with the series?
Yes, the television series appeared well before the novel did. In the commentary track on the DVD, Gaiman talks about how bits that didn't work as well as he wanted in the show got "fixed" in the novelization, and how he was able to reimagine a scene or three in the novel because there was no budget constraints.
The show also features some marvelous design work by Neil's long time collaborator Dave McKean (of Sandman cover fame).
-M
I loved it! This is the wiki on the BBC version. The Marquis, and, of course, Mr's. Croup and Vandemar were perfectly cast. If you can Netflix it, do so. It's good.
It's now in my Netflix que! (and I put it far enough down that I should finish the book before I get the 2 discs in.)
Just read Fragile Things and...it's not his best work. Couple of good stories, some nice but also plenty which seemed rather unsatisfying or pointless, more like exercises in style than real stories.
Something is wrong when I like the poems best in the collection...
I've been reading Gaiman for years; first his comic book writing, then his novels.
He is a first class storyteller.
As others seem to be saying, anyone who's thinking of checking him out read American Gods first. I wasn't disappointed with Neverwhere, as were others, but I will admit it wasn't as good.
Did anyone see Mirrormask?
I did! I love it. I thought it was a good older kids movie, was well written, and looked beautiful. And the soundtrack is good gaming music.
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Director of Sales
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HOLYCRAPHOLYCRAP... HOLY CRAP!!!!
***Cosmo passes out from Neil-Gaiman-upcoming-movie-related fanboy hysteria.***
That boys just freaky!
"I know Feck. Women are evil, you had to kill her."
HOLYCRAPHOLYCRAP... HOLY CRAP!!!!
***Cosmo passes out from Neil-Gaiman-upcoming-movie-related fanboy hysteria.***
Grendel should be cool and everything, but manomanoman I saw the trailer for Stardust and it looks amazing. That was one of the books I bought every edition as it came out. Individual issues, the rereleases with fancyschmancy covers, and the TPB. Look at all the talent coming together for this one...friggin Gandalf and David Brent.
And, dont even get me started on Coraline. That has the possibility of being the BEST MOVIE EVER! (even better than KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park? yep. Even better than Godfather? maybe. Even better than To Kill a Mockingbird? we'll see.) And, its got music by TMBG.
Did anyone see Mirrormask?
I saw it in the theater and I found it boring. Two stars out of five.
I thought maybe I wasn't in the right mood so I rented it too. My opinion doesn't change. It is a Dave McKean movie.
j.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Grendel should be cool and everything, but manomanoman I saw the trailer for Stardust and it looks amazing. That was one of the books I bought every edition as it came out. Individual issues, the rereleases with fancyschmancy covers, and the TPB.
Really? I have a question. I bought the serialized illustrated version as it came out, and that's the only edition I have. Were there differences in the text between that and the novel version?
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Did anyone see Mirrormask?I saw it in the theater and I found it boring. Two stars out of five.
I thought maybe I wasn't in the right mood so I rented it too. My opinion doesn't change. It is a Dave McKean movie.
j.
Yeah, I have been a huge Gaiman fan ever since the original comic book-form issues of Sandman (I have every one, purchased as they were released.) I have always enjoyed his work, I have autographed copies of most of his stuff (much of it personalized), yada, yada, yada. Let it suffice to say that I am a pretty big fan. However, I have to agree with you on Mirrormask--don't know why, but it bored the heck outta me.
Totally look forward to all his other projects, though.
HOLYCRAPHOLYCRAP... HOLY CRAP!!!!
***Cosmo passes out from Neil-Gaiman-upcoming-movie-related fanboy hysteria.***
I know. I know. Sometimes, when I get down and out about the world, I think about the awesome Gaiman movies coming out and things get a little brighter.
I liked Mirrormask for visuals and all that stuff Dave McKean is good for, but I'll definitely agree that it wasn't exactly riveting. I still think it was a pretty decent film, though.
Looking forward to Stardust.