Via my kids (Graveyard Book, the Stardust movie), I've discovered Neil Gaiman. What should be next on my Gaiman list?
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Via my kids (Graveyard Book, the Stardust movie), I've discovered Neil Gaiman. What should be next on my Gaiman list?
Good Omens, a book he co-wrote with Terry Pratchett, is one of the funniest books I have ever read. Fragile Things is a remarkable collection of short stories. Neverwhere is a Sandman-like story set in an alternate version of London. Really, you can't go wrong with any of his works. Enjoy.
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I enjoyed his novel, "American Gods", though I also know many who thought the book was re-hashing many concepts from "Sandman".
Read both. "Sandman" is a series of graphic novels (compiled from the original comic) and has a few reprints, so you should be able to find the whole series fairly easily. Well worth every penny...and it likely will cost you a fair penny...
...but, ooooooh so good!
In addition to the above, I'd recommend the Charles Vess-illustrated Stardust. It's a beautiful book, and there's a lot more to it than you get in the movie.
Hopefully, you and your kids have also read Coraline too. My family will be watching the movie version this week.
His other comics aren't half bad either. Try Black Orchid, and a number of other ones.
And read the book Stardust.
GOOD OMENS and NEVERWHERE are good transitional books into Neil Gaiman's more adult and complex novels. NEVERWHERE is a novelization of a TV series which is a bit meh, but might be worth checking out on DVD just for the guys who play the Marquis, Croup and Vandemar, all of whom are awesome.
AMERICAN GODS and its sort-of sequel, ANANSI BOYS are very good, but SANDMAN is where Gaiman made his name and is still his best work. It's ten long graphic novels in length though, which is a bit of a commitment. You may want to try some of his other works before committing to the juggernaut.
Looks like everything's been covered, so I'll just second the mentions already made.
Loved the first Sandman book, superloved Stardust (better than movie--big surprise). I really like finding his short stories, and some freebies (written and recorded) are available on line. I'm in crazy love with his Sherlock Holmes meets Cthulhu short story. The name escapes me right now, and it has appeared in more than one place, but it may still be available on his site. At one time, I got it there as a broadside (pdf) and an audio recording.
Just read Stardust, after seeing everyone and their brother on this site ranting and raving about how awesome he was. I thought the novel was cute and mildly entertaining, but nowhere near as well-written as Susanna Clarke's outstanding Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Also, the coincidences that all came together at the end of Gaiman's book seemed contrived and even strained, whereas Clarke's made me smile and clap. In short, although it's in the same genre as Clarke's debut, I felt that Stardust really suffered in comparison.
Not being a fan of comic books, I'll probably skip the other stuff.
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Not being a fan of comic books, I'll probably skip the other stuff.
Stardust was not his best, and should not be compared with Strange & Norrell. Apples and oranges.
Disclaimer: I only picked up and read Strange & Norrell because of Gaiman's recommendation of it (and I'm glad I did). If you actually find more novels like Strange & Norrell out there, post them here please.
As I wrote above, if you are just starting with Gaiman, you really should read the complete Sandman graphic novel series. At this point you probably know someone in your town who already owns them, if you don't want to buy them yourself.
As I wrote above, if you are just starting with Gaiman, you really should read the complete Sandman graphic novel series. At this point you probably know someone in your town who already owns them, if you don't want to buy them yourself.
Unfortunately, I just don't like comic books for some reason. (To a non-fan, "graphic novel" is geek-speak for "comic book.") So I'll pass on Sandman.
However, I'm told that American Gods was quite good, and might give that a try.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2012
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I'm in crazy love with his Sherlock Holmes meets Cthulhu short story. The name escapes me right now, and it has appeared in more than one place, but it may still be available on his site. At one time, I got it there as a broadside (pdf) and an audio recording.
A Study in Emerald--great story!
How could I forget that great Holmesian name? Thanks, Taig.
Perhaps Stardust is not typical Gaiman, but as an author he seems to have a rather broad range. The graphic novel does fit within my own range of taste, and I love the Vess illustrations and how they go with the text. If you are a fan, and interested in folklore, check out the folkloric background in their Ballads book, which makes a nice accompaniment.
For fans of Clarke, I recommend The Ladies of Grace Adieu. One or two stories are set near Wall, as a double bonus for fans of both!
Unfortunately, I just don't like comic books for some reason. (To a non-fan, "graphic novel" is geek-speak for "comic book.") So I'll pass on Sandman.
Actually, Gaiman agrees with you. He was at a publisher's party in 1990 or so and was talking to some random reporter who asked what he did, and his reply was, "I write comics." The reporter's eyes glazed over in disinterest but politely asked what he'd written, so Gaiman said, "Well, there's this thing called SANDMAN..." at which point the reporter stopped and went, "Oh, you're Neil Gaiman! You don't write comics, you write graphic novels!", to which Gaiman replied "I do?"
I've also introduced people who really hated comics to SANDMAN and they really liked it. No people in tights trying to save the world.
However, I'm told that American Gods was quite good, and might give that a try.
It's decent, but it's hard to get a handle on because the protagonist is incredibly passive (although you get an explanation for that later on).
Neil Gaiman has confirmed that he his currently working on a sequel to Neverwhere, his 1997 novel based on the BBC TV mini-series he developed with British comedian Lenny Henry.
Gaiman has been easing back into the*Neverwhere world for the last few years. There was a major BBC radio adaptation starring James McAvoy, Natalie Dormer and Christopher Lee in 2013, followed by a spin-off novella, How the Marquis Got His Coat Back, the following year. This in turn was adapted for BBC Radio last year. The novel will revolve around the Seven Sisters (as previously hinted by Gaiman) but will also focus on refugees, presumably arriving in London Below from some external conflict. He was inspired by his work last year with the UNHCR in the Syrian reugee camps in Jordan.
Gaiman is also currently writing the Good Omens TV series for the BBC and Amazon, and a big-budget adaptation of his novel American Gods starts airing on Starz in the US in April.
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I will repeat the suggestion of both Black Orchid and Sandman from his comic book work. Those are what introduced me to him. A sad fact of my life was that I stopped collecting Sandman at issue #52, so I missed 53-75. I've been somewhat successful in rectifying this, and now only lack 9 issues.
Also, he's got three collections of short stories: Smoke and Mirrors, Fragile Things, and Trigger Warning.
I've seen folks recommend American Gods, which is really good. I didn't see anybody mention Anansi Boys, which is kind of a follow-up.
His two most recent books I know of are The View from the Cheap Seats (own, but haven't read yet) and Norse Mythology (owned and read).
