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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Jul 18, 2004 10:41:41 GMT -5
Just wondering if anyone has read any of his stuff? I got "American Gods" awhile back & have tried to read it a couple of times, but just can't get into it. There have been books before that were hard to get into but then turned out to be really good. I was just wondering if I should make the effort to actually read this one, or any of his stuff, or would it be worth it?
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Post by Bartwald on Jul 18, 2004 15:31:27 GMT -5
I couldn't get into Gaiman's world either. At least so far.
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Post by Fenril on Jul 23, 2004 0:12:29 GMT -5
He's one of my favorite authors... but IMHO "American Gods" is the wrong place to start; only longtime Gaiman fans seem to enjoy it, and even then slightly. It's his weakest so far.
I recommend that you try one of his comics, preferably "The Sandman" (start either with volume I "Prelude and nocturnes" or with volume III, " Dream country" ). If you do like it, then go on to the rest of Sandman (well, duh), and then either to his short story collections ("Smoke & Mirrors" is the best, but is something of a mixed bag, so be prepared), or to his other comics.
As a novelist, he doesn't quite convince me, but then I haven't read "Neverwhere" just yet. I did like "Good Omens", which he wrote with Terry Pratchett.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Jul 23, 2004 9:10:14 GMT -5
I have "SANDMAN Vol. 1: PRELUDES & NOCTURNES" but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I picked it up when I went on a Graphic Novel buying binge. Guess I should read it, huh?  |
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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Jul 23, 2004 18:43:54 GMT -5
So I take it this 'Sandman' series is all graphic novels?
You mentioned vol. 1 & III....what about II?
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Post by Fenril on Jul 26, 2004 0:15:40 GMT -5
Yep, Sandman is a series of graphic novels... up to volume X, as far as I know.
I suggested volume III because that one (as well as VI) are a collection of separate stories (as in, not a story arc as such), but you can really read them out of order --except the last two volumes, which are the end and epilogue of the story (well, duh).
Of course, the story is a lot more enjoyable if you read it in order. In the case of volume II (Doll House) it is a very good read by itself, in fact it's a personal favorite (the best one has to be IV, tho').
So yes, Heineken, I recommend that one comic... I'll just mention that this one volume is the darkest of the lot (except maybe IX), more towards horror than fantasy, so the rest of the series will have a slightly different tone. Basically, the rest is like the last story in volume I ("The sound of her wings"), more like dark fantasy.
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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Jul 26, 2004 17:25:18 GMT -5
Sounds pretty cool. I can't even remember the last graphic novel I read...I guess it was The Crow, & that's been awhile ago.
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Post by Phoenix on Sept 17, 2004 23:39:51 GMT -5
I LOVE Neil Gaiman! Of course, I second everyone's Sandman recommendations but you should really buy the first trade and feel it out. He also wrote this great one with about one of the side characters in the series "Death: Time of her Life." It's also a great TPB, short and easy to read, and now is getting adapted into a movie.
A really good Neil Gaiman book is Stardust. It's 100% pure light fairy tale/fantasy/horror and a much easier read to get into than American Gods. My sister and I love it! We are both huge Gaiman fans after reading it, and it is what got me into reading all of his stuff.
I will admit that American Gods isn't my favorite either, it is really heavy in mythology/mysticism which I didn't know much about. I still enjoyed it, but not as much as his other stuff.
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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Sept 18, 2004 19:05:36 GMT -5
I'll have to put some of those suggestions on my 'to read' list. Although it's pretty long right now.  |
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Post by Phoenix on Oct 15, 2004 10:29:33 GMT -5
I just finished reading Gaiman's "Neverwhere." It's one of the few books left that he wrote I hadn't read. It was great, very imaginative, and I could really relate to the main character who has a bland office job and has this boring life. Plus it takes place in London, one of my favorite cities. Gaiman always likes to incorporate landmarks and really makes the city "alive." Great escapism!!!!!
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Post by Bartwald on Oct 15, 2004 13:24:15 GMT -5
Plus it takes place in London, one of my favorite cities. Yeah, London is a great city. And another book that effectively brings it to life is Michael Slade's "Ghoul". |
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Post by Phoenix on Oct 18, 2004 10:30:33 GMT -5
Cool! I added it to my reading list, thanks bart!
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Post by Bartwald on Oct 19, 2004 12:39:25 GMT -5
No problem. Mind you though: Slade is a tense author. You liked Puzo's Godfather, so I guess you have nothing against tense books, but I thought I might as well warn you (you can also check out our Slade interview in this section to learn more about the grim subject matter of his books).
Anyway, I have read "Ghoul" just after my return from London and the novel was constantly bringing me back to familiar places there; love that feeling!
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Post by Quorthon on Mar 1, 2005 1:14:32 GMT -5
He's one of my favorite authors... but IMHO "American Gods" is the wrong place to start; only longtime Gaiman fans seem to enjoy it, and even then slightly. It's his weakest so far. Oh dear sir, I must say, American Gods was the first of his works I read. I dare say it turned me into a Gaiman fan. I lent the book to a friend of mine, and it did the same to him (it was also his first Gaiman book). Also, I turned my Mom into a Gaiman fan, but with Neverwhere rather than American Gods--she's reading that one now. I think his stuff is wonderfully easy to read, he has a very slick style that I just breeze through. The only reason I had some stumbling getting into American Gods was because it was the first book I read when I started to get back into reading again--I had to re-adjust to a "novel" mind-frame. The Sandman: Endless Nights on the other hand, I had quite a time with--but it could have been the depth at which I studied the art as well as the stories in it. |
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Post by Pulpmariachi on Dec 3, 2005 18:31:37 GMT -5
I agree with Quorth. Actually, the first thing of his I ever read was the brilliant GOOD OMENS, which was co-written with Terry Pratchett (it was almost made into a movie directed by Terry Gilliam, but that fell through).
American Gods blew me away. Stardust was fantastic. I'd like to read Coraline sometime.
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