Neil Gaiman

For those of you have heard of the science fiction and fantasy writer, Neil Gaiman, my commendations to you, and for those of you who haven't, you're missing out. Recent movies you may know, Stardust and Coraline, were both based on books written by Gaiman and both were very good. I knew from the beginning of this blog that I wanted to write about Gaiman, but I couldn't decide what to write about because everything he writes and produces is so incredibly well done. I decided to highlight two or three of my favourite novels/stories by him. Most, if not all, of his writing has a degree of darkness to it. While I don't immediately look for darker themes in literature, it generally doesn't matter what genre it is when something is well written. I am currently rereading American Gods which is about a man named Shadow and his life after prison and the meeting of Mr. Wednesday, an old god. The idea behind the novel is that when people immigrated to America, they brought their beliefs and gods with them. Some came over of free will, others were slaves, and there were the Native Americans. In present day, those old gods are all but forgotten in this land and are a shadow of their former selves, or feable copies of what they are where they are still worshipped in the world. New gods of technology, obesity, Internet, and more are rising up and always trying to oust the old gods. Some of the old gods who are still strong enough to fight, band together as a front against the takeover of these new gods.

I highly recommend this book, as well as my other two personal favourites from Gaiman, Good Omens and The Graveyard Book. Good Omens is a somewhat comedic take on the Apocalypse and what would happen if the Anti-Christ grew up in the wrong family. It was co-written by another Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld series. This book is my personal favorite by Gaiman and it is usually the personal favourite of most who have read his stories. The Graveyard Book is a shorter book about a boy whose family is killed and he ends up growing up in a graveyard and parents by ghosts.

Has anyone else read anything by the author Neil Gaiman or has any favourite books or stories they'd like to share?