Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime. As unsettling as it is exhilarating, American Gods is a dark and kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an America at once eerily familiar and utterly alien. Enter: James Brownstone. week, 7 days, 21 hours, 46 minutes, 15 seconds Feed What's New. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2018. Fifteen-book series. US - Mass Market Paperback Funny, clever and entertaining. "Neil Gaiman, a writer of rare perception and endless imagination . Neil Gaiman's American Gods tells the compelling story of an ex-convict caught up in a cosmic battle for the soul of America. and they are in its direct path. Who will rise to lead? Would he like to work for Wednesday, instead? Grab this today. Once again Gaiman delivers a cracking read! As the title of this review clearly states, I saw the TV series before I read this book, in fact I did not know this book existed and I was quite certain that it would not be a book I would enjoy reading, after all, the series revealed all the secrets. How American Gods Finds Stability (And More Neil Gaiman) in Season 3. Hardcover. . Even myths have legends. Something went wrong. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. Ann Kim, "Library Journal", Shadow, a strong, silent, Steven Seagal type, has kept his head down while doing time for creaming the guys who ran off with his share of a heist. American Gods aims to show that mythology is not a primitive belief system relegated to unsophisticated cultures. Neil Gaiman reflects on 'American Gods' season 3, teases what could come in potential season 4. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges, Or get 4-5 business-day shipping on this item for $5.99 . . When the story begins, Shadow has been in prison for three years. It is the story of Shadow—released from … Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel, Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. American Gods is poised to become one of TV's biggest hits later this month. While they share a character, they can be enjoyed entirely independently of each other. 12/01/2021 American Gods boss Neil Gaiman has spoken about why the character of Media is absent from season three. But Mr. Wednesday, who knows more about Shadow than is possible, warns that a storm is coming -- a battle for the very soul of America . I loved every minute of it and barely put the damn thing down. Book 1 of the completed, critically acclaimed and award winning Paternus Trilogy. Gaiman tries to keep the magical and the mundane evenly balanced, but he is clearly more interested in the activities of his human protagonists: Shadow's poignant personal moments and the tale's affectionate slices of smalltown life are much better developed than the aimless plot, which bounces Shadow from one episodic encounter to another in a design only the gods seem to know. His wife has been killed; a mysterious stranger offers him a job. Responding in a thread that … "A crackerjack suspense yarn . Just when you start to believe for real, you’ll realize you were being played all along. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2017. . It really is all smoke and mirrors isn't it - what you see may not be real, what you see may be realer than you could ever imagine. I am made even more aware of Gaiman’s mastery of Nordic mythology and marvel at the way he has melded both the stories of folkloric gods and the lost luster of contemporary America. Dear, dear how I've loved this book. . --William Gibson. "This is a bad land for Gods," says Shadow. After two sterling fantasies, the dark, American Gods is sexy, thrilling, dark, funny and poetic." Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2018. (One-day laydown, June 19)Forecast: Even when he isn't in top form, Gaiman, creator of the acclaimed Sandman comics series, trumps many storytellers. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. A humble woodworker placed in a magical academy must solve a mystery. Armed only with some coin tricks and a sense of purpose, Shadow travels through, around, and underneath the visible surface of things, digging up all the powerful myths Americans brought with them in their journeys to this land as well as the ones that were already here. Momentously titled, and allotted a dramatic one-day laydown with a 12-city author tour, his latest will appeal to fans and attract mainstream review coverage for better or for worse because of the rich possibilities of its premise. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2019. Gaiman is the king! Yes, I think we do, and that's dangerous." Clearly a modern classic and, though it is set in America, a work that plays with the idea of interweaving history, fantasy, and action in a way that is reminiscent of the the classics of the fantasy genre. Shadow will learn that the past does not die, that everyone, including his late wife, had secrets, and that the stakes are higher than anyone could have imagined. This seems to be the premise that Neil Gaiman has taken and run with in his, rather unique, style. Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the magic day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. Gai… One of the most talked-about books of the new millennium, American Gods is a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an American landscape at once eerily familiar and utterly alien. Neil Gaiman's American Gods tells the compelling story of an ex-convict caught up in a cosmic battle for the soul of America. --Salon.com There's a nice plot twist in the end, and the fascinating subject matter and impressive mythic scope are handled creatively and expertly. Mere mortal readers will enjoy the tale's wit, but puzzle over its strained mythopoeia. EMPIRE! For Gaiman, the same questions, desires, and superstitions that led humans to create Odin and the other Old Gods are still embedded in the human psyche, causing contemporary people to worship material things and cultural phenomena in the same way the ancients worshipped their gods. With Ricky Whittle, Emily Browning, Yetide Badaki, Bruce Langley. At a loss, he takes up with a mysterious character called Wednesday, who is much more than he appears. Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2017. Weather forces his flight down in St. Louis, and he winds up on a short hop seated next to a mysterious Mr. Wednesday, who informs him that his once and, he had hoped, future boss is also dead. Having read some of the glowing reviews and comparisons to Stephen King, I was more than eager to hand over my fiver and download the Kindle edition of this. . Neil Gaiman sees him as The Rock. American Gods is Neil Gaiman's best and most ambitious novel yet, a scary, strange, and hallucinogenic road-trip story wrapped around a deep examination of the American spirit. ”. First published in 2001, American Gods became an instant classic, lauded for its brilliant synthesis of “mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose” (Washington Post) and as a modern phantasmagoria that “distills the essence of America” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). He is flung into the midst of a supernatural fray of gods such as Odin, Anansi, Loki One-Eye, Thor, and a multitude of other ancient divinities as they struggle for survival in an America beset by trends, fads, and constant upheaval an environment not good for gods. After a long hiatus from reading novels, I picked this one up on the basis of others' reviews. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life. In fact, Wednesday is an old god, once known as Odin the All-father, who is roaming America rounding up his forgotten fellows in preparation for an epic battle against the upstart deities of the Internet, credit cards, television, and all that is wired. a real emotional richness and grandeur that emerge from masterful storytelling." There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. American Gods (American Gods #1), Neil Gaiman American Gods (2001) is a fantasy novel by British author Neil Gaiman. Click now for great fantasy! Neil Gaiman is aiming to quietly go about his business while writing an American Gods book sequel. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. This is the 10th anniversary edition that I'm reviewing, which means that there should be 10 years worth of reviews already, and anyone who is a Neil Gaiman fan will have already read it. Previous page of related Sponsored Products. Quantity. If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. But days before his scheduled release, he learns that his wife has been killed in an accident, and his world becomes a colder place. A beautiful book and a world and vision that I hope Gaiman continues to explore for years to come. A modern masterpiece from the multiple-award-winning master of innovative fiction Neil Gaiman. . American Gods imagines a US where ancient gods exist at "right angles to reality", asking why we have mythologies and why we need them. Criminals are using magic and the police are no match. Life as Wednesday’s bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined—it is a job that takes him on a dark and strange road trip and introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. American Gods is like a fast run downhill through a maze -- both exhilarating and twisted. The old gods are trying to live peaceably enough in retirement, which is the predicament Wednesday (i.e., Wotan, or Odin) must overcome to rally them. Highly recommended for all libraries. Tell us About American Gods . With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. . . A recently released ex-convict named Shadow meets a mysterious man who calls himself "Wednesday" and who knows more than he first seems to about Shadow's life and past. Product Information. Because of so many rave reviews I completed the novel and the question that I had in my mind 'what's the point?' Truly Epic Urban Fantasy. has been added to your Cart. American Gods is an American fantasy drama television series based on Neil Gaiman's 2001 novel of the same name and developed by Bryan Fuller and Michael Green for the premium cable network Starz. The Throne and the plutocrat conspiracy face off in a nuclear showdown. Released from prison, Shadow finds his world turned upside down. . For instance, Shadow's dead wife Laura keeps showing up, and not just as a ghost--the difficulty of their continuing relationship is by turns grim and darkly funny, just like the rest of the book. The novel has some interesting chapters scattered in between the main story but I got disappointed that they turned out to be independent stories with no connection to the main story. A self-styled grifter and rogue, Wednesday offers Shadow a job. It's arguably Gaiman's best work, managi The New Gods, also called "modern gods" or the "gods of progress", are the gods that currently dominate America and modern society, born due to the fall of the Old Gods . But working for the enigmatic Wednesday is not without its price, and Shadow soon learns that his role in Wednesday's schemes will be far more dangerous than he ever could have imagined. Now discover the mystery and majesty of American Gods in this beautiful reissue of the Author's Preferred Text edition. Double Subverted by the case of Jacquel and Ibis, two ancient Egyptians who used to be able to pass for either white or black...until the Civil War, whereafter they were always seen as black (they themselves don't see themselves as … TL;DR - This book is cleverly crafted, brilliantly written and endlessly entertaining. Shadow is released from prison the day after his wife and best friend are killed together in a car accident. That sweet little old lady in the local library that smells vaguely of cat is she just an old lady or something rather more dangerous? Find all the books, read about the author, and more. . Feared By Hell: An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure (The Unbelievable Mr. Brownstone ... To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Of course, fantasy readers already know that before it was a show packed to the gills with an impeccable cast, it was an elegant, creepy, haunting, wonderful novel by Neil Gaiman. Since it was first published, American Gods became an instant classic. Gaiman has created a character who, by all appearances, seems to be an average, somewhat uninteresting guy. But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow’s best friend are killed in an accident. Fantastic Creatures of the Mountains and Seas: A Chinese Classic. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. American Gods (Image: STARZ) But for the past ten months, things were relatively quiet publically on the matter- until this week. One of the most talked-about books of the new millennium, American Gods is a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an American … Strange, surrealistic and nauseating at times. "Mystery, satire, sex, horror, poetic prose -- American Gods uses all these to keep the reader turning the pages." Shadow's road story is the heart of the novel, and it's here that Gaiman offers up the details that make this such a cinematic book--the distinctly American foods and diversions, the bizarre roadside attractions, the decrepit gods reduced to shell games and prostitution. Titans clash, but with more fuss than fury in this fantasy demi-epic from the author of Neverwhere. Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2018. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition: A Novel. In it, Gaiman introduces a world where the dead past is all too alive, where gods struggle to keep a toehold on existence, and where reality's backstage is only a carousel ride away. I read American Gods when it first came out and was amazed by what Neil Gaiman had done. American Gods follows a man named Shadow Moon who, at the beginning of the tale, is a convict in prison. It starts off with an exciting premise: the idea of gods being disgruntled at the fact they’ve been forgotten in the modern, materialist America. American Gods "Here we have . As much as I enjoyed this book, I could go on and on about the characters and the grand way this road trip of a story draws the reader along as a sort of, well, Shadow. The novel is a blend of Americana, fantasy, and various strands of ancient and modern mythology, all centering on the mysterious and taciturn Shadow. . --Peter Straub Learn more about the program. Signed by Author(s). Created by Bryan Fuller, Michael Green. --St. Louis Post-Dispatch Gaiman does a lovely job of making Shadow's realization happen just before the reader can start to see and understand it, and that is what delighted me most about this rather odd story. I didn’t care much for his character and that’s always a bad sign. EW lead:. Neil Gaiman References Humor Characters: Shadow Moon is the main protagonist of American Gods. . It was everything that I could have asked for in a fantasy novel: a diverse set of compelling characters, a sense of mystery and doom, emotional connection, a sense of history intertwining with the present. The final conflict! Magnificently told, this work of literary magic will haunt the reader far beyond the final page. Interesting at the beginning but within first fifty pages I got lost, didn't know which direction the story was going. On the plane ride home to the funeral, Shadow meets a grizzled man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. An Interview with Ian McShane. American Gods by Neil Gaiman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. Some of the description of the so called gods, their clothing, their looks and the dietary habits was nauseating. Shadow has many roles. Released from prison, Shadow finds his world turned upside down. Neil Gaiman is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR and Professor in the Arts at Bard College. The antihero, a man of unusually acute intellect through whose eyes we witness the behind-the-scenes dynamics of human religion and faith, is a convict called Shadow. --Minneapolis Star Tribune All he wanted was to get back to the loving arms of his wife and to stay out of trouble for the rest of his life. . (Prices may vary for AK and HI.). Please try again. Charles H. Eglee serves as showrunner for the third season. And after Shadow meets some of Wednesday's equally creepy friends, becomes an accomplice to a clever bank robbery, and gets coldcocked and kidnapped by black-clad heavies, he acquires a certain job loyalty, if only to find out what he has signed on for--an upcoming battle between the old gods of America's many immigrants' original cultures and the new gods of global, homogenizing consumerism. 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