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American Gods #1.2
Black Dog
A special illustrated edition of Black Dog by bestselling storytelling legend, Neil Gaiman. This American Gods world novella will thrill Games of Thrones devotees and Terry Pratchett fans alike. Illustrations by celebrated artist Daniel Egnéus.
'It followed me home,' he said, conversationally.
In a rural northern village, legend tells of a ghostly black dog that appears from the darkness before you die.
Shadow Moon has been on the road a while now but he can't walk any further tonight, not with the rain lashing down. Gratefully, he heads home with a nice English couple, who offer a box room, hot whisky and local tales.
But when the man collapses en route, Shadow realises that something about this place has been left untold.
Something ancient, something within the very walls of the village.
Something shadowing them all.
'It followed me home,' he said, conversationally.
In a rural northern village, legend tells of a ghostly black dog that appears from the darkness before you die.
Shadow Moon has been on the road a while now but he can't walk any further tonight, not with the rain lashing down. Gratefully, he heads home with a nice English couple, who offer a box room, hot whisky and local tales.
But when the man collapses en route, Shadow realises that something about this place has been left untold.
Something ancient, something within the very walls of the village.
Something shadowing them all.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2016
49 people are currently reading
6829 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
October 7, 2016
This story features one of the characters from ‘American Gods,’ but it works perfectly well as a stand-alone – and actually, I liked it better than the novel.
Shadow Moon is an American travelling through rural Britain. We know he’s suffering after the death of his wife, but other than that small tidbit of information, he’s laconic and keeps details about himself close to his chest.
He’s planning on just passing through one seemingly unremarkable small town, when a medical emergency keeps him in the home of the couple who run the local pub. Soon, he’s drawn into an ominous tangle of depression, old secrets and ancient magic.
Shadow Moon is an American travelling through rural Britain. We know he’s suffering after the death of his wife, but other than that small tidbit of information, he’s laconic and keeps details about himself close to his chest.
He’s planning on just passing through one seemingly unremarkable small town, when a medical emergency keeps him in the home of the couple who run the local pub. Soon, he’s drawn into an ominous tangle of depression, old secrets and ancient magic.
January 12, 2019
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve read American Gods, so it was nice to catch up with Shadow Moon in this short novella.
Set in rural England as Shadow passes through on he’s journey is an enjoyable atmosphere spooky story.
Visiting a local pub where he learns of the local legend that tells of a ghostly black dog that appears from the darkness before you die.
It’s a gripping tale that can easily be read in one sitting.
Set in rural England as Shadow passes through on he’s journey is an enjoyable atmosphere spooky story.
Visiting a local pub where he learns of the local legend that tells of a ghostly black dog that appears from the darkness before you die.
It’s a gripping tale that can easily be read in one sitting.
March 9, 2018
This is one of the best of the group of stories in this collections. I was engrossed by this tale. You knew something was up on that hill, but what was really going on? This is my kind of short story. There is mystery and occult and spine tingling chills.
I also love that the Shakespeare quote 'there are more things in heaven and Earth Horatio' in this. I think this is my favorite story from this collection.
I also love that the Shakespeare quote 'there are more things in heaven and Earth Horatio' in this. I think this is my favorite story from this collection.
June 26, 2018
Neil Gaiman really knows how to tell a tale.
We follow the story of Shadow Moon, a character I hold close to my heart, as he travels through England. As usual, with a subtle shift of behaviour, a little confusion, a mystery, and in this case, a black dog that follows you home, history in the little village is unearthed.
It's amazing to me that we started in a pub, only to end on a hill, with Shadow taking all these changes in stride. The subtle relationship between Moira and Oliver, as well as the brief discussion of depression, where it is what it is, really packed a punch.
"Have you ever had this? Been depressed?"
"Looking back on it, I guess I did. When my wife died," said Shadow. "Everything went flat. Nothing meant anything for a long time."
My love for Neil Gaiman and the subtlety of his writing continues. He knows how to create a world and keep you entertained and invested in it.
We follow the story of Shadow Moon, a character I hold close to my heart, as he travels through England. As usual, with a subtle shift of behaviour, a little confusion, a mystery, and in this case, a black dog that follows you home, history in the little village is unearthed.
It's amazing to me that we started in a pub, only to end on a hill, with Shadow taking all these changes in stride. The subtle relationship between Moira and Oliver, as well as the brief discussion of depression, where it is what it is, really packed a punch.
"Have you ever had this? Been depressed?"
"Looking back on it, I guess I did. When my wife died," said Shadow. "Everything went flat. Nothing meant anything for a long time."
My love for Neil Gaiman and the subtlety of his writing continues. He knows how to create a world and keep you entertained and invested in it.
July 16, 2017
'It's hard. Sometimes I think the black dog is a real thing. I lie in bed thinking about the painting of Fuseli's nightmare on a sleeper's chest. Like Anubis. Or do I mean Set? Big Black thing. What was Set anyways? Some kind of donkey?'
'I never ran into Set', said Shadow. 'He was before my time.'
Oliver laughed. 'Very dry. And they say you Americans don't do irony.'
[If you haven't read American Gods, maybe don't read this review, it's not by any means spoilery, but still... come back later I guess.]
American Gods is the story of the Old Gods, who arrived to America by the belief of thousands of immigrants throughout the years, battling for their existence and survival against the New Gods, the things that new generations revere the most nowadays.
The Monarch of The Glen is a semi sequel and it's quite different. It is set in the Scottish Highlands and it's dark, atmospheric and yes, there are mythological monsters, but the most terrifying element is the real, horrible people who are monsters themselves.
Black Dog is another sequel and this story is set 3 years after the events of AG and 1 year after TMOTG. Shadow is still wandering through the UK, this time around the story takes place in rural Britain, a little town in the middle of nowhere where Shadow meets a couple who will offer him his house and hospitality on a rainy night. There's a legend, the one of a black dog, a big ancient creature. The legend says that if you see this dog, an animal inspired by Odin's two wolves, you will be dead soon.
I love how both novellas are centered around British mythology, local myths, not about Gods, but creatures. I love how the real danger in both stories isn't an ancient power, but real, human people who do awful things. But when you think about it, they are people doing sacrifices, rituals, honoring ancient traditions. The same traditions that the Old Gods in AG needed and craved so much.
This novella, as well as the first one, are so heavy on the tone, the ambiance and the atmosphere that the rainy days, the cold, and rural myths create. Also, the illustrations by Daniel Egnéus are wonderfully dark and disturbing. This book is beautiful to read.
One of the things I love the most, it's that there's not only an old face reappearing in this book, but there are some passages that give you some insight into Shadow's life, feelings and experience in his time on American Gods. A lot of people complain, or at least wonder, about Shadow's actions and how he never questions anything and just go with the flow. We don't really have much emotionally description about what he's feeling when things are happening, but here we have some of them, and it is a bit heartbreaking to see how lost he still is in this moment in time. Those moments are still subtle, it is Shadow after all, but it is nice to have those little lines in here.
'Have you ever had this? Been depressed?'
'Looking back on it, I guess I did. When my wife died,' said Shadow. 'Everything went flat. Nothing meant anything for a long time.'
I really liked this story and I absolutely love how these two sequel novellas feel like little contained stories à la ''Coming to America'' chapters in American Gods. In fact, I love reading about Shadow's life in these little adventures.
That being said, I'M STILL WAITING FOR A PROPER SEQUEL.
'I never ran into Set', said Shadow. 'He was before my time.'
Oliver laughed. 'Very dry. And they say you Americans don't do irony.'
[If you haven't read American Gods, maybe don't read this review, it's not by any means spoilery, but still... come back later I guess.]
American Gods is the story of the Old Gods, who arrived to America by the belief of thousands of immigrants throughout the years, battling for their existence and survival against the New Gods, the things that new generations revere the most nowadays.
The Monarch of The Glen is a semi sequel and it's quite different. It is set in the Scottish Highlands and it's dark, atmospheric and yes, there are mythological monsters, but the most terrifying element is the real, horrible people who are monsters themselves.
Black Dog is another sequel and this story is set 3 years after the events of AG and 1 year after TMOTG. Shadow is still wandering through the UK, this time around the story takes place in rural Britain, a little town in the middle of nowhere where Shadow meets a couple who will offer him his house and hospitality on a rainy night. There's a legend, the one of a black dog, a big ancient creature. The legend says that if you see this dog, an animal inspired by Odin's two wolves, you will be dead soon.
I love how both novellas are centered around British mythology, local myths, not about Gods, but creatures. I love how the real danger in both stories isn't an ancient power, but real, human people who do awful things. But when you think about it, they are people doing sacrifices, rituals, honoring ancient traditions. The same traditions that the Old Gods in AG needed and craved so much.
This novella, as well as the first one, are so heavy on the tone, the ambiance and the atmosphere that the rainy days, the cold, and rural myths create. Also, the illustrations by Daniel Egnéus are wonderfully dark and disturbing. This book is beautiful to read.
One of the things I love the most, it's that there's not only an old face reappearing in this book, but there are some passages that give you some insight into Shadow's life, feelings and experience in his time on American Gods. A lot of people complain, or at least wonder, about Shadow's actions and how he never questions anything and just go with the flow. We don't really have much emotionally description about what he's feeling when things are happening, but here we have some of them, and it is a bit heartbreaking to see how lost he still is in this moment in time. Those moments are still subtle, it is Shadow after all, but it is nice to have those little lines in here.
'Have you ever had this? Been depressed?'
'Looking back on it, I guess I did. When my wife died,' said Shadow. 'Everything went flat. Nothing meant anything for a long time.'
I really liked this story and I absolutely love how these two sequel novellas feel like little contained stories à la ''Coming to America'' chapters in American Gods. In fact, I love reading about Shadow's life in these little adventures.
That being said, I'M STILL WAITING FOR A PROPER SEQUEL.
November 26, 2017
A short story with plenty of punch.
Beware the black dog following you home...
Beware the black dog following you home...
November 6, 2017
I had read some underwhelming reviews about this story that it made me go into it with a lot of reservations. I finished it in less than an hour - and yes, it's short - but really, I just couldn't put it down because I just needed to know how it ends.
It was a really good story that grips you from the beginning, with an eerie, ominous vibe to it, that you can just visualize it being adapted into some film sometime in the future. Or perhaps an episode on American Gods - the TV adaptation.
This is a story that revolves around Shadow Moon from American Gods, it takes place a while after the events in American Gods somewhere in the UK. While in a pub, he meets a married couple, who take him in when it begins to rain cats and dogs and allow him to spend a few nights with them until the weather clears. On the walk home, there is talk about a black dog who appears to people, follows them home and then they are shortly found dead after. The man collapses, and claims the dog followed him home. His wife asks Shadow to stay until her husband, who suffers from depression, is feeling better. Shadow feels there is a lot more to the place than is being told, and when he meets an attractive woman with short hair, this feeling intensifies.
I was completely taken back by the end, even though, it should have been obvious. I was still surprised when I finally connected the dots and the twist was revealed.
A great read, and there is absolutely no reason to have read American Gods for you to enjoy this one. It works incredibly well as a standalone.
It was a really good story that grips you from the beginning, with an eerie, ominous vibe to it, that you can just visualize it being adapted into some film sometime in the future. Or perhaps an episode on American Gods - the TV adaptation.
This is a story that revolves around Shadow Moon from American Gods, it takes place a while after the events in American Gods somewhere in the UK. While in a pub, he meets a married couple, who take him in when it begins to rain cats and dogs and allow him to spend a few nights with them until the weather clears. On the walk home, there is talk about a black dog who appears to people, follows them home and then they are shortly found dead after. The man collapses, and claims the dog followed him home. His wife asks Shadow to stay until her husband, who suffers from depression, is feeling better. Shadow feels there is a lot more to the place than is being told, and when he meets an attractive woman with short hair, this feeling intensifies.
I was completely taken back by the end, even though, it should have been obvious. I was still surprised when I finally connected the dots and the twist was revealed.
A great read, and there is absolutely no reason to have read American Gods for you to enjoy this one. It works incredibly well as a standalone.
Read
January 15, 2025This second
American Gods
novella takes place about three years after the novel’s epilogue, and a year after the happenings of the first novella,
The Monarch of the Glen
.
Shadow is still drifting through Britain, and ends up in a rural town, where he takes shelter from the rain in a local pub. He meets a nice couple that offers to put him up for the night—but then the man becomes ill after sighting and becoming convinced of having been followed home by a black dog which is said to forebode death, so Shadow sticks around to help the woman care for him.
I first read this story in Trigger Warning , and it was among my favorites in that collection. It still holds up, even with the novel very fresh in my mind. I find that, while having read American Gods most certainly doesn’t hurt, this story works perfectly well as a stand-alone (which I don’t think can be said of the previous novella), and captures the feeling of the novel amazingly well. This story boasts an originality that the preceding short story doesn’t, and is full of surprises and intriguing myths and folklore, as well as little details that come together in the end to provide a satisfying conclusion after a great twist. The abstract and faintly grotesque illustrations by Daniel Egnéus are, once again, wonderfully suited to the strangeness of the tale. In my eyes, this novella is superior to its predecessor in every way.
Shadow is still drifting through Britain, and ends up in a rural town, where he takes shelter from the rain in a local pub. He meets a nice couple that offers to put him up for the night—but then the man becomes ill after sighting and becoming convinced of having been followed home by a black dog which is said to forebode death, so Shadow sticks around to help the woman care for him.
I first read this story in Trigger Warning , and it was among my favorites in that collection. It still holds up, even with the novel very fresh in my mind. I find that, while having read American Gods most certainly doesn’t hurt, this story works perfectly well as a stand-alone (which I don’t think can be said of the previous novella), and captures the feeling of the novel amazingly well. This story boasts an originality that the preceding short story doesn’t, and is full of surprises and intriguing myths and folklore, as well as little details that come together in the end to provide a satisfying conclusion after a great twist. The abstract and faintly grotesque illustrations by Daniel Egnéus are, once again, wonderfully suited to the strangeness of the tale. In my eyes, this novella is superior to its predecessor in every way.
May 23, 2017
Black Dog is the second interlude novella about Shadow post-American Gods. He is still in Britain, this time wandering about a small English village where he meets a nice couple that agrees to put him up for a bit. What was supposed to be a night turns into longer when the husband becomes quite ill and his wife needs help caring for him. But since this is the world of American Gods, the Grim makes an appearance, as does a ghost, and something not very charitable is afoot in this seemingly quite, charming village. Shadow almost loses himself, but Bast reminds him that he's still important. For what? Who knows! I really really hope Gaiman writes a proper sequel soon!
I adored Black Dog. It is short, but captures the feel of this universe so well, and does some clever things with its supernatural elements. It gives you a glimpse into Shadow's life, and makes you crave more. Especially since you know he's heading back to Chicago next...
I adored Black Dog. It is short, but captures the feel of this universe so well, and does some clever things with its supernatural elements. It gives you a glimpse into Shadow's life, and makes you crave more. Especially since you know he's heading back to Chicago next...
Read
February 7, 2017I got this book in December, but didn't have time to read it, even though it's really short.
It was really interesting, and I think I prefer this to The Monarch of Glenn, another AG short story. I loved the twist.
EDIT: I forgot to add that Daniel Egneus's drawings are AMAZING and contribute greatly to the mysterious atmosphere of the story.
It was really interesting, and I think I prefer this to The Monarch of Glenn, another AG short story. I loved the twist.
EDIT: I forgot to add that Daniel Egneus's drawings are AMAZING and contribute greatly to the mysterious atmosphere of the story.
September 24, 2022
atmosferična i mračna novela koja više plijeni pozornost ozračjem i vibrom, nego nekim markantnim literarnim stilom. radije bih ju vidjela u formi stripa jer je vizualno jaka. preporuka kao štivo koje se pročita u jednom sjedenju (1-2 sata), za one koji vole misterij, trun jeze i mrc bizarnoga.
September 3, 2021
با اینکه خیلی متفاوت از اتمسفر امریکن گادز بود، پلات پررنگتر و حس و حال کارآگاهی/مردر میستری داشت، من خیلی باهاش حال کردم.
January 16, 2018
I didn't realise until finishing Black Dog that this was in fact a spin off of American Gods by Neil Gaimen, which I have yet to read. However, I think it worked perfectly well as a standalone short story. I have always admired the way Gaimen creates such a chilling atmosphere out of fairly plain language, and this novella was no exception, enhanced by Daniel Egneus' gorgeous illustrations.
When a short story is able to pack a punch and grip the reader from start to finish, I'd consider it a success, and this was certainly the case for Black Dog. I read it in one sitting, unable to put it down, and am now even more excited to finally read American Gods.
When a short story is able to pack a punch and grip the reader from start to finish, I'd consider it a success, and this was certainly the case for Black Dog. I read it in one sitting, unable to put it down, and am now even more excited to finally read American Gods.
January 12, 2018
I honestly have no clue why this seems to collect praises.
Shadow is nothing like himself.
And the story is quite weak. Not enough fleshing out. Too incomplete, lacking... something.
Shadow is nothing like himself.
And the story is quite weak. Not enough fleshing out. Too incomplete, lacking... something.
January 12, 2019
I am slowly working my way through Neil Gaiman's works and I'd never heard of this one. Picking it up I didn't realise that it was a short story based on Shadow, the protagonist of American Gods which I haven't read yet, but I don't think you need to have read that novel to enjoy this short story. If anything, it's made me more interested in picking up American Gods.
Illustrated by Swedish illustrator Daniel Egneus, this book is an immersive read. The illustrations themselves are dark and twisted, similar to the style of another of Neil Gaiman's collaborators Dave McKean. The story itself was almost a retelling of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle which I loved.
I don't want to say any more about this really other than that I really enjoyed it and it has inspired me to pick up more by Gaiman this year.
Illustrated by Swedish illustrator Daniel Egneus, this book is an immersive read. The illustrations themselves are dark and twisted, similar to the style of another of Neil Gaiman's collaborators Dave McKean. The story itself was almost a retelling of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle which I loved.
I don't want to say any more about this really other than that I really enjoyed it and it has inspired me to pick up more by Gaiman this year.
July 14, 2018
This is a short story that has the character Shadow from American Gods. He is in a small town English pub where he meets a couple who invite Shadow to stay with them for several days. Shadow stumbles in to something more than he bargained for.
This can be read as a stand alone. This was a nice short story that fits into this world. I haven't read much by Neil Gaiman but I am so impressed by his prose. He does a magnificent job with the setting. I had no problem imagining the quaint little English town with nods to a Sherlock Holmes atmosphere but in modern times. As for the story, I didn't think it added much to the overall story arc and one could skip this story with no problem. It is a nice little side adventure.
Neil Gaiman definitely has a gift with his prose. It is beautiful to read. The story itself was passable but not a must read.
This can be read as a stand alone. This was a nice short story that fits into this world. I haven't read much by Neil Gaiman but I am so impressed by his prose. He does a magnificent job with the setting. I had no problem imagining the quaint little English town with nods to a Sherlock Holmes atmosphere but in modern times. As for the story, I didn't think it added much to the overall story arc and one could skip this story with no problem. It is a nice little side adventure.
Neil Gaiman definitely has a gift with his prose. It is beautiful to read. The story itself was passable but not a must read.
November 24, 2019
“It’s daylight, said Shadow to the dog, with his mind, not with his voice. Run away. Whatever you are, run away. Run back to your gibbet, run back to your grave, little wish hound. All you can do is depress us, fill the world with shadows and illusions.”
Black Dog by Neil Gaiman is one of his American Gods stories. We have Shadow Moon who is travelling around Britain. He comes to a point where he cant go any further and seeks shelter with a nice english couple. During his stay he realises there is something dark looming around in this village, something ancient and ominous.
I really enjoyed this story firstly because it gave me an American Gods fix and secondly its a dark and mysterious story which was told incredibly well. I like that you get to see how Shadow is doing and also what encounters he is having outside of America.
This can be read as a stand alone. It comes across as a chilling tale told in a darkly poetic way that is Gaiman’s signature. This edition has beautiful illustrations that go along with the story perfectly.
A great wee read I know i’ll pick up again.
Black Dog by Neil Gaiman is one of his American Gods stories. We have Shadow Moon who is travelling around Britain. He comes to a point where he cant go any further and seeks shelter with a nice english couple. During his stay he realises there is something dark looming around in this village, something ancient and ominous.
I really enjoyed this story firstly because it gave me an American Gods fix and secondly its a dark and mysterious story which was told incredibly well. I like that you get to see how Shadow is doing and also what encounters he is having outside of America.
This can be read as a stand alone. It comes across as a chilling tale told in a darkly poetic way that is Gaiman’s signature. This edition has beautiful illustrations that go along with the story perfectly.
A great wee read I know i’ll pick up again.
January 13, 2021
You guys cant understand how I love to read the things from Gaiman. Especially 'American Gods'.
I've readed it back in 2015 and the characters are yet alive in my head.
Shadow Moon and unnamed boy of 'The ocean of the end of line' are the marvelous characters of Gaiman and a small novella about Shadow was a glad to me.
There are a few things that inspirate me to do something worthy and Neil Gaiman is always on the mane role!
I've readed it back in 2015 and the characters are yet alive in my head.
Shadow Moon and unnamed boy of 'The ocean of the end of line' are the marvelous characters of Gaiman and a small novella about Shadow was a glad to me.
There are a few things that inspirate me to do something worthy and Neil Gaiman is always on the mane role!
September 22, 2018
Oscuro. Muy bueno. Me recordó a algunos cuentos de Poe, probablemente haya sido intencional.
Casi diría que se puede leer sin conocer la saga, salvo por un par de detalles y un spoiler de American Gods.
Shadow cada vez me gusta más, espero que pronto haya una historia más larga donde aclare todos los misterios que se generaron en este relato y el anterior.
Casi diría que se puede leer sin conocer la saga, salvo por un par de detalles y un spoiler de American Gods.
Shadow cada vez me gusta más, espero que pronto haya una historia más larga donde aclare todos los misterios que se generaron en este relato y el anterior.
February 2, 2018
Lots of people seem to like this, but I'm a queer woman with a history depression and I'm so sick of seeing depression and mental illness used to explain or punish villains... almost as much as I'm sick of the bury your gays trope, and hot lesbian women tantalising straight men or apologising because they're not available for straight sex. Beautiful prose as always for Gaiman, but I just can't read things like this anymore.
November 9, 2020
Black Dog was a decent read, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to round my rating up. It’s another story set in the American Gods universe, and I enjoyed it more than the other American God short I’ve read, but it still didn’t wow me. I think this is because I wasn’t as crazy about American Gods as I had hoped to be, and I’m mostly indifferent to the characters and the world. I’m sure fans will enjoy it, though.
January 2, 2017
Going to name my next lurcher Needles... loved Gaiman's reading of the story, and the hardcover version is beautifully and evocatively illustrated, a book for giving to your favourite people.
February 16, 2024
Short and fast paced, littered with pieces of folklore and mythology as Gaiman does. A very entertaining short read.
October 10, 2018
Much better than the previous novella. Interesting, with an air of mystery, comprehensible even if you don't know much English lore, and dark. I love how the story unfolded little by little, how seemingly normal people seem and then, oh surprise... they are not normal at all. This has all the elements i tend to encounter with Gaiman, and I did enjoy it. And it's great to see that the events that happened in 'American Gods' are still there and nicely connected.
July 15, 2019
What a wonderful little melancholy short story. 3,5 stars!
April 23, 2023
Interesting take on depression and the black dog, intertwined with a spooky tale for this American Gods novella with Shadow of American Gods. Enjoyable ☺️
February 27, 2018
Diese kurze Geschichte über Shadow Moons Begegnung mit einer britischen Legende hat mir wirklich gut gefallen. Über Shadow selbst erfährt man nichts Neues nach American Gods, aber es ist eine spannende und poetische Episode, in der Gaiman einmal mehr Legenden mit der Wirklichkeit verwebt.
Die Zeichnungen unterstreichen die unheimliche Atmosphäre wunderbar.
Die Zeichnungen unterstreichen die unheimliche Atmosphäre wunderbar.
August 23, 2022
3.5/5
December 28, 2016
كل من يعرفني يعرف أنني أقسم بـأميركان غادز وكأنها الإنجيل، فلذلك ليس من الغريب أنني لا أزال أتتبع كل صغيرة وكبيرة حولها في انتظار صدور المسلسل.
قصة كلب أسود هي، مثل ملك الوادي، تتمة من نوع ما لألهة أمريكية. أي أنها ليست تتمة حرفية، بل تتبع شخصيتها الرئيسية "شادو مون" في مغامرة من نوع مختلف قليلاً، لكن دائماً في نفس عالم القصة المليء بالألهة والميثولوجيا والفولكلور. وعلى غرار ملك الوادي، تدور الأحداث بعيداً عن أمريكا، بريطانيا على وجه التحديد، فبعد أن لحقته المتاعب في اسكتلندا، نجد شادو في قرية صغيرة في انجلترا، والتي كان يخطط أن يمر عليها غير ملحوظ في طريقه إلى حيثما هو ذاهب، لكن أحداث غير متوقعة تجعله يبقى في تلك البلدة لبعض الوقت. وطبعاً، أشياء تحدث وشادو يتورط فيها على الرغم من أنفه.
رأيي في هذه القصة القصيرة هو تقريباً نفس رأيي في القصة السابقة، أي أنه رغم أنني أحب أسلوب غايمان والقصص التي يحكيها، إلا أن هذه الشبه-تتمة ليست مرضية بالكامل، لكنها شيء لا بأس بأن تقرأه في انتظار المسلسل، وهو ما أفعله.
وعلى ذكر المسلسل، يجب أن أعيد قراءة الرواية قبل أن يعلنوا عن موعد عودته، لكلا أجد نفسي في ورطة محاولاً تذكر من تكون كل شخصية من تلك الشخصيات.
قصة كلب أسود هي، مثل ملك الوادي، تتمة من نوع ما لألهة أمريكية. أي أنها ليست تتمة حرفية، بل تتبع شخصيتها الرئيسية "شادو مون" في مغامرة من نوع مختلف قليلاً، لكن دائماً في نفس عالم القصة المليء بالألهة والميثولوجيا والفولكلور. وعلى غرار ملك الوادي، تدور الأحداث بعيداً عن أمريكا، بريطانيا على وجه التحديد، فبعد أن لحقته المتاعب في اسكتلندا، نجد شادو في قرية صغيرة في انجلترا، والتي كان يخطط أن يمر عليها غير ملحوظ في طريقه إلى حيثما هو ذاهب، لكن أحداث غير متوقعة تجعله يبقى في تلك البلدة لبعض الوقت. وطبعاً، أشياء تحدث وشادو يتورط فيها على الرغم من أنفه.
رأيي في هذه القصة القصيرة هو تقريباً نفس رأيي في القصة السابقة، أي أنه رغم أنني أحب أسلوب غايمان والقصص التي يحكيها، إلا أن هذه الشبه-تتمة ليست مرضية بالكامل، لكنها شيء لا بأس بأن تقرأه في انتظار المسلسل، وهو ما أفعله.
وعلى ذكر المسلسل، يجب أن أعيد قراءة الرواية قبل أن يعلنوا عن موعد عودته، لكلا أجد نفسي في ورطة محاولاً تذكر من تكون كل شخصية من تلك الشخصيات.
May 30, 2017
Vou fazer uma resenha dois em um: sobre Black Dog e The Monarch of the Glen (sim, sou preguiçosa). Vamos lá? Vamos.
Então, depois de ler American Gods fiquei esfomeada por mais histórias dessa série, então fui logo comprar as duas novelas (comprei logo todos os livros, mas ainda estou esperando "Anansi Boys" chegar). Ao descobrir que esses dois livros estavam por 99p no kindle quase choro de alegria (as versões impressas são SUPER CARAS!). Mas ao terminar as leituras a alegria já não era assim taaaaao grande.
Enquanto American Gods tem um ar meio épico e trata de grandes temas, achei que essas duas novelas são só... ai, como explicar? Elas são tipo "As aventuras de Shadow". Sim, ele encontra deuses e entidades sobrenaturais, mas esses encontros (e os problemas que deles decorrem) não parecem ter um motivo maior; não significam nada fora uma narrativa curta da vida do personagem depois dos eventos do primeiro livro. Tudo bem, esses livros não são romances, são novelas; e até que há um sentidozinho oculto aqui e acolá. Mas, no fim das contas, parece que elas foram criadas mesmo só pra satisfazer a curiosidade dos fãs do primeiro livro. Se fosse outro autor eu diria até que essas histórias teriam nascido pra gerar mais grana, por causa do sucesso de American Gods. Mas duvido muito que Gaiman precise de dinheiro...
Então meu veredito final é: historinhas divertidas? Sim. Mas desnecessárias. Dedos cruzados pra "Anansi Boys" não ser também.
Então, depois de ler American Gods fiquei esfomeada por mais histórias dessa série, então fui logo comprar as duas novelas (comprei logo todos os livros, mas ainda estou esperando "Anansi Boys" chegar). Ao descobrir que esses dois livros estavam por 99p no kindle quase choro de alegria (as versões impressas são SUPER CARAS!). Mas ao terminar as leituras a alegria já não era assim taaaaao grande.
Enquanto American Gods tem um ar meio épico e trata de grandes temas, achei que essas duas novelas são só... ai, como explicar? Elas são tipo "As aventuras de Shadow". Sim, ele encontra deuses e entidades sobrenaturais, mas esses encontros (e os problemas que deles decorrem) não parecem ter um motivo maior; não significam nada fora uma narrativa curta da vida do personagem depois dos eventos do primeiro livro. Tudo bem, esses livros não são romances, são novelas; e até que há um sentidozinho oculto aqui e acolá. Mas, no fim das contas, parece que elas foram criadas mesmo só pra satisfazer a curiosidade dos fãs do primeiro livro. Se fosse outro autor eu diria até que essas histórias teriam nascido pra gerar mais grana, por causa do sucesso de American Gods. Mas duvido muito que Gaiman precise de dinheiro...
Então meu veredito final é: historinhas divertidas? Sim. Mas desnecessárias. Dedos cruzados pra "Anansi Boys" não ser também.
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