Flights of Fantasy discussion

Hello :)
Gaiman is the author which turned me into a fantasy fanatic! The first book I read by him was Ocean at the end of the lane which was soon followed by American Gods which still stands as my #1 fave book!
I have also read the Graveyard Book and will soon be starting Anansi Boys!

Let's talk Gaiman! What are your favourite books by him & why? :)

He is a "New to Me" author on my TBR list. I started American Gods early last year, I think, but didn't get very far. I plan to try it again at some point. My mother-in-law loves his work!

I am hopelessly devoted to Neil Gaiman. I have read majority of his novels and a handful of graphic novels. My first of him read was Harlequin Valentine (the graphic novel version), and I've been hooked ever since. I haven't read anything he wrote that I didn't like yet--I highly doubt I ever would. I am currently in the stage of collecting all of his work for my shrine... err... did I say shrine? I meant library. ;)

Lauren, American Gods is one of my all-time favorite novels too. :)

I first read Gaiman back when Good Omens and Neverwhere came out in paperback. I read them both, I just don't remember which order. I had heard about him because I was reading comics when Sandman was being released, and kept hearing great things about it.

A few years later, I finally tried Sandman myself, and was blown away. I read the entire 10 volume series after collecting them all on ebay.

Since then I've read most of his novels and collections, at least the widely released adult and young adult books. I've even read a couple of the children's books, and they're great too.

Stardust is one that I've strangely never gotten to. I've had a paperback since it first came out and I can't even say why I've never read it. It's on my shortlist though.

My favorites are American Gods & Neverwhere, both of which I've read twice. Also the Sandman series.

Another graphic novel I especially liked was Black Orchid

Neverwhere was the book that really got me into Neil Gaiman, although Stardust might be my favourite. I still need to read the Sandman series and The Graveyard Book though.

I wasn't really blown away by American Gods although, on paper, it should have been exactly the kind of book I should love. Probably why I haven't read Anansi Boys yet as I get the impression that it's quite similar.

Anansi Boys is really quite different. It's set in the same world and shares a major character, but the tone is completely different. It's more humorous.

Chris wrote: "Anansi Boys is really quite different. It's set in the same world and shares a major character, but the tone is completely different. It's more humorous."

^ What he said. Was actually going to say it too but he beat me to it. :D

Damn, Nicki. You're making me want to re-read Sandman.

Agreed on Death and "The Sound of her Wings".

I will have to start Sandman some time. I've read many other titles and liked them all. Hats off to his younger stuff as well. Fortunately, the Milk is great and my four year old loves it. Especially when you read in character. Just so much fun.

I got Absolute Sandman, Vol. 3 for Xmas. I got Vol. 2 last year, but haven't read it. I'm debating about whether I should wait to get all 5, or just read them as I go.

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I think Sandman was the first thing I read of Gaiman's, and I became an instant fan. (I think I actually started with Dream Hunters, as a sort of test run.)

My next was American Gods, which I loved. Like Nicki, I was already pretty familiar with the mythology, and I do think that that helps. As a Neopagan, I actually agree with some of the premise, which made it extra cool reading for me, personally.

Since then I've had some ups and downs. I love Neverwhere, and that's usually what I recommend to people to read first - it's more approachable than American Gods, and all in one book as opposed to the 13 or however many Sandman volumes there are.

I was actually a bit meh on Stardust, and it's one where I actually like the movie better. I do want to reread it, though, and see if maybe my expectations were just off for it.

But one of the things I love about Gaiman is precisely the fact that he is an experimental writer. Even if I don't like some of his works, I know I'll be blown away by others.

The latest was 'Ocean at the End of the Lane'. I know some people found it too simple a story, and too young, but I feel like the subtext is so deep and profound and touching... *le sigh*

Recently I was underwhelmed with Hansel & Gretel, though... but I'm really looking forward to the sequel to 'Odd and the Frost Giants'.

I am rather new to Gaiman as well.

I started with Neverwhere back in Oct 2013. Since then, I have gone on to read:
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
The Graveyard Book
Anansi Boys

I am also mid-way through The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes.

I have loved them all. My SO, however, started with American Gods and said he was not overly impressed. Not that I take that as an indicator, he does not have my same appreciation for British humor.

he's hit and miss with me. Like Neverwhere and Stardust, but not American Gods or Anansi Boys

LOVE Gaiman. And I think it's amazing, Nicki, that you converted your mother with Stardust!

I started on the SANDMAN series (The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes) and really fell in love with his style and imagination. Took me a few years (I was a really lazy reader for a bit, and then got back into it) and then jumped straight into Coraline and American Gods. Since then I've read Neverwhere and Stardust.

I think I'm just constantly blown away by the wry humour, the magical situations, and the very unique way he has of approaching mythology and fairytales. Also, I recently discovered that he's written poetry as well. I stumbled across some of his fairytale poetry here: http://www.endicott-studio.com/poetry...

And yes, it's as good as you can imagine.

*UPDATE*

I went to see Neil Gaiman's The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains show last night.

All I can say is... WOW. I did not think there could be more to love, but there was.

We were super lucky as well, we got the book illustrator and Amanda Palmer as special guests. Fan-freaking-tastic. Neil also read out a number of short stories yet to be published - keep an eye out, is all I can say! Tears and laughter in equal measure are coming our way.

I might try some of his other books since so many people seem to like him. I have only read American Gods and man I just did not get in to it at all. Felt like a chore to finish which is really rare for me since I am not picky at all. I think the biggest criticism was Shadow was so dang boring and unemotional made it hard for me to care what happened.

Only redeeming thing in the book for me was the parts about Rock City my Aunt who has passed away lived in Chattanooga and we visited this when I was a kid.

Hi Matt, was having this discussion with another fan the other night, and we both agreed American Gods probably isn't the right place to start with Gaiman. I'll be honest, I found it difficult too, although I still enjoyed it at the end. But not as much as some of his other work.

I'd probably recommend giving his Sandman series or his short story collections a try and seeing if he's your thing, and then moving on from there.

Thanks for the recommendation Lee!

Gaiman is one of my very few must-buy-on-release no-questions-asked authors. I've been lucky enough to get a few of his signed copies when they go up, and I could never imagine parting with them! They keep a very prized place on my shelf.

My favorite is and always will be "Neverwhere." For those new to Gaiman, I feel it's a great start that really encompasses a lot of what he's known for. It's not super heavy like "American Gods," but it still has that darker edge about it.

I also love "Good Omens," his collab with Pratchett. One of the more underrated pieces in his bibliography, I think.

Really, you can't go wrong with him. Some critics say he's mostly a pop-writer, and I suppose that's true, but he's very good at what he does. I've never NOT been entertained by his offerings.

I love how critics like to throw around popular as if it's a bad thing. Stephen King gets the same crap. Just because your stuff is popular doesn't make it tripe. That elitist view point is so irritating.

There's a reason they're popular...uh yeah...their books are good.

I haven't read enough Gaiman though I have enjoyed everything I have read. There are just too many great books out there! Am I right?!

Felina wrote: "There's a reason they're popular...uh yeah...their books are good "


Except there's also tons of stuff which is popular which is terrible. Not naming any names... *cough*FiftyShades*cough*

That is true. I cannot argue with that.

But absolutes make me angry. So to say anything popular is not well written or anything well written is not popular is just so short sighted.

But Fifty Shades is absolutely terrible always.

See what I did there. Tee hee!

This is true in other arenas as well. Think about the most popular music of any era. Occasionally (but certainly not always) the most popular music is also the best music. For example, one might argue the Beatles were making the best music in the mid to late '60s. I would also argue that REM and U2 were making some of the best music of the '80s when they were super popular.

Every now and then even the unwashed masses aren't wrong. :P

Mozart was a popular composer. Shakespeare was a popular writer.

I haven't read any of his work yet but I cannot wait to start. What book do you recommend starting with?

I have only read 2 of his books so far and one of them is Neverworld. I really liked it. Patrick Rothfuss says it's the best fantasy book for people new to fantasy. So it's probably a good one to start with.

Whoops meant Neverwhere :)

It depends on what you like. If you like younger Fairytale/Folklore I might start with Stardust if you like more fantasy then Neverwhere. If you like slightly spooky odd than Coraline is a nice one too. My personal favorites are The Graveyard Book and The Ocean at the End of the Lane and then American Gods, but I really liked the deep mythology holes he went down into every now and then.

And then if you just like totally humorous fantasy then it is definitely got to be Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, but then that is not entirely Neil Gaiman and it reads more Terry Pratchett to me.

I wouldn't start with American Gods or Anansi Boys. Just my personal opinion.

I think I started with Anansi Boys. Not my favorite. Then I did American Gods which blew my face off. I also really enjoyed Stardust though I cannot handle the main characters name being Tristran instead of Tristan. My brain can't process it so I stumbled over every time his name was used in the book. :) I read the book before I saw the movie even and for the first little while I didn't notice the extra r so when I did finally notice it, it blew my mind.

I started with Sandman followed by American Gods both of which I loved what would you might be a little unaccessible to some people.

Stardust was not my favorite so it's not one I tend to recommend people. I actually prefer the movie in that case, shockingly enough, but I do want to read the book again.

Neverwhere, Ocean at the End of the Lane, and Odd and the Frost Giants are probably my favorites. Graveyard Book is also a good one because it's like multiple stories in one.

I haven't read Fortunately, the Milk yet, though I do have a copy on hand.

I started with Good Omens, which I had picked up on a whim somewhere. I had never read either Gaiman or Pratchett before, so I'm sure that I didn't get all of the references to their other work, but I really enjoyed it anyway, and it was quite funny.

After that, I read American Gods and absolutely loved it.

I liked Neverwhere and Coraline, but I didn't love them. I'm not really a big Stardust fan, and I didn't really enjoy Ocean at the End of the Lane, but I loved The Graveyard Book and Fragile Things. Really enjoyed Anansi Boys.

I still have a few of his shorter books to read, like Odd and the Frost Giants, and Snow, Glass, Apples. And Sandman, of course. I've only ever read the very first volume, so I've got a lot to catch up on. I own quite a lot of them though, in omnibuses, so they're here when I feel like doing it.