The novel is a blend of americana, fantasy, and various strands of ancient and modern mythology, all centering on the mysterious and taciturn shadow. American gods tv tiein by neil gaiman, paperback barnes. I read the book several years ago and though i dont remember a great deal of detail, i do remember that i liked it but it was also one of those books where you. Enter the world of neil gaimans epic masterpiece with this unique coloring book featuring fortysix illustrations created exclusively for this volume. Through the travels of the main character, shadow moon, were introduced to a world that occupies the same space as ours, but has. He has handpicked characters from various worldwide myths and folklore and has also given them in his novel specific role, character and even jobs suited to them for eg ibis owns a funeral parlor and hinzelmann. Shadow moon is the main protagonist and central subject of american gods. Theres an interaction in neil gaimans 2001 novel american gods in which its hero, shadow moon, converses with the new god of media. It feels like a pretty close cousin of american gods in waysthe. American gods and anansi boys are standalone novels set in the same universe. Neil richard mackinnon gaiman born neil richard gaiman, 10 november 1960 is an english author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre, and films. Sep 19, 2005 american gods, the extraordinary, highly acclaimed epic novel from storytelling genius and international bestseller neil gaiman, was brought vividly to life this year in the hottest major tv show of 2017, and amazon prime video series starring ricky whittle, ian mcshane, emily browning and gillian anderson. Aug 19, 2011 w hat kind of novel is neil gaimans american gods.
Both of these had a similar somber or melancholy mood overall, somewhat similar to american gods. Books to read if you like american gods newinbooks. Yes, its pace is studied rather than frantic, its tone cool and thoughtful rather than histrionic, but the patient reader will be amply rewarded by gaimans carefully plotted and beautifully written tale of old world dieties struggling for survival and relevance in 21st century. For fans of the book of dust and mythos by stephen fry. American gods, a novel for adults, was published in 2001 and appeared on many bestof theyear lists, was a new york times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback, and won the hugo, nebula, sfx, bram stoker, and locus awards. It gained a positive critical response and won the hugo and nebula.
Predictably, nerds went bonkers over the news that starz is developing a tv adaptation of neil gaimans bestselling prose novel, american gods, to be helmed by hannibal creator bryan fuller and. My literary promiscuity being what it is, i have read and loved a lot of novels in many different genres. Jun 19, 2001 american gods by neil gaiman, by the authors own description, is a work that has inspired strong emotions and little in between readers have either liked it a lot, or loathed it entirely. Wednesday plot are several coming to america scenes, which explain how the gods of the old world got to american via the faith and. What are some books that are like neil gaimans american gods. Jun 21, 2017 american gods based on neil gaimans novel. The new gods represented in this novel are social media, technology, internet, plastic, drugs, credit cards and freeways. Books like american gods posted on 8th of july, 2019 by naomi bolton long before american gods became a successful television series on the starz cable network, it was a 2001 fantasy novel by neil gaiman. The only part of american gods that is disappointing is the fact that the book ends and you must eventually put it down. Neil conceived of the idea for american gods on a trip to iceland, then wrote the bulk of the novel while traveling around the united states specifically chicago, florida, las vegas, and other locations. If youre a fan of neil gaimans american gods or actionpacked fantasy in general. May 08, 2017 theres an interaction in neil gaimans 2001 novel american gods in which its hero, shadow moon, converses with the new god of media.
While you flip through the forthcoming american gods comic, you might as well pick up bacchus while youre there. American gods, the extraordinary, highly acclaimed epic novel from storytelling genius and international bestseller neil gaiman, was brought vividly to life this year in the hottest major tv show of 2017, and amazon prime video series starring ricky whittle, ian mcshane, emily browning and gillian anderson. Based on what ive seen of the upcoming american gods tv show, the main difference between the series and the awardwinning 2001 novel its based on will be one of tonal approach. The short stories the monarch of the glen and black dog are set after american gods, and feature the main character of that novel. It gained a positive critical response and won the hugo and. If you enjoyed books like the song of achilles and circe for their mythic elements and not so much for their adherence to established storylines, then neil gaimans american gods which was also turned into an amazon prime series in 2017 might be a good choice for you. Mystery, satire, sex, horror, poetic proseamerican gods uses all these to keep the. American gods summary from litcharts the creators of. The novel american gods is masterpiece work by neil gaiman, he has very beautifully assembled and crafted a storyline with intricate climax and simpler conclusion in the end.
Apr 24, 2017 so, lets take a look at the myths and stories that inspired neil gaimans novel. There are a ton of other science fiction books who have done the whole personified gods thing in better ways. In order to maintain their power in our everincreasingly unfamiliar world, the gods turn to strange and often disturbing pursuits. Shadow is released from prison the day after his wife and best friend are killed together in a car accident. If you would like to give some insight into any of the characters or mythology in this video, the american gods. He has won numerous awards, including the hugo, nebula, and bram stoker awards, as well as the. Not exactly a pantheon of gods, but you should like it if you liked american gods. Look, if you liked american gods, chances are youre going to dig neil gaimans other fantastical worlds. I read the book several years ago and though i dont remember a great deal of detail, i do remember that i liked it but it was also one of those books where you feel like its doing your head in, as well. His works include the comic book series the sandman and novels stardust, american gods, coraline, and the graveyard book. Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to american gods. Epic books you should read if you like american gods vice. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
American gods by neil gaiman american gods will take readers on a journey across america that is as dark and filled with pagan gods as supernatural itself. American gods follows a man named shadow moon who, at the beginning of the tale, is a convict in prison. The novel then switches to tell of the first northmen who came to america and brought the norse gods odin, tyr, and thor with them, planting these gods of death and deception on american soil. It also takes inspiration from the detective novels of dashiell hammet and raymond chandler in shadows noirlike character and the mystery of the town of lakeside. American gods is sexy, thrilling, dark, funny and poetic. As pablo neruda once said of another worldclass novel, not to read it is the same as never having tasted an orange. He is a seemingly ordinary man from the midwest, who is caught up in the war between the old gods and the new gods when mr. In the novel, interspersed among the main shadow and mr. Jun 24, 2017 the novel isnt quite a sequel to american gods, but it does share a few characters, and explores some similar territory, like gods walking the earth alongside their subjects. Spoiler interpretation of the novel american gods by.
Join to find the hottest teen books, connect with your favorite ya authors and meet new friends who share your reading interests. So, lets take a look at the myths and stories that inspired neil gaimans novel. Furthermore, even the gods that survive into contemporary culture have lost meaning. He is also the main character of the followup novella, the monarch of the glen and of the short story, black.
In large branches of waterstones there is a special room, segregated from the rest of contemporary fiction and labelled scifi, fantasy, horror. Both authors have a pretty different voice from gaiman but they are great in their own right. This supernatural american road trip fantasy tells the story of a war between the ancient and modern gods. Back with shadow, wednesday tells shadow to drive him to chicago, where. Why adapting neil gaimans american gods for tv is a bad idea. While they share a character, they can be enjoyed entirely independently of each other. The land of neil gaimans beloved, bestselling novel american gods. Jun 20, 2017 american gods frequently recreates scenes word for word from the novel in a concentrated effort from fuller and coshowrunner michael green to recreate the unique experience of reading the novel. American gods stands an original in a well worn genre, funny and innovative, ancient and modern.
Nov 12, 2014 neil gaimans book neverwhere is very similar to american gods. American gods is a modernday treatment of ancient myths, focused mainly on the gods coming from norse traditions. American gods study guide from litcharts the creators of. American gods frequently recreates scenes word for word from the novel in a concentrated effort from fuller and coshowrunner michael green to recreate the unique experience of reading the novel. Apr 27, 2017 after years of hints, teasers, and mysterious omens appearing in the night sky, neil gaimans american gods is finally hitting the small screen with a premiere on starz at the end of the month. If you loved reading american gods, heres 6 books plus tv to try. American gods is a novel, written by neil gaiman, about a surrealistic version of modern america that is secretly inhabited by the weakened and old spirits of. The degradation of their once noble personalities into perversions of what they were is captivating.
Why you should read the american gods novel before watching. How the american gods tv show is different from neil gaimans. May 01, 2017 in the novel, interspersed among the main shadow and mr. Neverwhere is about a fantasy universe that coinhabits physical space with our boring universe. American gods 2001 is a fantasy novel by english author neil gaiman. Beaches, like books, offer a dislocation from reality, and when taken together the effect is multiplied many times. American gods has recently just finished its first season on starz. American gods by neil gaiman, by the authors own description, is a work that has inspired strong emotions and little in between readers have either liked it a lot, or loathed it entirely. If you enjoy the weaving of the fantastical and the current day, youre sure to enjoy this list of books to read if you like american gods. The hugo, bram stoker, locus, world fantasy, and nebula awardwinning novel and new starz television series by neil gaiman is adapted as a graphic novel for the first time. The definitive english language translation of the internationally bestselling russian novel a brilliant dark.
Although both mediums are imageoriented and the source material is the same, adapting the novel to television versus comic books offers an entirely different set of circumstances and challenges, ones which should make both takes unique in their own right. If you enjoyed books like the song of achilles and circe for their mythic elements and not so much for their adherence to established storylines, then neil gaimans american gods which was also turned into an amazon prime series in 2017 might be a. American gods 2001 is a fantasy novel by british author neil gaiman. Jul 29, 2014 beaches, like books, offer a dislocation from reality, and when taken together the effect is multiplied many times. His first book good omens with terry pratchett is good. Neil gaiman is probably the king of mythic comic books forever, yes, but i tell you true, eddie campbell knows his way around that scene. In neil gaimans hugo and nebula awardwinning book, american gods, we are. After years of hints, teasers, and mysterious omens appearing in the night sky, neil gaimans american gods is finally hitting the small screen. This personification of communication has taken the form of. Long before american gods became a successful television series on the starz cable network, it was a 2001 fantasy novel by neil gaiman. So american gods is one of those rarities among novels.
Why you should read the american gods novel before. American gods is like a fast run downhill through a maze both exhilarating and twisted. As an american road trip novel that unearths the forgotten sides of america, american gods has some aspects in common with jack kerouacs on the road, though american gods has a far more optimistic and fantastical outlook. Bacchus obviously follows the goings on of the roman god of wine, theatre, revelry, and chaos. The first in a threevolume adaptation of neil gaimans modern. And while the rest of his books are well worth reading, anansi boys is the only one thats. Spoiler interpretation of the novel american gods by neil. If american gods has given you the itch for this type of fiction, here are seven novels that retell the stories of characters from myths and religions. In large branches of waterstones there is a special room, segregated from the rest of contemporary fiction and. Books like american gods posted on 8th of july, 2019 by naomi bolton with its unique blend of fantasy, mythology and americana, it quickly drew in readers and the novel walked away with both a hugo as well as nebula award in 2002. Where american gods separates itself is with the way it somehow appeals to a much wider audience than traditional scifi does. What to read after neil gaimans american gods book riot. One of the most talkedabout 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.
Gaiman has managed to tell the tallest of tales in the most heartrending and believable fashion, despite the storys truly mythic scale. However, among the beau coup books that i have loved long time there are a select few that hold a special, hallowed place in my pantheon of. The novel isnt quite a sequel to american gods, but it does share a few characters, and explores some similar territory, like gods walking the earth alongside their subjects. Wednesday plot are several coming to america scenes, which explain how the gods.
This is reminiscent of how gaiman treated the gods and other super. Starz american gods series, an adaptation of neil gaimans popular novel of the same name, made its longawaited smallscreen debut on sunday. Mar 14, 2017 the show, like the novel, isnt going to disappoint. But with a week between each stellar episode, fans. How the american gods tv show is different from neil. Goodreads members who liked american gods american gods. Yes, its pace is studied rather than frantic, its tone cool and thoughtful rather than histrionic, but the patient reader will be amply rewarded by gaimans carefully plotted and beautifully written tale of old world dieties struggling for survival and relevance in 21st century america. It wasnt his first, but american gods feels like his first proper novel. Oct 17, 2012 the best thing about american gods is the portrayal of ancient gods in the modern world. The definitive english language translation of the internationally bestselling russian novel a brilliant dark fantasy with the potential to be a modern classic. When he is informed of the death of his wife and friend by the warden of the prison, shadow seems numb, unable to process the information. Also like ag, they deal with the boundary between the mundane and the occult.
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