Gaiman, Neil

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Great Value for a masterpiece
classic
Brilliant
This is a masterpiece!
What you need to Know

The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 1
Neil Gaiman
Manufacturer: Vertigo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover Comic

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ASIN: 1401210821

Book Description

THE SANDMAN, written by New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman, was the most acclaimed comic book title of the 1990s. A rich blend of modern myth and dark fantasy in which contemporary fiction, historical drama and legend are seamlessly interwoven, THE SANDMAN is also widely considered one of the most original and artistically ambitious series of the modern age. By the time it concluded in 1996, it had made significant contributions to the artistic maturity of comic books and become a pop culture phenomenon in its own right.

Now, DC Comics is proud to present this comics classic in an all-new Absolute Edition format. The first of four beautifully designed slipcased volumes, THE ABSOLUTE SANDMAN VOL. 1 collects issues 1-20 of The Sandman and features completely new coloring, approved by the author, on the first 18 issues, as well as a host of never-before-seen extra material, including the complete original Sandman Proposal, a gallery of character designs from Gaiman and the artists who originated the look of the Sandman, and the original script to the World Fantasy Award-winning THE SANDMAN #19, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," together with reproductions of the issue's original pencils by Charles Vess. Also included are a new introduction by DC's president Paul Levitz and a new afterword by Gaiman.

Customer Reviews:

Great Value for a masterpiece.......2007-05-09

This is what The Sandman deserved, a great edition in many ways. The cover is superb and the protective case too. At first I thought it was an expensive item, but now that I have it in my hands, I can see everything has been designed with an exquisite taste.
If you have read the series, you'll enjoy having it in this format. And if you don't know anything about The Sandman, please don't waste your time and read it!

classic .......2007-05-08

Amazing what more can i say till you have seen it. If you buy it you will enjoy it.

Brilliant.......2007-04-02

An absolutely gorgeous treatment of a brilliant series. I can't wait for the future volumes to make their appearances. I'm disappointed that Amazon once sold this volume at a discount and has now decided to charge full fare for it. Look around and you'll be able to save some serious bucks.

This is a masterpiece!.......2007-02-15

I have been reading Neil Gaiman's works for more than a decade now, and have the original Sandman comics. However, they were suffering a bit of wear and tear, and so when I saw this set for sale, I had to purchase it! It comes in a beautiful leather like slipcase, and I was lucky as I bought it a discounted rate which was value for money given the amazing set that this is. It is quite hefty, but a beautiful work of art, and a collector's dream come true. Highly recommended!

What you need to Know.......2007-01-27

"Oversize. The first of four slipcased volumes. Collects issues 1-20 of the comic series, with completely new, author-approved coloring of issues 1-18 (issues 19 and 20 were fine already, says Neil). Art by Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg, Malcolm Jones III, Chris Bachalo, Michael Zulli, Steve Parkhouse, Kelley Jones, Charles Vess, and Colleen Doran. Includes a host of never before seen material, including the complete original Sandman proposal, a gallery of character designs from Gaiman and the artists who originated the look of the Sandman, and the original script for the World Fantasy Award-winning issue 19, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", together with reproductions of the issue's original pencils by Charles Vess. Plus a new introduction by Paul Levitz, and an afterword by Neil."

Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders

Average customer rating:

Watch an author evolve
Awesome
Gaiman at it again
The good outweighs the frustrating
A big disappointment

Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders
Neil Gaiman
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060515228
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Book Description

A mysterious circus terrifies an audience for one extraordinary performance before disappearing into the night, taking one of the spectators along with it . . .

In a novella set two years after the events of American Gods, Shadow pays a visit to an ancient Scottish mansion, and finds himself trapped in a game of murder and monsters . . .

In a Hugo Award-winning short story set in a strangely altered Victorian England, the great detective Sherlock Holmes must solve a most unsettling royal murder . . .

Two teenage boys crash a party and meet the girls of their dreams—and nightmares . . .

In a Locus Award-winning tale, the members of an excusive epicurean club lament that they've eaten everything that can be eaten, with the exception of a legendary, rare, and exceedingly dangerous Egyptian bird . . .

Such marvelous creations and more—including a short story set in the world of The Matrix, and others set in the worlds of gothic fiction and children's fiction—can be found in this extraordinary collection, which showcases Gaiman's storytelling brilliance as well as his terrifyingly entertaining dark sense of humor. By turns delightful, disturbing, and diverting, Fragile Things is a gift of literary enchantment from one of the most unique writers of our time.

Customer Reviews:

Watch an author evolve.......2007-05-23

Fragile Things is an absolute joy for Gaiman fans. We can see his improvement as an author since Smoke & Mirrors. We're also treated to a extension of American Gods.
Any book that opens with a fan fiction cross-over of Sherlock Holmes and Call of Cthulu earns four stars from me.

Awesome.......2007-05-15

Neil Gaiman is a giant pimp as usual. Fragile things is a good thing to buy.

Gaiman at it again.......2007-05-14

This book is a great cross-section of Gaiman prose/poetry. As usual, you get the great world behind the world themes that run through much of his work. How can I, a lowly reader, say enough good stuff about Neil? As long as he keeps writing it I'll keep reading it.

The good outweighs the frustrating.......2007-05-02

Gaiman writes beautifully and imaginatively. These stories are not like his fully-realized novels, however. Some of them drop you off into space, not sure exactly where you've been or what happened, or whether it's over yet. Most are edgy. (If you liked "St. Lucy's School for Girls Raised by Wolves," you will probably like these stories, too.) I will be eternally grateful to NG for including "The Problem of Susan" which addresses an aspect of the Narnia stories that has always annoyed me.

A big disappointment.......2007-04-28

Except for the two stories "Goliath" and "The Monarch of the Glen", a big disappointment. I'd expected better from the author of the excellent "Neverwhere", "Stardust", "American Gods" and "Sandman". Too many pointless or strange stories and literary experiments.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Average customer rating:

excellant read
Fantastic, brilliant fun
Close to "divinely" perfect
The Sky Is Falling
Wonderful!

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Neil Gaiman , and Terry Pratchett
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0060853980
Release Date: 2006-11-28

Amazon.com

Pratchett (of Discworld fame) and Gaiman (of Sandman fame) may seem an unlikely combination, but the topic (Armageddon) of this fast-paced novel is old hat to both. Pratchett's wackiness collaborates with Gaiman's morbid humor; the result is a humanist delight to be savored and reread again and again. You see, there was a bit of a mixup when the Antichrist was born, due in part to the machinations of Crowley, who did not so much fall as saunter downwards, and in part to the mysterious ways as manifested in the form of a part-time rare book dealer, an angel named Aziraphale. Like top agents everywhere, they've long had more in common with each other than the sides they represent, or the conflict they are nominally engaged in. The only person who knows how it will all end is Agnes Nutter, a witch whose prophecies all come true, if one can only manage to decipher them. The minor characters along the way (Famine makes an appearance as diet crazes, no-calorie food and anorexia epidemics) are as much fun as the story as a whole, which adds up to one of those rare books which is enormous fun to read the first time, and the second time, and the third time...

Book Description

According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.

So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .

Customer Reviews:

excellant read.......2007-06-21

Okay, go buy several copies of this book.

Get in your car, stop at local street intersections.

Motion to the driver next to you to roll down their window as if to ask directions.

Chuck a copy of "Good Omens" into their passenger seat before you speed away.

Repeat.

Fantastic, brilliant fun.......2007-06-13

To all the superior reviews already posted for this book, I can only add:

1. If you like Christopher Moore and Tom Robbins, you're going to LOVE this book.

2. I would dearly love to see this on the big screen--if directed and produced properly in the spirit of the book itself.

Wonderfully wicked fun!

Close to "divinely" perfect.......2007-06-09

Admittedly, I am a Terry Pratchett fanatic, and, at times, a lesser fan of Neil Gaimon. American Gods did nothing for me, but his young peoples' books and, of course, the Sandman, are classics. However, who knew that this odd couple of writers could produce the most amusing deconstruction of religion, the Apocalypse, and modern life and its slow death of the soul? They have melded their styles and their humor -- and their considerable eucations, into a seamless retelling of the end of the world, skewering by implication all the "rapture" loonies as well as anyone who has had to deal with telemarketers, 11 year olds, nosy neighbors, oblivious and ordinary folks, and conspiracy die-hards.There is no fan club presently for the two angels involved: there ought to be. I buy this book in quantity for gifts.

The Sky Is Falling.......2007-06-04

Laugh out loud fun and games in both heaven and hell. The battle of good and evil isn't all about the sword of truth and demon dances, there are moments of treaty and beneath that white flag both demon and angel peer bewilderdly into the fog and flummery of humanity.

Add to this the mistakes of the divine, the mix-up of the satanic, the baying hound of hell and you've got some Gaiman-y goodness and Pratchett-y prose you won't soon forget.

Wonderful!.......2007-05-15

This was absolutely amazing! I picked it up on the recommendation of a friend, and am so glad I did. This is the first book I've come across in years that I've actually sat down and read straight through in less than two days. I'll admit that some of the humour went a bit over my head, seeing as much of it was british, but that didn't keep me from enjoying it at all. A wonderful read!

The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes

Average customer rating:

Not the best of sandman but better than the rest
Start of a wonderful voyage
Sandman Gives sweet dreams
A Slow Start to Comics' Greatest Series...
The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes

The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes
Neil Gaiman
Manufacturer: Vertigo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House
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ASIN: 1563890119

Amazon.com

"Wake up, sir. We're here." It's a simple enough opening line--although not many would have guessed back in 1991 that this would lead to one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comics of the second half of the century.

In Preludes and Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman weaves the story of a man interested in capturing the physical manifestation of Death but who instead captures the King of Dreams. By Gaiman's own admission there's a lot in this first collection that is awkward and ungainly--which is not to say there are not frequent moments of greatness here. The chapter "24 Hours" is worth the price of the book alone; it stands as one of the most chilling examples of horror in comics. And let's not underestimate Gaiman's achievement of personifying Death as a perky, overly cheery, cute goth girl! All in all, I greatly prefer the roguish breaking of new ground in this book to the often dull precision of the concluding volumes of the Sandman series. --Jim Pascoe

Customer Reviews:

Not the best of sandman but better than the rest.......2007-05-27

This is not the best title in the sandman series (I am a fan of three and four) but when compared to other comics and TPB's it really stands out. The last chapter is must read for the series, introducing the character of death..buy this book!

Start of a wonderful voyage.......2007-05-21

Many of you out there, who have grown with comic-books, remember "good ol' days" of linear storytelling and straight-forward art, without much complications. All it mattered was, whether the hero will save the world (and almost always he would), and will he get the girl in the end (well, this one was a bit unpredictable). But then some day, we woke up, and found things changed. There were no conventional heroes anymore. Stories needed great ammount of knowledge that you had to acquire sometimes earlier. If ou didn't, you would find yourself forever lagging behind, whilst comic book universes moved with great spead to some distant and unkonwn future.

And this was good.

Finally, something happened, that pulled comics from pulp-fiction and five cents fun that lasted for one afternoon, destined to be never looked upon again. Or is it that we just grew up? I cannot tell for sure, and I doubt that any of you can. But, new form of art emerged and we had to deal with that.

Now, that being said, if you are new to world of comic books, Sandman series isn't the one you should begin with. It's complexity, strange perspectives and editing of slides tends to divert people that throw a casual glance on printed papers. When you see something that shows itself as total chaos, somehow you doub't the whole "artistic value".

To really enjoy Sandman, you'll have to be able to drown yourself into a world so utterly stragne but yet so close to this one in which our lives are lead. You'll have to use your head and imagination (and finally, the knowledge) to fill in the gaps in storytelling that are left unfilled on purpose. This can be tiresome to someone not used to (or used to much) to conventional storytelling in comic books. But, that trouble is worth it's gains.

So if you are still interested, you'll be entering the world of Dream, world of Morpheus which suffered destruction and needs rebuilding... And just when you get yourself hooked on story and characters, book will be finished (with the apperance of Death) and you'll find yourself wanting more...

And, as they said somewhere before - "resistance is futile"

Sandman Gives sweet dreams.......2007-03-29

Truly Neil Gaiman is the best story teller of our age! His characters are diverse and enigmatic with more history to them than you will ever read. Preludes and Nocturnes is the most amazing gateway into the world of sandman you could wish to have. Beautiful!

A Slow Start to Comics' Greatest Series..........2007-03-20

That doesn't mean that this is a bad book. It's good, but compared to the stories that Gaiman and company would come up with later on down the road, well, let's just say that it might suffer by comparison. I didn't start off the series with this. If you do, you might quit (but then again, you might not). I started off with the story collections first (Dream Country, Fables and Reflections and World's End), then I proceeded onto the longer storylines. If you are strictly into reading it in chronological fashion, that's your choice. The beauty of the entire series is that you don't HAVE to read them in order (excepting volumes 9 and 10, you have to finish the series with those). Beyond that, think of it as a giant playground for the reader to wander and enjoy.

Lastly, the final story, the stand alone, "The Sound of Her Wings," introduces us to Dream's unforgettable sister, Death. It's the story Gaiman himself said where he "found" his voice for the series and reading it, it's hard to disagree. It's the best story of this volume and fully worth the price of the book alone.

Still, not the ideal intro, but eventually it becomes essential part of the Sandman story arc.

The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes.......2007-01-23

Well, this wasn't the first "Sandman" volume I had read, although I should've (the first one I read was "Season of Mists" or volume 4). Of course it's important, since it establishes Dream as the protagonist and all that, but it's not my favorite.

Personally, the artwork is iffy and is not my thing (Dream looks oooold). The stories are entertaining and well thought out, but a bit too jumpy (this is because Gaiman was experimenting with styles at the time). The later volumes are much more cohesive and, I think, of better quality.

Still, any fan of the series needs the first volume, especially because in "The Sandman" the story comes full circle at the end, and skipping almost any part of it would leave you hanging.

And it's still a good read, regardless of art or style or whatever :)

Average customer rating:

Top-notch comic fantasy
American Gods revisited
What it is
Love or hate
Three times one?

Anansi Boys
Neil Gaiman
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0060515198
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Book Description

Fat Charlie Nancy's normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage. Charlie didn't know his dad was a god. And he never knew he had a brother.

Now brother Spider's on his doorstep—about to make Fat Charlie's life more interesting . . . and a lot more dangerous.

Download Description

Anansi Boys
God is dead. Meet the kids.

When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed -- before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.

Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is from day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun ... just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.

Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. Some said he could cheat even Death himself.

Returning to the territory he so brilliantly explored in his masterful New York Times bestseller, American Gods, the incomparable Neil Gaiman offers up a work of dazzling ingenuity, a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth that is at once startling, terrifying, exhilarating, and fiercely funny -- a true wonder of a novel that confirms Stephen King's glowing assessment of the author as "a treasure-house of story, and we are lucky to have him."

Customer Reviews:

Top-notch comic fantasy.......2007-06-24

Who is the best fantasy writer around nowadays? It is, of course, a matter of opinion. If we narrow the field a bit to adult fantasy (and thereby take folks like Rowling and Pullman out of the equation), a good argument could be made that the best in the bunch is Neil Gaiman. While most other fantasy writers are busy writing Tolkien knock-offs, he presents original stories. While most others can't seem to write a story that doesn't span several volumes (which is probably driven as much by commercial considerations as artistic ones), Gaiman gives us standalone novels.

Anansi Boys helps solidify his standing as one of the best (if the best) in his field. The story follows Fat Charlie Nancy (who is not fat), who as the novel opens, finds out his father has just died. Fat Charlie was by no means close to his father, but his fiancee Rosie was not fond of the estrangement. Fat Charlie flies from England to Florida to attend his father's funeral. While there, he learns some interesting things, most of which he finds hard to believe.

One unbelievable idea is that his father was actually the trickster god Anansi, which makes it more surprising that he actually died. Furthermore, Fat Charlie has a brother who has apparently has inherited Anansi's powers. This brother, Spider, comes into Fat Charlie's life soon enough and starts turning things upside down: he seduces Rosie and puts Fat Charlie in dangerous peril with his crooked boss. When Spider will not leave, Fat Charlie comes upon a method to force him to go; this method, however, is actually part of a grander scheme that will threaten both brothers.

Among the people Gaiman thanks on the dedication page is P.G. Wodehouse, and this novel has a wonderfully comic feel that fits right in the Wodehousian tradition. This is one of those books that is a constant delight from beginning to end. You don't have to be a fantasy fan to enjoy Anansi Boys; in fact, since the book doesn't adhere to the genre's cliches, it may even be better not to be one.

American Gods revisited.......2007-06-21

It's a special kind of disappointment when your favorite author puts out a lack-luster book. And that's just who Neil Gaiman is - my favorite author.

An enormous fan of both his comics and books, Gaiman has never ceased to amaze me in his fantastic ideas, engaging storytelling, and masterful reconstruction of familiar lore and legend. Like many Gaiman fans, I eagerly anticipate his books months before their release. Tragically, Anansi Boys was a let down for me.

Gaiman's previous novel was American Gods - a story with a fascinating concept and wonderful cast of characters to fill out its book jacket. For me, Anansi Boys felt like I was treading the familiar ground of American Gods without finding anything new. Granted, this story had a smaller scope and hinged on fewer characters, but it was still old gods living in modern days with a little more quirk and less horror.

Anansi Boys is not a bad book, but I found American Gods more memorable between the two. From a different author, I might have been more charmed with it but I anticipate more with Neil Gaiman.

What it is.......2007-06-09

Not everyone's cup of tea, but a talented twist on old tales. You get completely different stuff from this author.

Love or hate.......2007-05-26

This is one of those books that one would either love or hate (it certainly not a chick book). I loved it. Fat Charlie is the wimpiest hero I totally loved.

Three times one?.......2007-05-25

Well, I've now read three novels by Neil Gaiman, AMERICAN GODS, ANANSI BOYS and NEVERWHERE, and thinking back, I seem to be unable to escape the very, very strong feeling that I have read the very same novel three different times. Of course the characters have different names in each novel, and slightly different sequences of events occur, but basically all three of these novels are the same book, with the same central character, a nonentity in a secure but dull job, with a girlfriend who is completely wrong for him, and whose world is turned upside down when he encounters one or more characters from a totally different level of reality. The particular problem with ANANSI BOYS traces to the various attempts at Wodehousian humor, which never work at all. Consider the sequence in which the ghastly mother of Fat Charley Nancy's very inappropriate girlfriend unexpectedly calls at Fat Charlie's appartment, with Fat Charley dreadfully hung over and a lovely naked girl in his shower (all perfectly innocent of course). If it had happened to Bertie Wooster it would have been extremely funny. Here, it never becomes funny, escalates up only slightly, and then fades to nothing.

Gaiman is a good writer and has the particularly British gift of being able to create very likeable characters. His villains are also interesting, complex and frightening. What he needs to work at is plotting!

Average customer rating:

Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book...
Do you believe in...GOD(s)???
A solidly interesting, entertaining read
Dreary nonsense
Interesting story about the transplanted Gods of old...

American Gods
Neil Gaiman
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0380789035
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

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. Gaiman tackles everything from the onslaught of the information age to the meaning of death, but he doesn't sacrifice the razor-sharp plotting and narrative style he's been delivering since his Sandman days.

Shadow gets out of prison early when his wife is killed in a car crash. At a loss, he takes up with a mysterious character called Wednesday, who is much more than he appears. 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. Shadow agrees to help Wednesday, and they whirl through a psycho-spiritual storm that becomes all too real in its manifestations. 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.

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. 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. "This is a bad land for Gods," says Shadow.

More than a tourist in America, but not a native, Neil Gaiman offers an outside-in and inside-out perspective on the soul and spirituality of the country--our obsessions with money and power, our jumbled religious heritage and its societal outcomes, and the millennial decisions we face about what's real and what's not. --Therese Littleton

Book Description

Shadow is a man with a past. But now he wants nothing more than to live a quiet life with his wife and stay out of trouble. Until he learns that she's been killed in a terrible accident.Flying home for the funeral, as a violent storm rocks the plane, a strange man in the seat next to him introduces himself. The man calls himself Mr. Wednesday, and he knows more about Shadow than is possible.He warns Shadow that a far bigger storm is coming. And from that moment on, nothing will ever he the same...

Download Description

"Special Feature: This PerfectBound e-book contains ""On the Road to American Gods: Selected Passages from Neil Gaiman's Online Journal"". The storm was coming..Shadow spent three years in prison, keeping his head down, doing his time. 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. But days before his scheduled release, he learns that his wife has been killed in an accident, and his world becomes a colder place. On the plane ride home to the funeral, Shadow meets a grizzled man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A self-styled grifter and rogue, Wednesday offers Shadow a job. And Shadow, a man with nothing to lose accepts. 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. Entangled in a world of secrets, he embarks on a wild road trip and encounters, among others, the murderous Czernobog, the impish Mr. Nancy, and the beautiful Easter-all of whom seem to know more about Shadow than he himself does. 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. All around them a storm of epic proportions threatens to break. Soon Shadow and Wednesday will be swept up into a conflict as old as humanity itself. For beneath the placid surface of everyday life a war is being fought-and the prize is the very soul of America. 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. Magnificently told, this work of literary magic will haunt the reader far beyond the final page. "

Customer Reviews:

Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book..........2007-06-12

At the time of this writing there are 610 reviews...so I'll keep it short and get my 5 star vote in. I loved this book...rich in mythology and imagery. The journey was the best part! LOVED it.

Do you believe in...GOD(s)???.......2007-05-30

To be honest I wasn't what you would call an addicted reader of late. I started trying to read Dracula and I guess it's alright, but it just didn't hook me. So my director and friend told me I had to read this book. In fact he basically demanded that I stop reading that "boring" vampire book and pick this up IMMEDIATELY. We share many of the same taste in music, movies, and art in general so I picked up American Gods by Neil Gaiman and I never put it down.

I got so entrapped in this story I HAD to know what was going to happen to Shadow next I had to know where Wednesday was leading him and why he kept having all the amazingly odd dreams he was having. It started off well and caught my attention fast when the first curve ball was thrown just before Shadow was released from prison. Then a strange journey began and I felt like I was riding shotgun the whole time. Sitting in the white nova between Shadow and his passengers listening and experiencing all the excitement with him. The imagination of Gaiman is just amazing simply put he's got one of the most creative minds I've ever seen for an author. He researched what he couldn't think up and put a sense of familiarity with the places and attractions he used to show the "true" America as it's seen by the Gods. I was just enjoying the ride as I read then twist after twist started to hit me over and over and by the end of the novel my heart was pumping and I read the last 200 pages in one night just to know what happened in Rock City!!! But I don't want to give anything away because the sheer unknown is what makes this an epic story and a real page turner. You'll sympathize with Shadow and wonder what you would do if you were to be in the same situation.

I highly recommend you pick this up and read it. I did and now I'm about to start my 4th book in less than 3 months (I hadn't read a full book in over a year and that was for English in college :P). It sparked something and really turned me on to stories and characters. It's the best book I've read thus far in my life, period.

A solidly interesting, entertaining read.......2007-05-30

I'll never understand why some people feel the need to write scathing reviews. Obviously, Gaiman is a good writer because he's successful and the majority of people like his work. Don't the naysayers understand that just because THEY don't like a book, doesn't mean the book is bad?

With American Gods, Gaiman creates an interesting hodgepodge of characters from various god pantheons and throws them together when the protagonist, Shadow, is exposed to these once-great deities who no longer have omnipotence because they are no longer worshiped like before. This is the kind of stuff Gaiman has always done well: expose his readers to many branches of mythology while keeping it as exciting as it is interesting and educational. I deducted points because it could have used a bit more characterization and the ending was a bit obvious, but I still liked the book and recommend it to all.

Dreary nonsense.......2007-05-24

Shadow got three years in the slammer for an unspecified crime he committed for his wife's sake. At the end of these three years the warden tells him his wife died in an accident, moreover shortly after he's released he learns that his wife was making out Lewinsky mode with his best friend while driving, and that was the cause of the accident. D'oh! he thinks, and he goes to work for the destitute God Wednesday, who's calling to order the other destitute Gods for another gotterdammerung. From there we go from drearyness to despondency, from squalor to triteness. There's nothing in this confusing, sad book that's even remotely appealing, less appealing of all the undead wife of Shadows who explains matter-of-factly the circumstances of the tragedy, and wants to be live again. All thia mythological erudition wasted in a depressingly dreary novel.

Interesting story about the transplanted Gods of old..........2007-05-23

I originally bought this book for my husband, who decided he didn't want to read it (isn't that always the way?) so I did. I never had heard of this author and had no pre-concieved judgements about what I might find. And I was pleased at the interesting set up! This is really an interesting book about the nature of religion. What happens when everybody stops believeing in a God? makes you think. Warning! I am a dork, so perhaps that may have something to do with my enjoyment.

Average customer rating:

Exellent
I think I saw Martin Tenbones on the streets yesterday...
I like it a lot, but I'm not sure I get it
One of the best installments of an amazing series!
A Little Different Than the Rest (But No Worse For It)

The Sandman Vol. 5: A Game of You
Neil Gaiman , and Bryan Talbot
Manufacturer: Vertigo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Sandman Vol. 6: Fables and Reflections
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ASIN: 1563890895

Amazon.com

You may have heard somewhere that Neil Gaiman's Sandman series consisted of cool, hip, edgy, smart comic books. And you may have thought, "What the hell does that mean?" Enter A Game of You to confound the issue even more, while at the same time standing as a fine example of such a description. This is not an easy book. The characters are dense and unique, while their observations are, as always with Gaiman, refreshingly familiar. Then there's the plot, which grinds along like a coffee mill, in the process breaking down the two worlds of this series, that of the dream and that of the dreamer. Gaiman pushes these worlds to their very extremes--one is a fantasy world with talking animals, a missing princess, and a mysterious villain called the Cuckoo; the other is an urban microcosm inhabited by a drag queen, a punk lesbian couple, and a New York doll named Barbie. In almost every way this book sits at 180 degrees from the earlier four volumes of the Sandman series--although the less it seems to belong to the series, the more it shows its heart. --Jim Pascoe

Customer Reviews:

Exellent.......2007-02-16

Gaiman's earlier work with the characters of the Sandman Universe is very good, and the later books continue the trend. I would recommend this to any fan of the earlier books.
For those unfamiliar with the series, I would suggest starting at Volume 1, "Preludes and Nocturnes", which sets up the premise of the series and introduces many of the characters.

I think I saw Martin Tenbones on the streets yesterday..........2006-11-11

Like a huge boulder that cannot be stopped, Gaiman continues to plow through the journeys of the characters we first were introduced to in the spellbinding introduction entitled "Preludes and Nocturnes" with his fifth collection aptly titled "A Game of You". Like no other artist that I have seen in the past, Gaiman impresses yet again by taking a smaller character from his "Doll House" collection and expanding darkly into her dreams and past. That small character is Barbie - of Ken & Barbie - and the elaboration of her fantasy dream world that includes large hairy beasts, an inspector rat, a bird, as well as a monkey with a circus suit. It sounds nearly dream-like, but what Gaiman does (like no other) is give these characters moments of emotion, human traits, and a drive to see what they believe in succeed. Gaiman takes us from our physical Earth to this dream-created world with comfort and ease, nearly making us more excited to be in this fictional world than in our own. He does this through sympathetic creatures/characters, through the unknown, and through the unhinging power of Dream.

Our story follows Barbie as she attempts to reconnect with her world after her relationship with Ken soured. She has made a few friends in her apartment - one a transvestite named Wanda, a gay couple named Hazel and Foxglove that harbor a surprising secret, then there is Thessaly, an unknown neighbor that seems to know more of what is happening then the rest of our players. None the less, as it seems to be in this series, a character from Barbie's dreams escapes onto the streets of New York. Barbie sees it, realizes it, and retrieves a pendant from it before it is gunned down by the NYPD. She is struck by the idea that her dreams could become a reality. She takes the pendant home with her and deeply falls asleep only to awaken back in her dream world where she is asked to save it from the evil grip of the Cuckoo.

(Now, for the quick - quick - quick version...)

As she makes this journey with her supposed friends, Thessaly sets into motion a way to retrieve her from the lost dream world. She kills a neighbor George (who was oddly giving everyone nightmares in the apartment) and hangs the skin of his face on the wall so that he can talk to the saviors about what is happening to Barbie. Thessaly calls down the Moon God so that she, Hazel, and Fox can travel to Barbie's dream world to save her. Barbie finds the Cuckoo, but it is not who she expects it to be. Due to traveling, Thessaly has disrupted the physical Earth causing peril to Wanda - and just when we think that all is going to be lost, our heroine Dream takes his powerful step forward, wrapping up a phenomenal story that continues to build upon the world we still know little about.

This is another great collection by Gaiman in the expansion of his Dream world. I enjoyed the inception of a character that we already knew about, that we already knew her dreams, and Gaiman just wanted to grow upon it to demonstrate the overall power and depth of Dream. In a prior review, I was upset that we didn't have the opportunity to see much of Dream in a certain collection which ultimately created animosity with this avid reader, but in "A Game of You", I didn't mind. I liked not having Dream arrive until it was absolutely necessary because (unlike the past collection) there was this sense of fantasy that kept your attention throughout the book. The actions of Thessaly, the arrival of Martin Tenbones on the streets of NY, and the entirely creepy, yet bizarre world that Barbie enters that reminded me of a slanted Narnia. Gaiman gave us enough to wrap our minds around that Dream just seemed to be a mediator instead of a main character, and in this collection that worked. The eclectic collection of "real" people kept a strong balance between the realities that Barbie lived in and the dream world she created, it is only when the two combine together that we are provided with a climax like no other. While the other collections followed a similar path, I felt this one was Gaiman's strongest developed story yet. I say this mainly because he takes a similar structure as he did in "Seasons of Mists" - the onslaught of several different characters from several different walks of life - but expands it in a way that only he can develop. Gaiman is at the top of his game with this volume, and I cannot wait to see where he will take us next.

Overall, I was extremely happy with this collection. Yet again, I have no complaints as Gaiman does not seem to be slowing down at all. He brings imagination, creativity, and this layer of unrepentant darkness to the table with each page that I turn. I especially loved the insertion of Rose Walker into the finale of the story as well as seeing Dream's sister make a cameo appearance. This collection blended well, giving us yet another scope of just how big Dream's world is and how easily he has control over it. This is one of those collections that you finish, take a deep breath, and then quickly jump into the next realizing that you do not want to skip a beat at all. I strongly suggest this book to anyone that can get their hands on it. I still say you need to begin with "Preludes and Nocturnes" and follow the course, but one could read this chapter and still become an instant fan of the series. Gaiman proves yet again that this is the pinnacle of his graphic novel career.

Grade: ***** out of *****

I like it a lot, but I'm not sure I get it.......2006-02-21

I did like this book. I really have enjoyed all the Sandman books so far. But as much as it galls me to admit it, I'm not sure I understand quite what the big deal is. I keep hearing about and reading about how fabulous they are. And yeah, they're interesting. It's an interesting world that Gaiman has created and I think the character of the Sandman is intriguing/fascinating. And the Sandman is good-looking in some of the panels. But I don't understand what about these novels/comics draws people in so much. I don't understand why the Midsummer Night's Dream one won that prestigious award which ticked the other authors off so they had to change the rules to specifically exclude a graphic novel from being entered ever again. I don't understand why this series is supposed to grab women readers in a way that other comic/graphic novel offerings haven't. It's a bit like David Bowie music, to me. I like it a lot. But partly, that's because I Want to like it. I think it (the music, or the graphic novel) is really weird and I don't understand why everybody else, with no inner urging, likes it so much. And then I read the preface to this book and the guy talks about all these layers and all this depth that I guess I'm really just not getting at all. Which also bugs me because I like to think that I'm smart. But, granted, I've only read it one time and that kind of stuff does usually become more apparent with multiple readings.

One of the best installments of an amazing series!.......2005-11-15

This installment of The Sandman series was probably one of my favorite filled with many psychological implications as well as beautiful artwork which will dazzle your brain! The stories found within this book are some of the greatest in the series as well, especially the one featuring Thessaly and the "princess." The source for many Sandman quotations, this installment is one of the best!

A Little Different Than the Rest (But No Worse For It).......2005-10-25

Of the Sandman collection that I've read, this is the least like any of the others thus far. Instead of being vignettes (either independent or loosely tied) that revolve around Morpheus, lord of dreams, this is a start-to-finish story of a group of women trying to rescue their friend who is trapped in her dreamworld, and threatened by a malevolent force.

Morpheus shows up late and doesn't have much to do, really. But it's okay, because this work stands on its own legs, working as a great story, social commentary, etc. It's marvelous. I especially loved Thessaly--a small, spectacled woman who doesn't take flack from anyone.

With this series, it's always recommended to start with the first volume and work your way up--especially so here, as the main character of this volume is introduced (as a minor character) in an earlier volume. But if you are compelled to start here for some reason, it will work out and make you a believer. Neil Gaiman is a master storyteller, and this is a masterpiece.

Average customer rating:

beautiful writing, fun story
Beautiful story for all ages
Absolutely Precious!
synopsises cannot capture the magic of this book
Could have been a great YA book

Stardust
Neil Gaiman
Manufacturer: Harper
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Neverwhere: A Novel
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ASIN: 0380804557
Release Date: 2003-07-29

Amazon.com

Stardust is an utterly charming fairy tale in the tradition of The Princess Bride and The Neverending Story. Neil Gaiman, creator of the darkly elegant Sandman comics and author of The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, tells the story of young Tristran Thorn and his adventures in the land of Faerie. One fateful night, Tristran promises his beloved that he will retrieve a fallen star for her from beyond the Wall that stands between their rural English town (called, appropriately, Wall) and the Faerie realm. No one ever ventures beyond the Wall except to attend an enchanted flea market that is held every nine years (and during which, unbeknownst to him, Tristran was conceived). But Tristran bravely sets out to fetch the fallen star and thus win the hand of his love. His adventures in the magical land will keep you turning pages as fast as you can--he and the star escape evil old witches, deadly clutching trees, goblin press-gangs, and the scheming sons of the dead Lord of Stormhold. The story is by turns thrillingly scary and very funny. You'll love goofy, earnest Tristran and the talking animals, gnomes, magic trees, and other irresistible denizens of Faerie that he encounters in his travels. Stardust is a perfect read-aloud book, a brand-new fairy tale you'll want to share with a kid, or maybe hoard for yourself. (If you read it to kids, watch out for a couple of spicy sex bits and one epithet.) --Therese Littleton

Book Description

In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, there is a town that has stood on a jut of granite for six hundred years. And immediately to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here in the town of Wall, Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. One crisp October night, as they watch, a star falls from the sky, and Victoria promises to marry Tristran if he'll retrieve that star and bring it back for her. It is this promise that sends Tristran through the only gap in the wall, across the meadow, and into the most unforgettable adventure of his life.In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, there is a town that has stood on a jut of granite for six hundred years. And immediately to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here in the town of Wall, Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. One crisp October night, as they watch, a star falls from the sky, and Victoria promises to marry Tristran if he'll retrieve that star and bring it back for her. It is this promise that sends Tristran through the only gap in the wall, across the meadow, and into the most unforgettable adventure of his life.

Download Description

"Special e-book feature: ""Writing and the Imagination,"" a speech by Neil Gaiman. In the sleepy English countryside at the dawn of the Victorian Era, life moves at a leisurely pace in the tiny town of Wall--a secluded hamlet so named for an imposing stone barrier that surrounds a fertile grassland. Armed sentries guard the sole gap in the bulwark to keep the inquisitive from wandering through, relaxing their vigil only once every nine years, when a market fair unlike any other in the world of men comes to the meadow. Here in Wall, young Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to beautiful Victoria Forester. But Victoria is cold and distant--as distant, in fact, as the star she and Tristran see fall from the sky on a crisp October evening. For the coveted prize of Victoria's hand, Tristran vows to retrieve the fallen star and deliver it to his beloved. It is an oath that sends the lovelorn swain over the ancient wall, and propels him into a world that is strange beyond imagining. But Tristran is not the only one seeking the heavenly jewel. There are those for whom it promises youth and beauty, the key to a kingdom, and the rejuvenation of dark, dormant magics. And a lad compelled by love will have to keep his wits about him to succeed and survive in this secret place where fallen stars come in many guises--and where quests have a way of branching off in unexpected directions, even turning back upon themselves in space and in time. Neil Gaiman works his unique literary magic in new and dazzling ways in Stardust, a novel that will shine in the heart and memory far beyond the turning of its final page. "

Customer Reviews:

beautiful writing, fun story.......2007-06-20

I listened to this book as an audible.com download, and it was gorgeous. Neil Gaiman narrates as well as he writes. The voices and tone are perfect. Stardust is a fairytale for adults. The village of Wall sits on the edge of Faerie, and every 9 years there is a fairy market on the border. One day a boy from the village vows to get a fallen star to win his true love's favor. Problem: the star fell on the far side of the wall. There are airships and evil witches and cat girls and talking badgers. What's not to like? In the audible version, there's also an interesting interview with Neil Gaiman at the end.

Beautiful story for all ages.......2007-06-17

I enjoy reading fantasy books, but I'm careful in selecting them since I don't like those that are too juvenile. My fears were completely unfounded with "Stardust" as this is a beautiful story that "works" on many levels and is suitable for all ages. I was drawn to the characters, most of who have both redeeming and unpleasant qualities that make them believable.

I have the paperback version which is very portable but I now wish I had bought the hardback since this is a book I'd like to keep and pass down to others.

Absolutely Precious!.......2007-06-13

I have read this book multiple times over the last couple years and for anyone who loves fantasy, or just loves to revisit that childhood mystical innocence, will enjoy this book. Don't be fooled though, Stardust is not a children's story. Gaiman throws a little sex, violence, and pure insanity into the mix, as usual! It's why his fans love his writing. It's never quite what you expect...

synopsises cannot capture the magic of this book.......2007-06-10

A star falls from the sky and the race is on to claim her. A witch seeking a return to youth, evil lords seeking to claim their father's throne, and a half-breed youth hoping to claim his love's hand each try to get the fallen star. The tale can be forgiven his predictability and clichés because it is so beautifully written, so amazingly detailed and clever in its fascinating portrayal of the fairy world. Just a wonderful book, one of the best fantasies I've ever read (why can't they all be like this?), right up there with Harry Potter, The Princess Bride, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Howl's Moving Castle, and The Neverending Story for combining great story with great style and incredibly clever fantasies for adults. Grade: A

Could have been a great YA book.......2007-05-18

This was a fun, quick read with a pretty original story. If he hadn't have put the sex scene and some of the gore in, though, it would have been a perfect YA book. I'm not one to tell someone how to write, but between the stuff that made this book clearly an "adult" book, it read exactly like a young adult book.

Average customer rating:

Love it!
...nothing like a doll at all...
Finding His Place
Something unique
Wow...you will be stunned

The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House
Neil Gaiman , Malcolm Jones III , Mike Dringenberg , Michael Zulli , and Clive Barker
Manufacturer: Vertigo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0930289595

Amazon.com

The immense popularity of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series is due in large part to the development of his characters. In The Doll's House, the second book of the Sandman magnum opus, Gaiman continues to build the foundation for the larger story, introducing us to more of the Dream King's family of the Endless.

The Sandman returns to his kingdom of the Dreaming after nearly a century of imprisonment, finding several things out of place; most importantly, an anomaly called a dream vortex has manifested itself in the form of a young girl who unknowingly threatens to rip apart the Dreaming. And there's the smaller matter of a few nightmares having escaped. Among them is Gaiman's creepiest creation: the Corinthian, a serial killer with a miniature set of teeth in each eye socket. Because later volumes concentrate so much on human relationships with Gaiman's signature fair for fantasy and mythology, it is sometimes easy to forget that the Sandman series started out as a horror comic. This book grabs you and doesn't let you forget that so easily. --Jim Pascoe

Customer Reviews:

Love it!.......2007-03-31

Neil Gaiman has an amazing imagination. I love all of his books that I have read so far. American Gods, Anansi Boys, Neverwhere, and now the Sandman series. Fabulous! The creativity and beautiful visuals never cease to amaze me.

...nothing like a doll at all..........2006-10-02

What I particularly enjoy about Neil Gaiman is his ability to build a story from the foundation going forward. So many times, we have authors or illustrators that take the campy way out by using flashbacks, amateurish jumps, or just plain forgetfulness as they attempt to keep the reader's attention by quickly arriving to the climax or resolution (or better yet the gasp of a twist ending). Gaiman does no such thing with his "Sandman" stories. While this second collection of his graphic novels doesn't quite match to the standard of "Preludes & Nocturnes", it is because it is a building block for future stories. What I especially love about Gaiman's writing and choice of stories is that he is not afraid to take us away from our comfortable characters and begin planting the seed for more interesting events going forward. It is like the television series "Lost", events happen for a reason, and Gaiman is very willing to dedicate just as much time to those smaller stories as he does our overall story because he knows the value of amazing (and concise) storytelling. I love this series, but this collection "A Doll's House" is a sampling of smaller stories that will obviously be used as bigger events in the future.

Those that drooled over the first collection (as I surely did), may be in for a bit of a shock with this one because he isn't using pop culture techniques as he did with the opening, he is instead building his characters. Gaiman pulls you into this chapter with an opening that transcends time. He uses simple natives to tell an ageless story that builds the foundation for this story. He frames it well, and then pushes us deep into the constantly changing world of Rose Walker. We follow Rose through a majority of this story as she is re-introduced to her life. She has powers she is unaware of, and guardians that her in place to protect her. Gaiman is not afraid to get dirty and gritty with this story. He takes us to a "Cereal" convention, where all darkness confines itself to one hotel. He demonstrates the emotional level of his title character by giving him a lifelong friend Hob Gadling. He even gives us some sibling rivalry with a shocking ending that begins to set the stage for future family squabbles.

This is second collection is meaty, because if you are not reading it as future possibilities, then you may see this collection as nothing more than jumpy tangents. When I first read it, I was utterly disappointed because I had trouble following the path Gaiman was building. I walked into this one expecting the same from the first collection, but it was completely different. Again, at first I was not as rejoiced, but as I read it a second time, it clicked in my mind. I saw the full circle that Gaiman was headed; I saw his clues set early in the book, and I was able to see the path much clearer. This collection will push those that really want to be engulfed with the Sandman world deeper into the rabbit hole, or it will push those casual readers further away. I had to read this twice to see the brilliance behind Gaiman's words and world, but it was well worth it. I cannot wait to see where we are guided next.

Overall, I am giving this book one star less not because the quality was anything less, but merely because Gaiman did change direction on us rather quickly, but by my second reading it worked. I loved the ties into the first book and the hints of future conflicts. A question I have running through my mind is, "Is this book better or worse than the first collection?" After much thought, I have come to the conclusion that neither are better or worse, but both stand on their own. Gaiman doesn't pull as much from the DC world (like hints of the JLA or John Constantine), but I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if it were just a rehash of the first book. I liked this book because it challenges you more than the first. The artwork is brilliant, the stories are far superior than anything I have read before, and it is one of those graphic novels that pulls both your emotions, or eyes, as well as your mind, and that is a difficult combination to find out there. I highly suggest this book to those that are eager to see where "the Sandman" is headed next, but beware, this is a foundation book, and what it builds for next will leave you chomping at the bits!

Grade: **** out of *****

Finding His Place.......2006-07-01

Following a decent beginning Neil Gaiman truly shines in this second volume of his acclaimed series, The Sandman. Taking the second incarnation of the Sandman (who he completely reformed for the series), Gaiman spins a story seamlessly around his first volume and introduces elements that will affect the title the remainder of it's 75 issues. Even bringing in William Shakespeare in one issue, Gaiman uses elements of fact and fairy tale along with some of our worst fears to write an extraordinary story.

Something unique.......2006-06-27

Sandman even after being written 10+ years ago is still as clever and dark as it was then. Showcasing Neil Gaiman's fantastic writing and complex plot threads, scary and wonderous at the same time Vol. 2 is the first time we actually start to see what Gaiman is truly capable of. I highly recommend to anyone who loves horror and fantasy.

Wow...you will be stunned.......2006-04-02

In the second volume of the Sandman saga, Gaiman's work earns his first A+. Rich in plot, unexpected humor, and storylines that stretch back to Preludes & Nocturnes...The Doll's House demands immediate re-reading. Nothing is exactly what you expect, and you will experience horror, disgust, enlightenment, and even genuine laughs. On top of all that, more threads for future chapters are spun. This is a great read, and a must for Sandman fans.

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Gaiman enlivens Kirby's notion
Gaiman at his best with lovely pictures from Romita Jr.

Eternals
Neil Gaiman , and John Romita Jr.
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785125418

Book Description

You are thousands of years old. You have amazing powers. You have watched civilizations rise and fall. So why does no one remember any of this? Bestselling Author Neil Gaiman (Marvel: 1602, Anansi Boys, Sandman) is joined by superstar artist John Romita Jr. (Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine) to present a tale that will change the Eternals and the Marvel Universe forever! Collects Eternals #1-7.

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Gaiman enlivens Kirby's notion.......2007-06-13

Neil Gaiman, who took a mothballed and gimmicky character from the DC Comics warehouse and created the Endless phenomenon, does similar service for Marvel Comics here by revisiting the late Jack Kirby's extraterrestial immortals. Kirby, who co-created Captain America for Marvel and devised the New Gods for DC, crafted the Eternals (nee Celestials) as a graphic response to "Chariots of the Gods?" and other ancient ET theories.

The fruit died on the vine back in the 1970s, but Gaiman has given new life to the concept.

Let me be frank: I've never been a fan of Kirby's inventions that, for all their purported godly origins, were just your average, oddly costumed superheroes. But, while DC inserts the New Gods into countless storylines, making them hard to ignore, the Eternals had fallen entirely off my radar over at Marvel. Until now; Gaiman's involvement was enough for me to give them a chance.

And he does it. He successfully remakes the Eternals in a way that honors Kirby's source material while shoehorning them into the Marvel Universe in a way that makes sense -- something Kirby himself was unable to do. And, while he hasn't created a sensation like the Endless, Gaiman has put some interesting concepts on the table; it remains to see what Marvel does with them next.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor

Gaiman at his best with lovely pictures from Romita Jr........2007-05-27

Jack Kirby created them and now Neil Gaiman has put his unique and always achingly beautiful spin on the Eternals. I loved this soaring, yet sensitive space opera years ago and what a pleasure it is to be reacquainted with Zuras, Thena and company. Gaiman makes it all fresh again without sacrificing the least of Kirby's baroque characters and concepts. John Romita Jr. provides gorgeous art that respects without preening. Once again this superb graphic novel reveals the heights and depths the comic book form is capable of achieving. Gaiman fans will love it and it would also be a great introduction to his work, in both the fiction and graphic novel genres. No previous knowledge of the Eternals is necessary, but knowing what has gone before certainly adds to the pleasure of the current work. They even managed to slip in some references to Marvel's Civil War big company-spanning and forever-changing multi-series, running concurrently.

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