Sunday Book Club: Neil Gaiman - American Gods

Released from prison, Shadow finds his world turned upside down. His wife has been killed; a mysterious stranger offers him a job. But Mr. Wednesday, who knows more about Shadow than is possible, warns that a storm is coming -- a battle for the very soul of America . . . and they are in its direct path.

One of the most talked-about books of the new millennium, American Gods is a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an American landscape at once eerily familiar and utterly alien. It is, quite simply, a contemporary masterpiece.

• Hugo Award for Best SF/Fantasy Novel
• Bram Stoker Award for Best Horror Novel
• Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel
• Nebula Award for Best Novel

 Deb's comments - I love this book.  Hands down it's one of my favorites ever - It's hard to tell you much  more than what's in the synopsis from Neil's website (that's above) without messing up the way things unfold in the novel.  Let's just say that all the Gods in all the pantheons you've ever heard of are real and they have thrived to varying degrees of success; then some new ones come along to compete -  madness ensues.

There is also a follow up novel to this one - I can't say sequel, because it isn't precisely, that is also very good!  It's called Anansi Boys. 

Do yourself a favor (and you know I really mean it when I quote John Lydon!)...Read both these books.  They will take you through every range of emotion.  You will pull for the protagonist, Shadow, one minute and curse him for being to nice (or too thick) in the next.  In other words, in the midst of all this supernatural intrigue he's a normal (albeit heartbroken) man who just wants to make things right.

I have had a crush on Neil Gaiman since I first read Neverwhere (out of chronological order) years ago.  As of that point in I had never heard of The Sandman, but I knew that this man could tell a story.  He so can!  The original release of American Gods was in 2002 and special tenth anniversary editions are available now. 

HBO is creating a series from the book (YEAH!) The series is currently being planned out in no less than six seasons of 10-12 episodes each. The budget for each season will be in the $40 million range, with a heavy emphasis on CG. The earliest that American Gods would grace the airwaves would be 2013.  I read this at Screenrant which goes into a bit more detail about the novel and which fandoms owe some love to it.  If you aren't worried about spoilers, check it out too.

Source: http://www.neilgaiman.com/

Neil Gaiman on Twitter - @neilhimself