Amazon.com
Neverwhere's protagonist, Richard Mayhew, learns the hard waythat no good deed goes unpunished. He ceases to exist in the ordinary world of London Above, and joins a quest through the dark and dangerous London Below, a shadow city of lost and forgotten people, places, and times. His companions are Door, who is trying to find out who hired the assassins who murdered her family and why; the Marquis of Carabas, a trickster who trades services for very big favors; and Hunter, a mysterious lady who guards bodies and hunts only the biggest game. London Below is a wonderfully realized shadow world, and the story plunges through it like an express passing local stations, with plenty of action and a satisfying conclusion. The story is reminiscent of Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but Neil Gaiman's humor is much darker and his images sometimes truly horrific. Puns and allusions to everything from Paradise Lost to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz abound, but you can enjoy the book without getting all of them. Gaiman is definitely not just for graphic-novel fans anymore. --Nona VeroBook Description

Richard Mayhew is a young man with a good heart and an ordinarylife, which is changed forever when he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. His small act of kindness propels him into a world he never dreamed existed. There are people who fall through the cracks, and Richard has become one of them. And he must learn to survive in this city of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels, if he is ever to return to the London that he knew.

Customer Reviews (550)

A very uncharming book; not suitable for children
Having read Stardust, which I liked (although which is one of the very rare books that is not as good as the movie, IMHO), I was disappointed in Neverwhere (which I listened to on audiobook). It's like a very ugly Wizard of Oz (which the author at least cops to in the end), where instead of Dorothy we get befuddled Richard, who seems to have no strong feelings about anything except that he wants to go home.And, he's not exactly passionate about that; just sort of bemusedly tagging along after the girl Door and her entourage as she seeks vengeance for the murder of her family. The story is confusing, the bad guys disgusting as well as sadistically violent, and everything in Under London is dirty, uncharming and like some 70's movie version of a bad drug trip. Definitely not Oz, and definitely not for young children. When Richard finally gets home, he's not happy with everything he ever wanted, so he decides to go back to Under London.Why?I have no idea.He seems very likely to end up dead there, as it's a dangerous place and he's clueless. Then again, I found myself clueless as well, and wondering about the motivations of all the characters. The plot is a jumble. [And why does the marquis share a name with the character from Puss n Boots?] The concept of another world under London and in abandoned tube stations was interesting, the story is just not executed well.

A little dark, but a good book
This book is darker than Stardust but still as imaginative.The involvement of the tube stations in London really makes it interesting, especially if you've been there and seen those stations and lines.

Honestly, I think if this same book had been written by a woman you'd see more romance between the two main characters and less of the very vile villians. And I really can't see a woman author putting in a lesbian warrior - she's right out of a male fantasy video game. But despite the male flavor of the story, I liked it.

He uses the 'f' word several times, mostly as a verb, not as a pejorative. There are a few mentions of sex but none detailed or graphic.

I don't think this is one I will read over and over again but I did enjoy it and would recommend it to others (mostly guys) I know.

Average fairy tale
The enjoyment of this read will depend on the preferences of the reader, if he likes to read fantastic tales in the line of "Alice in Wonderland", where the juicy part lies in the story and the interaction of some particular characters with magical powers it will suit him, however if he is looking to read a captivating fast paced thriller with a plot full of twists and turns and featuring a surprising ending, this is not the book as he will find many chapters. a bit naive, repetitive and tedious and the ending good but somewhat contrived. I would not say, the book is bad, but it is not dominated by an special charm to make it unforgettable.

Great ideas that are not fully realized.
Pros: A good story idea and lots of original, thought provoking ideas spread throughout the book.

Cons:The characters are mostly one-dimensional, the writing is mediocre, and the world is not as vivid as I would expect.

I had heard great things about Neil Gaiman and just occasionally this book seemed like it was going to live up to that reputation, but the bland characters and lifeless writing made it hard to appreciate either the great ideas or the unique world.

The idea of the dark, underground universe is a good one and throughout the book there are several other really interesting ideas, notably angels, labyrinths and markets.Parts of the book are really engaging and you begin to think that the story is going to pick up and be something great, but it never quite manages to do so.

Gaiman's writing style is generally very bland.Every now and then he will bust out with a great metaphor or a unique description, but mostly, his writing utterly fails to bring to life London Below.You can never quite visualize anything -- the sights, the smells, the sounds.One is merely left with the impression of location after location that is dark and shabby with little to differentiate between them.This, combined with the fact that he gives little background for his world means that the most interesting parts of the story are often when Richard is in the real world.There are tantalizing hints of the other London being connected with different periods of history, but even these are under-utilized.

Perhaps this would be excusable if the book had good characters, but for the most part it does not.The villains, Croup and Vandemar, are the only characters who are fully engaging and even then, this is not because of their complexity, but because their evilness is so refreshingly complete -- it extends from the truly horrific to the petty.Richard is decently characterized, but all of the other characters, particularly the female ones, are extremely one-dimensional.Gaiman seems to rely on dramatic reveals rather than slow and steady character development to give them personality, but by the end of the novel, I care so little about most of the characters that it doesn't matter what happens to them.The ending itself also felt a little cliché and predictable, as good as the story was for the rest of the book.

This book has a pretty good story and lots of really nice ideas, but it needs more attention to character development and more detailed, vivid writing.Perhaps Gaiman should stick to other forms of writing as this feels like it would have worked much better as a graphic novel or a screenplay where visual cues could give the audience a better understanding of the setting and the characters.

A Lovely Read
This is a very absorbing read. It's the kind of book where you suddenly realize that you are already on page 70 but you feel like you've only been reading for fifteen minutes. The next time you notice the page number, you're on 230 and, the time after that, you see that you have only 20 pages to go to the end!

So, the only bad thing I can about "Neverwhere" is that it wasn't long enough.

I do think, though, that there is enough meat on the bone for a decent sequel. Door still has to look for someone significant to her and there is also still some possibility concerning the rat-speaker girl.

I would say that this book and Tad Williams' "War of the Flowers" are the two best examples of modern urban fantasy out there today. Read both of these and you won't go wrong.

"Neverwhere" isn't original. I have read a lot of Neil Gaiman and he basically begs, borrows and steals everything he does in terms of plot, both for his novels and his short stories. But, I don't mean that in a bad way. It's not that he's a plagiarizer, it's that he taps into the universal stories and myths of Western culture. So, the tropes he uses are very familiar. He's more of a folklorist than a SF or F writer.

Gaiman's strength is as a writer, period. Although he farms well-worn ground, he paints such vivid characters and settings that you get swept away and simply get the chance to enjoy a really good book.

I'll conclude by saying that parts of this book are truly scary and chilling. Gaiman has the power, which is rare, to create real terror. The villains here are people (I use that term loosely) that you would NEVER want to meet. So, start this book early in the day so that if you read it all the way through in one sitting (and you probably will) you'll be finished by nightfall.

Then, lock your front door anyway. ... Read more

Book Description

A mysterious circus terrifies an audience for one extraordinary performance before disappearing into the night. . . .

Customer Reviews (40)

An original original
Neil Gaiman is one of the most inventive, most original writers working today -- and that's not an opinion but a true statement. As Harlan Ellison once said, you can identify a story as one of his in the first sentence. The thirty-one short stories and poems in this collection run the gamut from light-hearted humor that will make you smile, to dark, rusty-edged pieces that will make you look over your shoulder. They include a Hugo-winner and a couple of Locus-Award-winners, but there's not a bad one in the lot. One of my favorites is "A Study in Emerald," a Sherlock Holmes pastiche. These things usually aren't very successful (in my opinion), but this one, which brings in H. P. Lovecraft's Great Old Ones, is first-rate. "Goliath" is the closest Neil comes in this collection to a classic science fiction story, and it's excellent. "Sunbird," which the author wrote for his daughter as an 18th-birthday present," starts out (you will think) kind of scattershot but then all the skeins weave together into a lovely bit of folklore. "Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves" is a nice bit of inside-out Gothic romanticism. "Other People" is sort of a moral lesson, and benefits from being read aloud; so does the very short "In the End," which is sort of Genesis in reverse. "Keepsakes and Treasures," featuring Mr. Smith and Mr. Alice, is about (among other things) the limitations of money. "How Do You Think It Feels?" is somewhat depressing by the nature of its story, but it will stick with you. "How To Talk to Girls at Parties," on the other hand, is both poetic and spooky as hell. There are a couple of ghost story/urban legend pieces, including "Closing Time" and "Feeders and Eaters," which didn't do anything for me -- but that's just my tastes. I didn't care much for "The Problem of Susan," either, because I never much cared for Narnia. Of the poems, the best are "Locks," about why storytelling is important, and "My Story," which is very funny, and "The Day the Saucers Came," which is very, very funny, and also rather sweet. The weakest pieces -- relatively speaking -- are "Bitter Grounds," which I guess I just didn't get the point of, and "The Facts in the Case of the Disappearance of Miss Finch," which is sort of a Twilight Zone yarn gone awry. "Harlequin Valentine" doesn't quite seem to go anywhere, either.

A magnificent collection
Neil Gaiman is a master storyteller, and this collection of short stories clearly demonstrates his talents.The stories range from whimsical to serious, so it appeals to a broad audience, and I recommend it for everyone.

Dazzling, Masterful Stories
Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders is an Aladdin's cave of treasures, containing more than thirty short stories, poems, vignettes, and literary forms in between. From a novella about a modern-day demigod's travels in Scotland, to a short story about some far-out exchange students, to a set of poetic instructions for traversing fairy tales, Neil Gaiman's creations are above all stories. Even at their most clever and postmodern, his works have the authentic ring of tales passed on at campfires, or shared by strangers waiting for a plane.

"October in the Chair" is a standout tale of childhood sorrow, worthy of its dedication to Ray Bradbury, and is one of several pieces here dealing with young people. Gaiman's pleasure in playing in other writers' sandboxes is clear in the Arthur Conan Doyle/H. P. Lovecraft mashup "A Study in Emerald," as well as in "The Problem of Susan," wherein he gives C. S. Lewis' Susan Pevensie a much-deserved second look. "Bitter Grounds" tells the story of one man's journey to transfiguration in New Orleans. Gaiman's exquisite command of myth is also on display in this collection, from the titular creature of "Sunbird" to the cleverly deployed figures of Northern European myth in "The Monarch of the Glen." Many of these pieces are stories about stories, with all the literary embroidery that entails, from various framing devices (the book's introduction, for one...) to the commentary on the conflict between realism and the Gothic that is "Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire."

Many pieces in this volume wend through dark territories - some gruesome, others purely disturbing. While plenty of these "short fictions and wonders" will delight and amaze, Fragile Things is not for the faint-hearted. If you want more after reading it, check out American Gods, a novel featuring the protagonist of this collection's "The Monarch of the Glen," or try one of the collected volumes of Gaiman's landmark Sandman comic series.

Fantastic Stuff
This is the first Gaiman that I've read, and I have to say, I was impressed. All of the stories were more than decent, and quite a few were fantastic. "Other People" sticks out in my head - it had me lying awake thinking about it for nights afterwards, creepy and disturbing as it was. Overall great writing, and a nice collection of stories. I plan on reading more of his work soon.

Very uneven
These stories range from the inspired and original (such as "A Study In Emerald" and "October In The Chair"), to the predictable and cliched ("Other People", "The Hidden Chamber"), to the pointless ("Keepsakes and Treasures").Most of the stories are nothing to write home about, either telegraphing the denouemont about halfway through, or simply meandering through purple prose to no particular conclusion whatever.It has the feel of one of those 'Rarities' collections that musicians release -- a few surprises and gems, but mostly pieces that were unfinished or too mundane to see the light of day. ... Read more

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

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.

Customer Reviews (656)

Amusing
I like his writing style and this was a fun, easy read.But there was nothing outstanding or gripping about it.It was overall just amusing.

Finally, a good book
I picked this book off the shelf without knowing anything about it. This book was well written and full of twists and turns. At times, a couple of the scenes seemed gratuitous - just shock value for the sake of shock value - but from start to finish it was a great read. I had trouble putting it down. If you have even a passing interest in mythology this is a great book.

Some of Gaiman's best work -- honest!
This book contains some of Gaiman's very best writing, and also encompasses an amazing number and variety of themes -- the place of the gods in humanity's scheme of things (and vice versa), the nature of belief and unbelief (and why they matter, or don't), and of life and death (which are not mutually exclusive categories), why America is fundamentally different from the Old World (and why it's the same, too), and what the point of it all is. Or perhaps there's no point at all -- and that's the point. From the beginning, when Shadow leaves prison to attend the funeral of his unfaithful wife and is recruited on the way by Mr. Wednesday (who is really Wodan, the All-Father), the reader slides into a world in which the old deities and supernatural beings of Egypt and Scandinavia and the Balkans and Africa and the Caribbean are caught in a struggle with the new gods of technology and television and drugs and the Interstate and the media. Which side will win? Which side deserves to? Shadow starts out as a driver/errand boy, merely an observer, but he ends as an important participant in the would-be war. But the war turns out to be something else, too. Part of the book is an extended road trip, a tour of America's true holy places -- most of them roadside attractions -- and convoluted, gray cities and perfect small towns. Along the way, Gaiman pauses to recount short fictions about the past and the gods' place in the world. Throughout, his style and use of the language are hypnotic, and his characters -- even the spear-carriers -- are multidimensional. This is especially true of old Hinzelmann, and Low Key Lyesmith, and Mssrs. Ibis & Jaquel, and Czernobog with his hammer, and young Samantha Black crow, and the technical boy, and most esecially of Laura, who loves Shadow beyond death. A gorgeous book.

Mixed feelings
I have found this book a colossal puzzle, as I could not understand clearly what was the core idea of the author, in terms of the fight between the old Gods against the new Gods as well as the message one should understand from the epilogue of the book. On the other hand, the story telling is superb, in the pages related to "Coming to America" (events, times and characters of the ancient tribes crossing the strait of Bering, the African slaves era and the first settlers of the pre-independence times, that constitute key parts of the origin of the United States, Excellent are also the chapters about the opportunities and misfortunes the main character (Shadow) experiences and the characters he meets during his trip across rural towns in the Northeastern US.

The Gods Aren't Dead, They're Just Getting By
Every so often, a book comes along that is sui generis -- in a class of its own, unlike anything else. Maybe it's Pynchon's GRAVITY'S RAINBOW, McCarthy's BLOOD MERIDIAN, or Marquez's ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE. Neil Gaiman's AMERICAN GODS, while far from scaling those vaunted literary heights, nevertheless deserves to be singled out as an unforgettable, uniquely inspired novel of modern American life.

When Gaiman's story opens, a taciturn man known as Shadow has just received an early release from prison because his wife Laura died with Shadow's close friend in an automobile accident. On his way home for the wake and funeral, he meets a mysterious stranger who calls himself Wednesday (since, as the stranger asserts, that's today's day of the week). With a little persistent cajoling from Wednesday, the otherwise directionless and unemployed Shadow agrees to work for the stranger as his driver and general gopher. Thus begins a bizarre relationship between the two, combined with a picaresque road tale through much of America's central and north central heartland.

AMERICAN GODS is a difficult story to describe without spoiling its delicious surprises. Suffice to say, the book's title refers indeed to a large group of small "g" gods living below the radar, disguised in human form and struggling to eke out mostly meager existences. Gaiman's underlying premise cultivates the notion that every race and group of peoples who have traveled to or lived in America - ancient Egyptians, Norse Vikings, Irish settlers (with their leprechauns), African slaves from hundreds of villages and tribes, Hindus, American Indians - have each brought their worshipped gods with them. Those gods physically "took up residence" in this land, only to be discarded or forgotten over time due to their believers having died out or being assimilated into other religious beliefs. As their believers declined in numbers, those gods' power declined accordingly. Strength derives from belief, or at least a proxy for belief in the form of sacrifice.

Gaiman excels with his oddball characterizations of these sadly spent gods whose true forms Shadow is occasionally permitted to see. They constitute a panoply of memorable figures: quirky, irascible, and still haughty despite their reduced circumstances, yet entertainingly sympathetic for the human-like foibles that plague them. In another setting, they could be a collection of misspent souls from a Cuckoo's Nest asylum or cranky but vital oldsters from a retirement home. However, the author's efforts are not nearly so endearing, and far less convincing, in presenting America's new, unnamed gods of mass media and the information age, now the recipients of the country's attention and adoration. It is the threat of war, a final battle of the heavens, between the old gods and these 21st Century secular gods, that propels the novel's action. Not surprisingly, Shadow plays a far more important role in these proceedings than he could ever have imagined.

AMERICAN GODS offers a marvelous satirical view of contemporary American culture and life. The book is filled with clever notions and imaginative portrayals, such as the scene where Wednesday takes the too-human Shadow to a meeting held "behind the curtains" as it were, in another dimension accessible only to the gods. Perhaps the novel's biggest shortcoming arises from refusing to acknowledge (or even mention) the gods who still command human belief, such as Jesus, Allah, or Vishnu. Then again, Gaiman's view could be that these big "G" Gods are simply too powerful or busy to worry about the survival struggles of Norse gods and African tribal deities.

Regardless, AMERICAN GODS is enjoyable and delectably irreverent, a fun read with a creative premise and entertaining characters that will stop readers in their tracks and make them think. If only for a minute, that is, but at least long enough to give those small "g" gods a little energy boost.
... Read more

Product Description
Limited to 500 numbered copies signed by the authors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Just plain fun!
A fun jaunt through multiple dimensions, InterWorld tells the story of young Joe Harker, who has the ability to Walk between dimensions, and the adventures that ensue when he discovers this ability after getting himself lost downtown. It's not so much a story about good vs. evil as it is about science vs. magic, and trying to keep the balance between the two.

Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves had originally conceived the concept as a television show, but when studios didn't seem interested, they changed the telling into a novel.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Straight forward storytelling and some imaginative plots made for an enjoyable experience. It's a quick read, but worth it if you are looking for something fun. I find myself hoping that they continue the story.

Great, Fast Read
I am slightly biased as I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan, but this book is great.It is a very quick read and is definitely targeted for the younger audience, but it is still a brilliant story.This would be a great book to introduce the young reader to Gaiman or for an older reader (such as myself) to just kick back and relax for a bit.

read it. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE just because it might be for kids
It's great. It's just great. I love Gaiman, of course. And it's not, as it would be suggested, for kids. There's no sex but some violence, and characters die. The plot is twisted, Gaiman-like, will keep you sit tight and make you wish the book was larger or there would be a sequence.
And you might want to think a bit.

Amazing story, leaves me wanting more.
Great story. The book reads fast and quick. Good solid Gaiman story smithing. I want to experience more of this world.... the teaser 'pilot' nature of the book has functioned as intended on this guy.... PLEASE!! MORE!

Enjoyable but not great
Gaiman is one of my favorite writers.This middle-grade level book was good, but not as interesting as others he has done such as Coraline.

The premise is fine - a series of parallel worlds with two warring societies, one magical and one technical, working their way from opposite ends of the "arc" of worlds, each trying to take control.The protagonist and his counterparts from the parallel worlds are in the middle, trying to maintain the balance.

It is never explained why or how the protagonist and his ilk have the power to walk between these worlds.The protagonist resolves most of the issues through last minute aid from other sources or by accident, not his own efforts, which doesn't seem to be a good example in this reading age level.

The other main problem I had is the whole theme is balance, yet other than a minor skirmish the only real conflict comes from the magical side, not the technical side.And in their efforts to stop the magical side, it seems to me that would have tipped the scales far toward the technical society.

It was an easy, enjoyable read, but lacking some of the plot intricacies that I expect from Gaimain, and even at this age level the audience should also expect. ... Read more

Book Description
Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean present their masterpiece in a completely remastered and redesigned edition overflowing with bonus material!Somewhere in London, a film director is dying of cancer. His life's crowning achievement, his greatest film, would have told the story of a European village as the last hour of 999 A.D. approached - the midnight that the villagers were convinced would bring with it Armageddon. Now that story will never be told. But he's still working it out in his head, making a film that no one will ever see. No one but us.Serialized in The Face in 1989, expanded and revised into a graphic novel in 1992, and adapted for radio in 2000, Signal to Noise has never stopped evolving. The bonus material in this first-time hardcover edition captures every leg of the journey, including three related short stories unseen in nearly two decades, an additional chapter created for the CD release of the radio drama, and a new introduction by Dave McKean along with the original by Jonathan Carrol and the radio drama introduction by Neil Gaiman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

What is the Signal to Noise?
This is a new released version of Signal to Noise graphic novel by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean -- complete with new jacket art, the original introduction, and some new introductions and notes by both Gaiman and McKean.

Also included in this edition are three separate short stories that led to Signal to Noise's publishing and creation, while a few were made during its process. All three stories deal with the themes of language and communication in terms of barriers, and breaking those barriers down; exploring where the word begins and the individual ends, and, ultimately and especially 'ends.'

The placement of these stories -- from "Hackers" to "Deconstruction" andthen "Vier Mauern" lead up to what will transpire, and what is contained within the main piece. This much is clear -- a film director finds out he is dying of cancer. He finds out not long before he is given permission to create his film -- a story about a European village that believes the Apocalypse is coming with the end of 999 AD.

These two events, the one that the director focuses on, and the one that he is experiencing are both "the end of a particular world." The text plays with the concepts of semantics, communication, and memory. The director spends his remaining days alone creating his film in his head, sifting through dreams and memories, and faces. Admittedly, you can get lost in the semantical pastiches that unfold and the experiments in language, yet the garbed trues and mixed up words symbolize the realm of the barely submerged subconscious and the barely awakened mind of the underworld.

Each chapter starts off with these interludes, these alchemical processes -- and somewhere, there is an answer to what the Signal to Noise is. Noise is seen as something superfluous, but something starts it -- something summons it. Semiotics and imagery also play a key role when looking at the mindset of the director -- in which the telephone, the ultimate symbol of the outside world in his flat becomes a monster -- an intrusive thing reminding him of the things that could distract him (a symbol that is very relatable to me), something that is only noise.

As the scenes progress, some of them dreamlike and filled with abstraction, an actual exegesis -- an examination of what an apocalypse is supposed to be, of its history in human culture is explored. The artwork for the four horsemen of the apocalypse is superb and vivid, while the Biblical sections identifying them are written down. Myths and legends are explored and possibilities and, ultimately the "revelation" (this word being the actual definition of "apocalypse") -- that the end of the world is not necessarily a communal event, but certainly an individual one. There are little ends of the world everyday.

And yet, like the Nordic Ragnarok, life continues on. The ending to this story is very quintessentially Neil Gaiman -- there are places where it could end, but it doesn't, which in this case works well. I am still not entirely sure what the Signal to Noise is -- words perhaps or art. Perhaps the signal is thought, and through words on a page, through the medium of the graphic novel ... there is no noise.

It is an interesting book for semioticians, semanticists, but also film students and critics, not to mention comics lovers and anyone who wants to explore a mind dealing with an end, and a voiceless continuance. ... Read more

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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Well-executed, but not Gaiman's best work.
This reads like the first three or four chapters of a really good Neil Gaiman series. The problem is, that's all. He does a magnificent job of setting up the characters, starting their stories, and precipitating them into conflict, but then the energy trails off, and the resolution is stamped far more with "ok, time to close this off and work on other projects" than it is "I have thought of a masterful reworking of this concept."

All in all, it's not bad, but it's more a revitalization of Kirby's characters than a reworking of them -- the transformative brilliance Gaiman has displayed in works like the Sandman series or _1602_ isn't present here. There's no flash of genius, just a technically well-executed story. There are strong, believable characters, a decent plot, compelling villains, and so forth. That's still better than a lot of things out there, and overall this is probably worth reading, but it isn't in the first rank of Gaiman's works.

Disappointing
Just expected more from this. After Gaiman's duties on the spectacular 1602, I really expected something as good w/this reworking. Doesn't meet expectations for a Gaiman project and there was a lot of hype around this. It's ok, but is lacking; the story is pretty juvenile and is just a set up for future books.

So-so.Kind of disappointing.
When I was a kid, I collected all of the original "Eternals" series... It wasn't really very good, but it was fun in a goofy, campy kind of way, like much of Kirby's work in the 1970s.The characters were definitely paper-thin, and thus the prospect of having the great Neil Gaiman take on the story held out the promise of these stick-figure personalities gaining some depth and interest.Sadly, he seems to have dropped the ball in that regard -- other than the eternal-child, Sprite, very little is done to make any of these characters interesting or compelling... Certainly not anything on the level of Gaiman's best writing ("Sandman," et al)

This book was reasonably entertaining, with lavish, action-y artwork by John Romita, Jr.(gotta love him!) but nothing in the plot that really blew my mind.Oh, well.I might pick up the next book, butthen again, I might not.This one didn't wow me as much as I'd hope it might.(Axton)

OK
The original Jack Kirby books are better. There is really no reason to have remade this series.

Neil never disappoints...
While a long-time Marvel fan, Jack Kirby's Eternals were not part of my previous comic reading other than a brief, long-forgotten appearance or two in the late 70's or early 80's.One of my favorite writers breathing life back into the cast of characters made it easy to not worry about that.

This collects issues 1-7 of the re-launch, and it really is more of an into that than a new story.A few of the story events are not clear when first presented, but subsequent pages explain them.In my mind, not as enjoyable as Gaiman's 1602 from a few years back but still a good read. ... Read more

Book Description

Four of beloved author Neil Gaiman's delightfully scary, strange, and hilarious children's tales read by the author, now available unabridged. This collection includes:

Customer Reviews (9)

One of my favorite cds
I adore this collection of stories! Cinnamon is my personal favorite but they are all wonderful. I am a college student and I listen to it often. Really enjoyable for all ages. The interview with his daughter is interesting as well.
P.S. I was able to put this on my ipod with no problems

What a Treat !!!
I bought this for my just-turned 6 year old daughter for Xmas 2005. We took it into the car to listen. I'd never heard of Gaiman but was intrigued when I found the collection on Amazon. Gaiman is English and has a wonderful voice. This collection includes a q & a led by his 10 yr old daughter. This was as enjoyable as the stories as it is very informally done.

The stories are wonderfully imaginative with what I would call a touch of darkness but not in a scarey way. My daughter loves them and has asked to hear them in the car again and again. I love listening to Gaiman's voice so I don't mind hearing them again and again.

I need to find more of these!!

Funny, poetic, layered.If only all kid's litwere. . .
Gaiman is a gifted storyteller, and I believe he is at his best in short genres:short stories, children's fiction, poetry.This is a well chosen collection of 4 short pieces and a charming interview (by the author's daughter daughter).Gaiman's interpretations of his work are excellent, and the whole collection left me wanting more.It's children's literature at its best, in the hands of an author who does not equate childhood with idiocy.

Beware - Copy Protected
Though the content of this CD is great, beware if you plan to
listen to it on your computer or your IPOD.This disk contains
one of the "copy protection" kludges that have become popular, and
cannot be played on many computer CD drives.There are ways around
it, but it's a royal pain not to be able just to use the CD.

Great - if only we could get it in England...
...instead of having to purchase this great British author from America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Death: "wasn't" The Time ofYour Life
This character from the Sandman series is not anywhere as good as the Sandman series. My advice - stick with the Sandman books.

a delight for Hazel fans

Since Hazel has long been my favorite character in Sandman (yes, even over Death) I was happy to see a book starring her.

Her story arc shows that in her quiet, insecure way, Hazel is still loyal and even noble, and smart about the things which matter most. So I read and re-read my favorite Hazel moments, such as when she points out, to Foxglove's amazement, that they both really know what love is, or when Hazel tells Death (who is listening in a kindly older sister fashion) about protecting the memory of that first romantic moment. (It seems to me that the healing power of Hazel's devotion usually doesn't work as well in real life as it does here, but I do like a good story.)

If you are not a fan of Hazel or the Hazel/Foxglove relationship this is not for you.While I enjoyed it very much I would not give this to anyone not already familiar with Sandman.

I had to deduct a star for the title of this book and its companion: Death, the High Cost of Living and Death, the Time of Your Life, are so interchangeable that there are reviews here on Amazon for the opposite book. A title should help us remember what the story is about, and these only confuse. And I much prefer this one.

So I'll go find it and read it again soon.

Fantastic art, average writing
You see, it's not that this is a mediocre work - it's definitely above average (hence the 3 out of 5 star rating) - it's just that we've been spoiled silly by the brilliant standard of writing, plotting, philosophy and character that Neil Gaiman so generously gave us through the epic run of his, 'Sandman,' series and when we come across a spin-off graphic novel that doesn't quite live up to that standard, of course we're going to be just a wee bit disappointed.With that being said, if you were a fan of the, 'Sandman,' series then you certainly dug the character of Death, and with that of course you have to read this volume as well.While the artwork is brilliant throughout (almost taking on a japanese manga look at times) the writing, sadly, just isn't quite up to snuff.Still, it's a slim enough book to make breezing through quite an effortless and pleasing experience.

At least Death isn't as dumb in this sequel
I wasn't particularly impressed with "Death: The High Cost Of Living", which is the prequel to this book.The only reason I read this sequel is that I purchased both at the same time.Actually, I wound out liking this "Death" book better than the first, though it is less about Death and more about living.

Death has a little more power in this book, and is not as silly or giddy as before.Taking the side characters Foxglove and Hazel from "THCOL" and centering on them, this book continues with Foxglove's career taking off at a phenomenal pace.Hazel's baby Alvie is now born, and Hazel stays at home while Foxglove is out making appearances and records.On top of which, Foxglove has been advised by her manager not to reveal the nature of her lesbian relationship with Hazel.

But unknown to Foxglove, Hazel has made a deal with Death in her attempt to save Alvie's life.Foxglove is now not only going to have to choose between her family and her career, but also between life and death.

Three stars is still as high as I can go for this tale, and that is purely out of respect for Neil Gaimen.In all honesty, I dislike "touchy-feelie" books and this one has "syrup" written all over it, along with more cheesy song lyrics to be subjected to trying to finish the storyline.Gaimen's other works are much better, and if you like his books and his Sandman series, save these little "Death" graphic novels for last.They are not worthy of his other works and should be purchased only to fill in the holes in your collections.

I had bagels and hot dogs..
This is definitely not the best Gaiman work, nor is it even close to the standard of Sandman.

While it is quite a good read, it is very quick with little depth, with a completely bizarre introduction from Tori Amos, and the character of Death is not quite the powerhouse woman I imagine from Sandman. Lets not forget the unusual end section regarding unsafe sex..of all things. The graphics are generally below the standard of Sandman, and the supporting cast are very poorly explored.

Both she and Sexton are quite cute characters, and her brief offering of life is nice touch. Cute again, even. This is what Death; the cost of living remains...one of the shallower cuter parts of the Sandman. I am suprised Gaiman did not expand the story, it definitely had the potential. ... Read more

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.

Customer Reviews (167)

"With a song in your heart . . ."
This is billed as a sequel to _American Gods,_ but the only character in it from the earlier book is Mr. Nancy, the old black guy with the fedora and the yellow gloves, and he's dead, of a heart attack in the middle of a number at a karaoke bar. But Mr. Nancy -- Anansi -- you will remember, is a god, though a minor one. He's a storyteller, a songmaker, and, above all, a trickster. So maybe he's not really dead. Or not permanently. But the story is really about his son, Fat Charlie (who isn't fat at all, but when Anansi names something it stays named), and his son, Spider (charming and largely amoral), each of whom has inherited some of his father's talents. And it's about Rosie and her terrifying mother, and about Detective Constable Daisy, and about Grahame Coats, a dastardly criminal, and about the four old ladies who knew Mr. Nancy when they were young. Gaiman tells it all in rollicking good humor, though it gets somewhat darker as the narrative progresses. Not the heavy truths of _American Gods,_ just some smaller ones, but still important. A very pleasant afternoon's reading.

Awful characters
Gaiman has succeeded in writing one of the least likeable protagonists in the world in Anansi Boys. There are no redeemable qualities about Fat Charlie, and after hearing about how much of a loser he was for 200 pages I returned this book to the library. The other characters aren't much better: the wife who does pretty much nothing except be charmed by the handsome men, and Charlie's brother who has no negative qualities at all.

Another 'Gods' Tale
Everyman type Fat Charlie Nancy is having a very strange week.First, his estranged father dies, then after the funeral, he finds out he has a brother that he's never know about.Spider then shows up into Fat Charlie's comfortable life and turns everything upside down.Within a week Fat Charlie loses his job, his fiancée Rosie, and is arrested for corporate crimes.He takes matter into his own hands and tries to get rid of Spider, but ends up getting in further over his head.At the end Spider and Charlie must join forces to fight the legions that are after them.

Not a sequel to "American Gods", "Anansi Boys" is another story in the same universe, using one or two of the same characters.Mr. Nancy, the trickster African spider god Anansi from the earlier novel, is the source of trouble here, but the story revolves around his children.The tone is much much lighter than "American Gods", this book is more like a light fantasy comedy as opposed to the epic tragedy of the earlier novel, and I think it is a bit better for it.

Fat Charlie is an everyman who must confront the big forces of the supernatural that he never knew existed.He is kind of the Shadow of this book.Charlie discovers a secret that dose make him special though.Spider is an interesting guy.Though he causes a lot of the troubles that Fat Charlie experiences Spider is not evil; just careless and reckless.He discovers the consequences of good times at all costs.Daisy and Rosie are the women of interest, and they are OK, though not as well rounded as the two leads.There is a whole cast of animal gods that are interesting, as is the old women that Fat Charlie goes to for help.

A pretty good little fantasy, well worth the time to read.

Pretty cool
A cool sort-of follow-up or prequel to American Gods, which I really enjoyed. It was a fast and easy read. Some of the fantasy stuff was a little"off" for me, but I found the story and the characters and their relationships interesting. It was fun, and it triggered a need to go back to American Gods and refresh myself about the Anansi appearance in that book.

ANANSI BOYS
ANANSI BOYS

Neil Gaiman has created a wonderful tale about Gods. One may begin to think that this will become a staple of Mr. Gaimans writing when considering his previous book `American Gods'. Anansi Boys is not to be mistaken for the much darker novel previously mentioned. This book is light, witty and tame in comparison.

The guest who wouldn't leave, the mischievous brother who causes what else; mischief, the embarrassing but lovable father, the nosey cruel neighbor, these real life situations add to color this story. I found myself nodding and smiling at poor Fat Charlie's dilemma.

The crux of the story is the story. Anansi the spider God stole all the stories from tiger and made them his own. Tiger wants the stories back and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

This is truly a terrific tale.

4 1/2 STAR RATING.
... Read more

Amazon.com
This anthology of short stories, and the occasionalstory poem, is vintage Neil Gaiman: quirky, sometimes very funny, often dark anddisturbing.Most have been published before, but are hard to find elsewhere and cover all of Gaiman's writing life. As Gaiman says in his introduction, "most of the stories in this book are about love in some form or another," but not requited love. The stories in Smoke and Mirrors touch on all of Gaiman's themes: sex, death, dreams, and the end of the world. From "Chivalry," about the Holy Grail and where it finally ended up, to "Troll Bridge," a very adult version of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"; from "Bay Wolf," a story poem that meldsBeowulf and Baywatch, with interesting results, to "Murder Mysteries," which is about a murder, but also about angels, God's will, and Evil, these stories leave lasting impressions. Fans ofRay Bradbury's short stories and of Gaiman's other works will enjoy this collection. --Nona VeroBook Description

In the deft hands of Neil Gaiman, magic is no mere illusion . . . and anything is possible. In Smoke and Mirrors, Gaiman's imagination and supreme artistry transform a mundane world into a place of terrible wonders—where an old woman can purchase the Holy Grail at a thrift store, where assassins advertise their services in the Yellow Pages under "Pest Control," and where a frightened young boy must barter for his life with a mean-spirited troll living beneath a bridge by the railroad tracks. Explore a new reality, obscured by smoke and darkness yet brilliantly tangible, in this extraordinary collection of short works by a master prestidigitator. It will dazzle your senses, touch your heart, and haunt your dreams.

Customer Reviews (78)

Not the same as his novels
I read American Gods and Anansi Boys before I read this book. I looooved the novels, but I didn't care much for the short stories. I thought they were Stephen King-ish, although with less supernatural effects (and that's a good thing), but they just didn't do it for me.

GAIMAN'S SHORT STORIES: A MODERN EDGAR A. POE
I first met Gaiman's storytelling craft and writting style a long time ago through his Sandman comics. To that work I give five-plus stars.

After that I read some of his novels. His books Neverwhere, American Gods and Good Omens were good, but to my opinion not superb. I gave them 3 stars. I thought his comics were better than his novels. And then I decided to try his short stories.

Something told me that those would be better.

I bought Smoke & Mirrors (along with Fragile Things), and it took around one week for delivery. I read Smoke & Mirrors in less time that it took to be delivered. It is not that I am such a fast reader or Amazon too slow delivering (at leas not always), but I just wanted to read more stories. I think that his style is suited better for short stories than for long novels. Even though Gaiman is a strange mix of Stephen King and Edgar A. Poe (within an Allan Moore), he is more a Poe. His short stories are very good. and now I'm reading Fragile Things.

I still think of Gaiman as an excellent comic writter, thats the reason I only give 5 stars to his comics and stick to 4 for his short stories.

My favorite stories were the last tale in the book (Snow, Glass, Apples), and also the tales: Murder Mysteries, Change, Nicholas was... (very very very short story but equally good), Babycakes and a story that is hidden in the introduction called Wedding Gift (don't miss reading the introduction!!!).
I also liked his poem White Road. Pretty "upsettling", as Humpty Dumpty would have said.

Enjoy

Classic Gaiman
I'd read a couple of the stories in this collection before (notably "We Can Get Them for You Wholesale," and "Snow, Glass, Apples") and I've been a fan of his longer fiction and graphic novels for some time, but this was the first time I'd really immersed myself in his short stories.It was definitely an experience.

What struck me the most is how different most of these stories are.In his (excellent) introduction, Gaiman himself talks about specific influences for several of the stories and poems, and about different "voices" he's written them in.The difference really is astounding."Chivalry" is nothing like "Murder Mysteries," which is nothing like "When We Went to See the End of the World..."Of course, some stories are more similar than others, but his range is pretty incredible.The only thing the works share is that they're pretty darn good.

Of course, in any collection, there are going to be high points and low points.The thing with Smoke and Mirrors is that even the low points are good.A few of the poems, and maybe one or two of the stories weren't exactly my cup of tea, they were well done.And the reason I gave this book five stars is that the stories that were my cup of tea were so good that I didn't mind it when or two missed the mark.

Make sure you do more than skim the introduction.He's buried a story in there that's well worth reading, and I found myself skipping back to the introduction after each story, to get a little more perspective on what I'd read.

a definite keeper
One of my favorite books of all time. If it were possible to give more than 5 stars, I would. I was introduced to this book when a friend of mine had me read one of the stories in this book. It was a dark, and I must admit, very disturbing retelling of the fairy tale Snow White. After reading it, I was somewhat perturbed, but I was also hooked. I looked high and low for a copy of the book, and when I finally came across one, I was not disappointed. Gaiman's stories are both haunting and compelling, and always entertaining. This is a book I'll read over and over... and over again.

A treasure trove
I loved American Gods. I loved Good Omens. I loved the Sandman comics (I only read the first few) and Neverwhere. This book of short stories felt like peeking inside Gaiman's head as he wrote all of these. Some of the stories seem like they inspired or were inspired by his other books, others seem totally out of left field but undeniably Gaiman. I read the book straight through in a day and now go back for my favorites. ... Read more

Amazon.com
This anthology of short stories, and the occasionalstory poem, is vintage Neil Gaiman: quirky, sometimes very funny, often dark anddisturbing.Most have been published before, but are hard to find elsewhere and cover all of Gaiman's writing life. As Gaiman says in his introduction, "most of the stories in this book are about love in some form or another," but not requited love. The stories in Smoke and Mirrors touch on all of Gaiman's themes: sex, death, dreams, and the end of the world. From "Chivalry," about the Holy Grail and where it finally ended up, to "Troll Bridge," a very adult version of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"; from "Bay Wolf," a story poem that meldsBeowulf and Baywatch, with interesting results, to "Murder Mysteries," which is about a murder, but also about angels, God's will, and Evil, these stories leave lasting impressions. Fans ofRay Bradbury's short stories and of Gaiman's other works will enjoy this collection. --Nona VeroBook Description

In the deft hands of Neil Gaiman, magic is no mere illusion . . . and anything is possible. In Smoke and Mirrors, Gaiman's imagination and supreme artistry transform a mundane world into a place of terrible wonders—where an old woman can purchase the Holy Grail at a thrift store, where assassins advertise their services in the Yellow Pages under "Pest Control," and where a frightened young boy must barter for his life with a mean-spirited troll living beneath a bridge by the railroad tracks. Explore a new reality, obscured by smoke and darkness yet brilliantly tangible, in this extraordinary collection of short works by a master prestidigitator. It will dazzle your senses, touch your heart, and haunt your dreams.

Customer Reviews (78)

Not the same as his novels
I read American Gods and Anansi Boys before I read this book. I looooved the novels, but I didn't care much for the short stories. I thought they were Stephen King-ish, although with less supernatural effects (and that's a good thing), but they just didn't do it for me.

GAIMAN'S SHORT STORIES: A MODERN EDGAR A. POE
I first met Gaiman's storytelling craft and writting style a long time ago through his Sandman comics. To that work I give five-plus stars.

After that I read some of his novels. His books Neverwhere, American Gods and Good Omens were good, but to my opinion not superb. I gave them 3 stars. I thought his comics were better than his novels. And then I decided to try his short stories.

Something told me that those would be better.

I bought Smoke & Mirrors (along with Fragile Things), and it took around one week for delivery. I read Smoke & Mirrors in less time that it took to be delivered. It is not that I am such a fast reader or Amazon too slow delivering (at leas not always), but I just wanted to read more stories. I think that his style is suited better for short stories than for long novels. Even though Gaiman is a strange mix of Stephen King and Edgar A. Poe (within an Allan Moore), he is more a Poe. His short stories are very good. and now I'm reading Fragile Things.

I still think of Gaiman as an excellent comic writter, thats the reason I only give 5 stars to his comics and stick to 4 for his short stories.

My favorite stories were the last tale in the book (Snow, Glass, Apples), and also the tales: Murder Mysteries, Change, Nicholas was... (very very very short story but equally good), Babycakes and a story that is hidden in the introduction called Wedding Gift (don't miss reading the introduction!!!).
I also liked his poem White Road. Pretty "upsettling", as Humpty Dumpty would have said.

Enjoy

Classic Gaiman
I'd read a couple of the stories in this collection before (notably "We Can Get Them for You Wholesale," and "Snow, Glass, Apples") and I've been a fan of his longer fiction and graphic novels for some time, but this was the first time I'd really immersed myself in his short stories.It was definitely an experience.

What struck me the most is how different most of these stories are.In his (excellent) introduction, Gaiman himself talks about specific influences for several of the stories and poems, and about different "voices" he's written them in.The difference really is astounding."Chivalry" is nothing like "Murder Mysteries," which is nothing like "When We Went to See the End of the World..."Of course, some stories are more similar than others, but his range is pretty incredible.The only thing the works share is that they're pretty darn good.

Of course, in any collection, there are going to be high points and low points.The thing with Smoke and Mirrors is that even the low points are good.A few of the poems, and maybe one or two of the stories weren't exactly my cup of tea, they were well done.And the reason I gave this book five stars is that the stories that were my cup of tea were so good that I didn't mind it when or two missed the mark.

Make sure you do more than skim the introduction.He's buried a story in there that's well worth reading, and I found myself skipping back to the introduction after each story, to get a little more perspective on what I'd read.

a definite keeper
One of my favorite books of all time. If it were possible to give more than 5 stars, I would. I was introduced to this book when a friend of mine had me read one of the stories in this book. It was a dark, and I must admit, very disturbing retelling of the fairy tale Snow White. After reading it, I was somewhat perturbed, but I was also hooked. I looked high and low for a copy of the book, and when I finally came across one, I was not disappointed. Gaiman's stories are both haunting and compelling, and always entertaining. This is a book I'll read over and over... and over again.

A treasure trove
I loved American Gods. I loved Good Omens. I loved the Sandman comics (I only read the first few) and Neverwhere. This book of short stories felt like peeking inside Gaiman's head as he wrote all of these. Some of the stories seem like they inspired or were inspired by his other books, others seem totally out of left field but undeniably Gaiman. I read the book straight through in a day and now go back for my favorites. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

A Living Death
This Graphic Novel is decent, but doesn't compare to The Sandman Series. It is still worth a read.

something of a sweet girl
Death is really a sweetheart. Gaiman did great portraying her in the way he did. Now, I wasn't a huge fan of this book, though I like the characters. It's not a bad story, but just didn't leap out at me the way that Gaiman's work usually does.

Interesting story, great read
I decided to check out this book because I love Sandman and was intrigued to see what Gaiman would do with more of a focus on Death, and I must say I really enjoyed it.The events that happen to Death as she takes on a mortal life for a day are really interesting, at times humorous, at other times scary, and always original and fun.Sandman lovers have got to check this book out.

light and fluffy story
For all that I adore Neil Gaiman, I've never gotten into 'Sandman'.It's mostly that graphic novels have never done anything for me.I don't mind them, per se, but they've never been interesting or captivating for me.I can't get into the differences between different pencillers and letterers and artists.Aside from the big obvious things, I just don't see a difference.I started to read this only because I've enjoyed all of his novels and short stories.

It's fair to say that I enjoyed the story.It's a day-in-the-life story of Death's centennial 24-hour mortal holiday.Along the way, she meets three people who are looking for Death, but only two of them know that they are dealing with Death.

I never really got into it the story here.It was pretty light and fluffy.It's not a story that will stick with me.It won't stop me from giving 'Sandman' another go in the future, but it definitely hasn't convinced me to move it up in my to-read queue either.As far as Neil's work goes, I would recommend Stardust long before I recommended reading this.

Death is really a sweetie
For me, as for many fans of the "Sandman" series, the best character is Death. Gaiman conceives her not as a frightening figure in a cowl and carrying a scythe, but as an exceedingly perky young woman who wears black jeans and leotards and sports rather Goth-y makeup. She likes people -- she meets everyone eventually -- and for one day per century she takes human form, just to keep in touch. This time, under the name of Didi, she hooks up with a depressed sixteen-year-old named Sexton, who is contemplating suicide. Sexton witnesses her interaction with Mad Hettie, who is 250 years old and wants her heart back, and with the Eremite, who tries to gain power over her, and with Hazel, the pregnant lesbian who appears in volume 5 of "Sandman." Sexton observes that Didi somehow never has to pay for anything, not even cab fares. Death is particularly winning in this outing, taking job in everything and pronouncing it "Neat!" At the end of the volume is a reprinting of the groundbreaking six-page comic, "Death Talks about Life," a straight-up warning about AIDS and STDs generally, with a brief lesson (using a banana) on condoms. I don't know if it won awards, but it should have. ... Read more

Book Description

"I'll swap you my dad," I said.
"Oh-oh," said my little sister.

Customer Reviews (11)

A Great Family Story
I bought this book so my daughter could read along with the recording of it on her music player.It was a nice surprise to have the CD included in the book, as well.This is a funny story that we all enjoy.

Lovely
This is a wonderfully fun book about a boy who trades his dad for two goldfish.His mother tells him he has to get his dad back, so he goes on an adventure, walking from house to house, swapping items until he finally gets his dad back.His dad seems to have been oblivious to the whole thing, just reading his paper the whole time.A fun book with beautiful illustrations (typical Dave McKean drawings).My 6 year-old daughter loves it.

I bought this book just beacause of its artworks/design
and I mean it. They are awesome, and come together very nice in the whole.
But the most impressive is that they are so thoughtful, full of collages, hidden messages, paint textures that they tell the tale just like the text.

For All Ages
This is a great little book that can be enjoyed by children of all ages, or children at heart. The story is basically about a boy that swaps his father for 2 goldfish. What he finds out is that the person he swapped with has swapped his father with someone else and this continues in a chain until he finally finds his father.

This is such a great book, right up to the caliber that would be expected of Mr. Gaiman. As usual, Dave McKean's illustrations are absolutely amazing. Even if you don't read the story, this book is great to have just as an art book. Enjoy it!

A Review for a bedtime story
I liked the illustrative quality of this book, the story is simple , original, and with humour, my six year old daughter enjoys it, although it is very different from her world, in every way. ... Read more

Book Description
Steven is afraid. Afraid of ghost stories, afraid of growing up... just afraid. That is, until he meets the mysterious Showman and his Theatre of the Real. Steven takes a ticket and watches the show on a dare, but getting out of the performance will be harder than he ever imagined. And then Steven learns what it is to be truly afraid. Neil Gaiman, internationally acclaimed and bestselling writer of both prose fiction (Neverwhere, Stardust) and graphic novels (The Sandman, Signal to Noise) teams with veteran artist Michael Zulli (The Sandman, Creatures of the Night) to create this dark and brooding morality tale. The Last Temptation is the latest addition to Dark Horse's proud and growing library of Neil Gaiman hardcovers. Originally published as part of the short-lived Marvel Music line of the early '90s, Zulli's lush and beautiful duoshade artwork is now showcased in a new format for this stunning second edition. ...