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Fun Stuff => ENJOY => Topic started by: Scytale on 03 Mar 2007, 04:29

Title: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Scytale on 03 Mar 2007, 04:29
I just Finished reading "Anansi Boys" today and wow, the only other book of he's I've read is "American Gods", but anyway he's writing is really enjoyable, I guess you'd call it modern fantasy. Is anyone else familiar with he's works, any reccomendations on what to read next, I hear he has a lot of graphic novels published, I've never really gotten into that sort of thing but if the writing is this good I may have to check it out.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Valrus on 03 Mar 2007, 05:01
Well yeah, the Sandman series is pretty much incredible, but it's a big investment. I believe the typical thing to do is borrow it from a friend who's more obsessed or has more money than you, but you might be able to find some of the trade paperbacks at a used book store. And of course there's always The Absolute Sandman if you've got money to burn.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: doki on 03 Mar 2007, 05:28
also 1602, which is rightious if you are a marvel fan like me
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: ampersandwitch on 03 Mar 2007, 05:41
Neverwhere, Fragile Things, Smoke and Mirrors.

And Stardust is early as hell, but still somewhat entertaining.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Utopian on 03 Mar 2007, 07:25
Anansi Boys was the first book of his I read. Oh actually now I yype that I realise it was Coraline, which is a children's book, and incredibly creepy. I was probably 19/20 when I read it but it left me properly disturbed.

Anansi Boys was the second. I'm also working through The Sandman books and recently read Neverwhere which is probably one of the best books I've ever, ever read.

He has such an interesting take on everything - I love the detail in the scenery and the way the characters are described. So dark but filled with humour.

You might also like Robert Rankin, although that's more comic, less dark.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Edith on 03 Mar 2007, 07:50
You might also enjoy Clive Barker's Abarat books (Abarat and Days of Magic Nights of War) once you've worked your way through Gaiman. They have a similar mixture of dark and light to Anansi Boys.

Terry Pratchett's books, especially the Rincewind subseries of Discworld, are said to have comically flawed characters similar to Gaiman's, although I've only read his Tiffany Aching books so far so this is a "so I hear" recommendation, not a personal one.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: guywithoutsocks on 03 Mar 2007, 08:51
Some people might recommend books by Dean Koontz, though I can't vouch for these.  I just haven't read any yet, that's all.

I would second anything by Terry Pratchett - some of his Discworld books I like better than others, but he's a fine writer, very funny at times.  His Discworld books are fantasy, I suppose - you have magic and dragons and such, but they don't take themselves too seriously.  There's a good Pratchett website, the L-Space web, at http://www.lspace.org/ (http://www.lspace.org/) - it's a good resource, though it probably goes without saying that spoilers abound.  I could go on and on about Pratchett, but there's probably a better thread for that somewhere else on this board.

If you haven't read Good Omens yet, please do so.  It's a book co-written by Gaiman and Pratchett, a light-hearted book about the Biblical apocalypse.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Dimmukane on 03 Mar 2007, 22:41
Read everything Pratchett.  The pages are glued to the spine with satire.  Some of my favorites:  The Last Hero, Sourcery, Night Watch, because they have a...darker tone.  It's all happy and funny, but at the same time, still made me feel a little bit for the characters. 
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Utopian on 05 Mar 2007, 04:32
With Pratchett, I pariticularly enjoy the Discworld novels about the Ankh-Morpork Watch, too. Especially Guards! Guards!
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Kaktion on 12 Mar 2007, 09:07
I haven't read any Pratchett yet, but I'm blaming my local library and Waldenbooks for that. But yeah, Good Omens showed me how similar the two are, when it comes to writing comedy and really, they're both just great writers. I've read, pretty much, all of Neil Gaiman's writings. As others've said, read the Sandman, it's incredible, but if you're strapped for cash, try your library. I'm lucky they had the whole thing in stock. This was my first Gaiman work, but then I went onto his novels and short stories: Neverwhere, American Gods, Fragile Things, Smoke and Mirrors, Fragile Things, etc. etc. I actually want to watch that Neverwhere series. I wonder, is it as good as the book? [What of the comic?]
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: öde on 13 Mar 2007, 03:58
I need to read more Neil Gaiman.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: guywithoutsocks on 13 Mar 2007, 06:14
I think highly enough of Neil Gaiman that I will probably even go see Beowulf in the theater.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Cartilage Head on 13 Mar 2007, 12:24
 Sandman - The Dream Hunters is an extremely important book to me, probably the first to make me cry.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: ampersandwitch on 13 Mar 2007, 18:29
I'm only up to Kindly Ones. 
Oh goodness, I can't wait to see what happens.

EDIT

I FINISHED KINDLY ONES
D:
DANIEL IS OBVIOUSLY A FUCKIN NEWB
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: MusicScribbles on 18 Mar 2007, 18:46
Stardust was too short, I couldn't believe I finished it when I did because I had wholly expected half a book left, and they're making it into a movie? I guess that works...
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: nihilist on 21 Mar 2007, 20:36
My answer to all of this:  meh.  It is a decent read, but not a literary blockbuster.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: ampersandwitch on 22 Mar 2007, 05:38
What is?
There have been at least five books mentioned.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: nihilist on 22 Mar 2007, 09:51
Starting with the first two; Anansi Boys and American Gods.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: idiotboy on 24 Mar 2007, 15:34
My local library has a serious hard on for Neil Gaiman or something, they have basically his entire catalog. So it is breat for me I don't even have to buy most of his books, but I still bought American Gods because it is that fucking amazing.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Gridgm on 27 Mar 2007, 18:18
My local library has a serious hard on for Neil Gaiman or something, they have basically his entire catalog. So it is breat for me I don't even have to buy most of his books, but I still bought American Gods because it is that fucking amazing.

i have a serious hard on for him...i own all of the sandman, anansi boys, neverwhere, the tv series of neverwhere, the movie mirror mask and good omens
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Utopian on 28 Mar 2007, 06:16
Since reading this thread I've started re-reading all the Gaiman I own! Thanks Scytale ^_^ Pity I told myself I couldn't buy the next Sandman until I've moved house - I'm itching to see where it leads!
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Sefirah on 28 Mar 2007, 07:19
Gaiman has another book out... i don't think it's new, but I hadn't heard of it till recently, so it might be...

Adventures in the Dream Trade, it's basically a collection of blogs, introductions, songs, poetry and short ficton that hadn't been published before...

also, anyone like MirrorMask? I loved it! ^_^
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: Scytale on 29 Mar 2007, 02:24
Thanks Scytale ^_^

No probs I actually picked up a copy of Neverwhere, haven't had a chance to read it yet but I imagine that will be how I spend the Easter long weekend, looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Neil Gaiman
Post by: jimbunny on 29 Mar 2007, 10:08
It's brain candy. But amazing brain candy.