Club Consensus - Gaiman's American Gods
As someone who tends to be turned off by distinctive fantasy and hard science fiction, would Gaiman's novels, particularly [I]American Gods[/I], fail to garner my interest?
Would you consider American Gods to be decidedly mythical or does it maintain a sense of realism [B]and[/B] fantasy?
I just don't want to be disappointed after starting it only to find that characters and scenes are in the vein of pure fantasy (goblins, mythical power struggles, weirdly names lands, people; special objects and tomes that hold ultimate power, etc).
I don't generally read genre fiction, like Stephen King and L. Ron Hubbard and the like. That said, Gaiman is one of those authors who, like Douglas Adams and H.P. Lovecraft, transcend the genre of their work to create enjoyable fiction that can stand on its own merits.
Give it a try mate, at the most, you'll have lost a couple of hours and a few bucks.
I think it did a pretty good job of being a very realistic novel with fantasical elements, if that makes any sense.
It's just a great book to show what it would be like in a real world if these fantasy things occupied it as well. There's none of the lord of the rings stuff to it, if that's what your worried about.
I'm not sure how I would classify it but it surely doesn't belong in the Fantasy section at the local B&N.
To me, American Gods is a very good candidate for being the best combination of realism and science fiction I have ever read. The only person who beats him is Vonnegut, but with Vonnegut it is a little different. He tends to blend realist fiction with a touch of science-fiction, whereas gaiman blends science fiction with realism. Of course, American Gods is a lot more along the lines of being mythical than straight up sc-fi. Honestly, I think it is a great book that I would recommend to almost anyone, but if you don't like the fantastic, I wouldn't recommend it. If you are a fan of humor and can handle a bit of the fantastic I would first recommend Good Omens, which is written by he and Terry Prachett.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
[QUOTE=ScribblingDes;1129869]The only person who beats him is Vonnegut, but with Vonnegut it is a little different. He tends to blend realist fiction with a touch of science-fiction, whereas gaiman blends science fiction with realism. Of course, American Gods is a lot more along the lines of being mythical than straight up sc-fi. Honestly, I think it is a great book that I would recommend to almost anyone, but if you don't like the fantastic, I wouldn't recommend it. If you are a fan of humor and can handle a bit of the fantastic I would first recommend Good Omens, which is written by he and Terry Prachett.[/QUOTE]
Excellent comparison to Vonnegut's work. If Gaiman's mesh of the "real and unreal" is anything like Vonnegut's, I should have no problem suspending belief to enjoy his work.
-Ah, and what does everybody think of [I]Neverwhere[/I]?
I haven't read Neverwhere. I ordered Stardust, but some how they sent me Bukowski's Ham on Rye by accident.. Which was weird.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
[QUOTE=ScribblingDes;1130166]I haven't read Neverwhere. I ordered Stardust, but some how they sent me Bukowski's Ham on Rye by accident.. Which was weird.[/QUOTE]
That is odd. I'd keep it if I were you; excellent novel.
Neverwhere you have less chance of liking, but you still may.
I liked it, but I like fantasy in general. It still does the blending of the real and fantastical, and is grimy enough that it might be up your alley (it's set in a sort of fantastical world, but it's a fantastical world that takes place in the sewers, abandoned hospitals and closed department stores of London). I'd say check out American Gods first, and if you like that, check out Neverwhere.
[QUOTE=loveandhatex;1130170]That is odd. I'd keep it if I were you; excellent novel.[/QUOTE]
Yeah I know, I all ready had it. I had only read it a few months before this happened, so that made it even weirder.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
[QUOTE=glamhoth;1130177]Neverwhere you have less chance of liking, but you still may.
I liked it, but I like fantasy in general. It still does the blending of the real and fantastical, and is grimy enough that it might be up your alley (it's set in a sort of fantastical world, but it's a fantastical world that takes place in the sewers, abandoned hospitals and closed department stores of London). I'd say check out American Gods first, and if you like that, check out Neverwhere.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the information. I figured Neverwhere would have to be more of a surreal escapade due to its whole "living literal underworld" premise.
One thing's for sure, [I]American Gods[/I] will be my first foray.
I agree about American Gods. It blends the two realms together without many speed-bumps. But that's been said.
Neverwhere I'm a little less sure about. While he does, again, move between a dark fantasy and realism, the fantasy elements are a bit more surreal. (Night's bridge, and half the characters come to mind) So I would probably suggest against it unless you enjoy American Gods incredibly and really enjoy his style.
I don't want to be the one she tells her deep dark secrets to.
I want to [b]be[/b] her deep dark secret
give it a shot. you shouldn't be disappointed. i don't like to read that stuff you mentioned either and i love love love American Gods.