Book - American Gods - Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman creates in this, a magnificent modern fantasy. I use fantasy in a very classical sense, even though Gaiman sets it in a very modern surrounding. The fact that the fatasy takes place in our current world, and shows the interaction of the gods and other higher powers, puts it on a level with the traditional folktales and legends of Greek, Norse and Roman mythology or the tales of King Arthur and his knights. Which may be exactly what Gaiman hopes to do.

Gaiman has created a story that entertains while inspiring a faith of sorts, perhaps just a belief in oneself. The concept isn't particularily new -- What happens to the old gods in whom no one believes anymore? What happens when new gods arise? -- but the author makes it his own.

(For more examples of stories where old gods rise again, stay tuned for future reviews.)

Gaiman sets his novel in America -- a place where many peoples brought their gods and then turned to a sort of atheism, neither truely believing nor disbelieving -- as his canvas. Mixing cultures, sociology, theology, history, mythology, unique perspective, and slam-bang good storytelling he paints a tale that deserve more than one reading.

While a firm understanding of the various cultural mythologies is not necessary to read the book, I do think that one will get more out of it if you have at least a cursory understanding of mythology.

As for the story... well, again, it is true classic fairy tale writing. Our protaganist, Shadow has emerged from three years in prison only to find his anticipated new life swept away by the sudden death of his wife. An old con man, Mr Wednesday, offers Shadow employment as an errand boy and bodyguard. Thus the hapless, (or maybe not so hapless but definately down on his luck) protaganist is swept into a world he didn't even realize existed and one where he stands poised to unravle the secrets and be the hero who can claim redemption for himself... and possibly everyone else.

The only other comment I have is that when you reach the monologue by Sam (on page 394 of the First HarperTorch paperback printing), it is probably one of the best little monologues I've ever read. Not so much because I believe every word of it, as it embodies the jumble of contradictions and biases that we each hold to ourselves and comes out sounding very much like any of us would if we tried to truely explain our identies in a page and a half.

Excellent work Neil. Hopefully there will be another in this vein sometime soon.