Smashing Book as always. Neil Gaiman has an uncanny ability to create a world in a short amount of time, and I seem to fall in love with each and every one of them.
dark medium-paced
dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A
dylanperry's profile picture

dylanperry's review

2.0

While a part of me is glad to have read some of Neil Gaiman's early works, I can't say I enjoyed much of it. There are some gems scattered throughout, but on the whole, the stories felt nonessential to the point where even Gaiman's narration couldn't save it.

Found this really hard to get into, perhaps it's just that Neil Gaiman's writing isn't for me. Found a lot of the endings of the stories so weird and confusing that they left me unsatisfied as a reader. A generous 3 tbh.

People, this is how you write fantasy short stories! They're dark and weird and bloody and magical. The author is amazing at weaving the mundane with the fantastical. The stories start out ultra-realistic, but then there's suddenly a demon or troll or something. It catches you off-guard, but it still feels entirely plausible in the story's setting. Of course there's a troll under a bridge or a demon attacking stray cats. I could not put this book down. As soon as I finished one story, I started another because I wanted to know what horrifying thing Neil Gaiman would think of next. He has a twisted imagination. I don't think I fully "got" all the stories, but I didn't hate any of them. This is a 5-star collection. It would be perfect for Halloween. Warning: This book is NOT safe for work. A few of the stories have gross, graphic, horror sex. You wouldn't want your boss walking in while you're listening to that awkward weirdness. No one needs a detailed description of a troll's floppy dick in the workplace!
dark funny mysterious sad fast-paced
funny mysterious sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Short stories of widely differing lengths and quality. Very much enjoyed it.

I think I like Gaiman's actual stories more than his short stories and poems... only because I don't really quite get them to appreciate them properly.