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expendablemudge's review against another edition
2.0
Rating: 2.5* of five
What was I thinking? I don't like the Gaiman books I've read so far, feeling like beating him with long, leathery things studded with flesh-rending hooks, because CHARACTERS HAVE TO CHANGE SOMEHOW as a result of the journey of the novel, and his don't. So far, anyway.
So why read this gushing fanboy spoiler-fest? Why inundate myself with the trivia and ejecta of the man's undeniably interesting career doing things I don't care about, like comics and graphic novels?
To see what all the fuss is about. Still don't know.
I'm just not interested in comics/graphic novels, really, and that's about 250pp of the 500pp book. Gaiman's entire ouevre is spoilerized, which I found handy since I just can't make myself read another book by him. Now I don't have to. But really, now, the mind that can conceive the fascinating, delectably textured premise for American Gods can conceive an ending for it! Having read the plot summaries of his comics work, I know he's done it before. So what was the problem?! Turns out...it was his first novel. The collaboration with Pratchett on Good Omens isn't all his. The novelization of Neverwhere isn't a novel from the ground up. The author himself says it was his first real novel.
But still! No ending! *mutters sulphrously*
Oh, anyway, I gave this book 2-1/2 stars because it's a breathless, giddy, golly-gee convention panel brochure (that Stephen could have written, poor man's on the Gaiman train) that got delusions of grandeur. Don't read it unless you're a) sleepy yet can't fall asleep, b) a Gaiman fanatic AND under 24, or c) *desperate* to know what you're missing that everyone else is getting from this pop-culture phenom. (Nothing, the emperor's nekkid, but keep it quiet 'cause they're fun to watch.)
This review is Stephen's Christmas present. He hates Gaiman as much as I do.
What was I thinking? I don't like the Gaiman books I've read so far, feeling like beating him with long, leathery things studded with flesh-rending hooks, because CHARACTERS HAVE TO CHANGE SOMEHOW as a result of the journey of the novel, and his don't. So far, anyway.
So why read this gushing fanboy spoiler-fest? Why inundate myself with the trivia and ejecta of the man's undeniably interesting career doing things I don't care about, like comics and graphic novels?
To see what all the fuss is about. Still don't know.
I'm just not interested in comics/graphic novels, really, and that's about 250pp of the 500pp book. Gaiman's entire ouevre is spoilerized, which I found handy since I just can't make myself read another book by him. Now I don't have to. But really, now, the mind that can conceive the fascinating, delectably textured premise for American Gods can conceive an ending for it! Having read the plot summaries of his comics work, I know he's done it before. So what was the problem?! Turns out...it was his first novel. The collaboration with Pratchett on Good Omens isn't all his. The novelization of Neverwhere isn't a novel from the ground up. The author himself says it was his first real novel.
But still! No ending! *mutters sulphrously*
Oh, anyway, I gave this book 2-1/2 stars because it's a breathless, giddy, golly-gee convention panel brochure (that Stephen could have written, poor man's on the Gaiman train) that got delusions of grandeur. Don't read it unless you're a) sleepy yet can't fall asleep, b) a Gaiman fanatic AND under 24, or c) *desperate* to know what you're missing that everyone else is getting from this pop-culture phenom. (Nothing, the emperor's nekkid, but keep it quiet 'cause they're fun to watch.)
This review is Stephen's Christmas present. He hates Gaiman as much as I do.
pearwaldorf's review against another edition
3.0
Startlingly comprehensive reference of Neil's work, with interviews (incl. one with The Fabulous Lorraine and one with Neil that is v. interesting) and random ephemera galore. Even as a super-hardcore screaming fangirl it was kind of overwhelming. I wouldn't read it all the way through unless you're doing a thesis on Neil's work, but it's a good resource to be aware of.
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