Today, November 10th is the birthday of my favorite author Neil Gaiman!
(click on image to see a more realistic, scruffy Neil)
As I’ve mentioned before I was first introduced to the genius of Gaiman’s work through his epic comic series The Sandman on one of my first solo trips to visit Scott in NYC. The depth of literary and mythological references in his work hooked me instantly and I became “a fan”. Soon after this I was in Border’s Books in Tulsa, OK and saw that Neil had written his first novel:
Despite enjoying all of Neil’s works Neverwhere has always been my favorite. The story of a young man in London who discovers the world of London Below, a world existing between the cracks of our reality, really resonated with me. There is an Alice in Wonderland quality about the book that reminds me of daydreams I used to have as a child. It is a magical, whimsical, fascinating story with a great hero and heroine, wonderfully entertaining bad guys, and inhabits a world that brings my imagination to life. I try to read Neverwhere at least once a year…great book!
Stardust would be my second favorite and is arguably his most well-written novel. I like both the novelization and the illustrated version with art by Charles Vess. If you like fairy tales at all this is one of the best. Terrific, terrific story!
Neil is frequently trying new things in the literary world and Coraline was his first children’s novel. The story of a girl who finds a dark mirror world behind a locked door in her house is one that adults have reportedly found terrifying and children have found fun. It was a creepy little tale but not scary in the traditional sense of what one thinks of as horror. Coraline is reportedly in the works as a film by the producer of A Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach.
Wolves in the Walls is a short tale written for younger children in which young Lucy hears wolves in the walls but cannot get her family to believe her. Eventually they come out and take over the house, watching television, eating popcorn, and making a mess with the strawberry jam. This tale is illustrated by Gaiman’s usual artist Dave McKean and the images are at once wonderful and scary.
In addition to these and several other novels and short stories Gaiman and McKean have recently come to the big screen with their movie Mirrormask. A collaboration with the Jim Henson company this is a film that I’ve been dying to see and probably will not be able to until in comes out on DVD. Shame on Kansas City for their lack of foresight in not scheduling this film.
Neil Gaiman is an interesting cultural phenomenon. You’ve either heard of him or you haven’t, but if you know him at all you are aware of the interesting, entertaining and inspiring universe that his talent has created. Each work is different in its own way and yet is uniquely Neil Gaiman. He is a master with words and has a seemingly boundless level of creativity. If you aren’t reading Gaiman’s blog on a daily basis you are missing out on interesting articles, links, and any number of bizarre and fascinating things that his myriad fans send him. You don’t have to be a Gaiman fan or even a book lover to find any number of fascinating things on his website. His Sandman graphic novels were part of a movement that saw comics lifted out of the realm of geekdom to be considered serious literary works. The Endless characters and their tales are responsible for my discovery of how amazing comics can be…not to mention they spawned groupies who show up at his signings dressed as the various characters:
Death
Delirium
If you haven’t been introduced to this amazing world I encourage you to go pick up a copy of Neverwhere or Stardust and dive in. Reading will truly never be the same.
Happy Birthday Neil, you are one of a kind and are an inspiration in so many areas of my life. Thank you again Scott for the introduction and thank you Neil for all you do….write faster!!!
as is probably evident by now, we at the fish do so enjoy mr. gaiman.
oldben just finished the signed copy of Anansi Boys i gave him for his bday (the signing was that day, so it’s dated & e/t. clever, no?) & i’ve been itching to re-read American Gods.
yay! celebrate imaginative existences!
by the by, did you know Neverwhere was a BBC miniseries first? it’s brilliant & weird.
Yes, I have it on video and just got a copy on DVD. I like it, very Dr. Who-ish. I would’nt have enjoyed it as much had I not read the novel first because it really is a much fuller story as a novel but I do enjoy watching it.
I listened to the unabridged version of American Gods on CD recently and it was wonderful. Hadn’t read it in along time and the guy who reads it does a great job.
He reminds me of someone, but I can’t think who.
Death is awfully interesting, love the curl!
See…this is where “it’s a small world” (the saying, not the song) comes to mind. I clicked on your link to Neil’s blog (oh and Happy Birthday, Neil, I forgot to say so before) and … he’s talking about Lenny Henry! I LOVE Lenny Henry, saw him in the British comedy series, Chef! AND…he’s the shrunken head in Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban (well, the voice of the shrunken head). So funny, this little world.
I do enjoy Neil Gaiman’s various strange ‘verses. Am recently purchased Vol. 4 in the Sandman series. I’ll get them all eventually. Going to see an interview with him next week. Should be fun.
Dude needs a haircut, as the women in my life have educated me recently.
Happy Birthday Neil!
I must thank Carl for getting to finally read Neil’s work. Working in a comic shop for many years I had put off reading Neil’s work after let down’s I had reading other ” important ” past comic works. I honestly value Carl’s opinion and he recommended one day I really give Gaiman a shot since and I wouldn’t be disappointed and boy was he ever right. I’ve read most of Neil’s work now. My favorite is Stardust followed closing by the Sandman series, the short story collection Smoke and Mirrors and the Wolves in the Walls. In fact I frightened my kids reading the Wolves in the Walls to them. Not my intention but funny none the less.
I was Death this Halloween. Come by and see how I did.
Happy Birthday, Neil! I love Forever in Blue Jeans…
Just kidding! I read both Coraline and The Wolves in the Walls. Excellent books. I also love his short story “Nicholas Was…” Carl whip up a link for me; I’m not sure how to insert one.
Carl has read Stardust and Neverwhere aloud to me (I love when he reads to me). They are both great stories. Neil Gaiman has a great writing style and is a wonderful storyteller.
Rob, Neil just wouldn’t be the same without that mop of hair…that and wearing black all the time are just trade marks that make him who he is.
Great job Courtney…here’s a link for everyone else to see (you may have to scroll down).
It is a small world Janet and its interesting how many people I’ve discovered through Neil and how I’ve discovered equally as many likes and influences who I later find out are people he likes or recommends. The energy and creativity in his type of universe does draw an interesting mix of people who are oddly similar in many ways.
Thanks for the compliment Jeff…I teared up…really… 😉
it is amazing how neil gaiman’s world can get into your head and never leave you alone – death was always my favorite followed closely by delirium – i was death for halloween a few years ago – actually a small group of my friends in highschool adopted the endless for some of the things we did – and i think you’ve already seen my comments on mirrormask –
as for neverwhere, i agree, i read it about once a year as well – if you ever get a chance to watch the original BBC mini-series that gaiman based the book off you have to see it carl – neil halped to devise and write the series but wanted it to do more so he wrote the book – it’s so cool how the characters look mostly like you think they should – i exp. love the The Marquis De Carabas.
so yes a very (if belated) happy birthday to Neil Gaiman – i’m glad you exist
His work definitely gets ahold of you and won’t let go…amazing stuff!
I have seen the BBC Neverwhere series several times. Now that I’ve read the novel I’d love to see a more professional production of Neverwhere but I do enjoy this version. I love Door, Richard, The Marquis, Croup and Vandemar…I’m not thrilled with Hunter or the angel very much. They are okay. I would like to see a big budget production mostly because I’d love to see somebody be able to do justice to the floating market.