Odd and the Frost Giants ~Neil Gaiman
–published 2008
–97 pages, Bloomsbury
–4/5 stars
When you are a fan of a particular author, awaiting (im)patiently for their next story to arrive, it is a pleasure to discover that said author has snuck a story in under the radar. Such is the case with Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman. This particular story was written specifically for World Book Day, an annual event in the U.K. and Ireland. The event is something I certainly think we could all get behind, as it promotes books and the love of reading. Though this book is not currently available in the U.S., for a mere British pound, plus reasonable shipping (on Amazon.co.uk), you can have your very own copy. And since they send it air mail it will arrive before your anticipation reaches a fever pitch!
The short review: Well worth the price to ship it to your door!
Odd and the Frost Giants sees Neil returning to a subject that he often taps into in the very best of his works: gods and mythology. In the case of Odd, these are the Norse Gods: Odin, Thor, Loki and the like. Beginning with Sandman and continuing on throughout many of his novels and short stories, Gaiman demonstrates that he has an intimate knowledge of mythology, legends, and folklore and the deeper meanings and connections he pulls out of these foundations of storytelling make his stories rich and layered and alive.
Odd and the Frost Giants is certainly less complex than Sandman or American Gods–after all it is a novella written for children–but that does not take away from the feeling of history and tradition that Gaiman taps into when he writes this type of story.
Without giving away too much of the plot, this brief but satisfying tale tells the story of Odd, and young boy living in a village in which winter has gripped the countryside well into Spring, who takes a journey, meets some very unique animals, and with them attempts to return Spring to the world. To tell you much more would cheat you of the pleasure of this tale.
Neil Gaiman is one of the few authors who I generally always find myself reading and wondering, “will this feel like a Neil Gaiman story”. He is such a craftsmen of the art of storytelling and his novels and short stories arrive way too infrequently for the fans, that I always feel a bit of trepidation. Will this story I have waited for measure up? I am happy to say that within a dozen or so pages the story really began to feel like a Neil story and maintained that feeling through to the end.
Odd and the Frost Giants is a delightful story with fantastic interior illustrations by Mark Buckingham (Fables). The Frank Gambino cover is fun, but after seeing Buckingham’s superior illustrations I wish they had used him for the cover art as well. The story itself is a quick read that thankfully does more than simply whet the appetite for more new Gaiman. It is a nice and complete tale filled with adventure and the kind of sly humor that Gaiman often infuses into his work. The timing of this story is perfect for those of us who are about to creep into Spring, and it would make a wonderful entry in the upcoming Once Upon a Time II Challenge.
I highly recommend you get yourself a copy. It is a joy to read to oneself and it certainly would be a joy to read aloud to the whole family.
I keep trying to tell myself I can wait until the fall to get this, but reviews like yours and Nymeth’s and Chris’s aren’t making it easy!
Although I’ve only read Stardust… between Chris and Nymeth and YOU, I feel sure that this will be my second Gaiman read!
Now I’m curious about the art work inside the book, because I really like the cover, but you think the inside artwork is even better!
Yeah snuck under the radar is right. Only a pound? That’s like two bucks. Sweet!
Love the wolf on the cover!
Glad you liked it too! I loved the interior illustrations too and I feel the same way. I wish they would’ve used Buckingham for the cover. I think it fit the story better. I’ve been meaning to read Fables.Need to check that out.
I also know exactly what you mean about wondering “will this feel like a Neil Gaiman book?” everytime you read a new one. I’m reading a book about a drug addict right now and he’s talking about chasing his first high…it’s like that with Gaiman! You crack open each new book hoping to find that same familiar voice. After last years Interworld, you get a little weary, but this one was perfect. I really enjoyed it! Can’t wait for The Graveyard Book now. I have a really good feeling about that one!
Chris – I’m with you as well. I can’t wait for The Graveyard book either. 🙂
I also read the above book and really enjoyed it. I think Neil really seems to be at his best when he plays in the world of mythology. He just seems to understand it so well and use that to craft his best tales in my opinion. I will give this book another thumbs up. I think the 4 out 5 stars is just right as well. It’s missing something to make it a great story but it’s still pretty darn fun!
Chris: I’m glad I liked it too…I had the same Interworld thought that you mention but this was really a nice, fun story. I loved Odd’s little quirks. And yes, you need to start Fables for Once Upon a Time and the graphic novel challenge! If the rest of The Graveyard book is as good as that first story, it will be another Gaiman hit.
Janet: actually its a fox and a bear, but they are nice too. 😉
Homie Bear: It was sweet, really!
Debi: I hadn’t read that this was coming out over here, but I’m sure it will in one form or another eventually.
Deslily: Here are a couple of examples of Mark Buckingham’s interior illustrations:
Short but satisfying – that’s it exactly! I finished it and wished I had a child handy to lend it to.
In the meantime, I’m rereading American Gods again 🙂
I had been meaning to buy a copy of this one, and your post prompted me to finally do it! Now I just have to hang on until it gets here. 🙂
After seeing the cover illustrations for The Graveyard Book I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of that, too. Plus, the story sounds like it’s going to fantastic.
wow.. yep really nice.. this I will have to get! (thanks carl)
Excellent review! I agree that it didn’t take long for it to start feeling like a Neil Gaiman story, which, needless to say, delighted me.
And I can’t believe that I didn’t realize that Mark Buckingham was the Fables illustrator! I did love the inside illustrators…I agree that they’d have made a good cover.
Oh, I don’t know…I just saw that Amazon has it on pre-order for October 28th.
That makes sense then Debi! 🙂
i’m glad to see he snuck this one in under your radar too… i thought i was just not paying attention!:)
and i agree… the feeling is so great when you greatly anticipate someone’s new work, and then this pops in!
in fact, i think simply that feeling of anticipating someone’s next work, as deeply and as excitedly as we do is the most wonderful feeling there is. that can’t-wait feeling. that, well, the word describes it best: “anticipation”. that. that is wonderful.
like a kid looking forward to christmas… 🙂
This book sounds like it would be so much fun! I just wish it was available here. I hate paying the shipping from the UK!! Sorry. I’m cheap these days!!
I read this book over several nights to my children this week and they LOVED it. I have an 8 year old boy and 11 year old girl and when we were done with the book the first thing they asked me was can we read the next one?! I hated to disappoint them by telling them there currently weren’t any more adventures out with Odd right now but I would read them another Neil story soon. I’m thinking Coraline. 🙂