10 of the Best Neil Gaiman Books

1.

Sandman
Neil Gaiman

No products found.

Sandman is one of Gaiman's first dives into the realm of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Even though it was one of his earlier works, it was here that he really developed his own personal writing style. 

In this graphic novel--or series of--the story revolves around Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, who after being captured via an occult ritual breaks free from his prison 70 years later to find his kingdom in complete disarray.

Morpheus must travel between the Dreaming and the waking state throughout many different realms in order to achieve the balance required. However, Morpheus begins to realize that things don't need to go back to how they were before. But that things need to change in order for them to grow--and that includes undoing some of his own past regressions.

The storytelling of Sandman has a multi-part graphic novel is just insane. It's got one of the most in-depth and creative stories you'll find whether inside a comic setting or not.

2.

American Gods

Neil Gaiman

No products found.

If you haven't read this book yet, it's about time you did. As far as Gaiman's novels go, this has got to be one of--if not--the best. 

The story follows Shadow, a man recently released from prison who wife has recently passed away in a tragic car accident. And she did so while with her lover and Shadow's best friend. Distraught and sullen, Shadow finds himself under the employ as a bodyguard for the mysterious Mr. Wednesday. 

At first, it appears that Mr. Wednesday is a run-off-the-mill con man. However, Shadow quickly realizes that Mr. Wednesday is far from. In fact, he's actually the Norse god Odin in a withered earthly form. And Shadow isn't just his bodyguard. Instead he's helping Odin recruit an army of the world's Old Gods to fight the New Gods of America such as Technology, Media, and The Intangibles.

3.

Coraline
Neil Gaiman

No products found.

Gaiman hasn't just written graphic novels and Sci-Fi/Fantasy. He's also written top notch YA fiction such as Coraline. And while you may be inclined to brush off Coraline as another children's book...that would be a mistake. This short story is widely regarded as one of Neil's absolute bests. Often compared to Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, Coraline has been ranked as one of the greatest literary works of the 21st century.

Coraline's adventurous begin when she finds a mysterious doorway leading into what looks like the flat next door. After passing through the doorway, she soon finds herself in The Other World where there are "mirror images" of those back in her own reality. And they're all controlled by the Other Mother--a doppelganger of Coraline's own mother.

Everything seems fine until Coraline heads back to her reality to find that her real parents have been captured by the Other Mother. She then heads back to challenge the Other Mother for their freedom.

4.

Good Omens
Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

No products found.

Good Omens is another one of Gaiman's must-read books. Co-written with Terry Pratchett of Discworld fame, the story is well-written with a great comedic side to it.

The story's all about the End of Times, the birth of the Anti-Christ, and the prophecies of a whacked-out 17th century witch named Agnes Nutter. Except that the Apocalyptic Horseman are a bit underwhelming, Agnes (as far as witches go) was rather unimpressive, and for the Anti-Christ... He's just a seemingly normal boy named Adam Young.

Seriously, go and read this book if you haven't already.

5.

The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman

No products found.

The Graveyard Book is another one of Gaiman's YA novels. And just like Coraline, it's not just for kids. To prove its merit, the book has won a Newberry Medal, Carnegie Award, Hugo, and a Locus!

The story is directly reminiscent of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. When preparing to write this book, Neil went in with the mindset to "rewrite The Jungle Book, but in a graveyard."

The book is about a young boy named Nobody (or Bod) and his adventures growing up in a graveyard and being raised by ghosts after escaping the brutal murder of his family.

6.

Neverwhere
Neil Gaiman

No products found.

One thing's for certain. Mr. Gaiman loves his parallel worlds. And in Neverwhere, the story takes place between two different Londons. London Above and London Below. 

London Above is the reality that you and I would normally accept. However, London Below is a parallel world to that. With me so far? Now, a man named Richard Mayhew comes across an injured woman named Door on the street one night. Against the wishes of his fiancee, Richard decides to stop and help the girl. 

But by doing so, he no longer exists on Earth (London Above). He is only known to those in London Below. That's because Door possesses the ability to open things--like other dimensions. Go figure. Neverwhere follows his adventures to make sense of his new life and to help defend Door against hired assassins.

7.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Neil Gaiman

No products found.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is another one of Gaiman's books that spans across multiple realities. 

The story begins when the unnamed protagonist travels back to his childhood home for a funeral. While there, he revisits the home he grew up and starts to recall events of the past. And through one of his memories, a supernatural entity is able to return back to the protagonist's world to wreak havok.

However, that's not the only malicious memory he has to contend with. Throughout the book, the protagonist's returning memories alter his current events leading to a rather complex, heartfelt read.

8.

Norse Mythology
Neil Gaiman

No products found.

This selection is rather interesting. Neil looks into Norse mythology and draws out three of its main fanfare: Odin, Loki, and Thor. 

But he doesn't write a story as he normally does. Usually, Gaiman creates his own legends and universes. However, in this book, he doesn't have to. Instead, he uses the real-life myths of the Norse ethos and mythologies to give a basis to his characters, setting, and plot.

What he does do is to devise a very interesting narrative between the three. He develops what could be akin to the behind-the-scenes look--or the E! True Hollywood story--of these gods. 

9.

Stardust
Neil Gaiman

No products found.

Stardust is a true fairy tale in every sense of the world. 

Tristan--the novel's main protagonist--is madly enamored with the town beauty Victoria Forester. And while walking her home form work one night, they watch a star fall from the sky into the land of Faerie just outside their town's wall. He bargains with Victoria for her hand in marriage if he can just bring her the star. 

But nobody's explored beyond the Wall of their town before. And no one is allowed to pass through the town's guards to do so. However, with the help of his father, Tristan makes his way through the gate and into the land of Faerie to retrieve the fallen star.

10.

Anansi Boys
Neil Gaiman

No products found.

Anansi Boys is another novel similar to American Gods--where the Gods walk among us as normal folk. And although not a direct sequel to American Gods, Anansi Boys does share the same character of Mr. Nancy (aka African trickster god--Anansi).

This story follows Fat Charlie, one of Mr. Nancy's boys, as he makes his way from London to Florida for his father's funeral. Mr. Nancy passed away in an unfortunate karaoke accident, and before his death never revealed to Charlie of his true nature.

However, a very old family friend is able to bring that light telling Charlie that he's not only a god, but has a brother as well. A brother, who unlike Charlie, inherited all the divine powers.