Angels and Visitations: A Miscellany [Hardcover]

Neil Gaiman (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Dreamhaven Bks & Art; Deluxe edition (November 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963094432
• ISBN-13: 978-0963094438
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,588,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I make things up and write them down. Which takes us from comics (like SANDMAN) to novels (like ANANSI BOYS and AMERICAN GODS) to short stories (some are collected in SMOKE AND MIRRORS) and to occasionally movies (like Dave McKean's MIRRORMASK or the NEVERWHERE TV series, or my own short film A SHORT FILM ABOUT JOHN BOLTON).

In my spare time I read and sleep and eat and try to keep the blog at www.neilgaiman.com more or less up to date.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unforgettable stories, May 26, 1999

By 

"samarand" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angels and Visitations: A Miscellany (Hardcover)

Some years ago I bought an anthology called Midnight Graffiti, now out of print (deservedly, unlike the book we are discussing). Although the authors were well-known, the general level of the stories was a) just average; b) bad; c) very bad; d) unspeakable, and so forth. The only story that stood out was "Murder Mysteries," by Neil Gaiman. This melancholy and powerful story stuck to my mind, and I could never forget it. So, I bought this book because it had this story in it (and so to get rid of Midnight Graffiti without qualms). This book is a treasure trove. Gaiman is a rarity, as fantasy authors go. He is satisfying in general, but he is simply superb when writing about absolutely ordinary people and their relationship with magic (mostly, their refusal to let magic into their lives), as in Chivalry, Vampire Sestina, Troll Bridge, the abovementioned Murder Mysteries and one about a veneral disease whose title has escaped me. (Just the title, I remember the story perfectly well.)

For those who did not get this great book, you can still enjoy Mr. Gaiman's unique talent in Smoke and Mirrors; it does not have the illustrations and essays, but it brings a lot of new stories. And unlike this one, it is in print.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag., October 15, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angels and Visitations: A Miscellany (Hardcover)

As the title says, a miscellany. There are many great stories in here: "Chivalry" gives us an imperturbable old woman who buys the Holy Grail at a thrift shop; "Looking For The Girl" explores obsession and the power of photography; "Troll-Bridge" is a sad update of the classic fairy tale; "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale" suggests what it might be like if assassins advertised in the yellow pages. There are even two mysteries, one about a murder in heaven and the other a hard-boiled (pun intended - you'll understand when you read the story) detective story that takes place in Nurseryland.

Then there's poetry. I'm the kind of person for whom poetry doesn't often do a whole lot, with few exceptions. I thought "Cold Colours" was fabulous, though you really should hear Neil read it himself on his CD, "Warning: Contains Language."

The nonfiction and book introductions (the ones he wrote for other people's books, not the ones he wrote for his own work here), however, are strictly for completists. Some of it is mildly entertaining, but what's the point of reading an introduction to Mary Gentle's 'Scholars and Soldiers' when few of us (at least in the U.S., sadly) will ever have a chance to read the actual book?

That said, I'd still recommend the collection overall. My grade of 7 comes from averaging out the good stuff with the filler, so it still comes out on top. Oh, there are some nice pictures, too..

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Neil's the best, November 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Angels and Visitations: A Miscellany (Hardcover)

Every word is brilliant, and improved by buying the audio CD, because if you listen to Neil reading it, you'll want to die in his arms. I have sound files of Babycakes and Nicholas Was on my computer just for when I need a Neil fix. It's the greatest in the world.