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Neil Gaiman

American Gods Mass Market Paperback – April 1, 2002

by Neil Gaiman (Author)

14,059 ratings

Book 1 of 2: American Gods

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Enhance your purchase

Shadow is a man with a past. But now he wants nothing more than to live a quiet life with his wife and stay out of trouble. Until he learns that she's been killed in a terrible accident.

Flying home for the funeral, as a violent storm rocks the plane, a strange man in the seat next to him introduces himself. The man calls himself Mr. Wednesday, and he knows more about Shadow than is possible.

He warns Shadow that a far bigger storm is coming. And from that moment on, nothing will ever be the same...

Print length

624 pages
Language

English
Publisher

HarperTorch
Publication date

April 1, 2002
Dimensions

4.19 x 1.56 x 6.75 inches
ISBN-10

0380789035
ISBN-13

978-0380789030
Lexile measure

840L
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Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

Religions are places to stand and look and act, vantage points from which to view the world.
Highlighted by 4,992 Kindle readers
We do not always remember the things that do no credit to us. We justify them, cover them in bright lies or with the thick dust of forgetfulness.
Highlighted by 4,569 Kindle readers
He wondered whether home was a thing that happened to a place after a while, or if it was something that you found in the end, if you simply walked and waited and willed it long enough.
Highlighted by 4,156 Kindle readers

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Original, engrossing, and endlessly inventive.” (George R. R. Martin)

American Gods is sexy, thrilling, dark, funny and poetic." (Teller, of Penn & Teller)

"American Gods is like a fast run downhill through a maze -- both exhilarating and twisted." (Jane Lindskold, author of Changer and)

From the Publisher

American Gods by Neil Gaiman has won the 2001 Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel at the Horror Writers Association Annual Meeting held that was held June 7-9 in New York City.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperTorch; Reprint edition (April 1, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 624 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0380789035
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0380789030
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 840L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 1.56 x 6.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #846,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #9,865 in Mythology & Folk Tales (Books)
- #11,300 in Fantasy Action & Adventure
- #30,497 in Paranormal & Urban Fantasy (Books)

Customer Reviews:
14,059 ratings

About the author

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Neil Gaiman

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Neil Gaiman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including Norse Mythology, Neverwhere, and The Graveyard Book. Among his numerous literary awards are the Newbery and Carnegie medals, and the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner awards. He is a Professor in the Arts at Bard College.

Customer reviews

5 star		70%
4 star		17%
3 star		8%
2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Author-poet

Strange, surrealistic and nauseating at times.

Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2018

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Interesting at the beginning but within first fifty pages I got lost, didn't know which direction the story was going. The novel has some interesting chapters scattered in between the main story but I got disappointed that they turned out to be independent stories with no connection to the main story. Some of the description of the so called gods, their clothing, their looks and the dietary habits was nauseating. Because of so many rave reviews I completed the novel and the question that I had in my mind 'what's the point?' remained unanswered.

146 people found this helpful

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Scott C. Pedigo

pretty much all gods

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2017

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This is the 10th anniversary edition that I'm reviewing, which means that there should be 10 years worth of reviews already, and anyone who is a Neil Gaiman fan will have already read it.

That said, here goes: it an old idea that you've seen before in a couple of Star Trek episodes and who knows elsewhere: the Greek gods or some other gods (in this case, pretty much all gods, in any pantheon that ever existed) are (or were) real! They derive their power from being worshiped, and only die if they are forgotten.

The twist: believers bring their gods with them when they emigrate. We have old world gods in the new world. New gods don't get along with the old ones, and a conflict ensues.

We follow one individual, Shadow, who isn't himself a god, but who might be employed by one, on journeys to various odd locations in the U.S. which are focal points of power. Not knowing much lore, he nevertheless has to do his best to fulfill his employer's missions, feeling his way through potential dangers and political intrigue.

179 people found this helpful

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Donald Tilleman

Saw the Starz series had to read the book

Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2017

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As the title of this review clearly states, I saw the TV series before I read this book, in fact I did not know this book existed and I was quite certain that it would not be a book I would enjoy reading, after all, the series revealed all the secrets.
Well I was wrong this book is full of highways and byways, I touched in the series treatment and in fact has more depth than those eight epidodes could ever dream of and although it never got to the end of the book, in fact it did not even make it to the House on the Rock, the series was an excellent way for me to pick up something that I should have read years ago.
The characters all fully drawn, the plot is well paced and the author is true to his premise throughout, which for me anyhow make this a five star book. When archetypes are needed they are used and used with a deliciously ironic effect. This is the sort of book I could put down and come back to, until of course I received the final chapters. Although the ending is foreshadowed more than once, and I will not spoil any else's enjoyment of this book by pointing it out, I was caught up in the narrative that I could not suspend my disbelief for long enough to puzzle it out. Although I look forward to another season of American Gods, knowing what I know now, will certainly allow me to cast a more critical eye on the transformation of this delightful adventure to the small screen, and I expect great things from the screen writers as they weave the rest of this tale into their streaming video offering.

100 people found this helpful

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Ward Family

Two men on a road trip to the center of America (an understatement)!

Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2018

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As much as I enjoyed this book, I could go on and on about the characters and the grand way this road trip of a story draws the reader along as a sort of, well, Shadow. The best kinds of stories give you a character to sink into, see through, as a vessel through which you experience the story as the character also does, moment by moment. Gaiman does a lovely job of making Shadow's realization happen just before the reader can start to see and understand it, and that is what delighted me most about this rather odd story.

Honestly, though, I wouldn't want to spoil the oddities and revelations for any reader who hasn't yet had the opportunity to read this. What I can say is that I am very glad I had started to watch the Starz TV series, then stopped as the book caught me up in its pace, and I set aside the show in favor of the book, and now I'll go back to see how the differences between book and series play out for me.

I continue to be impressed with the way Neil Gaiman structures his stories, and I know I'll read more of them. His view of the world, as it is, as it could be, and the vast realms of reality and possibility, are what inspire me to see things a bit differently, too. That's what draws me back to his writing, and the stories of others like him, who see things from an unique and fascinating point of view.

42 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Midgebear

Sleight Of Hand

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2019

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It really is all smoke and mirrors isn't it - what you see may not be real, what you see may be realer than you could ever imagine. The stoner kid who never seems to change who is always on the same spot in the park - is he really a stoner kid or an abandoned God, clinging on as best he can? That sweet little old lady in the local library that smells vaguely of cat is she just an old lady or something rather more dangerous? This seems to be the premise that Neil Gaiman has taken and run with in his, rather unique, style.

I haven't watched the TV series of the book but a co-worker has and recommended it to me as being incredibly strange (I like strange). Me, being me, would rather have the book so I decided to take the plunge. Unfortunately, all the way through I kept seeing Ian McShane's face as Mr Wednesday - but I can understand why they cast him as he does irascibly dodgy so well. That aside, it took me a disappointingly long time to twig who Mr Wednesday really is - I know, I know shameful (especially knowing the author's love of Norse Mythology, in fact ALL mythology going off this book). I was also in the dark, along with Shadow, as to who his cell mate really was and it was all there in the open, we were just too blind to see it.

What I did find interesting was how much crossover various Religions have (I can waffle for DAYS about the links between Ancient Egyptian belief and the Old Testament/Torah) but had never really considered Norse tradition, Slavic tradition - even Hinduism and Sikhism have crossovers. It's almost as though "names have been changed" in some cosmic documentary series. It even made me look further in to traditions and religions I had never given much temporal time to (Eastern European belief systems in particular) so probably took me longer to read because of this popping off to research the Zorya, etc..

I found the book to be completely immersive - so much so I spent an entire day off work curled up on the couch in my pjs just reading, been a LONG time since my entire day has been about a book. The warp and weft of the story just captivated me and sucked me right in. I never really felt emotion for the characters though, which is decidedly odd for me; usually if I love a book it is due to character but this one was all about the plot for me. Although, if Shadow was anyone other than himself it just wouldn't have worked - contradictory I know.

I'm not even really sure how to describe the plot - it just IS. There is also that little niggle in the back of your mind (the same one that The Stand gave me) that this could be real. When we create a belief system what happens when it's last adherent passes? Are we keeping the truly Ancient Religions alive by studying the cuneiform writings or the Hieroglyphics? By uttering Odin's name, or Freya's on a weekly basis are we keeping the God alive? By watching MCU movies are Loki and Thor being worshipped once more? Do Marillion have the power to resurrect Grendel? I think I am overthinking a fantasy novel rather too much - but I LIKE that it made me think, that it has entertained me mightily but also that it has given me something new to ponder on when I am cannot sleep.

This is a strange book, this is true. This is a very charming book as well, it's charm coming from the normalcy of every peculiar encounter, dream and circumstance. Shadow just accepts what is happening around and to him with a peculiar equanimity that speaks more of personal serenity than gullibility. This is not a book for public reading though, you need to get comfortable and realise that hours will pass whilst you are under it's spell - not so good for a lunch break or commute.

32 people found this helpful

Claire T

I didn’t care much for his character and that’s always a bad sign. Whether the lead makes me hate them ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2018

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Having read some of the glowing reviews and comparisons to Stephen King, I was more than eager to hand over my fiver and download the Kindle edition of this. It starts off with an exciting premise: the idea of gods being disgruntled at the fact they’ve been forgotten in the modern, materialist America.

However, I found Shadow’s stereotypical “dark and brooding” routine quite tired. I didn’t care much for his character and that’s always a bad sign. Whether the lead makes me hate them or love them, I want to feel SOMETHING. With Shadow, I was indifferent. Not a good start. Then the long and drudging dream scenes felt tedious and, in some cases, entirely unnecessary. Some of the scenes with random gods (such as the god who feeds on men whilst they have sex with her), felt crass and forced, whilst not really adding anything to the narrative. Some of it was great. Mr Wednesday’s dialogue was often funny and poetic. I quite liked his time in the funeral home too. But overall, it just didn’t grab me the way I was expecting, and the climax felt utterly anticlimactic. It is well-written, of that there is no doubt, and it’s worth a read. It just wasn’t quite the knockout I had been led to believe.

33 people found this helpful

J. Ang

Angels and Mortals

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2017

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Reading this novel a second time after more than 15 years does make for an enriching experience. I am made even more aware of Gaiman’s mastery of Nordic mythology and marvel at the way he has melded both the stories of folkloric gods and the lost luster of contemporary America. Bearing in mind the spate of superhero movies that sees these Nordic gods battling it out and wreaking havoc in America mostly came after Gaiman’s book reminds the reader how much of a forerunner the author is.

Almost every character in this expansive work has a backstory and surprising connection to a mythical god and they form part of this alternative universe that main protagonist Shadow lands himself in after being let out of prison just a few days ahead of finishing his sentence for a grisly reason. He lands a job with a grifter and master conman Wednesday, who leads him on a psychedelic cross country quest that is as wild as Dorothy’s journey to the Emerald City laced with acid.

The consequences of lost faith on the fortunes of gods who lose their significance are presented in a darkly humorous and allegorical way that only Gaiman knows how. Shadow finds out the true god identity of a former cell mate who explains his fallen mortal state: “You got to understand the god thing. It's not magic. Not exactly…. You take all the belief, all the prayers and they become a kind of certainty, something that lets you become bigger, cooler, more than human…. And then one day they forget about you, and they don't sacrifice, and they don't care, and the next thing you know you're running a three card monte game on the corner of Broadway and 43rd”.

Richly entertaining and mystical - definitely worth the revisit.

19 people found this helpful

Pamela Scott

Sheer brilliance

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 14, 2017

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I read this book, years ago. I remembered almost nothing about the book except that it blew me away. I recently saw the TV show on Amazon and thought it was amazing and it made me want to read the book again.

American Gods is awesome. I mean, sincerely, awesome. I loved it. I loved every word. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Did I mention it was awesome yet? Buy it and read and love it and worship it. The book is awesome-sauce. I can’t believe I just wrote that.

I loved the way Gaiman takes so many different myths, some older than others, some I’ve never heard of and uses them as a basis for something so original and interesting. I’m very impressed.

The ending of American Gods is not what I expected at all. When Shadow finds out the real deal and why Wednesday chose him, I was taken completely by surprise. I read the book more than 10 years ago and my memory is hazy. At first, I felt cheated, then and I thought, wow, I like where the story went. Sheer brilliance.

So anyway, American Gods is amazing.

An interesting aside: every time Wednesday appears in the book I saw Ian McShane in my head and heard his voice. Slightly creepy (he plays Wednesday in the show).

6 people found this helpful

J. C. Bailey

Can't maintain the quality until the end

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 28, 2017

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Impossible to categorise or evaluate, really. It starts off in fine style, with beautiful story-telling, descriptive prose, characterisation and atmosphere. And up to a point, the further you read the more you are drawn in. But somewhere in the second half, the edifice collapses under an overload of irony, metaphor, and satire on American life and values. The upshot is that even up to 2/3 or thereabouts of the way through, I thought I was reading a serious modern classic. but in the end I came away less impressed than I expected to be.

11 people found this helpful

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