Genre: Urban Fantasy
Published: July 2001
Pages: 674
Synopsis
A storm is coming...
Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the magic day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.
But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow’s best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.
Life as Wednesday’s bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined—it is a job that takes him on a dark and strange road trip and introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. Along the way Shadow will learn that the past never dies; that everyone, including his beloved Laura, harbors secrets; and that dreams, totems, legends, and myths are more real than we know. Ultimately, he will discover that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and that he is standing squarely in its path.
Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the magic day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.
But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow’s best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.
Life as Wednesday’s bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined—it is a job that takes him on a dark and strange road trip and introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. Along the way Shadow will learn that the past never dies; that everyone, including his beloved Laura, harbors secrets; and that dreams, totems, legends, and myths are more real than we know. Ultimately, he will discover that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and that he is standing squarely in its path.
Review
With this book being a show now, I kinda had to read it. Especially because I really want to watch it. The issue is that everyone else at my library had the same idea, so the hold was about infinity billion months long. Seriously. I put a hold on it last year after having seen an article about it. But it was amusing that I got it right about the time the show started. Just in time for me to be behind everyone else!
I’m about to out my lameness even further. I’d also never read a Neil Gaiman book before. I know, the shame! I’ve watched a couple of his movies without realizing they were books first, because I bring shame and dishonor to my family. Also I really enjoy the Doctor Who episodes he’s written. So it’s not like I should have been worried I wouldn’t enjoy them. Mostly I’m just a bum.
Being a big fan of mythology, the whole concept of this book fascinated me. So I was both excited and intimidated to start this one.
I’ve got to say, it starts out slowly. But it’s still fairly captivating. There’s a lot going on, and it’s pretty easy to get lost - especially if you’re listening to the audiobook. So you’ve got to really be paying attention. At the same time, because of how much is happening it’s also easy to completely forget things going on around you while being immersed in what is going on.
Okay, so to sum up my feelings on this. It was pretty cool. But it was also drawn out and more wordy than it needed to be. That took away from a lot of my interest and made it a bit boring throughout. But I thought it was cool and I do still want to watch the show.
⅗ Platypires - Joood - Hooligan
I’m about to out my lameness even further. I’d also never read a Neil Gaiman book before. I know, the shame! I’ve watched a couple of his movies without realizing they were books first, because I bring shame and dishonor to my family. Also I really enjoy the Doctor Who episodes he’s written. So it’s not like I should have been worried I wouldn’t enjoy them. Mostly I’m just a bum.
Being a big fan of mythology, the whole concept of this book fascinated me. So I was both excited and intimidated to start this one.
I’ve got to say, it starts out slowly. But it’s still fairly captivating. There’s a lot going on, and it’s pretty easy to get lost - especially if you’re listening to the audiobook. So you’ve got to really be paying attention. At the same time, because of how much is happening it’s also easy to completely forget things going on around you while being immersed in what is going on.
Okay, so to sum up my feelings on this. It was pretty cool. But it was also drawn out and more wordy than it needed to be. That took away from a lot of my interest and made it a bit boring throughout. But I thought it was cool and I do still want to watch the show.
⅗ Platypires - Joood - Hooligan
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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.
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.
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