15 Best Neil Gaiman Books To Read In 2020

When it comes to acknowledging the best English authors, the list cannot be complete without Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman. His contribution to the book world is massive and magnificent. The author has framed short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, nonfiction, audio theatre, and films. His books contain the magic and intensity that you can cherish throughout the whole reading.

His books contain the thought that both inspires and evokes curiosity, and is clear to see informed the best works of Gaiman himself; books at once thought-provoking, mind-boggling, brilliant and absurd. Let’s get curious with his best works and cherish his amazingly written books.

15 best books by Neil Gaiman to inspire your life.

American Gods

One of the most influential and popular fantasy novels American Gods is an unusual experience. The book is the combination of Americana, fantasy, and various analysis of ancient and modern mythology, all centering on the mysterious and taciturn Shadow. It forces readers to take a deep dive into how the beliefs of the Americans have changed, both because of the immigration process and the development of technology. The book involves the Mythological creatures such as the titular Gods and specifies that they exist only because people believe in them, and together with their practices and values change the gods they believe in to suit their needs and desires. With the change in time, the New American Gods – modern technology, means of transit, and the like – need to win over the Old American Gods, yielded to the country with the introduction of its original immigrants.

Neverwhere

Neverwhere, Gaiman’s companion novelization was first created as a TV series by the BBC with the same title. The novel is London based and for the most part, takes place in the “London Below” – the tube stations beneath the city’s surface. Gaiman’s fan considers this novel to be the most mysterious and weirdest novel including the brilliant villains that anybody could ever imagine.

The book shares the essence of the cultural commentaries and cutting societal undercurrents of American Gods. The book is a typical Gaiman’s genre containing all the plots and characters and the elements that make this story worthy enough to give your heart and soul.

Stardust

This fantasy novel by Gaiman has a different style and tone from his fictional prose consciously written in the tradition of pre-Tolkien English fantasy. The book involves a lot of feelings and emotions as a young man wishes to gain his heart’s desire and from the whole ploy is based on this. The author takes you to the fairy tale journey which makes mesmerized and wishes that world for yourself.

As is already visible from that opening sentence, Stardust is the writer’s take on the fairytale genre. The book is set in the town of Wall, where a wall separates a relatively normal town from a magical world. Life begins when of the young boy when he wishes to the falling star and his life changes. This adventurous journey is worth reading and moreover involves the protagonist’s quest to achieve his romantic goal that makes the story more incredible and fantastical. So if you are a fan of a fairytale, magic, and fantasy this book is a must-read for you.

The Graveyard Book

When you talk about fairy tale Stardust is what comes in your mind but you cannot overlook  The Graveyard Book as it can make the fan to anybody be it a teenager or an adult. The story is way beyond your imagination, is a book revolves around a young boy who was raised in a graveyard by a vampire and ghosts.

The author has chosen to take the readers on a journey where the boy craves to find out the real meaning of his life and what is his connection and why is he living among the dead. The pages are turned and so as your curiosity to know his journey of finding out the reason for him to live in the graveyard. The book is the juxtaposition of children in cemeteries is something Gaiman has played with on more than one occasion. The book has the plot and twist that can guarantee you the goosebumps and life-changing experience.

Odd and the Frost Giants

Odd and the Frost Giants is highly popular among children and the plot is driven from the Nors Mythology. The book features Odd, a Norse boy who, after having been abandoned by his parents, boards on a journey during which he meets an eagle, a bear, and a fox. Soon the animals turn out to be cursed Nordic gods. Odd is angry with the Frost Giants who cursed his animal friends and attempt to take revenge by tricking them.

The book takes you on a rollercoaster ride and shares the experience of courage and adventure that a small boy holds. This book is though for kids but if you are a fan of mythology and history – especially of the Scandinavian variety! you are going to enjoy it to the fullest.

InterWorld

This science and fiction trilogy is a collaboration with Michael Reaves targeting younger readers but has the ability to grab the attention of adults as well. The story consists of plots that share the involvement of science fiction elements than typically mark a Gaiman story after all it’s his signature writing. The book is a journey of a daughter that carried to the second and third books. This is a fun series but you need to churn the wheels of your brain to get a better understanding. This book is one of a kind and is highly recommended to read.

Smoke and Mirrors

Smoke and Mirrors is the mainstream collection of short stories and poems that truly shines. Many of them are reprinted from the other sources. But this book is necessary for your bookshelf. The book has some exceptional work, once you read you cannot forget it for your life that includes “Troll Bridge, an entertaining retelling of “Three Billy Goats Gruff.” Though this book doesn’t have his fair share of exposure yet is one of the classic gems you should missout. The collection has all the ups and downs and has the capability to hold your attention for a longer period.

Norse Mythology

Norse Mythology is something that is an amalgam of Gaiman’s engagement with Norse gods on a number of occasions, notably in both the Sandman series and American Gods. The book became popular due to its mythological and fantasy approach. Norse Mythology is squarely rooted in the Nordic tradition, retelling the myths of Odin, Thor, and Loki in ways that are true to the unique accounts but also wholly modern. This book has audio adaptation as well. The book with a unique approach and Gaiman’s signature style is a must-read. Well, most of his book has an approach of a different world that definitely makes you imagine what a parallel world could be.

Anansi Boys

Anansi Boys is one of the author’s best work if it could be of any other author the book might have got way more appreciation but when it comes to Gaiman it is sorted as he is the only one who has that level of imagination that can make you think twice about the actual world existence.

The book is based on the incarnation of the West African trickster god Anansi who dies, leaving two sons, who in turn discover each other. The novel follows their adventures as they explore their common heritage of family tale of Fat Charlie Nancy and his trickster godfather is hugely entertaining and carries all the hallmarks of a standard Gaiman story. Overall the book is a good read and can keep you engaged till the end.

Trigger Warning

A trigger warning is Gaiman’s most nocturnal collection of “short fictions and disturbances and doesn’t fail to amuse you. The book involves the immensely beautiful stories such as “The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains” protruding up in several formats, but this disturbing fable about greed and retribution finds a haunting home in Trigger Warning. The moral of the book is to make you feel uncomfortable and it is highly succeeded in it. This book is a must-read for the readers who wants to see the author’s other side as well.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

This book is a sweet and sour experience as it follows an unnamed protagonist who returns to his hometown for a funeral and remembers events that began forty years earlier. The book is a charismatic, remarkable, magical plot and involves the girls with the same. The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a highly intimate, personal story that sticks with you, despite its minute size. This book includes the search for self-identity and the “disconnect between childhood and adulthood”.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch 

Omens is the perfect collaboration of  Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett that makes you feel watching two masters of their respective crafts at work. Both the writers have a different style and this book is definitely a masterpiece. The book showcases the plot of an angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley to sabotage the coming of the end times, having grown conventional to their tranquil surroundings in England. One of the plots introduces the mixup at the small country hospital on the day of birth and the growth of the Antichrist, Adam, who grows up with the wrong family, in the wrong country village. It’s delightful to read the work of these two personalities together.

Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders

Fragile things: best neil gaiman books

The title of the book is self-explanatory as there is much work from the author to cherish but Fragile Things feels the most even and ponder of Gaiman’s short story collections. Most of the stories in this book are also reprinted from the other sources “October in the Chair,” in which the months of the year gather to tell stories, captivates the mysterious essence of a chilly autumn night with precision. Well to get the proper idea of this book you need to read it and this book is not going to disappoint you.

Coraline

A classic dark fantasy for children and the novel has the same theme as other entries in the Gaiman literature in his hidden world within or just on the other side of your own but puts a unique spin on portal fantasy with its feisty, take-no-lip heroine. The book also involves the villains that are beyond your imagination and will make you hate them. The book was awarded the 2003 Hugo Award for Best Novella, the 2003 Nebula Award for Best Novella, and the 2002 Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers and what else do you expect.

Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes

No doubt the author has given his best to the writing world and all his work has no comparison. But if you try to choose the best you have a lot in the competition. This amazing saga of gods, monsters, and immortals is worth spending the time with. Well, Gaiman has the imagination that could anybody ever have, and obviously, no one can beat him when it comes to storytelling. The book tells the story of Dream of the Endless, who commands over the world of dreams. Well, you might be surprised but the original series ran for 75 issues from January 1989 to March 1996.

Conclusion

Neil Gaiman is not only a magnificent writer was a true magician to kids however his journey includes the best fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, nonfiction, audio theatre, and films. His contribution to writing is significant and has a unique stand in the front world. When it comes to storytelling, fairytales, imaginative world, vampires you cannot stop yourself to praise his work. He has won numerous awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker awards, as well as the Newbery and Carnegie medals. He is the first author to win both the Newbery and the Carnegie medals for the same work, The Graveyard Book (2008). In 2013, The Ocean at the End of the Lane was voted Book of the Year in the British National Book Awards. His awards are enough to boast about his work and that makes it more clear why this author has the stock of spooky with his name.

The above mentioned were some of the greatest read by the author. Do let us know in the comment section how you liked this article and if you have any queries you can ask them as well by commenting.

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