I first came to read Neil Gaiman through his collaboration with Terry Pratchett, Good Omens, a hilariously funny take on the apocalypse replete with wordplay, social satire, and appealing characters from both sides of the aisle. Then I read Gaiman’s Anansi Boys, a moving tale of the relationships between two sons and their father, who happens to be Anansi the trickster god. Both of these stories show Gaiman’s humorous side and his facility with language.
Much of Gaiman’s other work has struck me as a bit darker than I usually enjoy, but with these two books as a jumping off point, I leapt into the alternative London of Gaiman’s Neverwhere, and found myself quickly drawn into the story. Gaiman story alternates between the real London and a fantastic world of the London Underground, where people proclaim their loyalties to various baronies and rulers. When Richard Mayhew stops to help a young girl who is hurt, he is drawn into the fantastic world of underground London, and his “real life” up above begins to disappear. Only by helping the girl on her quest can Mayhew regain his above ground life.
Gaiman is a master of character, and Mayhew, the girl Door, and their various comrades are all believable and fascinating. Gaiman also excels at creating bad characters who are more than simple stereotypes. Like any good quest story, there are betrayals and acts of heroism here. I found this book on one of our library displays, and started reading it and it took an effort to stop myself and get back to work. Gaiman draws you in and his language and characters keep you reading.
I enjoy a good “secret world beyond our own” story and Gaiman did an excellent job with Neverwhere. Your review is spot on and I recommend it for readers who enjoy dark, humorous (darkly humorous?), fantasy.
It was made into a 6 part mini series TV series in the UK and is available in the US. I haven’t seen it myself but apparently it has the production values of Dr. Who.
Thanks, Mack. I was impressed with this book, both the pacing and the language. If you like urban fantasy set in an alternate, but parallel world, you might also like China Mieville’s new YA novel Un Lun Dun.
It has a similar feel to Neverwhere, though not quite as dark, and Mieville is a masterful writer.