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Lyn's Reviews > Neverwhere
Neverwhere (London Below, #1)
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Neverwhere!
Upon beginning a review of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman my first thoughts were to write that even a bad Gaiman novel was better than most other authors best work.
But this is unfair, Neverwhere is not a “bad� novel at all.
Compared to Stardust or Anansi Boys, or especially the masterpiece American Gods, it lacks the epic presence and may even be categorized as one of Gaiman’s lesser works.
What is present, though, is Gaiman’s phenomenal writing, his brilliant and original imagination and his ability to simply tell a good story. This was entertaining and the literary ground is ripe for more Neverwhere adventures if he ever decided to return, and he has hinted that he may. Croup and Vandemar are two of his best characters.
For Gaiman fans, but would not be the best to begin a tour of his impressive canon.
Upon beginning a review of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman my first thoughts were to write that even a bad Gaiman novel was better than most other authors best work.
But this is unfair, Neverwhere is not a “bad� novel at all.
Compared to Stardust or Anansi Boys, or especially the masterpiece American Gods, it lacks the epic presence and may even be categorized as one of Gaiman’s lesser works.
What is present, though, is Gaiman’s phenomenal writing, his brilliant and original imagination and his ability to simply tell a good story. This was entertaining and the literary ground is ripe for more Neverwhere adventures if he ever decided to return, and he has hinted that he may. Croup and Vandemar are two of his best characters.
For Gaiman fans, but would not be the best to begin a tour of his impressive canon.
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Reading Progress
June 17, 2012
–
Started Reading
June 17, 2012
– Shelved
July 6, 2012
–
Finished Reading
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by
Apatt
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rated it 5 stars
Mar 28, 2016 11:27PM
Great review Lyn, the graphic novel edition is worth a look also. As you said, it's not his best work.
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Thanks Apatt, I'd like to see the GN
I'd recommend avoiding the BBC miniseries - it's badly dated and had fairly bad effects. I do still like how dark a novel this is though - I felt like it was one of Gaiman's few works where he didn't shy away from truly terrible things. But agreed: in the end, it's lesser Gaiman.
Oh, I hope I like this one. I just got it from Amazon the other day. I got a really cool cover. I'm trying to collect them. =)
Very good review but that photo might give me nightmares.
I'm with you on this: there is much to admire here, and yet... yep, 3* for me, too. I think I'd have appreciated it more were I younger, not just because it's borderline YA, but because I'd have found it less predictable.
Thanks Cecily, I did like it, just didn't love it
This was my first Neil Gaiman book. I liked it but not enough to read another. Years later I read more of his stuff and haven’t looked back. I think I would probably enjoy it more if I read it now.
I might reread sometime
I am off to London in 10 days. Maybe i should re-read this before i go.
don't go over the Knight's Bridge!!
For someone who has not read Gaiman before, which book would you suggest as an entry point?
Hmm, great question. My first thought would be his Sandman comics / graphic novels. Just prose? Probably Coraline, then American Gods
