Neil Gaiman is an English science fiction writer, his name is known all over the world. He creates graphic novels and comics, writes scripts for films. That is why even those who do not like to read books know Geiman. However, after watching a movie or animation, viewers often have a desire to read the work on the basis of which they were shot. And after reading it will be very difficult to stop, they are so interesting.
He has a rather impressive bibliography, the writer has received many awards and prizes. All science fiction lovers should definitely get acquainted with the work of this author. If you are one of them, read our article.
We present to you a list of the top 10 books by Neil Gaiman - fantastic works by a talented writer, many of which have been successfully filmed. By the way, the author writes not only for adults, but also for children. Some of his works can be read by the whole family.
10. Coraline
This story for children was published in 2002. Based on it, a popular cartoon was shot, which was released in Russia under the name "Coraline in the country of nightmares."
This is the story of an ordinary girl who moves with her parents to an old house. Mom and Dad are so passionate about their careers that they have absolutely no time to talk with their daughter.
once Coraline notices a secret door, the girl decides to open it and finds herself in a parallel world. Her parents are already waiting for her there, but they are different. These are doubles, they are very glad to see the girl. In this world, she likes much more than in the present, but Coralina still does not know what danger lies in wait for her family ...
9. Lord of the Mountain Valley
The story, written in 2003, is part of the American Gods series and tells the story of a guy named Shadow. New dangerous adventures await him.
Shadow travels to Europe. In a small town in Scotland, he is given the opportunity to earn extra money. We need a security guard for the event - the holiday is held in the open air, guests are important persons.
The protagonist of the short story "Lord of the Mountain Valley"Suspects that his role will be slightly different than that of a simple guard ...
8. The story of the cemetery
«The story of the cemetery"- a fantastic novel for children, published in 2002. Each of its chapters tells about a certain period in the life of a little boy.
As a baby, the baby loses the family. All of his relatives are killed by a criminal named Jack. The man did not notice the child, he managed to hide in the cemetery. Ghosts also feel pity, they soon take him under their care and even give him the name Nobody.
The boy is forced to live in the cemetery because Jack is looking for him and wants to kill him. Nobody makes friends and teachers. He is growing, learning the magical sciences, but sooner or later the boy will have to return to the world of the living ...
7. Death: the price of life
Graphic NovelDeath: the price of life", Published in 2013. Not all people value life, some are ready to part with it without hesitation. "Die anyway"- a very common opinion. Death itself thinks completely differently. She is called the eldest sister of sleep and the youngest - of Destiny.
She is Death, but she loves life very much, she has the opportunity to experience it. True, this can only be done once every 100 years. Death reincarnates, for one day, she receives a physical shell ...
6. Etude in emerald colors
Story published in 2003. It combines the incongruous: this is a continuation of the story of Sherlock Holmes and the universe of Cthulhu Lovecraft (American writer).
0 The narrative is conducted on behalf of the narrator, whose identity is unknown. He took part in the Afghan war, where he experienced many difficult moments. Now this man is renting a room on Baker Street. He has a neighbor - a private detective. One day, Inspector Leistred turns to him for help. A horrific murder has been committed, with the entire composition of the man sent to the scene. What he saw shocked even the former military man. A corpse with a ragged stomach, bloody graffiti ...
Interesting fact: the writer called this work "Etude in emerald colors”, The first chapters of it are similar to“ A Study in Scarlet ”by Arthur Conan Doyle. Soon, the reader becomes convinced that they are completely different, and as he reads it, he understands that Gaiman is masterfully misleading.
5. Ocean at the end of the road
Year of publication - 2013. This novel about finding yourself has become one of the best works of Neil Gaiman. The main character "Ocean at the end of the road"- a nameless man. He returns to his hometown after a long absence. The reason for returning is not very pleasant - the funeral.
A man cannot resist the temptation to plunge into childhood again, even in thoughts. He recalls how it was. A lonely boy who has no friends is dating a neighbor's girl. At her home is a pond that she calls the ocean. This eerie story begins here. The main characters will have to confront unknown creatures ...
A rather gloomy story, it can be called a fairy tale for adults, too many terrifying details and unsightly pictures.
4. Stardust
This book was published in 1998. Gaiman fans will notice that she has a different writing style. When creating the novel, the author tried to follow the traditions of fantasy Danseny and Cabella (the founders of the genre).
The book became a bestseller, it received recognition from critics and viewers, brought its creator a mythopoetic prize. The novel was filmed in 2007. True, the script is significantly different from the book (especially the climax and the ending).
«star dust"Tells of the village youth Tristan. He sets off on a dangerous path, his goal is to get a star for his beloved - beautiful Victoria. Instead of a star, he finds a Dream ...
3. Strange girls
This story was released in 2001, is included in the collection "Fragile things: stories and wonders". He became a kind of literary experiment by Neil Gaiman.
These are 12 short sketches that he made based on 12 songs by Tori Amos “Strange Little Girls”. It’s even difficult to call it a story, rather quotes about women of different ages - “weird girls».
2. Good signs
A novel in the genre of humorous fantasy, published in 1990. Co-authored by Terry Pratchett. At that time it was the most voluminous work of Gaiman. In 2019, the premiere of the series "Good signs"Based on the novel.
The demon Crowley must replace the child: the son of an American attache to the Antichrist. He is doing his job. After a while, he realizes that the Earth is not so bad, and the end of the world will not bring him anything good. Together with the angel Azirafel, they decide that the Antichrist can be re-educated ...
1. American gods
Perhaps the most famous work of Neil Gaiman. The novel was published in 2011, is included in the cycle "American gods". This is the backstory of The Lord of the Mountain Valley.
The main character is the same Shadow. A man leaves prison, but he has no reason to rejoice. Upon arrival home, he learns that he was at a funeral. His closest people - his wife and friend died in a car accident.
The Shadow has no other way, so he becomes the guard and escort of Mr. Wednesday. In this journey, the Shadow learns a lot of new things and will encounter such phenomena that he did not even dare to think about before ...