American Gods
Gaiman, Neil
ISBN 0380973650
Date finished: 2001-11-13
[Buy this book] (why?)
Gaiman has taken an idea first referenced in passing back in Sandman and expanded it into this novel of the struggle between the old gods such as Odin, and the new gods of the Internet, government, and Media (among others. The novel is beautifully readable, and is a clear demonstration that Gaiman can write novels as well as short stories and comic scripts without any straining for effect. Unfortunately in the end I was slightly disappointed, as American Gods doesn't end up by saying anything much new about the themes of belief and gods and modernity. It's a good novel, but not a great or outstanding one.