Cart
|
|
my account
|
wish list
|
help
|
800-878-7323
Hello, |
Login
MENU
Browse
New Arrivals
Bestsellers
Featured Preorders
Award Winners
Audio Books
See All Subjects
Used
Staff Picks
Staff Picks
Picks of the Month
Bookseller Displays
50 Books for 50 Years
25 Best 21st Century Sci-Fi & Fantasy
25 PNW Books to Read Before You Die
25 Books From the 21st Century
25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die
25 Global Books to Read Before You Die
25 Women to Read Before You Die
25 Books to Read Before You Die
Gifts
Gift Cards & eGift Cards
Powell's Souvenirs
Journals and Notebooks
socks
Games
Sell Books
Blog
Events
Find A Store
Don't Miss
15% off new books on Powells.com!*
Spring Sale
Big Mood Sale
Teen Dream Sale
Powell's Author Events
Oregon Battle of the Books
Audio Books
Get the Powell's newsletter
Visit Our Stores
Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
(0 comment)
Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
Read More
»
Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
(0 comment)
Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
(0 comment)
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
American Gods
by
Neil Gaiman
Comment on this title
Synopses & Reviews
Award Excerpt
Read an Excerpt
ISBN13:
9780060558123
ISBN10:
0060558121
Condition:
Standard
All Product Details
View Larger Image
View Larger Images
$12.95
List Price:
$14.95
Used Trade Paperback
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Qty
Store
2
Burnside
2
Hawthorne
Awards
Winner of the 2002 Nebula Award
Winner of the 2002 Hugo Award
5
20
What Our Readers Are Saying
Share your thoughts on this title!
Average customer rating 5 (20 comments)
`
Witz
, April 10, 2015
(view all comments by Witz)
This was a fun read; I think it has much to do with Gaiman's breezy writing style and the fact that he didn't take his subject matter too seriously. This is not traditional fantasy or sci-fi....The title is the story: America being fertile soil for supporting every remembered deity from every country. But time has not been kind to these gods and the reader travels to parts unknown with Shadow--the narrator-- as the main guide [another clever naming device]. A key principle in this book is that death is not death as mere mortals might understand it...but I leave that for prospective readers to explore.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
`
bear78
, January 01, 2012
So addictive it's frustrating...This book sent me down a long line of Gaiman works. I can't help but read anything and everything Gaiman now! Plus I've heard there was a special autographed edition run this year. Recommend this work to any serious fantasy fanatic.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
`
Nitesh
, January 05, 2010
Gaiman at his best. Dark and brooding mythology, grand scale and a raven who refuses to say "nevermore". America is the backdrop and the gods are trying not to get deported. Read this book.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
`
08eller
, January 04, 2010
Unabashedly different, American Gods changed what I expect from a novel, changed the way I view fiction, and completely changed the way I read. If you value thinking outside the box page after page, this book is for you. It stretches our perception of reality to the limits, and forces us to view life on new terms.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
`
rhamesses
, January 04, 2010
American Gods is by far one of the best bemusings on the myths & traditions that so many of us grew up with, and that so many of us have forgotten. The story is well-written, engaging, and thought-provoking; fun to read over & over because you'll keep finding things you've missed. In fact, I've read my paperback copy {almost} to death!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
`
Pamela Wilson
, January 03, 2010
groundbreaking work by a groundbreaking author. I particularly enjoyed the surreal (but actually very real in terms of setting) scene at House on the Rock.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
`
emkarp
, January 03, 2010
American Gods is amazingly well written and gripping. The charismatic figures of the tale take you on a romping adventure from beginning to end and leave you anxious to read more. What could be better said of an author.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
`
Charles Ahlquist
, January 02, 2010
(view all comments by Charles Ahlquist)
American Gods is a stunningly exceptional modern day mythology tale - It is absolutely worth a read by anyone who enjoys a sinister sense of humor and a magical mindset.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(15 of 15 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
`
brucesp2
, January 01, 2010
American Gods finally tells us what happened to all of the old world gods when their followers moved to the new world and slowly forgot about them. This is what the modern fairy tale needs to be in order for fairy tales to keep evolving, Gaiman at his best.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
`
Denise Fuller
, January 01, 2010
American Gods is one of the best books I've ever read. The mythology and research that it took to create the novel is obvious, but more than that, Neil Gaiman creates characters, both purely fictional and mythological, that you can't forget. I read this in two days, and I lost sleep because it was so engrossing I couldn't put it down.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
`
Naomi Healing
, January 01, 2010
Gaiman's characters in American Gods inhabit the vibrant life force of authentic folklore and mythology, and they tell us true things through the details of their fictional experiences. This book was my favorite read of the past decade because it is meaningful entertainment; the reader can enjoy the magic of being transported to another world while feasting upon an amazing buffet of ideas.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
`
lorelei76
, January 01, 2010
Brilliant book - one of those that you can keep re-reading and will ALWAYS find something new and different/
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
`
Katherine Coen
, January 01, 2010
This book gave me an opportunity to reflect on how homogenized American mythology has become, drawing as it does on old world gods, merging those with First Nation heros and stories, and revealing some modern icons and idols in the making. Quite a good read.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
`
Laurie MacAdam
, January 01, 2010
Funny, sad, wise? Delightful! One of my favourite things to gift-
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
`
kali
, January 01, 2010
Read this book three times, one time out loud, and always see more in it. Just a brilliant exploration of what it means to be an American on a mythological level. This amazing pastiche of the highest and lowest, the transcendental and the banal. Could have used a few more ninjas.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
`
ivamarie
, January 01, 2010
So amazing, masterful, thoughtful. I truly dug it.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
`
Ambrosia4All
, January 04, 2009
(view all comments by Ambrosia4All)
A beautiful mythology of a man without a future. Twists and turns bring on a heady sense of deja vu and the otherworldly eeriness of some scenes makes this a truly spectacular read. Gaiman is one of my favorite authors and he does not disappoint in this book that highlights gods of all religions and answers some pressing questions: what happens when people forget their gods? who are the american gods? who is really pulling the strings? It is fun to read this book and try to figure out all the religious references - try and figure out who the forgotten god is, there are many many theories out there. This is a book you won't put down and forget anytime soon...it'll stay in your head for a long time, irking you.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(5 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
`
shays
, July 06, 2007
America does not easily grow gods. Gods have come to America, though, carried in the baggage of believers from all parts of the world. However, the amount of concentrated faith needed for them to flourish has been watered down by the very diversity that makes America so unique because gods are created by their believers rather than the other way around (see Terry Pratchett?s ?Small Gods? for a humbler take on the same topic). As a result, those gods surviving the relocation have done so by taking menial and humdrum jobs in the everyday workplace. A war is brewing, though. Americans have been united by belief in the power of new gods ? electricity, technology, the media, and the dark forces of secret police, to name a few ? and the new gods want power. Enter Shadow, a quiet and soft-spoken ex-felon who finds himself at the center of this rising tide of conflict. Through his eyes, we come to a new understanding of our country, and life just under its surface as directed by America?s gods.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(17 of 34 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
`
uncle_loki
, April 22, 2007
(view all comments by uncle_loki)
As always, Gaiman's work is fantastic! I love how comfortably he is able to weave mythologies of various cultures into the fabric of modern america.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(20 of 39 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
`
Coni
, January 30, 2007
(view all comments by Coni)
What happens to gods when the world forgets about them? This is an epic novel about a man named Shadow getting released from prison and having his world turned upside down on him. You slowly learn more about Shadow?s life as the novel goes on and he becomes Mr. Wednesday?s right-hand man while they travel around the U.S. and prepare for a war brewing between the old world gods and the new world gods. I liked the description of middle America from someone outside the United States describing it from the perspective of gods. I also liked the little history lessons of folklore from different cultures.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(13 of 27 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
View all 20 comments
Product Details
ISBN:
9780060558123
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
09/01/2003
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers
Pages:
608
Height:
8.00
Width:
5.50
Thickness:
1.25
Age Range:
from 18 and up
Grade Range:
from 12
Number of Units:
1
Copyright Year:
2003
UPC Code:
2800060558125
Author:
Neil Gaiman
Subject:
Science Fiction and Fantasy-Fantasy-Contemporary
Subject:
Fantasy fiction
Subject:
General Fiction
$12.95
List Price:
$14.95
Used Trade Paperback
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Qty
Store
2
Burnside
2
Hawthorne
More copies of this ISBN
Used, Trade Paperback, $10.95
This title in other editions
New, Hardcover, $26.99
New, Mass Market, $9.99
New, Trade Paperback, $19.99
Used, Trade Paperback, $13.95
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##