Synopses & Reviews
One of fiction's most audaciously original talents,
Neil Gaimannow gives us a mythology for a modern age -- complete with dark prophecy, family dysfunction, mystical deceptions, and killer birds. Not to mention a lime.
Anansi Boys
God is dead. Meet the kids.
When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed -- before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.
Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is from day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun ... just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.
Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. Some said he could cheat even Death himself.
Returning to the territory he so brilliantly explored in his masterful New York Timesbestseller, American Gods, the incomparable Neil Gaimanoffers up a work of dazzling ingenuity, a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth that is at once startling, terrifying, exhilarating, and fiercely funny -- a true wonder of a novel that confirms Stephen King's glowing assessment of the author as "a treasure-house of story, and we are lus lives in Bristol, England, with her husband, a professor emeritus of English literature at Bristol University. They have three sons.
Review
Charlie Nancy is an easily embarrassed London accountant in this sort-of sequel
to Gaiman's American Gods, winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards. Attending
his father's funeral, Charlie discovers two disconcerting facts: 1) His dad
was actually Anansi, an African trickster god; and 2) Charlie has a brother,
Spider, who's inherited some of his dad's powers. When Spider comes to visit,
he proceeds to seduce Charlie's fiancée and get Charlie fired from his
(admittedly horrible) job. Then things start getting out of control. The genre-busting
novel is very creative and very funny, two Gaiman specialties. Its sweep is
less epic than American Gods, but it works well on its own terms. Grade:
A- Christian Science Monitor
Review
"The result, though less dazzling than American Gods, is even more moving. Intermittently lumpy and self-indulgent, but enormously entertaining throughout. And the Gaiman faithful...will devour it gratefully." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Review
"[A] romantic screwball comedy seasoned with murder, magic, and ghosts....[Gaiman is] the folksy, witty, foolishly wise narrator to perfection, drawing us into the web he weaves as skillfully as any...spider." Booklist (Starred Review)
Review
"With Anansi Boys, Neil Gaiman's delightful, funny and affecting new novel, the bestselling author has scored the literary equivalent of a hole in one, employing the kind of self-assured storytelling that makes it all look so easy." Elizabeth Hand, The Washington Post
Review
"A fun book with a little of everything horror, mystery, magic, comedy, song, romance, ghosts, scary birds, ancient grudges, and trademark British wit....Another lovely story as only Gaiman can tell it; necessary and recommended." Library Journal
Review
"[A]pparently, there isn't much Neil Gaiman can't do. Anansi Boys is one of the finest screwball comedies to come along since To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis....[A] remarkable and entertaining book." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Review
"Gaiman is witty and engaging, but his power is more as a storyteller than as a stylist, and I think what his fans find so appealing about his stories is that they are comforting, no matter how scary, like a good bedtime tale." Minneapolis Star Tribune
Review
"The genre-busting novel is very creative and very funny, two Gaiman specialties. Its sweep is less epic than American Gods, but it works well on its own terms. (Grade: A-)" Christian Science Monitor
Review
"[F]unny and subversive, a comedy of ill-mannered gods and bad-hearted mortals....Gaiman's mastery of language carries the reader through to a satisfying conclusion." USA Today
Review
"[A] giddy but somewhat unsatisfying ride. Whenever Gaiman runs into a narrative jam, he veers off in an exhilarating new direction, a diversionary tactic that starts to feel like a cheat. (Grade: B-)" Entertainment Weekly
Review
"Set in a dreamlike world of reality and circumstance, Anansi Boys belies Gaiman's admonitions. No, it is not big, and it may not even be serious, but it is laugh-out-loud funny and scary as a spider on your arm." USA Today
Synopsis
God is dead. But just wait till you meet the kids...
When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.
Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is to day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun...just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.
Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion; he is able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, baffle the devil, and cheat Death himself.
Exciting, scary, and deeply funny, Anansi Boys is a kaleidoscope journey deep into myth, a wild adventure, and a fierce and unstoppable farce, as Neil Gaiman shows us where gods come from, and how to survive your family.
Synopsis
In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Neil Gaiman returns to the territory of his masterpiece, American Gods (soon to be a Starz Original Series) to once again probe the dark recesses of the soul.
God is dead. Meet the kids.
Fat Charlie Nancy's normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage. Charlie didn't know his dad was a god. And he never knew he had a brother. Now brother Spider is on his doorstep--about to make Fat Charlie's life more interesting . . . and a lot more dangerous.
"Thrilling, spooky, and wondrous."
--Denver Post
"Awesomely inventive.... When you take the free-fall plunge into a Neil Gaiman book, anything can happen and anything invariably does."
--Entertainment Weekly
"Delightful, funny and affecting.... A tall tale to end all tall tales."
--Washington Post Book World
Synopsis
One of fiction's most audaciously original talents, Neil Gaiman now gives us a mythology for a modern age complete with dark prophecy, family dysfunction, mystical deceptions, and killer birds. Not to mention a lime.
Returning to the territory he so brilliantly explored in his masterful New York Times bestseller, American Gods, the incomparable Neil Gaiman offers up a work of dazzling ingenuity, a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth that is at once startling, terrifying, exhilarating, and fiercely funny a true wonder of a novel that confirms Stephen King's glowing assessment that "Neil Gaiman is a treasure-house of story, and we are lucky to have him in any medium."
Synopsis
Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spirit of rebellion able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. When he dies on a karaoke stage, things get very interesting for Charlie.
Synopsis
One of fiction's most audaciously original talents, Neil Gaiman now gives us a mythology for a modern age -- complete with dark prophecy, family dysfunction, mystical deceptions, and killer birds. Not to mention a lime. Anansi Boys God is dead. Meet the kids.
When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie Fat Charlie. Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing gifts his father bestowed -- before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.
Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is from day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun ... just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.
Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. Some said he could cheat even Death himself.
Returning to the territory he so brilliantly explored in his masterful New York Times bestseller, American Gods, the incomparable Neil Gaiman offers up a work of dazzling ingenuity, a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth that is at once startling, terrifying, exhilarating, and fiercely funny -- a true wonder of a novel that confirms Stephen King's glowing assessment of the author as a treasure-house of story, and we are lucky to have him.
About the Author
Neil Gaiman is the critically acclaimed author of the novels American Gods, Neverwhere, and Stardust, and the Sandman series of graphic novels, as well as Smoke and Mirrors, a collection of short fiction, and Coraline, a novel for readers of all ages. Originally from England, Gaiman now lives in America.