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Loading... Neverwhere (original 1996; edition 1996)
Work detailsNeverwhere by Neil Gaiman (1996)
Since the day I read this book, it remains in my top 5 favorite books of all time. That's the day Neil Gaiman became my favorite author! (  )  JaneeKline | Jun 17, 2013 |  Recommended by: Christa D. (  ) Snukes | Jun 14, 2013 | It took me a long time to get to this book because of some mixed reviews I've seen. Finally I compromised and borrowed it from my library in audiobook form. Now my biggest regret is waiting too long! The premise of the secret parallel world is not new, but the execution is superb, from a tight plot to likable "everyman" protagonist to a large cast of memorable supporting characters. It's not for the impatient, so be prepared to spend some time in this world and enjoy the journey rather than waiting for grand action scenes, although there are enough of those as well. Mr. Gaiman narrates the audiobook himself and does a great job of it. If you choose to go the audio route, I recommend borrowing a physical book as well- many times I ended up being late for work because of waiting for one of the exciting scenes to come to an end! Highly recommended and almost enough to make me lose my skepticism about the urban fantasy genre. ( ) MashaK99 | Jun 11, 2013 |  tauruseducation | Jun 5, 2013 | Richard Mayhew is an average man who follows Life's rules. He has a secure job in finance, he is engaged to the beautiful Jessica, and he is well on track to live out the boring life prescribed for him. All this changes when one evening he stops to help a bleeding woman on the London sidewalk. This act of kindness opens up the mysterious and magical world of London underground and Richard must step out of his comfort zone and go beyond ordinary and become heroic. I loved this book! It had the perfect combination of fairytale fantasy with Neil Gaiman's trademark witty, tongue-in-cheek humor. This is the perfect escape from reality book - fast paced, romantic, and funny. Neil Gaiman's narration, is perfect! ( ) jmoncton | Jun 3, 2013 |
 Gaiman blends history and legend to fashion a traditional tale of good versus evil, replete with tarnished nobility, violence, wizardry, heroism, betrayal, monsters and even a fallen angel. The result is uneven. His conception of London Below is intriguing, but his characters are too obviously symbolic (Door, for example, possesses the ability to open anything). Also, the plot seems a patchwork quilt of stock fantasy images. Adapted from Gaiman's screenplay for a BBC series, this tale would work better with fewer words and more pictures.  The novel is consistently witty, suspenseful, and hair-raisingly imaginative in its contemporary transpositions of familiar folk and mythic materials (one can read Neverwhere as a postmodernist punk Faerie Queene). Readers who've enjoyed the fantasy work of Tim Powers and William Browning Spencer won't want to miss this one. And, yes, Virginia, there really are alligators in those sewers--and Gaiman makes you believe it. The millions who know The Sandman, the spectacularly successful graphic novel series Gaiman writes, will have a jump start over other fantasy fans at conjuring the ambience of his London Below, but by no means should those others fail to make the setting's acquaintance. It is an Oz overrun by maniacs and monsters, and it becomes a Shangri-La for Richard. Excellent escapist fare. Gaiman's gift for mixing the absurd with the frightful give this novel the feeling of a bedtime story with adult sophistication. Readers will find themselves as unable to escape this tale as the characters themselves. Is contained inIs an adaptation ofHas the adaptationInspired
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(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:41:21 -0500)
After he helps a stranger on a London sidewalk, Richard Mayhew discovers an alternate city beneath London, and must fight to survive if he is to return to the London he knew.
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| 4 | 1944 |
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