Neil Gaiman - American Gods -free to read online for a month

[kaneda]

I would like to ask the mods not to move this thread to the Neil Gaiman board, as I imagine that the people who visit that board are already fans of Neil Gaiman. The whole purpose of this free online book is to introduce people to Gaiman.

As mentioned in this thread
Gaiman to make one of his books available for free online. Neil Gaiman and his publishers have made the decision to showcase one of Neil's books online for free. The book that has been chosen is the incredible American Gods which will be available for a month here: Browse Inside American Gods: A Novel by Neil Gaiman .

Originally Posted by Neil Gaiman

For the next month, your free copy of American Gods is waiting for you at
http://tiny.cc/WRiXE

Feel free to spread the link as widely as possible around the web. If it works, and people read it, then a) we may be able to put up another book and b) sooner or later they'll simply let us give away the book in electronic form....

I'm one of those authors who is fortunate enough to make my living from the things I've written. If I thought that giving books away would make it so that I could no longer make my living from writing and be forced to go out and get a real job -- or that other authors would be less likely to be able to make a living -- I wouldn't do it.

As I tried to explain in the Guardian interview, the problem isn't that books are given away or that people read books they haven't paid for. The problem is that the majority of people don't read for pleasure.

Just to confirm, this is the complete book. It is an amazing book that makes you think and it can be read on different levels. I can't recommend this book enough and I know that there are many members on this forum who feel the same way about this book.

Plot synopsis:
Shadow dreamed of nothing but leaving prison and starting a new life. But the day before his release, his wife and best friend are killed in an accident. On the plane home to the funeral, he meets Mr. Wednesday — a beguiling stranger who seems to know everything about him. A trickster and rogue, Mr. Wednesday offers Shadow a job as his bodyguard. With nowhere left to go, Shadow accepts, and soon learns that his role in Mr. Wednesday's schemes will be far more dangerous and dark than he could have ever imagined. For beneath the placid surface of everyday life a war is being fought — and the prize is the very soul of America.

So check it out, and be introduced to the incredible world of Neil Gaiman - enjoy

[DeepThought]

Holy cow!, great news that! Kaneda, although I already read the novel when it came out. Correct me if I'm wrong here but I think it damn well won practically almost every award there is to be won in the SF&F genre (Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy award etc. etc.) and it's his best book to date (not withstanding The Sandman, of course) IMHO (this is saying a lot when it comes to Gaiman's works...). A window of opportunity to fantasy fans new to Gaiman to see what the fuss is about before investing...

Cheers, DeepThought

[kaneda]

Originally Posted by DeepThought

Holy cow!, great news that! Kaneda, although I already read the novel when it came out. Correct me if I'm wrong here but I think it damn well won practically almost every award there is to be won in the SF&F genre (Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy award etc. etc.) and it's his best book to date (not withstanding The Sandman, of course) IMHO (this is saying a lot when it comes to Gaiman's works...). A window of opportunity to fantasy fans new to Gaiman to see what the fuss is about before investing...

Cheers, DeepThought

Thats right, it won:
- Hugo Award for Best SF/Fantasy Novel
- Bram Stoker Award for Best Horror Novel
- Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel
- Nebula Award for Best Novel

and it was nominated for:
novel : 2002 World Fantasy
August Derleth Award (novel) : 2002 British Fantasy
novel : 2002 British SF
novel : 2002 Int. Horror Guild
adult literature : 2002 Mythopoeic
international novel : 2003 Italia/2
foreign novel : 2004 Phantastik



It is the best book he's written. Although it's not my all time favourite Gaiman book though - that honour goes to neverwhere (which I think I love because I'm a born and bred London girl )

[Rane Longfox]

It's a spectacular book. I didn't like Anansi Boys, but otherwise Gaiman has never put a foot wrong. Probably in my top 4 or 5 favourite books ever

[GOLLUM]

Yes, American Gods is a beauty.. Are you listening Conn?...

I won't move this thread provided you give me my usual donwpayment in greenbacks..MUWAHAA....

[Michael01]

American Gods is, so far, the only Neil Gaiman book I've read, but I have to say ... it's brilliant! I loved every word and couldn't stop reading. It wasn't what I was expecting, and yet in some ways it exceeded my expectations. I agree with the recommendations here. If you haven't read Neil Gaiman yet, this is a great opportunity.

I can't help but respond this way when authors are willing to give away a few (or even just one) of their works.

Speaking of which, has anyone checked out the Baen free library?

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

Yes, American Gods is a beauty.. Are you listening Conn?...

I won't move this thread provided you give me my usual donwpayment in greenbacks..MUWAHAA....

You talking to this Conn ?

I have borrowed Anansi Boys, hope its better than it was for Rane

[Nesacat]

Wow this is really great news. i hope it's gets many more people reading Gaiman. I read American Gods when it first came out and it's brilliant. I liked Anansi Boys too. It's different. Nothing like American Gods, but good in it's own right.

[Connavar]

Anyone of you gonna read the book online ?

I cant read any book online and even i could i wouldnt read Gaiman's best book online.

[Nesacat]

It's aimed at introducing people to Gaiman and so far all the replies here have come from people who have already read American Gods. I guess we will have to wait and see if there are people who have never read his books before and would now like to.

It'd be a good place to start and if the first several chapters got you hooked, you could go and buy the book. And if you just are not keen, then it's a saving on the cost of a book. Definitely a win-win situation.

[kaneda]

Originally Posted by Nesacat

It's aimed at introducing people to Gaiman and so far all the replies here have come from people who have already read American Gods. I guess we will have to wait and see if there are people who have never read his books before and would now like to.

It'd be a good place to start and if the first several chapters got you hooked, you could go and buy the book. And if you just are not keen, then it's a saving on the cost of a book. Definitely a win-win situation.

Totally agree. It's all about exposure for the book and the author. The beginning of the book is still fantastic, so hopefully should persuade people to, as you say, either buy the book or continue reading it online.

On a side note, Gaiman isn't overly happy with how the book is displayed online, so is in talks with the publisher to discuss how to make it more reader-friendly.

[kaneda]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

Yes, American Gods is a beauty.. Are you listening Conn?...

I won't move this thread provided you give me my usual donwpayment in greenbacks..MUWAHAA....

Yes, all in the post. Addressed to "Gollum in Australia" so should be with you shortly

[DeepThought]

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

You talking to this Conn ?

I have borrowed Anansi Boys, hope its better than it was for Rane

Anansi Boys is pretty good actually Conn, relatively speaking it's better than a lot of Urban Fantasy novels around...But Sandman (which I think you might have already read) Neverwhere, Stardust, American Gods, Smoke and Mirrors (short story collection) Good Omens (which is bloody brilliant; imagine Gaiman collaborating with Terry Pratchett of all people who could get into all kinds of mischief...), all these novels which he wrote earlier are better than Anansi Boys IMHO and I think Gaiman himself said something to this effect. So I suggest that you try some of these before tackling Anansi Boys to get acquainted with his style which is aptly, pretty weird, lest you be turned off his novels. I remember you saying Conn, that your a 'mood reader' so first impressions might play a huge role, just wanted to point this out.

Cheers, DeepThought

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by kaneda

Yes, all in the post. Addressed to "Gollum in Australia" so should be with you shortly

Yeh Happy Times are here again!!.....

@Conn..C'mon there's only one Conn....

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by DeepThought

Anansi Boys is pretty good actually Conn, relatively speaking it's better than a lot of Urban Fantasy novels around...But Sandman (which I think you might have already read) Neverwhere, Stardust, American Gods, Smoke and Mirrors (short story collection) Good Omens (which is bloody brilliant; imagine Gaiman collaborating with Terry Pratchett of all people who could get into all kinds of mischief...), all these novels which he wrote earlier are better than Anansi Boys IMHO and I think Gaiman himself said something to this effect. So I suggest that you try some of these before tackling Anansi Boys to get acquainted with his style which is aptly, pretty weird, lest you be turned off his novels. I remember you saying Conn, that your a 'mood reader' so first impressions might play a huge role, just wanted to point this out.

Cheers, DeepThought

Lucky me i also have Good Omens

I planned on starting to read it tommorow now that im done with my Westlake Noir book.

Im a mood reader on the genres and authors i already have strong feelings for, not on authors i havent tried. Authors worth a try i give a fair chance by reading one of thier most famous books


Thanks for the info. Heh i was worried about reading Good Omens since it was his first book and not written solo, thought might unfair to judge him by it. Good to know, its one of his better ones.