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Some good news today - my Steemit short story The End of the World has been chosen as one of the selections for the Isle of Write's soon to be published Steemit anthology book.

This is post 23 in @dragosroua's January 30 day writing challenge.

BOOK REVIEW – American Gods – Neil Gaiman

When I purchase ebooks for my Kindle Amazon makes suggestions for me based either on previous purchases from myself, or other people who have also bought that particular ebook. I have found some stories of interest, or even writing 'how to' books through this means. I usually give a quick scan to see if anything grabs my attention initially, and if something does then follow up on it. This makes good business sense for Amazon, but works for me also. This is a key way in which I have expanded my knowledge of new or unknown (to me) authors, and their novels.

But this is not unique to Amazon, and I remember shopping at Borders bookshop, in their real world bricks and mortar establishment, where I made many purchases over the years before they went the way of so many non-Amazon book sellers. And it was upon their book shelves that I saw the recommendation for Neil Gaiman's American Gods as I perused their Science Fiction and Fantasy selections. I tended to avoid Fantasy as I was used to seeing mostly High Fantasy amongst the many choices. Until I saw American Gods. It seemed to cross genre boundaries, but perhaps fit into a style of Fantasy that was unlike what I was used to. Magical, mysterious, horrific, speculative and so much more. And that's just what I determined from the blurb and quick scan. I remember thinking clearly at the time that I would probably really like this book. I bought it there and then, and started reading it immediately.

It is the story of Shadow, who has just been released from prison slightly early after having served nearly three years in prison. His wife has died in a car accident, and he is being granted early release to attend the funeral. He had been looking forward to resuming his old life with his wife, and had been counting down the days, trying to stay sane within the prison environment until he had served his time. That whole dream was wiped out and taken from him within days of becoming a reality again.

On his flight back to his home he sits next to a man calling himself Mr Wednesday. This mysterious stranger offers Shadow a job, but he isn't interested. He tries to distance himself, and seeking other transportation to complete the journey decides to hire a car. Still he runs into Mr Wednesday on the road.

The job offer is still on the table, and eventually Shadow reluctantly agrees to the deal. They seal the deal with three drinks of a foul mead alcoholic drink at a bar where Shadow is introduced to Mad Sweeny, who just so happens to be a Leprechaun. Having learned to do coin tricks whilst in prison, Shadow watches mesmerised as Mad Sweeny performs a seemingly impossible coin trick. Not willing to accept the explanation – it is pulled directly from the aether via belief - Shadow mulls it over in his mind for a long time determined to work it out. There is a rational explanation for all things mysterious. There always is.

Shadow travels around America as Mr Wednesday's bodyguard, and is pulled into situations that constantly challenge his preconceived notions about how the world works. He watches as the moon is plucked from the sky and turned into a magical coin; as he is confronted by a dead wife returned from the grave – despite being very dead - all the while being pursued by mysterious men in black as they make their way through rural America.

Shadow is shown the 'backstage' section of life, where reality is altered, and they can hide from the characters who pursue them. Slowly but surely Shadow's eyes are opened to a deeper reality at work. Televisions talk to him by name, ancient gods meet to plan battle, and the old life he once knew seems a distant memory.

As Shadow starts to believe that Mr Wednesday is no ordinary individual, a deeper mystery presents itself. He has been embroiled in Mr Wednesday's plans for a reason. But why? He has been introduced to people referring to themselves as the old gods, he has been ambushed by those referring to themselves as the new gods – the future, who Shadow should actually align himself with, and somehow all of this involves Shadow at a personal level.

The story takes us to a culmination point of a clash between the old and the new, the past and the future. But who are the good guys, and who should Shadow be trusting. And just why is he so important to all of this? Just when he thought he had a good grasp on reality, Mr Wednesday has managed to flip all of that on its head. So who really is this Mr Wednesday?

American Gods is based on the premise that gods exist because we believe in them. We make them real. Over the many years of American immigration, gods followed those who held them in their belief and faith. They were brought to the new lands. But eventually the old ways died out, the old beliefs were lost, as new generations, unaffected by the old world, made their own way in this new land. Having been given life through belief, the gods were then left to wander America and make their own way, as best they could.

But just as old gods were given life through the faith of those who believed in them, so too has new technology, new ways of living and being created it's own beliefs amongst the modern generations. And thus new gods have emerged, ready to challenge the old ones.

The idea of gods existing because we believe in them intrigued me from the moment I started to read this book. That they become like us, in a way, granted human form, but still different. Unknown to humanity, but walking amongst us, these gods have power relative to the degree of belief they receive. But time has changed so much. For mere humans, as well as for the gods.

And America has become the central focal point, through its role as a melting pot of mixed cultures, and mass immigration. America has become the point where the old clashes with the new.

I love the idea. The story that plays out, giving form to Neil Gaiman's concept is a brilliant one. Well written, with many interweaving plot lines, all heading in the one direction overall, yet filling out the story with colourful characters, and historical intrigue. There are countless side trips along the way, into the god's own stories, how they came to be, and how they ended up in America. A lot of life has been breathed into their development, giving depth to this magical story.

Shadow's progression from annoyed traveller, to confused witness, to uncertain believer, and finally into a conqueror of his own disbelief is laid out in a very readable, and enjoyable tale. The storytelling and imagination in this worked for me. It was a trip into fantasy land that I am glad I took that first time, and I have since made it that trip again. I will no doubt make it more times in the future.

American Gods has been made into a television series, but I only made it through the first few episodes. It is well produced, and probably is worth a view, but I found it threw me too much, given how much the book means to me. Perhaps I will try it again soon, but I am still unsure of that. The book to me take precedence over the show, and my recent re-read of it hasn't changed that.

In 2002, American Gods won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, SFX Magazine and Bram Stoker Awards, all for Best Novel.

Image Source unsplash.com

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