The 10 Best Neil Gaiman Books
Special Honors
Mouse Circus This is the official website for younger readers. There are links to picture books about a sneezing panda named Chu that were a collaboration with illustrator Adam Rex, and others called Instructions and Blueberry Girl in which the author worked with Charles Vess. There are sections that introduce brief biographies of the author and artists, plus videos, downloadable activities, and an FAQ. mousecircus.com
Neverwear An apparel and merchandise hub that sells writers kits, prints, autographs, t-shirts, knit hats, engraved metal straws, lunchboxes, mugs, and pins inspired by Neverwhere, a BBC television serial about a good Samaritan in a fantasy version of London, and subsequently Gaiman's first novel. neverwear.net
Editor's Notes
June 24, 2020:
Young adult readers might be particularly drawn to selections like The Graveyard Book and Coraline: 10th Anniversary Edition that are explicitly geared toward this age group, but there's no reason for this crowd to shy away from The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Charles Vess' Stardust, Norse Mythology, Interworld, or Preludes & Nocturnes, either. For more reading ideas in this category, consider our ranking of The 10 Best Young Adult Books.
Charles Vess' Stardust is an update to the previous version that adds sumptuous illustrations. It is not a graphic novel, and the pictures are not necessary to follow the narrative, but they represent an absolute improvement on the original work. The story was also recently adapted into a romantic film starring Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, and Charlie Cox as Tristan Thorn.
Although it is not the best showcase for this raconteur's unique vision, Norse Mythology is included for its prose style and because its legends continue to entertain readers centuries after they were first told. Presumably some will begin this text already knowing about the events at Ragnarok, and so forth, but those who have never heard these stories will find it to be a raucous climax unmatched in literature. Fans of Gaiman's take on these deities may appreciate seeing them reappear in his Sandman series and American Gods. Those who are drawn to this genre might also appreciate our list of The 10 Best Greek Mythology Books
The tone of Anansi Boys may please fans of Tim Burton, another auteur who navigates the tonal area in between whimsy and fear. Other works evoke Stephen King with explorations of the psychology of childhood innocence running up against terrors that must sometimes be kept secret from adults. For more of this ilk, we have compiled the 10 Best Stephen King Books
Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders was chosen over other collections including Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions, Angels and Visitation, Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances, and his child-friendly compendium, M is for Magic.