so i’ve decided that for all i’ve heard about neil gaiman, i should read some of his work. because it sounds fantastic. but then i looked around the internet and discovered that he’s written quite a bit.
where should i start? what are the doper picks?
Can’t say I’ve read his entire backlist but I REALLY REALLY enjoyed American Gods. Neverwhere was pretty good, too, if a bit cutesy, but AG was superlative.
Stardust!
The entire run of Sandman. 
However, if you want to pick one to start, go with “Fables and Reflections” or “Dream Country.”
Coraline is his best book, in my opinion, but that comes at the top of a list of very good stuff.
The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish is absolutely hilarious, a picture book meant for kids, but every adult I know who has read it loved it too.
American Gods has already been mentioned, and that’s good stuff.
Smoke and Mirrors is a collection of some good short stories of Gaiman’s… “Chivalry” is especially fun, and “Murder Mysteries” may be the best short story he’s ever written (again, among some very good ones).
If you’re going to read Stardust, which is excellent. I recommend the original graphic novel format. The story lost something in the translation to prose form (the beautiful Charles Vess illustrations, obviously, but something more than that as well).
If you want to go whole-hog and just immerse yourself a week or so, there’s always the ten volumes (eleven, if you count The Dream Hunters) of The Sandman. This comic-book series is some of Gaiman’s best work in any medium, and will likely (if there is any justice) become a classic of 20th-century literature.
That should get you started… there’s lots more, when you get done with those.
For your info, Gaiman is currently working on 1602 for Marvel comics. Essentially, it’s about what would happen if the Marvel superheroes showed up 400 years ago instead of the 20th century. It possibly comes out in September, maybe October.
I’m sorry, Issue #1 comes out Wednesday August 13.
Wolves In The Walls just came out recently- it’s a wonderful childrens story with amazing pictures. I bought it although Littlepotomus won’t be ready for it for a couple years.
My favorites are Sandman, Neverwhere and Stardust.
Can’t go wrong with Sandman. I’d read them all. Be advised, you need to commit to two volumes. Some, myself included, have trouble getting immersed in the first volume (at least until the 24 Hours story). But it is WELL worth the cost.
Graphic Novel recommendations:
The ten volumes of Sandman
Black Orchid
Violent Cases
Death: The High Cost of Living
The Books of Magic
Midnight Days
Novel recommendations:
American Gods
Neverwhere
Coraline
Stardust
IMO, Sandman is easily his best work. It’s in 10 volumes (plus some side projects that you don’t need to worry about unless you find yourself enjoying the series). The first is called “Preludes & Nocturnes”, the second in “The Doll’s House.” I agree with watsonwil that Gaiman is still shaking out the kinks in the first half of the first volume; don’t let the incongruous Martian Manhunter appearance put you off the rest of the series which has essentially nothing to do with superheroes.
–Cliffy
wow thanks everyone
i just got back from the town library and they didnt seem to have any of the graphic novels … but they did have three of the novels, neverwhere, american god, and something else (i have a bad memory) so i picked up american god. i’ll let you know how it goes!
There are two stories in A Doll’s House that stand out as some of the best comics writing ever done, “Collectors” and the one about Hob Gadling. These were originally published back-to-back and the contrast between them is simply amazing.
Books of Magic trade paperback, too.
I’m not sure how entertaining either of these will be without being preceeded by a lifetime of comic book collecting, though. No matter where you step in, there’s a hell of a lot of backstory you’re expected to know. There are hints that Morpheus’ negligence led to the destruction of Krypton and that if he lets Rose live, it’ll happen on Earth, too. But not catching that shouldn’t affect your enjoyment of the story.