I just finished Smoke and Mirrors, which I picked up at a used bookstore for the bargain-basement price of $3. I’d love to know what Gaiman I shouldn’t miss, and particularly what I might like to pick up next. If it helps, some of my favorites in Smoke and Mirrors were “Troll Bridge,” “Chivalry,” “Murder Mysteries,” and “Only the End of the World.”
I really liked American Gods. That’s out in paperback, too, and it recently won the Nebula Award for Best Novel.
Gaiman co-wrote a hysterically brilliant book called Good Omens with Terry Pratchett (praise be unto him). That’s in paperback, as well.
Gaiman is perhaps best known for his Sandman series, which has been thougtfully reprinted in its entirety in the form of graphic novels. Highly recommended, although a bit pricey per volume. But the cost of obtaining this series is definitely worth it.
I haven’t read Stardust or Coraline yet, but I’ve heard favorable reviews of both.
Neverwhere. For sure. I liked it better than American Gods.
Stardust and Coraline are also both excellent, but much shorter and told in very distinct styles that set them apart from novels the first two. I guess it depends on what kind of mood you’re in. Straight adventure? Neverwhere. Classic fairy tale for grown-ups? Stardust. Adventure/scary story for children? Coraline.
His Black Orchid comics mini-series was also very good.
All of the above.
Minor correction: Hugo, not the Nebula. It will be on the Nebula preliminary ballot for next year, though (the two awards don’t have matching award years).
I’ve never read anything by Gaiman that wasn’t superb.
Whatever you can get your hands on.
Sandman is his best work. His writing is surprisingly well-suited for novels and the like, but it’s really in its element in graphic novel form. In particular, issues like The Sound of her Wings, Three Septembers and a January, and (my personal favorite) Ramadan work really well as stand-alones, though to get the full effect of the series, you should read at least one whole storyarc (The Doll’s House is probably the best place to start, because it’s near the beginning of the series).
What AudreyK said.
American Gods is a definite must read. You can skip Neverwhere unless you’re desperate for something to read. Interesting idea, but Gaiman’s grasp of the novel form was still pretty shakey. It’s a lot like reading a comic book with no pictures. However, if you like comic books, you absolutely must get his Sandman books, which are among the finest comic books ever written. Heck, even if you don’t like comic books, you absolutely must get these books, as it’ll show you how wrong you are about comic books.
There is also his run on Miracleman which if you are really, and I mean REALLY lucky, you might find in TP at a comic shop, otherwise your best hope is E-Bay.
Also there are the two mini-series about Death, Death: The High Cost of Living and Death: The Time of Your Life.
As for American Gods, I thought it was a decent read, I certainly didn’t think it was all that.
And the ending was a HUGE anticlimax.