# Poll for people who've read American Gods **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226 "2009-08-30T03:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/1 "2009-08-30T03:34:32Z")
I’m going to put the question in spoiler boxes, but chances are things will be spoiled openly during the course of the thread. Be warned. . . . . . . . . . . . . How many of you figured out the top-secret identity of Low-Key Lyesmith? I never saw it coming. This does not suprise me. I’m completely oblivious to subtle textual clues (unless it’s clear that there’s going to be a twist). I’m wondering what people with normal reading comprehension skills thought? Did you read the name and say to yourself, “Hey! That’s a pun! Maybe he’s really…”, or was it more like “Forget about the guy mentioned briefly at the beginning and never seen, la di la di la… HOLY NORSE MYTHOLOGY, BATMAN! I never woulda thunk that!”? ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/2 "2009-08-30T03:38:29Z")
I figured it pretty much right away. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/3 "2009-08-30T03:45:44Z")
Same here. Low-key? I guess I just say names out loud a lot. It was pretty obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/4 "2009-08-30T03:50:00Z")
I read the beginning about a year before I read the rest of the book, 'cause I lost my copy and had to buy another one. I might’ve figured it out initially, but if I did, I totally forgot by the time I read the rest of it. And then I felt like a fucking idiot. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/5 "2009-08-30T04:12:18Z")
I suppose I’m disqualified for listening to an Audiobook, but I thought it would’ve been obvious. The only one I didn’t figure out pretty quickly was Shadow. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/6 "2009-08-30T04:30:09Z")
I didn’t know there was anything to figure out so no, I didn’t. I honestly don’t even remember what Low Key’s role in the end was, other than he was keeping an eye on Shadow for some reason? But then again I was confused through most of that book (could of been because I read it at work so only had half a mind on it at the best of times, and only got to read about 2-3 pages each sitting). The protagonist defeats the trickster and then… there’s some sort of hobgoblin and a girl in the trunk of a car? What did that subplot have to do with anything, and why was it resolved 30 pages _after_ the main climax of the story? It seemed to come out of left field to me, like Gaimen had to tack on another couple pages to keep his publisher happy or something. (Anyone who would care to explain would be helpful) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/7 "2009-08-30T05:16:27Z")
It’s been years since I read the book, but I don’t recall being surprised by anyone’s idenity. Well, I take that back. I _was_ surprised by the reveal about Hinzelmann but he wasn’t a god. ---
**Author:** ![justafriend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@justafriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justafriend)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/8 "2009-08-30T05:59:07Z")
I spent so much time trying to figure out who the established gods were that I didn’t even think about Low-Key. I don’t think I was really surprised, though. It was more of an “Oh yeah. Duh.” kind of thing. Oh, and Hinzelmann _was_ a god. He was a very old tribal god. Remember the story about the little boy left to starve in a hut and then run through with swords? As good a way to make a god as any, according to the story. ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/9 "2009-08-30T06:04:39Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > I never saw it coming. This does not suprise me. I’m completely oblivious to subtle textual clues (unless it’s clear that there’s going to be a twist). I’m wondering what people with normal reading comprehension skills thought? Did you read the name and say to yourself, “Hey! That’s a pun! Maybe he’s really…”, or was it more like “Forget about the guy mentioned briefly at the beginning and never seen, la di la di la… HOLY NORSE MYTHOLOGY, BATMAN! I never woulda thunk that!”? I figured it out. I also guessed who Shadow was and that Odin was up to no good. I am a practicing Asatruar so it wasn’t hard to make those leaps. 😜 I found it to be an excellent book. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/10 "2009-08-30T06:18:17Z")
I got is pretty much right away. But the “key” for me was in the last name - Lyesmith. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/11 "2009-08-30T06:24:03Z")
> [@justafriend](#): > > Oh, and Hinzelmann _was_ a god. He was a very old tribal god. Remember the story about the little boy left to starve in a hut and then run through with swords? As good a way to make a god as any, according to the story. No, he’s a kobold. It’s a different sort of mythological being than a god. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/12 "2009-08-30T10:50:29Z")
Well, I suppose it’s up to me to boldly put my hand up and say - nope, I was completely taken for a ride. I never get these things. On the plus side, that helps make the book Really Really good. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/13 "2009-08-30T11:43:20Z")
Yes,I got Loki pretty quick. Also figured out that Odin was running some sort of con way before the big reveal. I am, however, either misremembering or not grokking something here… who was Shadow supposed to be? ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/14 "2009-08-30T14:09:38Z")
According to TV Tropes, Baldr. No, I don’t understand, either. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/15 "2009-08-30T14:11:53Z")
> [@Captain\_C](#): > > I didn’t know there was anything to figure out so no, I didn’t. I honestly don’t even remember what Low Key’s role in the end was, other than he was keeping an eye on Shadow for some reason? But then again I was confused through most of that book (could of been because I read it at work so only had half a mind on it at the best of times, and only got to read about 2-3 pages each sitting). The protagonist defeats the trickster and then… there’s some sort of hobgoblin and a girl in the trunk of a car? What did that subplot have to do with anything, and why was it resolved 30 pages _after_ the main climax of the story? It seemed to come out of left field to me, like Gaimen had to tack on another couple pages to keep his publisher happy or something. > > (Anyone who would care to explain would be helpful) Anyone want to take this on? (I can’t find my copy of AG). ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/16 "2009-08-30T14:36:55Z")
I didn’t catch it. But then, I’m a very candid reader, I never figure those things out, never spot the obvious parallels and so forth. Which is part of why I love Gaiman so much, I suppose. He takes people like me on wild rides that always end in a “woaaah, clever !” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/17 "2009-08-30T15:22:09Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Anyone want to take this on? > (I can’t find my copy of AG). Loki’s role was to keep the conflict going so that Odin’s con would work and a gigantic battle between the gods would nourish Odin since he is also the Lord of Battle. The ending bit was just tying up loose ends as Shadow goes to the places he’s been and finishes what he’s started/been involved in, including stopping the kobold (who was indeed a kind of a god) from carrying on the human sacrifices. It wasn’t about tacking on extra page length, but about showing how Shadow had grown and come to understand the world of the gods by the end of the novel. > [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > According to TV Tropes, Baldr. That makes absolutely no sense at all. Especially since Shadow wasn’t a god. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/18 "2009-08-30T16:45:58Z")
Like I said, I don’t get it either. [Cite](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AmericanGods) ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/19 "2009-08-30T18:38:32Z")
Has anyone figured out the identity of the god whose name Shadow can’t remember? ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226/20 "2009-08-30T18:52:08Z")
I didn’t catch that “Low-Key” equalled “Loki” in the beginning when Low-Key is first mentioned as Shadow’s cellmate. I figured it out in the middle of the book when Wednesday is telling Shadow about the cons he used to run, and that he sometimes had a junior partner. Hmm, who would Odin’s partner in a con be? Probably Loki the trickster. Oh, wait! Low-key! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-for-people-whove-read-american-gods/508226.md?page=2)