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Summary: Gaiman is one of the modern masters of horror fiction
Review: Neverwhere is one of the best novels I have read in a long time. The reader is taken on a wild ride through a surreal world beneath the cracks of London. Each character is so different that it's hard to imagine them all part of the same story. The author ties them all together beautifully, and the storyline flows smooth enough to make the book as easy to read as it is enjoyable. His brilliant use of sarcasm and wit in creating London Below add a humorous flavor at just the right places without detracting from the plot. It's a wonderful read.
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Summary: Disappointing
Review: I was disappointed in the book. It has an interesting concept, but never lives up to its potential. Although most of the book takes place in the underground, we never learn very much about it. For example, we experience very little of the politics of the underground, when that is potentially the most interesting part of the story. Unfortunately, the underground functions really only as the setting for an uninspired storyline (if I never read another renegade angel story, I'll die a happy man) that could have taken place anywhere. Also, while it's hard to dislike Richard, he's never very engaging as a lead character. His "growth" through the novel is unconvincing. Characters don't grow simply because things happen to them. They grow as they learn from their experiences and change their behavior accordingly. Richard never changes his behavior. He never really does anything. Things simply happen to him. That does not make for engaging character development. Yet, although I was generally disappointed in the novel, I do think it's a good lightweight action adventure and I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, enjoyable read. The underground is fertile territory for more stories. Hopefully Gaiman will explore it in depth in the future.
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Summary: Along the lines of Clive Barker
Review: If you like Clive Barker, you'll love this. Very interesting and imaginative. I hope he writes more tales along these lines. Fast paced. Did not want to put it down. Horrific and suspensful.. just a great read.
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Summary: a pleasant mix of Clive Barker and Terry Pratchett
Review: 'Neverwhere' is a curious mix of comedy (think Terry Pratchett) and horror (think Clive Barker) where a befuddled London man is taken on a bizarre, fantastic journey (think Douglas Adams). One can easily dismiss it as derivative nonsense. Despite this lack of originality (.. Neil Gaiman even blatently "borrows" the idea of intelligent rats from books from Pratchett/Adams) the book makes for compulsive reading, especially for fans of London.'Neverwhere' is a journey through the sewers and London Underground where an entirely alternative, and decidely creepy, reality exists. We encounter the dregs of London life from the past several hundred years, along with some rather supernatural creatures thrown in for ... I don't why. The story is, of course, ridiculous. But the journey through London, both past and present, is fantastic. Oh, and Neil Gaiman writes some very funny prose. Bottom line: the perfect mild diversion for Pratchett fans, and a must read for Londoners. The book doesn't take itself seriously; you will not confuse it with works by Dostoyevsky.
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Summary: Excellent escapism!
Review: I fell absolutely in love with this tale! Neil Gaiman has an imagination that just pulls you in. I am waiting for a sequel - where is the Lady Door's sister? There is enough material here for a series.
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Summary: Advice for non-British readers: get a good Tube map first!
Review: First off, this book is terrific. I found the story and characters imaginative and mesmerizing. We never had the TV series in the US, but without having seen it, I feel the book stands on its own as a complete work of fiction. One quick bit of advice for non-British readers: the story relies heavily on wordplay based on the names of London tube stations. If you are unfamiliar with the London Underground, get yourself a good map and familiarize yourself with it before you read the book. If you have friends who've lived in London, ask them to tell you about the tube stations mentioned in the book what the stations look like, what the reputation is, what the neighborhood is like. Knowing a bit about the Underground will greatly deepen your appreciation of the book.
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Summary: Wonderfully entertaining, if derivative, piece of fiction
Review: Gaiman is one of the last, best storytellers in the history of the fantasy genre. It's wonderful to see a writer whose stories are both imaginative and accessible in a field that seems to prize quantity over quality. This particular novel is packed with imagination, showcasing one strange, funny concept after another, all within the framework of a classic reluctant hero's quest. That said, not all of the charming, interesting concepts are Gaiman's own. It becomes obvious after a few pages that Gaiman owes a remarkably large debt to both Fritz Leiber's The Sinful Ones and Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy. Indeed, the initial conceit of The Sinful One's resembles Neverwhere a little too closesly for comfort. These are fairly minor quibbles, honestly. Gaiman, at least, has the decency to borrow from the best, and he learns as he writes; everything after Good Omens (his novel with Terry Pratchett) is funnier, everything after The Sandman takes itself a little less seriously. It's good to see an author who focuses on self-improvement over self-aggrandizement, and Gaiman is improving at a fantastic rate. All in all, one could do considerably worse than to borrow from J.G. Ballard James Branch Cabell, and Gaiman makes ample and innovative use of his lessons. Read Neverwhere. You won't be disappointed. And maybe you'll follow Gaiman's tacit advice and visit the forgotten masters that he so obviously loves.
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Summary: Reminds me of Dr. Who
Review: From rooftops to the sewers, this "Alice in Wonderland" adventure takes you along for a ride thru dark London dreamscapes. If you enjoy Clockwork Orange, Dr. Who, and such... You won't regret this read!
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Summary: London Underground--Not Just the Tube
Review: This is a wonderfully imaginative read. Never again will you think of London in quite the same way. You'll never look at a dark stairway or tube entrance quite the same way again. In Gaiman's book, what goes on under the London I know is more colorful that what happens at street level. Richard Mayhew is the "Hitchcock like" figure--an ordinary man caught up in and extraordinary situation. We watch as Mayhew travels to London by train. His routine laden life seems to be on schedule and then he meets an injured girl on the street. He goes underground and into the world of incredible characters and scenes. Door, Hunter, the omnipresent and wicked Mister Croup and Mister Vandemar. Earl's Court (not like the one on the Tube map) and the magnificent Angel Islington. The swashbuckling marquis de Carabas. The "Beast" that lives in the London sewer system. This is extraordinary stuff. You will see parts of London from Roman and Celtic times that have long since been buried, but that are part of the underground world. Its a fun and dark story and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
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Summary: Neverwhere creates a dazzling world within our own
Review: Neil Gaiman, one of the most gifted writers of this age, certainly did not fail to deliver with his novel Neverwhere. Every bit as creative as the work he did with Good Omens, it takes you into the very heart of darkness of London, creating all the intricate supporting characters and alternative realites one could want. From the skittish charcter of the young girl, Door, who knows know bounds, Hunter, the enigmatic warrior, to the poor bloke, Richard Mayhew, who gets caught in the middle. A very fast-paced read with the feel of Dark City, this book comes with my highest reccomendation.
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