Neverwhere

Rating:
Summary: Your city too has an underworld
Review: As I read through the novel, I kept getting drawn in to the idea of a London below, and how other cities, New York, Calcutta etc.. . had their own dark shadows, their own underworlds. This facinated me, the idea of something right under your nose that you see, but you ignore.

Every city has one, so there's one right here, right now. There are probably people walking past me going about their own business, in their own world. These are people I see, but somehow my mind, in a modern above-world psychology, forgets about it in the next instant.

I just think of the homeless person I passed on the street the other day, he was huddled under a blanket. I passed him, and didn't think about him again until I wrote this review. That's the Wellington "Neverwhere" at work.

A facinating piece of fiction, with all of the wizardry and creatures you'd find in any fantasy novel, but with an edge of the frighteningly familiar. There are images of things you see every day that you never think about, unless you bother to focus on them.

The one book that this reminds me of more than any other is "Seventh Son" by Orson Scott Card. It's a view of colonial America, but where all the hexes and jinxes are real. These two books are very similar, but this one is much closer to the modern world and what you see around you every day.

If you like this book, take a look at Orson Scott Card's "Tales of Alvin Maker" series. The first three books are excellend and strike a similar chord in me. Also, take a look at other books by Neil Gaiman, especially any of "The Sandman" comics or graphic novels where Gaiman's writing is brilliantly matched up with pictures that match the gloomy, strangely lit world that is close to "Neverwhere"

Rating:
Summary: A deliciously dark modern day fairy tale
Review: In this story, Neil Gaiman takes the readers on a wild ride through the dangerous but fascinating world of London Below. No one is who they seem, and strange and exciting things are around every corner. Each character is painstakingly developed; these aren't your run-of-the-mill people. A girl who has the power to open any door (even when there is none) who is on a journey to find out who murdered her family. A con artist who takes payment in the form of huge favors. A woman who is legendary as the Hunter. And finally, an average man who got sucked into their strange world through an act of kindness. Neverwhere takes you away from your own reality and transports you right to London Below, where you walk right by the characters. You mourn when tragedy happens, you rejoice when they are triumphant, and you hold your breath with anticipation with every new danger they encounter. The reason that this story is so enticing is because most people can relate to the main character. He's an ordinary man who just got...stuck in his life. But suddenly something happens and he's on an adventure where he sees and experiences things that he could never have even imagined. Everyone gets bored of life once in awhile, but by reading Neverwhere, you loose yourself in London Below, where things are anything but dull.

Rating:
Summary: Surprising to even a jaded fantasy reader.
Review: A friend of mine, who is usually not a fantasy reader, told me about this book. At first, I was hesitant because I have never heard of this author, however, I was soon to find out I made a very good choice. Gaiman crafts a wonderful story with a truly original plot (which is really saying something considering how impacted this industry is). But what makes this book even more wonderful is that Gaiman does not disappoint the imaginary plot because he crafts beautiful, realistic characters that the reader can completely bond with. He evokes real emotions and inputs them into his characters which makes it so that we, the reader, cannot help but become linked to the story. If you are hesistant, like I was, then let me reassure you that Gaiman is a true genius and you are definitely in good hands. After reading this work, check out his Sandman graphic novel series, they are breathtaking!

Rating:
Summary: Through the invisible door
Review: Richard Mayhew finds his life changed after he stops to help a mysterious young woman. Through contact with her, he learns about a hidden London, the world of London Below, and he can't seem to make it back to his former life. Richard's adventures helping the young woman called Door bring him back to life, away from his steady, plodding life. I am a huge fan of Gaiman's work, and this showcases his talents, but it does have a few flaws. We aren't given enough character development, and the amount of amazing people and views and things in this story is overwhelming, and we never really have time to digest or enjoy them to the fullest. Despite this, this book is still remarkable, and it's based on a great miniseries, too. And this book features two of most stellar assassins ever seen in fiction: Croup and Vandemar. You'll never forget them!

Rating:
Summary: A tale of two cities
Review: Daydream a world where everything is as it seems and nothing bears safety. You've just imagined 'Neverwhere', the haunting, volatile Gaea that exists in the belly of London.

In Gaiman's first novel, London is separated into two cities, the popular, familiar London Above and the dark, forboding London Below.

Richard Mayhew is the man stuck in the middle, twisted reality and fantasy slipping between his fingers. Before he can assume his life above, he must assume it below.

The novel introduces us to multitudes of space and characters that are still fresh in mind after the last page is finished.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic tale of a dark world
Review: From the sewers and abandoned subways of London to the rooftops of the city, Gaiman takes us through a hidden reality that an ordinary man named Richard Mayhew stumbles into. The visions he paints of this alternate London are so vivid that you almost believe it all could be real. The characters are diverse and fully realized, with the unfortunate exeption of Richard Mayhew himself. Still, Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar are two of the most interesting villians I have ever come across. They more than make up for Mayhew's shortcomings.

Rating:
Summary: "Wizard of Oz and Alice written by Marilyn Manson."
Review: Imagine Alice in wonderland, 'cept it all happens in subway and sewer tunnels.
The whole idea behind the book is that there are two worlds. World above (normal world) and World below, where all kinds of crazy and disturbing stuff happens, like every-day life. It just so happens that Richard Mayhew accidentally joins the world below by helping a bleeding girl on the street (he's the only one that noticed her.) The thing is, he doesn't exist in the world above anymore. Now he goes below, to find an answer for his question: How does he get his life back?
One cliché or two aside, this book is amazingly creative, and the scenes are described to perfection (not too much detail)
The only thing that somewhat angers me is that the world seems so HUGE, yet it's only described to a certain extent, and no sequels are planned for it. Seven sisters? How come we only get to meet one?
I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed Alice in Wonderland simply because of the sheer creativity it had going on for it. Don't get me wrong, this book is very dark ("I think my throat's been cut. Do you have anything to bind it with?") and sometimes creepy, but you shouldn't consider yourself a fiction fan if you haven't read this masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Thanks Mr. Gaiman...
Review: ...for providing a well-written, vibrant addition to the otherwise dull and childish sci-fi/fantasy shelves. This novel parallels his other books in that it tells the story of a modern individual who finds himself amidst adventure in an alternative world. In this case, a modern man stumbles upon "London Below", a fantastical world under the streets of London. Other writers have done this but in my opinion never with such skill. This story proceeds in leaps and great bounds, at times at the expense of background. Gaiman is one of the few writers I know who surprises me with his plots and one of the few who makes me laugh out loud. I've found all of his novels very good.

Rating:
Summary: alice meets industrial
Review: This is one of the most beautiful updated versions of Alice in Wonderland I've ever seen. If you are into the goth/industrial scene, or are just a fan of dark fiction, this is a must see!! BTW, last I heard Jim Henson Studios was working on this one.

Rating:
Summary: Great book but umm... where is the DVD
Review: ok, I read the book, I hear they made it into a PBS movie where the heck can I find it, either on DVD or VHS