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Summary: My Take
Review: A great read all around. There's a great sense of fun and the feeling that this world really does exist just beyond the shadows. The characters are by far the best aspect of the book however, the minor ones that are intoduced along the way are often as interesting or more so than the major players. This book also has two of the coolest, most deranged bad guys since Mr. Blond. Just happy little psychopaths. Enjoy.
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Summary: Amazing Book
Review: Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere is my favorite book of all time. We meet an ordinary man who is taken to another world, The London Underground. Here, nothing is what it seems, and his experiences are gripping because the characters involved are so believable, though fanciful. And the ending is just as good, giving the reader an overwhelming sense of completion, while still wanting more.
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Summary: Afghan Sam
Review: Great Book. If you enjoy British humor, this will make you laugh. Gaiman picks up in the footsteps of Douglas Adams, though not as rollicking and probably a with a stronger emphasis on storytelling.It's good fantasy, and a quick read. If any of you out there are bankers, or know some, this book gives an interesting description of where that training will get you if you're ever tossed in the sewers with mystical rats and ancient boars.
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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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