Book Review: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Yet another addition to my Neil Gaiman novel collection. Neverwhere talks all about London, both the London-above that we see, and the London-below that we don't see. Neil leads us through the (mis)adventure of the unlikely hero (who's really a typical-loser-white collar guy at the start) who didn't fit in the pretentious and gloomy London-above life, and was forced to engage in a very different fantasy-like London-below alternate world.

The story does really present like a typical fantasy world... magic, warriors, monsters that talk, quests to fulfill etc etc, but all twisted in Neil Gaiman style. The plot was attractive enough for me to continuously read for 3 nights and finishing it faster than I would have done for a similar-size Dungeon-and-Dragons book. And it makes me kind of want to go UK again to venture the lesser visited places. Damn, if only I can afford the moolah and the time.

People familiar with (or have a liking for) London should like this book, should they be interested in what is Night's Bridge, who is the Earl in Earl's Court, how a bazaar in Harrods might turn out, and what is really going on in the massive subway and sewer networks in London-below.

Overall, it is a lighthearted read. Nice enough for me, but I think it didn't give me the kind of overwhelming feeling that I had after reading American Gods, which I hope to find again in my next Neil Gaiman book.

Oh, and I found out on Amazon that there is actually a comic version of the story, drawn by Mike Carey. I really ought to find the comics and consider purchasing if they are drawn well. :D