Book - American Gods (an award winning book by Neil Gaiman) - Published in 2001

‘So God created man in His own image’…that gods and humans dwell together - is the theme of Gaiman’s 2001 Hugo and Nebula  Award winning novel American Gods. But as the ages progress, faith diminished, and although they’re around, our unbelief clouds our vision, and they remain as yet, unseen. The tale begins with Shadow Moon being freed from prison, where he spent three years with Low Key Lyesmith, his fellow prisoner. His plans of spending a cushy life with Laura, since his pal Robbie Burton had promised him a job at his gym; but Fate had other plans, and a summon to the warden’s office throws him into an abyss - his wife and best friend are killed in an accident.
He takes up an offer to be bodyguard for one Mr. Wednesday (an incarnation of the Norse god Odin)- a man who mysteriously knows more about Shadow than he had ever told anyone. Mr. Wednesday is raising an army – finding humans who have god-like qualities, Americans who may be manifestations of Norse gods - to wage war against the modern demons that have taken over the world, such as the Internet and technological advances in the fields of media and transport. Shadow meets many such gods – Mr. Nancy (Anansi) and Mad Sweeney, the latter gifts him a gold coin that brings back Laura as a revenant.




As they try to unite the forces of the Old Gods from Chicago, Illinois and Madison, Wisconsin, they are met with reluctance and lack of enthusiasm; just about ten of them agree to fight for the cause. Shadow meets the guardian goddesses - Zorya and the dark god - Czernobog, who refuses to help Odin. The ‘New Gods’ take advantage of this disparity and abduct Shadow, who is rescued by Laura.
Odin hides Shadow in a funeral parlor with Egyptian gods and later at Lakeside - a town that remains whilst others around it perish and turn into ghost towns, however, the children of the town seem to disappear, too many, too often. However, since they travel so much, he cannot really find out more, this added to the fact that he is still being chased by the minions of the New Gods, who blame him for the death of one of their own (actually killed by Laura).
Sadly, Mr. Wednesday is killed and Shadow follows him into the afterlife, himself dying. Whilst in strange purgatory, Shadow learns he is Wednesday’s son. Meanwhile Low Key Lyesmith, his cellmate, is actually a player in this whole gods vs gods mess - and now is responsible for Odin’s death, ensuring that he is at the helm of all the other deities.
An apocalyptic battle begins, and Shadow reaches just in time to drive sense into the Old and New gods; he appeals to their good senses, which having prevailed, prevent a climactic end of the world war from happening. Odin’s spirit departs, as do those of the other gods, who deem America unfit for gods (!).Low Key is impaled by Laura, whose battle with purgatory ends with Shadow taking back the golden coin Sweeney gave him.
When Shadow returns to Lakeside, he is able to solve the mystery of the missing children – who were in fact abducted by Hinzlemann, an ancient Germanic god. Hinzlemann sanctified and sheltered the community, making it thrive notwithstanding the adversities that curse the other communities around - all this in exchange for the unconscionable surrender of their children. Shadow puts an end to the evil Hinzlemann, aware that his act endangers the very existence of the town.
Shadow travels to Iceland, meeting the actual Odin, giving him Wednesday’s glass eye for a keepsake. He once more flips a coin to choose his fate, but walks away before seeing it fall to the ground. In keeping with the tradition of fantasy, mythology and monomyth, Gaiman once more creates a gripping tale - which leaves you feeling a little subdued and somewhat blue in the end, for not just America, the gods of every other country have diminished in stature, thanks to the Colossus-like rise of Technology.

Book - Stardust (Written by Neil Gaiman) - Published in 1999

“Adults deserve good fairy tales, too.” (Neil Gaiman)
“Stardust”…the image it conjures is of an ink-blue, diamond studded sky, where the gossamer Milky Way is like a veil across a lovely face. Neil Gaiman does it again - transports the reader into a fantasy world, only this time it is star crossed lovers we meet, hearts pounding, minds wondering whether the two shall meet or not.
We meet the first generation of star crossed lovers way back in 1839 - Dunstan Thorn and Lady Una, he is a denizen of the village of Wall and she is a citizen of Faerie. Although he is betrothed to Daisy, it does not stop him from falling for Lady Una, a slave to the wicked witch Semele. Una conceives a child, whom she leaves in a basket for Dunstan to find.
Blessed with Faerie magic, Tristran feels differently from the rest of the folks of the village Wall. He is in love with the most beautiful girl in a hundred mile radius (well, he should know since he’s the only one allowed out of Wall) - Victoria Forrester, who really doesn’t take him all that seriously. In fact, she wants to throw him off scent and tells Tristran she’ll consider his proposal if he gets her a star.
Elsewhere, in Faerie, a star is knocked down from the heavens by a King looking for an heir. The King Stormhold is actually Tristran’s maternal grandfather, who dies after knocking down a star with the Power of Stormhold-this star is actually a beautiful creature called Yvaine. When Tristran sets eyes on Yvaine, he all but forgets Victoria, and vows now to help her. A whole world of unhappy souls seem to bay for Yvaine’s blood- from the Illim  to the King’s sons are in a race to find her for she can fulfill their motives-so she must be someone really special!



Tristran, on the other hand, is given a silver chain and a candle stub, that lets him cover great distances when lit. Both he and Yvaine escape the witches, and just so she doesn’t disappear, he imprisons her- sorry though that he has to do so. For her part, Yvaine says she is obligated to him for saving her life, for being grateful for help is the Faerie way.
When Tristran is finally given a ride back to Wall, star in tow, unbeknownst to Madame Semele – he is certain that he will have a happy ending with Victoria. Meanwhile, Yvaine realizes she is about to lose the man she loves, and her home - for since she has chosen to come to Wall, she will now turn into a rock!
More bad news in store for Tristran - his beloved is now engaged to be married to Monday, his old employer. However, not one to come in love’s way, Tristran wishes her well and returns to Yvaine- who is happy that Tristran is hers at last. Lady Una, Tristran’s mother free from her curse, tells Tristran that he is the rightful heir to the Kingdom of Stormhold, but he refuses. So Una rules in his stead .Meanwhile, the happy duo overcome their last obstacle - the witch queen who wants to have Yvaine back, she leaves with the grim warning that like all men, Tristran will break her heart, too.
Many years hence, Tristran returns to rule Stormhold, until the day he dies, after which, Yvaine, his queen rules forever, since she is blessed with immortality.
Gaiman’s fairy love story with magical characters leaves you smiling and a wee bit sad at the end. Originally, Stardust was meant to be a picture story book. It is also a motion picture starring the likes of Robert De Niro, Peter O’Toole and Michelle Pfeiffer. The Book has won Neil Gaiman the Alex Award 2000 from the American Library Association.