American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition: A Novel
Neil Gaiman
Language: English
Pages: 784
ISBN: 0062472100
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Newly updated and expanded with the author’s preferred text. A modern masterpiece from the multiple-award-winning master of innovative fiction, Neil Gaiman.
First published in 2001, American Gods became an instant classic, lauded for its brilliant synthesis of “mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose” (Washington Post) and as a modern phantasmagoria that “distills the essence of America” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). It is the story of Shadow—released from prison just days after his wife and best friend are killed in an accident—who gets recruited to be bodyguard, driver, and errand boy for the enigmatic trickster, Mr. Wednesday. So begins Shadow’s dark and strange road trip, one that introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. For, beneath the placid surface of everyday life, a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and Shadow is standing squarely in its path.
“Pointed, occasionally comic, often scary, consistently moving and provocative….American Gods is strewn with secrets and magical visions.”—USA Today
“Original, engrossing, and endlessly inventive.”—George R. R. Martin
carpet store on Twentieth Avenue.” “No. Never have.” “Well,” she said, “it’s kind of pretty.” It was extremely pretty. Shadow parked his car at the edge of town, and walked along the side of the road, a winding, country road that curled around the hills to the east of the town. Each of the hills was covered with leafless maple trees, bone-white birches, dark firs and pines. At one point a small dark cat kept pace with him beside the road. It was the color of dirt, with white forepaws. He
as if he’s practiced this exchange in front of a mirror. She stops smiling, and her face changes, becomes wiser, sharper, harder. “What do you want?” “I told you. Sweet loving.” “I’ll give you whatever you want,” she says. She needs to get out of the limo. It’s moving too fast for her to throw herself from the car, she figures, but she’ll do it if she can’t talk her way out of this. Whatever’s happening here, she doesn’t like it. “What I want. Yes.” He pauses. His tongue runs over his lips.
there was anywhere in the world that was fifty miles from McDonald’s.” “This place is turning into Grand Central Station,” said Shadow. “Okay, so I guess you’re here to offer me the freedom of the Internet if I come over to your side of the fence. Right?” The fat kid was shivering. “No. You’re already dead meat,” he said. “You—you’re a fucking illuminated Gothic black-letter manuscript. You couldn’t be hypertext if you tried. I’m . . . I’m synaptic, while, while you’re synoptic . . .” He
welcome-home party.” “Surprise party?” “Of course. You don’t know anything about it, do you?” “Not a thing.” “That’s my husband,” she said. Shadow realized that he was smiling. He had been inside for three years, but she could still make him smile. “Love you, babes,” said Shadow. “Love you, puppy,” said Laura. Shadow put down the phone. When they got married Laura told Shadow that she wanted a puppy, but their landlord had pointed out they weren’t allowed pets under the terms of their
fleetingly, with the tips of his fingers, leaving crumbs of salt on her skin. She made no attempt to wipe them off. “To us,” he said, his voice an almost inaudible rumble, “it shall be a pleasure palace.” The waitress looked at him. She bit her thin lips, hesitated, then nodded and fled for the kitchen. “C’mon,” said Shadow. “She looks barely legal.” “I’ve never been overly concerned about legality,” Wednesday told him. “And I need her, not as an end in herself, but to wake me up a little.
