American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (A Full Cast Production)

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: Ron McLarty, Daniel Oreskes, full cast

Length: 19 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a STARZ® Original Series produced by FremantleMedia North America starring Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane, Emily Browning, and Pablo Schreiber.

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.

But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow's best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and a rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.

Life as Wednesday's bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined. Soon Shadow learns that the past never dies . . . and that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and that he is standing squarely in its path.

"Mystery, satire, sex, horror, poetic prose—American Gods uses all these to keep the reader turning the pages."—Washington Post

©2011 Neil Gaiman (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"This full-cast performance of the tenth anniversary edition of Neil Gaiman's American Gods (think director's cut) is one of the most mesmerizing audio experiences ever.... Ron McLarty plays a randy, crusty old Odin disguised as a white-collar con man to perfection. Daniel Oreskes's Shadow, the hero who doesn't know quite what he is, is masterful. Oliver Wyman, who did Mad Sweeney the Leprechaun, is a genius. Hats in the air for the whole cast, a flawless production, and a tour de force of a tale." ( AudioFile)

Incredibly Engaging

American Gods is an experience, it's a journey, and it's about the journey. These are characters so engaging that I would enjoy reading about them so much as stopping at a gas station to buy a candy bar.

Slow to start and more strange than I imagines

So unless you know of this book you probably don't know what to expect and somethings might seem strange or weird. Put it down and come back to it later. The epic journey will be worth it.

personal

Any additional comments?

Story of Shadow, and his interactions with modern representations of the ancient gods that immigrants from different countries brought to the US. Conflict between the old gods of religion and myth and the new gods of media, the internet, town etc. Miracles and unusual daily events reminiscent of Latin American literature.

A Dark, Funny, Character Driven Dream

I listened to this audiobook having only read Gaiman's comics writing, specifically Sandman. If you're a fan of that work then this story of a man named Shadow drafted into a war of gods and modern culture should appeal. Even though this book was originally published in 2000 the larger themes of cultural identity and what it means to be American remain prescient as culture is increasingly dominated by social media and blockbuster movies with less reflection on where we've come from. Gaiman does an excellent job of crafting these larger themes around a character that has his own problems and ideas that bound against the fantastical world he is thrust into. Shadow is compellingly mysterious and thoughtful protagonist that I was excited to see make his own decisions even when Shadow's story diverged from the magical world presented by the Gods.

The cast on this audiobook is great! Each character has a mostly unique voice that the many actors and actresses have imbued with personality. Many of the characters in the story are immigrants and thus have accents. To my ears the accents are never played for stereotypes and it's a testament to both Gaiman and the actors that each character is imbued with personality and emotion. The narration is also excellent. The narrator seems to be reading in a very dry, unemotive tone, but he also delivers great wonder and amazement into the story as the magical elements are unveiled. The crisp and clear delivery made it very easy to visualize this world that was rich in detail that was often important later in the story.

The last interesting element I want to mention is the occasional interludes read by Gaiman. These tales were sometimes frustrating at first when I wanted to keep going in the main plot of the book. However, I remember elements of each of those stories and by the time each interlude was over I wanted to hear another one. It's beautiful world building and really adds to the story overall.

I couldn't be happier that this was the first way I experienced this story. Go listen to it!

I never got bored.

I never got bored. I loved seeing America through a foreigners eyes. Great story and characters.

Loved it! But parts definitely NSFW

loved it, was perfect for long drives and crafting sessions. will recommend to anyone with a quirky sense of humour and appreciation of a good story well told. BUT NSFW in parts so be careful about who you're sharing the tale with.

Thoroughly Engrossing

My first introduction to Neil Gaiman and will not be my last. Please do not let the length of this preferred text deter you. This is a truly wonderful experience.

Possibly read the book, instead of listening to the audible

The narrator is terribly dull, but the story - oh, the story. It helped to read the book instead, imagining Gaiman’s voice narrating, which he does for the side-tales of the Gods in the audible version. Worth it, though. What an incredible, fantastical read.

amazing book, great story, fantastic read,

amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing better than the tv show. must read

love this book

love the characters played and the visual you get while reading it. the show is just as good