Neverwhere

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: Neil Gaiman

Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

National Best Seller

Selected as one of NPR's Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of All Time

The number one New York Times best-selling author's wildly successful first novel featuring his new Neverwhere tale, "How the Marquis Got His Coat Back".

Richard Mayhew is a young man with a good heart and an ordinary life, which is changed forever when he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. His small act of kindness propels him into a world he never dreamed existed. There are people who fall through the cracks, and Richard has become one of them. And he must learn to survive in this city of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels, if he is ever to return to the London that he knew.

"A fantastic story that is both the stuff of dreams and nightmares" (San Diego Union-Tribune), Neil Gaiman's first solo novel has become a touchstone of urban fantasy and a perennial favorite of readers and listeners everywhere.

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©1996, 1997, 2014 Neil Gaiman (P)2007, 2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Gaiman's gift for mixing the absurd with the frightful gives this novel the feeling of a bedtime story with adult sophistication. Readers will find themselves as unable to escape this tale as the characters themselves." ( Library Journal)

"Delightful…inventively horrific."( USA Today)

"[Gaiman] is, simply put, a treasure house of story, and we are lucky to have him in any media." (Stephen King)

Truly outstamding!

I normally do not write reviews, but I find this book is still rummaging around in my head long after the read.
On the surface, this is a book of nightmares and fairy tales; magic and monsters. On the surface, its an entertaining tale of an epic journey through the imagination.
Deeper though, Gainman brings an unlikely troupe of characters to life. There is an undercurrent, a story within a story if you will, where friendship blossoms, souls grow and mature in situations where both the very best of humanity and the worst of depravity are on display. It’s a story of how one man faces death time and again to gain everything he thought he ever wanted – and discovers it has no meaning when it cannot be shared with those he loves. In the end, Richard finds it is not what we have but who we have that makes our lives worth living.
After several previous experiences, I admit I was somewhat apprehensive about an author reading his own work. However, Gainman does an excellent job narrating this novel and bringing the story to life.

What a Trip!

I really enjoyed this book. As a matter of fact, the minute I finished, I started it over and listened to it again, just in case I missed anything the first time through. I got totally caught up in the fantasy world that was very credible. I think it is the hallmark of excellent fantasy to pull the reader into a willing suspension of disbelief, and Neverwhere certainly did that for me. This story was a vacation into another culture and land without ever leaving my own chair. Thanks for the trip!

You must read this one.

This book is to urban fantasy what Lord of the Rings is to epic fantasy in my opinion. I defy you to read this one and not note at least a dozen ways other urban fantasy authors have lifted from Gaiman. This is a great fantasy world and an excellent read. The amazing thing is the author reads this one himself and does a great job. Usually, the author reading his own work is the kiss of death but Gaiman pulls it off. This one is definitely worth spending a credit.

Richard in Wonderland

I wouldn't call this great literature, but it is great entertainment. Neverwhere began as a British TV series -- the book is essentially a novelization -- and it does feel a little too episodic at times, with some characters not fully fleshed out (something the actors presumably did). Nevertheless, I was sucked into its world, much as the central character, Richard Mayhew, is hoovered into a fantastic underground (literally and figuratively) society. Credit that to Gaiman's gifts as both a writer and a narrator. He's that rare author who reads his own work quite well.

Narrated by Neil Gaiman? Yes Please!

While the story can sound a little juvenile at times (a product of the writing or the manner in which it's read, I'm not sure- but either way it's still only minor), it is a WONDERFUL, DELIGHTFUL thing; to hear it in the author's own voice. I LOVE hearing all the ways that the author himself imagines the characters, their intonations, their inflections, their voices.. instead of having it interpreted through a third party. His reading is MAGIC, and with all of the colour he puts behind his narration, you feel as if you're sitting in a circle at his feet, listening to a marvelously grand, modern fairy story, read by a very careful, introspective, & bewondered author. ^_^ Neil does all the voices and puts great acting behind every word, and I positively loved it. ^_^

This is the first full novel I've heard/read by Mr. Gaiman, and I can't wait to hear more. I found the DVD of the BBC interpretation of "Neverwhere" just before I found the novel here, so I can still see and hear all the characters from those episodes in Neil's reading. I don't know whether he's reading w/acknowledgement of those performances, or if they just followed his vision SUPER closely (like to the letter), but either way, this book was a grand read/listen. I highly recommend it!

♥

Brilliant

I cannot think of any writer other than Phillip K. Dick who has the imagination of Neil Gaiman. His stories are recognizably his but each is totally unique. You never know what to expect and are always pleasantly surprised.

Gaiman is also quite good as a narrator. However, the occasional sound effects, like the reverb in the background of some of the conversations, often made it difficult to understand what was being said.

Phenomenal !!!

The author has the most fantastical imagination I have ever encountered, rich in detail beyond real life and always suffused with gentle humanistic humor. He uses fiction to mirror back at us our reality. Fantastic!

great narration and a story that hooks you in

Lost a little in the last quarter, but that's better than so many fantasy books out there that it didn't take much away. Well-written, engaging, just felt the ending didn't live up to the awesome beginning. Would reommend it to any fantasy lover, or even to a non-fantasy reader like myself, who just likes a good story.

Absolutely captivating!

Neil Gaiman's performance of his own novel is absolutely captivating. Gaiman brings all of his unique characters to life not only through his brilliant prose but also through his fabulous performance. The story itself is a beautiful tale exquisitely woven with Gaiman's genius. I didn't want it to end, yet I adored the ending. This is one Audible not to be missed!

Neil Gaiman brings his books alive

This book was very enjoyable, and made more so by Neil Gaiman's reading. I would give it 5 stars but I thought the ending was a bit weaker as compared to the rest of the novel.
I certainly recommend it - Gaiman readers will really enjoy it!