Anansi Boys

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: Lenny Henry

Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

God is dead. Meet the kids.

When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed, before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.

Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is from day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun, just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.

Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. Some said he could cheat even Death himself.

Returning to the territory he so brilliantly explored in his masterful New York Times best seller American Gods, the incomparable Neil Gaiman offers up a work of dazzling ingenuity, a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth that is at once startling, terrifying, exhilarating, and fiercely funny, a true wonder of a novel that confirms Stephen King's glowing assessment of the author as "a treasure house of story, and we are lucky to have him."

©2005 Neil Gaiman (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

• Locus Award, 2006
  
• Alex Award, 2006

" "Excellent." (Stephen King)
"It's Gaiman's focus on Charlie and Charlie's attempts to return to normalcy that make the story so winning...along with gleeful, hurtling prose." (Publishers Weekly)

Another Gaiman Hit (of course!)

This story, like all of Gaiman's stories, is fantastic. It shows a magical and mystical side to life and the world and yet touches on the raw emotion of knowing who you are, your power, and your place in the world. Like American Gods, it delivers the fantasy in a dry voice; unlike American Gods, it does not take place in America (for the most part) despite Fat Charlie and Spider being the sons of the American-Anansi. I thought that was a bit weird. Highly worth a listen for the narrator alone. He captures each character with a unique and telling voice.

My only qualm actually comes from the production side. This is clearly the recording produced originally for Cassettes/CDs and was not altered or optimized for streaming. As such, there is intro and exit music in random places, and the "chapters" in the app do not actually refer to book chapters, but Cassette sides/CDs. It's a minor point, but distracting and annoying.

Fantastic!!!

I love everything about this! The story, the story teller. I couldn't stop listening to it. I found myself taking longer routes

A Must 'Read' (Listen)

I have, over the past few years, discovered Neil Gaiman's works in a patchwork sort of way.

Each novel I read or listen to seems to bring out more introspective thought in such a delightful manner.

As with American Gods previously, I found myself feeling each character - and wondering what my own reactions would be given their particular circumstances. I have been known to read, or listen to, a particularly fascinating book (or series) many times - taking on a different single character each time in order to more fully understand and enjoy them.

Mr. Gaiman has so thoroughly, and beautifully, written each that I can see myself doing the same here just to draw out the sheer pleasure of the story!

Starts slow and then gets good

The main story is great. Some of the side stories, I found irrelevant to the story. A lot of these side stories took place in the beginning of the book. Story picks up later on in the book and is tremendous.

Exceptional!

This story is fantastic, of course. Neil Gaiman is an amazing writer. But the narration of the story is truly stupendous. I have never heard such a brilliant voice actor.

Great narration!

Really enjoyed this unusual and funny story. Amazing character development greatly enhanced by the awesome narration of course!

best narrator!

this was a very enjoyable book! not only was the story delightfully Neil gaiman but the narrator was one of the best I have ever listened to. brilliant voice work!

Powerhouse of Fictional Storytelling!

Nothing overdone or over exaggerated. The storyline is patient with itself and it's Characters. Thoroughly engaging plot that has you drawn in before you even realize it. Excellent narration that never failed to entertain. I could literally start listening again with no fear of fatigue. #bravo

I love everything about this so much

Excellent narration with great voices.
Neil Gaiman weaves a story like a gifted spider waves a web.

Wonderful story beautiful areas

A story with uncommon simultaneous simplicity and complexity that is easy to listen to and fully engaging