American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Title: American Gods
Author: Neil Gaiman

Characters
Shadow Moon - ex-convict, the protagonist of the novel
Laura - Shadow’s wife
Mr. Wednesday - Shadow’s boss
Low-Key Lyesmith - Shadow’s cell mate
Mr. Nancy - the human embodiment of a West African spider-trickster god
Robbie - friend of Shadow’s
Mad Sweeney - employee of Mr. Wednesday’s. Leprechaun.
Mr. Ibis & Mr. Jacquel - own a mortuary in Cairo, Ill.
Mr. Czernobog - friend of Mr. Wednesday, the dark half of a pair of Slavic brother-gods
“The Ageny” - a bunch of men who are most commonly known as “the spookshow”
Intagibles - never seen they join the conflict reluctantly
Easter - the human embodiment of Eostre.

The Zorya - Three Slavic émigré sisters, they live with Mr. Czernobog
Zorya Utrennyaya - sister of the dawn
Zorya Polunochnaya - sister of the midnight
Zorya Vechernyaya - sister of the dusk

The Old Gods
Odin (the All-Father) - mythological Norse god
Loki - mythological Norse god
Norns - goddess of fate in Norse mythology
Anansi - West-African spider trickster god. Nancy is his human embodiment.
Eostre - Norse goddess, Saxon Mother Goddess of Fertility and Spring.
Kali - A manifestation of the Hindu Divine Mother. Destroys only to recreate.
Thoth - Egyptian God with the head of an Ibis. All-rounder for Arts, Science, Music, Astronomy, Speech and Letters.
Anubis - Egyptian god of the dead, runs a funeral parlor.
Horus - Egyptian sky god.
Bast - Egyptian cat-headed Goddess of Fertility, Sensuality and Fire Prevention. Spends most of her time as a cat.

The New Gods
The God of the Internet
The Goddess of the Media
The God of Mass Transport

Summary

Shadow Moon gets early release from prison due to the death of his wife Laura, who dies in a car accident with his friend Robbie. Once out of prison, Shadow is hired as an escort and bodyguard by Mr. Wednesday. He then embarks with Mr. Wednesday on a bizarre journey across America meeting friends, acquaintances, colleagues of Mr. Wednesday including Mr. Czernobog, and the Zorya sisters. Mr. Wednesday is actually recruiting American manifestations of the Old World Gods to battle against the New American Gods (The God of the Internet, the Goddess of the Media). There are many manifestations of mythological figures and those from folk lore, and legends. Shadow himself is even implied to be Balder. Shadow journeys on an dark and twisted adventure through middle American, including road trips, strange companions, greasy spoons, coin tricks, and road-side attraction, not to mention the attempted coercion of his soul by the New Gods.

Genre

American Gods is Fantasy Americana because it involves mythology and fantastical elements and it is a deep examination of the American spirit. Gaiman discuss the old mythology that our ancestors brought with them over the water, as well as the corrosion and death of myth in the information age.

Why Do I Recommend this Novel?

Gaiman is a master of his craft, and he is at his best writing dark, twisty, witty, dark fantasy. He manages to explore deep into the heart of the American spirit. In American Gods he has created characters that are original and memorable. They are real, with real fears, loves, weaknesses, strengths. It is also a page turner, keeping the reader involved and enthralled the whole way through. Every time, I read this book, I find myself finding out new things, and it never gets boring. Plus, it’s Gaiman, and Gaiman equals LOVE.