I mentioned Neil Gaiman’s American Gods back here in October. Having lived and travelled in the US over several years, and being a fan of all things Americana, I was looking forward to the read, though I can’t recall where I picked up the reference to the publication of the author’s (2013) preferred text of his (2001) original best-seller (possibly heard him talking about it on BBC R4 Start The Week or similar?)
Weirdly, after reading the first couple of chapters and encountering the strangest sex scene (*2, in chapter 1, scene 2 “Somewhere in America”), I found Iain Hislop’s words “bonkers, bizarre” preventing me continuing. So what started out as a promising US Road Trip / Buddy movie screen-play lay unread on the bedside cabinet for 3 months. However last two weeks, I restarted from the beginning and devoured it – and the bonus “novella” sequel(*1) included.
No room for a full review, but for me it was Douglas Adams(*1) meets Satanic Verses(*1), with a mass of Americana myth, culture and familiar locations. Quite brilliant – puts “religion vs rationality” debates into real perspective. A book “I wish I’d written”, in fact to continue my own writing project I’m going to have to find some new plot components and angles. Where have American Gods been all my life?
[(*1) Note: The sequel adds the familiar Norse gods, Norway, Viking & Northern Isles & northern-most Scotland (Sutherland) context to the already familiar Americana. Think more zombie / fantasy sci-fi than time & space travel scenarios and North London / St Pancras station, and substitute Mr Wednesday for Dirk Gently or the angel Gabriel and Pontius Pilate maybe, and you get the general idea. Personally, spooky coincidence of locations, themes and subject matter.]
[Updated thoughts from the TV adaptation in 2017.]
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[(*2) Post Note in 2024/25 When I hear of Gaiman’s behaviour toward women he really was / is “Fucked up in ways that defy comprehension“. At the very least pushing the boundaries of consensual sexual fetishes with particularly young, starstruck and otherwise vulnerable women, not to mention the Steiner, Scientology and hush-money connections, even if only half true …
… at least he’s responded, still maybe in denial of detail, but chastened and recognising consent was maybe not as mutual as he wishfully thought?
And here, excellent as usual from Doc Stock on the inevitable risks of “degrading sex”:
To be clear: this [isn’t] an attempt to adjudicate Gaiman’s guilt or innocence. But it is certainly an argument against getting involved in sadomasochism in general. More often than not, it is very bad for the submissive in the scenario — not just because it leads her to physically dangerous situations, but also because it tends to put her in a state of mind in which agency is undermined and subsequent choices aren’t those of her true self, however confidently things started out. Meanwhile, for the sadist — and especially the famous one, as Gaiman has discovered — it leaves your good reputation a hostage to fortune, hoping that those with whom you had degrading sex in the past never properly get to know their own minds.
Getting to know minds. That’s why we’re here.]
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3 thoughts on “American Gods”