By Robert Gosse
American Gods, a 2001 novel written by Neil Gaiman, tells the story of a man named Shadow, a recently freed prisoner and widower, and his encounters with the gods of America. In this book, while the gods are indeed real, they live and breathe as ideas that exist as a result of human belief. The old gods like Odin and Anansi are in conflict with the new gods, like the internet, the dollar, and television. In the middle of this conflict is Shadow, who has been enlisted by Odin as a bodyguard, a killer, and the one who will hold Odin's vigil should Odin succumb to the passing of the era.
Where to begin? Neil Gaiman's interpretation of gods and how they interact with the real world is brilliant. He has created a logical system wherein the gods exist in any place they are as conscious beings spawned from the minds of humankind in that place. The way he does it is just vague enough so that each god is grounded in reality and characterised as their own individual, but at the same time exist as a concept beyond any individual's comprehension. The way in which he goes about showing this is also very well executed. Shadow is designed to be an ideal protagonist, as he possesses both the perceptiveness of age and skill, but also the newness that confusion and turmoil bring to your life. The result is that we as the audience are able to accept and understand the complex metaphysical and ideological conflict that plays out in the novel.
Now the question is, should you read this book? Yes, it's a wonderful representation of the fantastical beings you find in the human consciousness and of the personality of America. It is well written and draws you in as you go along. Pick it up at any major retailer. Or library, for that matter.
Works Cited
Neil Gaiman, American Gods, Headline, 2001
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