American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (A Full Cast Production)

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: Ron McLarty, Daniel Oreskes, full cast

Length: 19 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a STARZ® Original Series produced by FremantleMedia North America starring Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane, Emily Browning, and Pablo Schreiber.

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.

But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow's best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and a rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.

Life as Wednesday's bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined. Soon Shadow learns that the past never dies . . . and that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and that he is standing squarely in its path.

"Mystery, satire, sex, horror, poetic prose—American Gods uses all these to keep the reader turning the pages."—Washington Post

©2011 Neil Gaiman (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"This full-cast performance of the tenth anniversary edition of Neil Gaiman's American Gods (think director's cut) is one of the most mesmerizing audio experiences ever.... Ron McLarty plays a randy, crusty old Odin disguised as a white-collar con man to perfection. Daniel Oreskes's Shadow, the hero who doesn't know quite what he is, is masterful. Oliver Wyman, who did Mad Sweeney the Leprechaun, is a genius. Hats in the air for the whole cast, a flawless production, and a tour de force of a tale." ( AudioFile)

10 Years and Still a Fantastic Read

I read American Gods when it first came out and was amazed by what Neil Gaiman had done. I've been a Gaiman fan since his work on Sandman and understood that the core of his stories is almost always myth and storytelling. American Gods has these in spades.

This new recording, featuring a full cast, is actually very good. Some say that there is no life in the characters, but there is. It's set against the bleak backdrop of a war between gods old and new. It's set against the seeming non-involvement of the main character, Shaodow, who often seems to be along for the ride but ultimately acts as the one character the listener can relate to in a world filled with fantastical creatures called gods.

The first several times the cast interacts with the narrator can be jarring, but once the listener is used to the voices and the rhythm that builds over the first chapter or so, it becomes natural and the listener can get in to the story proper.

American Gods is dense. This edition has some 12,000 more words than previous editions. It is not a book to be taken lightly. It requires thought and it requires patience. Those willing to give it those things will find a solid, entertaining and thought provoking listen.

This is the type of book you want to own.

This was my first Neil Gaiman book I read. I then read many others by him... then the Sand Man series and then everything else. Then I bought American Gods and mailed it home to my parents.

It's been about 5 years since I read it. I downloaded it again, because I had a lot of driving to do. Then I listened to it all night at my hotel. And I finished the book before I drove back home a few days later.

It offers a good view of someone trying to understand America.

I have heard other's complain that Shadow is unsympathetic as a protagonist. I kind of liked how he was so numb to how things in his life just went to crap. I liked how his view of his wife was of still love but rational of their situation.

In books and tv and movies, you go through a lot of death scenes and a high body count. But the death scenes that involved Laura... her dispassion was like a fairytale.

I enjoyed the audiobook version of this story, just as much as reading it.

FANTASTIC!

Where does American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (A Full Cast Production) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

There is only one audiobook I liked better and that was Dracula with Alan Cumming and Tim Curry. This was an amazing production. Dennis Boutsikaris is the perfect narrator. I love how Neil Gaiman reads not only the introduction, but the interludes of Mr. Ibis' diary. The entire cast captured the characters perfectly. At times I felt like I was listening to a radio drama and not a book. Gaiman's writing is really beautiful and when it is read aloud, you can hear the beauty and you (well at least I was) are transported to wherever his pen takes you.

What was one of the most memorable moments of American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (A Full Cast Production)?

honestly, I can't just pick a few moments because this is one of the rare books that is solid from start to finish. My favorite part of the book is when Shadow is in the underworld. Hearing that out loud made it more powerful and moving. The murder of Wednesday also resonated, as did the meetings of the gods.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

The were all spot on. As I said Dennis Boutsikaris brings the right amount of deadpan to the narration. He is almost lackadaisical about his reading, as if he wants to be doing something else, which creates an irony in that these characters are in liife and death situations. All the narrators captured their characters. Wednesday was as rasoy as I imagined. Low Key was as oily as a snake salesman. As for Shadow? Let's just say that next time I read this book I will be hearing his dialogue in that actor's voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. There were some parts of this book that I laughed so loud, I almost woke up my sleeping family. My husband would know when I was listening to it if I was totally engaged and had a smirk on my face.

Any additional comments?

This was an amazing read and if you haven't read any Neil Gaiman, this is the book you should begin with.

The only thing that is missing is a cast listing. I knew who the narrator was (Dennis Boutsikaris has a distinctive voice) but I would have liked to know who else was involved in this audiobook, because they were all amazing and if they have done other narrations I would love to hear them.

I honestly cannot tell. That is why I love it.

As I sit here writing this I honestly cannot tell what just happened. All I do know is if I don’t say something then my head shall explode. First the cast did an incredible job bringing this work to life and deserve nothing but praise. That I am sure of. However it is the story that vexes me.

It’s characters seem to do random tasks without rhyme or reason. This is personified in the main character of Shadow who is the word ‘meh’ incarnate. It’s rules seem completely at odds with each other. It is somehow chaotic and linear in a way I never thought possible. All leading up to ending that is resolved with a short speech that solves everything leaving me more than a little unsatisfied. I should not like this book. Yet as the story grew ever closer to ending my heart hurt as I began to miss Shadow and Wednesday. I don’t know why I love this book, but I can’t wait to listen to it again.

a well done version of a new American classic

a well done version of a new American classic with a great performance and even neil himself

I think it is good!

I love everything by Neil, and have quite a few of his audiobooks, including both of these. Yes, it is a little bit different listening to the new one after listening to the original but I actually really like this version with the additional voices. I think it gives it a nice "new" kind of feel to the story. I LOVE IT! Girl Sam's speech is awesome in a females voice!

Fun times

I originally read this in hardback. I've re-read it a few times since, and then found Mr Gaiman himself narrating it. Author-read books are a favorite. Gaiman is a favorite. The story is starkly human, deep, humorous and tragic. I do love when a fantasy author is capable of leading me gently back to my life with a better understanding of my reality through their fantasy. Gaiman does this regularly for me. Thank you, Neil, for writing, and for reading.

Fantastic storytelling. A great read.

Fantastic. I generally prefer audiobooks because I can listen while driving, but even though the narration was flawless, this is one book that I might recommend reading traditionally. There were just so many great quotes and one liners, I would have liked to stop a few times and re-read them, to spend more time with the words.

American Gods covered just about all of them, old gods and new, through the story of Shadow. The spoiler free version prevents me from telling you who he is/why he's special. At first, I wasn't in love with it: Shadow gets out of prison, Shadow meets a creepy guy on the plane, Shadow's wife dies and he has nothing left. But when the story finally caught me, it sunk its claws in deep. I couldn't stop listening and loved the twists and characters and ideas. There's a reason Neil Gaiman is a bestseller. Wonderful storytelling.

a darker Neil Gaiman

I loved this book! I have yet to be disappointed with Neil Gaiman's work and this book is no exception. I will say it's a lot darker then his usual work but he wrote it quite well. 100% would recommend!

Road trip through Mythology

I know the title is a cop out, but I am just not sure what to say.

If you love mythology, legends, magic, religion ... you will probably like this book. However, the story is complex and nebulous, and lots of things are unresolved. Is it real? Did it happen? Was it a mirage? Who was speaking? Etc.

The way Gaiman used folk characters we know (Anansi, the trickster spider, is Aunt Nancy at one point in the book) was very clever. But the main story (a battle between old and new gods) was not particularly interesting. As Shadow and Wednesday (main characters) took their road trip towards this battle, lots of interesting things occurred. And that is the whole book.

Yes, Shadow wrestles with his soul, the meaning of life and death, the meaning of being American, it was just not engaging enough for me.