Neil Gaiman help

I want to start reading Gaiman. But I want to know where to start, should I start with The Sandman book 1, cuz I've heard how much better the following books were...
Help

Yeah, Sandman definitely gets better the further along it goes. However, without reading it from start to finish, I assure you that you will be completely lost. The Sandman Companion is quite nice. It features interviews with the Gaiman, but is not actually by him.
On a side note, I met him once at a signing in PA, and he is the nicest damn Brit I have ever met. After hearing that my friend I drove all the way down from Boston to see him, he halted the line and took pictures with us. He also called me "bloody mad".

A good first read would be Neverwhere. It's a very good indication of the quality of Gaiman's work, without being as involving as the Sandman series. If you like it, then move up to Stardust, a shorter book, but a better second. Then, after all that, start 'er up. But, yeah, if you don't start at the beginning, it'll suck. Gaiman is a shameless self-promoter, and almost everything from the beginning of the series follows the series throughout. Even bit characters whom you think you're not supposed to remember or care about later will pop up in issue 56 with back-stories and plotlines.

I realize, too, that that's not shameless self-promoting. I just like that phrase.


BANG BANG!

American Gods still reigns supreme in my books. I love it. It might not be good to start with, but a good follow-up to Neverwhere.

so I shouln't dive into the sandman series???

I started with Sandman.

If you want to get used to Gaiman's style, and also get your head prepped for all the mytho-poeic symbolism, reading some of his novel works is a good idea. They are also available at almost any library. The Sandman series as a whole is best taken with a bit of a running start. I also suggest picking up "The Dream Hunters," his collaborative work with Yoshitaka Amano. It's brilliant, and also exquisitely illustrated.

woohoo! neil gaiman!

Sandman is the shit. but dont miss Black Orchid. also w/ dave mckean.

[Edited on Aug 27, 2003 by mc_thoth]

I'd also recommend reading Angels & Visitations - it's actually where I started and it's short stories / poems / essays. Read short stuff like "Nicholas was.." , "We can get them for you wholesale" and "Troll Bridge" and you'll be blown away and totally hooked.

Neverwhere and American Gods are my most favorite books ever.

The problems with Black Orchid and Angels and Visitations is that they're no longer published, and a little difficult to get ahold of. Not great first reads.

Smoke and Mirrors, however, has quite a few stories from Angels and Visitations, and might be another good starting off point. If you do start there, you have to remember that most of Gaiman's work isn't that depressing. I mean, Smoke and Mirrors is a real downer (except for "Chivalry").

Also there's 'Good Omens', with Terry Pratchett, if you want something a bit lighter,,,

i started reading Sandman in the 40 or 50s, and it took me about 3 issues to really figure out what was going on.

if you pick up a Trade Paperback (Seasons of Miists is as good a place as any) you'll know weither you're interested enough to start from the beginning.

Of course, there's no reason not to start with the first Sandman. Yeah, it's a little slow to start. But so is the Fellowship if the Ring, and people still read that book all the time.

thank you all....

I would probably had started long ago, but since I live in a country that lacks good english book stores... I'm stuck with ordering everything online....

satanikaf said:
I'd also recommend reading Angels & Visitations - it's actually where I started and it's short stories / poems / essays. Read short stuff like "Nicholas was.." , "We can get them for you wholesale" and "Troll Bridge" and you'll be blown away and totally hooked.

Neverwhere and American Gods are my most favorite books ever.

A&V is out of print, and extemely tough to find, but its sooooo worth it if you do...

The first few sandmans are a little too classic comic book. There is nothing wrong with the comic book format, but it doesn't really prepare you for what comes afterward. Personally, I'd start with American Gods, Stardust, Neverwhere, and Coraline, in roughly that order, or, as Aya suggested, with Sandman roughly 20 (or book two). There is nothing wrong with starting with the first one, but it is worth remembering that it just keeps getting wierder.

I found A&V to be a bit uneven; there are great stories in there, but it isn't a good introduction to his stuff. I have an autographed copy of the first Dream Hunters book. This has no bearing on the topic, but I need to mention it every chance I get.

I don't think you'll like American Gods as much as some people think, it's my personal favorite, but the thing to remember is that it's an expression of an Englishmen's love for America. I don't know how a person in Guatemala will feel about it.