Angels and Visitations: A Miscellany

Unbeknownst to much of the population who read for pleasure with any regularity, Neil Gaiman is one of our greatest living writers. "Sandman" is an epic saga that blends mythology, history, religion and pop culture into a masterwork medley. "Angels and Visitations" is an equally masterful collection of stories that show what Mr. Gaiman can do when he lets his extraordinary imagination loose."Murder Mysteries", a nimble tale about an inchoate Heaven and the constructive angels who populate it, is by far the best of the lot. Here Gaiman does what a great mystery writer should--let the details about the characters and their surroundings emerge and become increasingly richer as the story draws to a close. The hilarious "The Case of Four And Twenty Blackbirds" is a different kind of mystery; one which turns the tale of Humpty Dumpty on its ear. "Troll-Bridge" is another modernization of a children's tale--in this case, "The Three Billy Goats Gruff"--which is written for a very different effect. It is a bittersweet story about the loss of innocence and how, as adults, we embrace the monsters that once frightened us. "Mouse" is, as another reviewer notes, an allegory that makes gentle, yet effective use of irony. "Chivalry" is an entertainingly comic tale about finding the Holy Grail. Finally, there's "Luther's Villanelle", a poem which conjures up gothic images that keep the reader's imagination going long after he or she has finished reading it.These works have remained fresh in my mind, although I finished reading this book more than three years ago. The mere fact that so many have remained in my memory speaks much more about Gaiman's ability to write than my ability to remember. A good writer can keep you interested in what you're reading. A great one is one whose storytelling stays with you for a long time.

Some years ago I bought an anthology called Midnight Graffiti, now out of print (deservedly, unlike the book we are discussing). Although the authors were well-known, the general level of the stories was a) just average; b) bad; c) very bad; d) unspeakable, and so forth. The only story that stood out was "Murder Mysteries," by Neil Gaiman. This melancholy and powerful story stuck to my mind, and I could never forget it. So, I bought this book because it had this story in it (and so to get rid of Midnight Graffiti without qualms). This book is a treasure trove. Gaiman is a rarity, as fantasy authors go. He is satisfying in general, but he is simply superb when writing about absolutely ordinary people and their relationship with magic (mostly, their refusal to let magic into their lives), as in Chivalry, Vampire Sestina, Troll Bridge, the abovementioned Murder Mysteries and one about a veneral disease whose title has escaped me. (Just the title, I remember the story perfectly well.)For those who did not get this great book, you can still enjoy Mr. Gaiman's unique talent in Smoke and Mirrors; it does not have the illustrations and essays, but it brings a lot of new stories. And unlike this one, it is in print.

Neil Gaiman is ,simply, one of the best writers in any medium. This far-ranging collection is a great introduction to his work. He is as adept at making us shudder, as he is at making us laugh, cry or dream. Buy this book; you will not regret it!

Every word is brilliant, and improved by buying the audio CD, because if you listen to Neil reading it, you'll want to die in his arms. I have sound files of Babycakes and Nicholas Was on my computer just for when I need a Neil fix. It's the greatest in the world.

The only reason why I didn't give this amazing book a 10 was because some of the stories didn't make sense of me. The better stories in the book, though, deserve more then a 10, such as: We Can Get Them For You Wholesale and Babycakes. Gaiman writes with a caliber that I have never found any other author to have. As in Mouse, he can take a simple subject and turn it into a very interesting story. There is a good story for any reading level, from children to English majors. It's the kind of book that you will want to share with all of your family and friends, because you can hit any of their interests. I'd recommend this book to anyone.