By Neil Gaiman

Three-Word Summary: Magic under London

Rating: 5/5

Neil Gaiman is one of the greatest storytellers of our generation.

Part of what makes him so is his distinct ability to create captivating stories across a variety of mediums and genres. Apart from his well-known novels, Gaiman is renown for his work in graphic novels, film and theater.

I didn’t realize this until I was well into reading Neverwhere, but the book is actually a superb novelization of a British television program by the same name, also created and written by Gaiman.

Not only that, but BBC Radio is also producing an audio version of the tale, featuring the voices of James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, and the ageless Christopher Lee.

What makes Gaiman’s works, and Neverwhere in particular, so compelling are the characters.

Richard Mayhew is a typical every man character who is thrust into the secret and mystical world of London Below. There, the individuals are as rich in character as they are poor financially.

The story follow Richard as he helps recently orphaned Door, the heir to a well-to-do family who is being pursued by legendary hired killers.

The heroes travel beneath the British capitol and encounter a number of place name puns. For instance, there are actual Black Friars at Blackfriars Station and Mind the Gap is a strongly worded warning.

Neverwhere stands as one of the finest examples of urban fantasy and magical realism. It combines a compelling subject matter with memorable characters and wrapped up in Gaiman’s effortless writing style.

I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read so far by this great writer and plan on reading a lot more by him.