American Gods is a contemporary fantasy novel that follows Shadow Moon, a recently released prisoner whose return to ordinary life is shattered by the death of his wife and a strange job offer from the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday. Neil Gaiman builds the story as a road trip across the United States, where roadside towns, diners, motels, forgotten places, and immigrant histories become meeting points for ancient gods trying to survive in a country devoted to new forms of worship. The novel combines mythology, dark fantasy, Americana, crime, and philosophical fiction, setting Shadow between old gods brought to America by memory and belief, and newer powers shaped by media, technology, money, and modern fear. As the threat of war grows around him, Shadow’s journey raises a quieter question about faith, identity, and what people choose to believe in when the old stories no longer seem to hold their place.
Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
Year published: 2021
Number of pages: 730
Original language: English