Five of Neil Gaiman's Best

Since I've been talking about Neil Gaiman recently I thought I would write about some of his best stuff that many people might not be aware of: First, there is a radio play adaption of "Snow, Glass, Apples" with a performance by Bebe Neuwirth that is absolutely incredible. I had read the short story, and didn't really remember it. But the performance by Bebe Neuwirth really burned it into my mind. I listened to it once and still two years later think about it. It's a really twisted retelling of Snow White. Seek it out. It's available as Two Plays For Voices.

Second, if you aren't aware of his Sandman books. I would start you off on The Sandman: Endless Nights. It is a collection of stories that will introduce you to various members of the Endless family: Death, Dream, Desire, Delight (or Delirium,) Destruction, Destiny and Despair. Old collaborators Dave McKean (cover and design only) and P. Craig Russell are here as well as some artists that haven't worked with Neil before. My favorite being, "What I've Tasted of Desire" with art by the fantastic Milo Manara. Also, "The Heart of a Star" with art by Miguelanxo Prado. This story is cool, to me, because it ties in with DC Comics continuity, but it's so inside only Green Lantern readers would get it.

Third, we have Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days. This is a collection of some of Neil's Vertigo work for DC Comics including his first Swamp Thing story that he wrote in 1986, but not drawn until 1999. The artists on the story were Steve Bissette and John Totleben. The classic artists during Alan Moore's run in the 80's. The story is only available in this collection. Also, in the collection is Neil's Hellblazer story, "Hold Me" (with that Dave McKean guy again.) His collaboration with Matt Wagner on the meeting of the Golden Age Sandman with Dream is in this collection. (Not one of my favorites, but pretty essential for Sandman fans.) And the Swamp Thing story featuring Brother Power The Geek. (I do not even want to tell you who that is.)

Fourth, we have Stardust. I've seen a version that's just the novel out there. Don't get that. Get the one with art by Charles Vess. The two page spread of the Lion attacking the Unicorn alone makes this worth the price. The story involves a young man who goes into the Fairy world for a girl who will marry him if he finds a fallen star and brings it back to her. It's soon to be a major motion picture with a cast announced recently to include: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Claire Danes.

Lastly we have Smoke and Mirrors, a collection of short stories, In here we find "Murder Mysteries," "One Life, Furnished in Early Moorcock," and "Snow, Glass, Apples." The "Troll Bridge" story is in here, too, which has one of the most interesting lines about a guy who meets a girl he used to have a thing for years later,

"The trim woman with the taut smile was not the girl I had loved."

Strangely, true isn't it?

Well, there we have it. Go on your journey. Follow my path or find your own direction.