Neil Gaiman in the 21st Century

Neil Gaiman has emerged as one of the most influential literary figures of the twenty-first century, from his roots in graphic novels to experimental social media collaborations, from award-winning fantasy fiction to beloved children's books. To borrow a phrase from Gaiman's internationally celebrated, viral graduation speech, he makes good art. Featuring seventeen original scholarly essays covering a broad range of Gaiman's prolific output, this collection includes readings of the novels American Gods, Anansi Boys, The Graveyard Book, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane; explores the children's books The Wolves in the Walls and Blueberry Girl; investigates the online short story collection A Calendar of Tales and the Doctor Who episode Nightmare in Silver; and looks carefully at Gaiman's return to the serial comic book form with Sandman: Overture. Artist J.H. Williams III also contributes an exclusive interview about his collaboration with Gaiman on Sandman: Overture. Finally, cartoonist and former Real World: San Francisco cast member Judd Winick includes a personal essay illustrating how artists are continually, profoundly influenced by Gaiman's creative output. Focused on helping scholars and fans alike, these essays conceptualize the latest iterations of an evolving, always-emerging artist as he makes art in the developing landscape of twenty-first century literature.