From Contemporary Authors Online. The Gale Group, 1999.
(n.b. Database may be from 1999, info is from earlier, so
the 'works in progress' section is of historical value - if
anyone knows which print issue so I can give this a more
accurate time frame, please email me)
(n.b.2 If I have a copy of the articles in Further Readings,
I've given a full cite, and if available, a link to it on The
Dreaming. If someone has more info about the others, again,
please email me)
Neil (Richard) Gaiman
1960-
Variant name(s): Neil Gaiman, Neil Richard Gaiman
Nationality: English
BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
"Sidelights"
British author Neil Gaiman has written both science fiction
works and graphic novels, which combine prose and illustrations
and are set in comic-book form. Although his "mainstream"
fiction works have been more widely reviewed in the United
States, Gaiman is recognized in Britain for his graphic works,
which include books and serial segments in periodicals. A
relatively new literary trend, graphic novels began appearing as
early as 1978 but experienced substantial gains in popularity
during 1989 and 1990. Catering to a mature audience, graphic
literature offers sophisticated plots and structure not usually
associated with comics. Nicolette Jones, writing in the Sunday
Times, remarked that "many of the most recent publications are
surreal, experimental and ambiguous, inviting you to decipher
them like poems."
This experimental aspect of graphic literature appeals to Gaiman,
who explained to Jones: "You can still toy with the conventions
of the genre.... It mixes media: you can play with the rules."
The scriptwriter for several graphic novels, including Violent
Cases and Sandman:A Doll's House, Gaiman has been praised by
critics for his fresh approach to established story lines. His
1987 work, Violent Cases, contains episodes based on the
nightmares of a young boy who heard tales about the exploits of
Depression-era gangster Al Capone from the doctor who treated
the mobster and his gang. Jones deemed the work "inspired and
ingenious."Sandman, a collection of science fiction stories from
Gaiman's DC Comic series of the same name, features a
protagonist named Dream who is one of the Endless--an infinite
being. During the course of the novel, Dream travels across
America picking up the stray dreams and nightmares of the
twentieth century, some of which have taken human form. Steve
Erickson, writing in the L.A. Weekly called Sandman "Gaiman's
own inventory of the books of hell, personally rewritten with no
small measure of ambition or cockiness."
The inventiveness lauded by critics in Gaiman's graphic novels is
also evident in his science fiction collaboration with former
fellow journalist Terry Pratchett titled Good Omens: The Nice
and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. Commending the
work, Howard Waldrop, in a review for the Washington Post, noted
that "the book tackles things most science fiction and fantasy
writers never think about, much less write." In Good Omens,
Gaiman and Pratchett provide a satiric look at Armageddon. Based
on the apocalypse described in Revelation, the last book of the
Bible, the novel centers around the baby Antichrist who is
living in the hamlet of Lower Tadfield. Good Omens chronicles
the exploits of Aziraphale, an angel, and Crowley, the demon
serpent, as they conspire to prevent the predicted emergence of
the end of time. For comedic effect, the authors entwine modern-
day aspects of British life with the supernatural (the serpent
drives a Bentley), as well as age-old concepts with futuristic
overtones (the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse become the Four
Bikers of the Apocalypse).
Popular in Britain, the fantasy has received a mixed response in
the United States. Some reviewers note that the book contains a
few truly comedic passages, but at times becomes burdened by
sophomoric humor. Waldrop acknowledged that the humor in Good
Omens sometimes "strains for effect," but added that writing a
funny book about Armageddon is a difficult task. The critic
concluded: "When the book is talking about the big questions,
it's a wow. It leaves room in both the plot and the reader's
reactions for the characters to move around in and do unexpected
but very human things."
Gaiman told CA: "Although writing prose fiction is interesting
and rewarding, my current primary commitment is still to the
field of graphic literature. My main area of interest is the
relationship between people and stories and the use of myth."
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Family: Born November 10, 1960, in Portchester,England; son of
David (a company director) and Sheila (a pharmacist; maiden
name, Goldman) Gaiman; married Mary McGrath, March 14, 1985;
children: Michael, Holly.
Education: Attended Ardingly College,1970-74, and Whitgift
School, 1974-77.
Avocational Interests: "Finding more bookshelf space."
Memberships: Society of Strip Illustrators (chair,
1988-90); Science Fiction Foundation (committee member), British
Fantasy Society.
Addresses: Agent: Merrilee Heifetz, Writers House Inc., 21 West
26th St., New York, NY 10010.
AWARDS
Mekon Award, Society of Strip Illustrators, and Eagle Award
for best graphic novel, both 1988, for Violent Cases; Eagle Award
for best writer of U.S. comics, 1990.
CAREER
Free-lance journalist, 1983-1987; writer, 1987--.
WORKS
WRITINGS BY THE AUTHOR:
* (With Kim Newman) Ghastly beyond Belief, Arrow, 1985.
* Don't Panic--The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion,
Titan, 1987, Pocket Books, 1988.
* Violent Cases, illustrated by Dave McKean, Titan, 1987.
* (With Terry Pratchett) Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate
Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, Workman Publishing, 1990.
* Sandman: The Doll's House, illustrated by Mike Dringenberg
and Malcom Jones III, DC Comics, 1990.
* Black Orchid, illustrated by Dave McKean, lettered by
Todd
Klein, DC Comics (New York City), 1991.
* The Sandman: Dream Country, illustrated by Kelley Jones
et
al., DC Comics, 1991.
* The Books of Magic, illustrated by John Bolton et al.,
lettered by Todd Klein, introduction by Roger Zelazny, DC
Comics, 1993.
* Death, the High Cost of Living, illustrated by Chris
Bachalo, Mark Buckingham, Dave McKean, colored by Steve
Oliff/Olyoptics, lettered by Todd Klein, DC Comics, 1994.
* (With Greg Capullo) Angela, Image Comics (Anaheim, CA),
1995.
* (With Edward E. Kramer) The Sandman: Book of Dreams,
HarperPrism (New York City), 1996.
* Death: The Time of Your Life, pencilers, Chris Bachalo,
Mark
Buckingham, DC Comics, 1997.
* Neverwhere, Avon Books (New York City), 1997.
Author of the four-issue graphic novel, The Books of Magic, for
DC Comics. Creator of "Black Orchid," 1988-89, and "Sandman,"
1988--, both for DC Comics. Also creator of "Signal to Noise"
comic, serialized in The Face, 1989.
WORKS IN PROGRESS
An examination of the life and career of Sweeney Todd, with
artist Michael Zulli; revision of "Signal to Noise" comic
for publication by Gollancz in 1992; and film script for Good
Omens, optioned by Sovereign Pictures in association with
Levinson and Rosenfelt. Also "lazily researching fairy stories
and the more bizarre Roman emperors."
FURTHER READINGS
FURTHER READINGS ABOUT THE AUTHOR:PERIODICALS
* L.A. Weekly, November 2, 1990.
* New Statesman, September 8, 1989.
* Queenan, Joe. "The Four Bikers of the Apocalypse (review of
Good Omens)". New York Times, October 7, 1990, Section 7 (Book
Review), pg. 27:1.
* Jones, Nicolette. "From Superman to the Swamp Thing". Sunday
Times (London), July 15, 1990.
http://www.holycow.com/dreaming/lore/900715_London_Times.htm
* Waldrop, Howard. "Armageddon, With a Bang (review of Good
Omens)" Washington Post, December 20, 1990, pg D3.