I ended up reading this kind of by accident (since I'm out of books, I'd planned on getting to the library today, but it was snowing so badly I decided not to). And I had no idea until a few hours ago that Gaiman had written a novella set after American Gods, so I figured why not. It's probably worth mentioning that I have a weird history with Gaiman. I think of him as a very good writer but an incredibly disappointing one, as despite the incredible ambition in a few of his projects (American Gods, which I think was an excellent novel; and Sandman, which maybe wasn't good but aimed high, despite being sort of like a car that reved its engine for days and never left the parking lot) he's coasted for years on young adult novels that aren't bad exactly, but aren't special either; silly pastiches; twee rewrites of fairy tales that show up in overpriced boutique editions; and the occasional not very good screenplay. But, to take a step back, I thought American Gods was an incredible novel despite some problems (and it's rare for me to enjoy fantasy with a contemporary setting, since it can be so incredibly hard to pull off), and I've been curious for years to see Gaiman tackle a larger, more complex project, especially one that played with myth in that particular way. Monarch of the Glen isn't quite that, since it's a novella, but it's as close as we'll get, I think.The story is set in Scottland, and fascinating for a lot of reasons. I was especially interested in how, despite being so blunt and stylized, there was an incredible amount of character to Gaiman's prose, and there was a subtlety to the scene construction that reminded me a little of Gene Wolfe. The general arc is phenomenal and strange in all the right ways, and it was an amazing reminder of just how good a writer Gaiman can be.So, I'm sure Gaiman is going to continue disappointing me, but I liked this story enough I'm looking forward to the Ocean at the End of the Lane (which seems good), and it almost makes me want to read Anansi Boys. Anyway, it's a quick novella, which I think is the perfect length for a story, and definitely worth checking out for anyone interested in Gaiman especially if you've read the novel. I was happy to get back to Shadow as he wandered after the events in American Gods. This is a small story, dependent on its resonance with the bigger one in that novel to offer insight and interest; fit that, though, it does quite well. Shadow is in many ways the man we know from American Gods, drifting about with little apparent volition, at least at the outset of the tale. He seems to change a bit by the end, though. It made me look forward to seeing what he might be up to next.
What do You think about The Monarch Of The Glen (2000)?
Excellent, as is most everything that Gaiman writes. Can't wait for more American Gods stories.
—donut
