American Gods is a fantasy novel by British author Neil Gaiman, first published in 2001 by Headline in the United Kingdom and William Morrow in the United States. The story follows Shadow Moon, a taciturn ex-convict who, days before his release from prison, learns that his wife has died in a car accident. On his journey home, he meets the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday, who offers him a job as a bodyguard and draws him into a hidden world where the old gods of mythology brought to America by immigrants are locked in a struggle for survival against the new gods of media, technology, and globalization.
The novel is celebrated for its ambitious blend of Americana, road-trip narrative, and deep dives into obscure world mythologies, weaving together figures from Norse, Egyptian, Slavic, African, and Native American traditions. Gaiman uses the framework of a supernatural thriller to explore themes of belief, sacrifice, and the changing cultural identity of the United States. The book was a critical and commercial success, winning both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel in 2002, and has been praised for its imaginative scope and richly textured prose.
A special tenth-anniversary edition was released in 2011, featuring the author's preferred text with approximately 12,000 additional words and expanded scenes. The novel has also been adapted into multiple audio productions, including a full-cast audiobook, and a high-profile television series. American Gods is widely regarded as one of Gaiman's signature works and a modern classic of speculative fiction.
