NEIL NOOZ 1

NEIL NOOZ

GAIMAN EDITION!
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“FROM ARMSTRONG TO PETERSON, AND SOME OF THEM IN BETWEEN”

EARLY LIFE
Neil Gaiman was born on November 10th, 1960. He was raised in Portchester,
mostly in the Library. As a child, Neil devoured books. He was seldom seen without
one, at weddings, at bar-mitzvahs, even funerals. His family would scorn him for reading
at inappropriate times, but encouraged his love of reading in other places. Neil’s mother
was a pharmacist, and his father was the head of a company. They would take him to
the library on their way to work and simply leave him there all day, and Neil loved it.
Neil allegedly has read every book in the children's section, and most in the
adult’s, of his local library. He was particularly enamoured with comic books, science
fiction, and fantasy, all genres that would later define his career. As he grew older, Neil
began to notice a lack of comics aimed at a more mature audience, he decided he
wanted to change that.
After he graduated highschool, Neil became a journalist. He wrote articles for
many famous British magazines and newspapers, including: ​The Sunday Times, t​ he
Observer,​ and ​Time Out.​Eventually, Neil’s first two books were biographies, one of
Duran Duran, and the other of Douglas Adams. Neil comments on the style of his
writing in this period with the quote, “I was very, very good at taking a voice that already
existed and parodying or pastiching it.”

MODERN CAREER
Gaiman has moved on to publish more full length books and comic series. He
worked with Laika Studios on a stop-motion production of his work ​Coraline​ in 2009,
and has been enlisted to write multiple episodes of the hit sci-fi show ​Doctor Who.​
Gaiman has worked as an English Teacher at Bard College, and continues to publish
and work on his own creative material. Gaiman’s most recent full book is ​Norse
Mythology.​ A collection of modernized scandinavian myths. He has been writing a
multitude of comics and short stories throughout 2018.
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AN UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE MEETING WITH NEIL GAIMAN

Neil Peterson: Hello Mr. Gaiman, my name is Neil. I’m representing Mrs. Mounts 3rd
Hour Creative Writing Class.
Neil Gaiman: Nice to meet you Neil, please call me Neil. I’m glad we have this chance
to meet. Could you move your foot over?
NP: Yes of course! Sorry about that.
NG: Not at all! Don’t worry about it. Let’s get down to the interview, shall we?
NP: Certainly. Many sources talk about how you practically grew up in libraries, what
drew you to them?
NG: Ah yes. As a child I simply engorged myself on books. My parents would drop me
off at the local library and I would spend the rest of the day there.
NP: Interesting, and you never got tired of the literature around you?
NG: Tired? No! There was constantly another book or mythos to pour myself into. I
finished the children's sections and was well into the adult section before I left.
Janitor: Huh? Oh sorry. Could you hand me that mop?
NP: Yes, here you go.
NG: You’re quite sure your school had no other accommodations for us than this utilities
closet?
NP: Sadly, I’m positive.
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NG: Well then.

NP: Anyway, one of the main drawing points of your writing is your well-defined voice.
How did you develop this?
NG: I would say my writing style came from the vast background of creative content I
have output. The early comic books and graphic novels helped me to better imagine the
worlds I was crafting and how the words mirror them.
NP: Oh watch out!
NG: What?
NP: There was a spider on the wall behind you. I think it’s gone now.
NG: Well where did it go?
NP: I’m not sure, off somewhere to build a web probably. You mentioned your wide
variety of content, why do you choose to span so many genres?
NG: Well if you had omnipotent power, you wouldn’t just make one thing for eternity
right? You’d start playing around and get weird with things. After all, that’s pretty much
all writers are, gods of their own little worlds. If you look into my earlier writing you’ll
notice I’m very good at mimicking voices that already exist.
NP: Well said. Now on the topic of your most recent book - oh?
J: Sorry, just dropping the mop off again.
NG: That’s alright, you were saying Neil?
NP: Oh yes, your most recent book. Why Norse Mythology?
NG: Norse Mythos has fascinated me ever since I was a child. The way all of the myths
and stories culminate to Ragnarok just to repeat again always entranced me. I wanted
to take something that I loved and provide a version for the modern era, as the older
texts are sometimes a bit drab. I wanted to provide a sense of wit, humor, and
newfound humanity to the ancient tales that we’ve lost so much of.
NP: And a fine job you did at that. I’ve had some school-work late because I was busy,
unable to put down your book and whatnot!
NG: Haha! That’s the spirit Neil! Well anyway-- Oh? What’s happened, why have the
lights gone out?
NP: I’ll ask the questions here, Neil. Why have the lights gone out?
NG: I’m not sure, I’ll try the door. Oh no.
NP: What’s wrong? Will it not open?
NG: Not an inch.
NP: It seems they’ve forgotten us, look the light’s gone out under the crack of the door
as well!
NG: This quite the cheap school you have here Neil.
NP: Don’t let them catch you writing that in an assignment Neil.
NG: Too late.
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WHY DID I DO THIS ABOUT NEIL GAIMAN?

To put it shortly: he inspires me. I want to be like him
when I’m older. It’s such a childish statement, but it’s true! I
want to be able to look back on my career when I’m older
and see past genres and demographics and writing voices. I
want to vary my created content and concoct things that I
can say I’m proud of.
I love his humour. The way he can catch the reader
and make them laugh is wonderful. I read his work and think
“This is great! This is what I want to make people feel.” He
caught my eye with his books, and caught my mind with the
words inside. I think we share many common interests, and I
feel he will greatly influence my career as a writer.
Gaiman doesn’t let form restrict him. He sees what he
wants to do, and does it. He’s created multiple award
winning works that cover different art forms. Yes, he’s a
writer, but he’s also an artist. He crafts books, scripts,
comics, and more. I want to be free and open minded with
the art I create. Gaiman has written through genres, time,
audience, and more, and inspires me to do the same.

BOOKS BY GAIMAN
NORSE MYTHOLOGY:
Rating: “​YOU HAVE IMPRESSED THE GODS”
Gaiman has taken old Scandinavian myths and
rewritten them in a modern voice. He takes the serious
and sometimes funny tales of the Norse gods, and
puts them in a tongue and cheek style that works
perfectly. There are parts of the stories that ​are
naturally comedic, and Gaiman brings out their full
potential, while still paying homage to the stoic origins.
His interpretation results in a wonderful retelling that is
very entertaining to read.
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NEVERWHERE:
Rating: A “NORMAL SOCIETY / ABNORMAL
SOCIETY”
In Gaiman’s original novel “Neverwhere” we explore
an underground society of London filled with magic
and intrigue. In this second world, just below the
streets of normal-London, we meet daring
protagonists and experience interesting trials.

AMERICAN GODS:
Rating: A “TV SHOW WORTHY LITERARY
COMPONENT”
In another original novel, Gaiman explores
many different deities and their relations in modern
age America. Crafting a fictive world in which they
react and interact with one another against a common
enemy, Gaiman has created another wonderful and
unforgettable read with this one.
“American Gods” Is also airing with a television
show adaptation.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
“Biography.” Neil Gaiman, www.neilgaiman.com/About_Neil/Biography.

Haynes, Clarence. “Neil Gaiman.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 27 Apr. 2017,
www.biography.com/people/neil-gaiman-042617.

“Neil Gaiman Biography.” Encyclopedia of World Biography, Advameg, Inc.,

www.notablebiographies.com/news/Ca-Ge/Gaiman-Neil.html.

Ray, Michael. “Neil Gaiman.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 6 Nov. 2018,
www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Gaiman.

Wright, Jesse. “Acclaimed Author Neil Gaiman To Speak at WV Book Festival.” West Virginia Public
Broadcasting, www.wvpublic.org/post/acclaimed-author-neil-gaiman-speak-wv-book-festival#stream/0.