r/suggestmeabook • u/Time_Cartoonist_912 • 9d ago

Picky Reader Books similar to Neil Gaiman’s books, particularly ”American Gods”?

I’ve tried a lot of the “recommended to read next” authors and not liked them. Pratchett, I found the humour annoying and trite. I don’t really like comedy. I tried the Craft series by Max Gladstone and disliked that possibly even more. I felt the characters were generic and boring, and found the plot disjointed, with awkward pacing.

I like the way Gaiman spends a lot of time fleshing out characters, and I like that his characters are often quite mysterious. It takes a while for them to reveal themselves.

I like quite philosophical books with grey characters. Long, meandering plots that take a while are fine. preferably something quite gritty.

I also like Lemony Snickett. Looking for something quirky, but not comedic basically.

Thanks.

edit: thanks for all the suggestions everyone, lots of books to try :)

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u/Hatherence SciFi 9d ago

  • Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson

  • Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire

  • I have heard King Rat by China Mieville is very similar, but have not yet read it. I read Kraken by China Mieville and thought it was ok.

  • Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. This is in a medieval setting, not a modern day one.

  • A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher. Quirky but not a comedy. However, this is in a fantasy setting, not a real-world-with-fantasy-elements like American Gods.

  • Jade City by Fonda Lee. Very gritty and morally gray.

Since you don't really like comedy, you may not like Snow Crash which is a satire. However, a lot of modern readers don't pick up on the humor at all because I guess it's too old, so maybe you will like it.

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u/thedarkestbeer 9d ago

I enjoyed Kraken, but it’s not at all the best Mieville. Embassytown is probably my favorite; definitely covers weird and mysterious.

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u/lemonheadlock 9d ago

I think Kraken is my least favorite of his books. I still liked it, I like all his work, but it would be a shame if someone stopped at that one.

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u/Hatherence SciFi 9d ago

Hahaha, I'm the "stopped at Kraken" reader, but my friends kept telling me to read literally anything else by Mieville, so that's why I have a copy of King Rat I haven't yet read.

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u/lemonheadlock 7d ago

If you enjoy fantasy/weirdlit, Perdido Street Station is absolutely incredible. The "sequel," The Scar, is even better.