By Su Gi Chandran (08)

A fantasy novel that explores themes and issues affecting America and, to a larger extent, the modern world, its premise is this: Shadow, a convict, is released from prison just as his wife, Laura, dies. Heartbroken, he begins to work for a mysterious man who calls himself Wednesday, in actual fact an ancient god from a distant land. Throughout the novel, Wednesday and the other old gods prepare for a war with the new gods - gods of the technological age; of television, the Internet, what have you.

This book is remarkable in a number of ways. Firstly, it mixes outright fantasy with the modern world in a way that seems completely believable. Thunderbirds swoop from the skies and leprechauns get drunk in bars - the way Gaiman writes about them, one thinks that they are not entirely out of the ordinary, and they could actually happen to someone. But more impressively, Gaiman skillfully dissects various themes while keeping the reader entertained: the fickleness and superficiality of the modern age and humans in general; cultural clashes; and how the strength of ideas lies in belief, to name just a few.

Certainly a worthwhile read that will set you thinking.

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