The Ocean at the End of the Lane.
Once upon a time, a young boy lived down the lane from three ladies; a grandmother, a mother, and an 11 year old daughter. The eleven year old is called Letty Hemstock and she claims that the duck pond in their backyard is an ocean. Her mother remembers crossing the ocean from the old country and the grandmother remembers the really old country that was before the big bang. These women are the only hope our young narrator has to overcome the trouble he is in.
I did not need to check the dust cover to know this was the plot of the newest Neil Gaiman book. Gaiman has a distinct writing style that invites the reader into a world that is full of adventure and memorable characters. His writing style is unique because he can take fantastical elements and integrate them into reality in a plausible way. The Ocean at the End of the Lane feels like it will have a solid adventure and the plot already gives us insight to three interesting women.
Gaiman has said that this was a story he hadn’t even meant to write as a novel. It evolved from a short story to a novella then finally his first adult novel since Anansi Boys. He feels that this is something different than anything he has ever written, and this gave him a bit of anxiety. However, with a little help from some lucky advanced readers he was confident enough to release it and now us mere mortals are counting down till we have the same privilege. Be ready to pick up your copy on June 18th this summer.
“I’m so proud of it and hope you will give it a chance, Thank You.”
- Neil Gaiman
Gaiman Returns to Marvel with Angela
Neil Gaiman is returning to writing for Marvel Comics after an extended period away from the industry. What has the world in a titter is the fact that Gaiman is bringing along a character that has never appeared in a Marvel comic but was a main character for another company’s main series.
In case you can not see the big picture, hit the jump to see who it is.
Cheap Date: Mar 20th
Welcome to a brand new edition of Cheap Date, where I will recommend $30 worth of nerdy entertainment for the week.
Click past the jump to see what I recommended this week.
CYaN Podcast Episode 32: Bone Shanks
Here comes a brand new episode of the Call Yourself A Nerd Podcast for you to listen to. Danny and Ricky talk about new movie rumors, a couple of trailers, and of course we go in-depth with the mid-season finale of The Walking Dead.
Cheap Date: Oct 10th
Another week and another new edition of Cheap Date has arrived! In case you are unfamiliar with this weekly article, I will recommend an allotment of nerdy entertainment that I think you should definitely check out this week and altogether it costs no more than thirty bucks. Because we all know how expensive being a nerd can be.
Head on past the jump to read my recommendations.
Ghosts: Recent Hauntings
Attention Book Nerds:
Today, I received an e-mail alert for one of my favorite authors; Neil Gaiman! The alert is for an anthology of ghost stories that he has contributed to called, Ghosts: Recent Hauntings.
“The spirits of the dead have walked among our legends, myths, and stories since before recorded history. Ghostly visitations, hauntings, unquiet souls seeking the living, vengeful wraiths, the possibility of life beyond the grave that can somehow reach out and touch us are some of literature’s most enduring icons. Now, in the twenty-first century, we are no less fascinated with phantoms than our cave-dwelling ancestors or our Victorian-age forebears. Thirty modern masters of fright and fantasy fill this anthology with shivers, chills, and spooky explorations of both sides of the veil. Be prepared to keep a light on all night!”
Don’t get too excited, this collection has 29 reprinted short stories (whomp whomp) and one grim original by Stephen Graham Jones titled “Uncle”.
That shouldn’t discourage you though. I have perused the list of authors and this anthology is pretty promising. Tim Powers for example wrote “On Stranger Tides” which was used as inspiration for the most recent Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Also the author of Bubba Ho-Tep Joe R. Lansdale has a story included. Lots more (including Gaiman goodness) after the jump. Read More…
CYaN Podcast Episode 13: Holy Tangents, Batman
Woohoo, another CYaN podcast for you to listen to. Ricky and Danny talk about a few different things, but to be honest we will really just be talking about the Dark Knight Rises and what we thought about it.
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Neil Gaiman To Write More Original Sandman
25 years ago, the first issue of Sandman was released on to shelves. Written by Neil Gaiman, it became one of the most beloved series of all time. It is one of the defining comics in my own personal life.
Since the series end, Gaiman has occasionally come back to the creative well that he used to redefine comics. Only one of these stories actually focused on the main protagonist of Sandman.
Gaiman is now teaming will an artist who has been described as someone who has redefined how comic are drawn. J.H. Williams III has been literally turning the comic work on its side with his art work. He continues to have one of the most complex and interesting styles in the market.
Together Gaiman and Williams will tell a new Sandman story.
I can not be more excited.
Neil Gaiman says “Make Good Art”
Hey, Adam Savage isn’t the only one able to make incredibly inspirational speeches. Neil Gaiman is an amazing author whose creativity has astounded me since I first read Sandman. I went on to read his other amazing including American Gods, Marvel 1602, Stardust, Good Omens, and Coraline. He inspired me to stick to my dreams of writing and illustration. Neil Gaiman was at the University of the Arts 2012 graduation ceremony and this is what he said.
Now he’s making me question my return to school (don’t worry I’m staying in school this time), but just like my brother, words like these inspired me to create Call Yourself a Nerd. Whatever you want to do, just do it. Make something. Make good art. Be inspired. And don’t give up.
CYaN Podcast Episode 1: Going Nuclear
Welcome to the very first episode of the Call Yourself A Nerd podcast. In this episode Danny and Ricky will talk about new movie trailers, Marvel Comics’ movies, Sony All Star Battle Royale, Halo 4, Spider-Men, and many more things. I hope you all enjoy it.
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Goodreads
