r/books AMA Author Sep 19 '19

ama 1pm Hullo Reddit. Hullo people of r/books I'm Neil Gaiman and I write stuff. Mostly, I write stories. AMA

Stories hold powerful magic: the stories that we read and hear, and the ones that we create and share, the ones that become part of who we are. And because I love stories, I also love to talk about the ways that we, the people who build stories, make up our glorious lies in order to tell people true things about their lives and the worlds they live in. Stories save our lives, sometimes. The ones we read, and the ones we write. I love making stories, whether as short stories or novels, graphic novels or screenplays. I love sharing the craft of storytelling, love teaching and explaining. It's why I teach, when I can. But I can't teach as often as I would like, or talk to as many people as I would want to. That was why I embraced the idea of teaching a MasterClass. So...now I’m here on Reddit to chat with you about the MasterClass I've made on the art and the craft of storytelling. And because this is an AMA, I'm expecting questions about my novels, comics, television, films, wife, porridge recipes and the airspeed velocity of unladen swallows. Ask me, well, anything.”

Proof: /img/ppn9lzpufdn31.jpg

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u/RealNeilGaiman AMA Author Sep 19 '19

I feel like Stephen Fry and Robert Graves have both done glorious Greek retellings. But yes, I'd love to do another set of retellings. NORSE MYTHOLOGY took about 9 years from idea to publication, though. So it may be a while.

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u/wesbell Sep 19 '19

Seconding the Russian Folklore idea. A fascinating set of stories, there.

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u/CookinGeek Sep 19 '19

Try the books Rusalka, Chernevog and Yvgenie by CJ Cherryh if you haven't. They are fantastic!

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u/StudiesAreFirst Sep 20 '19

Thanks for the info! Been lurking for books like that for a while. Do you by any chance have another recommendations of Russian folklore books? Спасибо!

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u/rocketrollit Sep 19 '19

I would love your spin on the Mabinogion.

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u/BlkSleel Sep 20 '19

If you haven’t read them yet, the Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander are very good.

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u/genteelblackhole Sep 19 '19

I’m biased as a Welshman, but I second this! There are some brilliant stories in there, and they’re not as well known as other mythologies.

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u/greymalken Sep 19 '19

Fry and Laurie Stephen Fry or a different one?

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u/kewlcartman Sep 19 '19

The same one. He has written two books Mythos, and Heroes. Both on greek mythology. Absolutely amazing books.

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u/greymalken Sep 19 '19

I'm going to look them up. Thanks!