[ChrisW]

Ok first of it was a good book but there really wasn't any climax. The story seemed to keep the same pace all the way through.

Now what I can't work out is, where the heck was Jesus and er God? Surely if all the other gods were brought to America they would have been as well. Heck they arn't mentioned once not even when Shadow is in the Church at the center of America. I just find that odd. Was it just easier for them to be left out?

Also does anyone know if there is a sequal planned? The end kinda left it open for one.

[SusF]

Hmm well I thought they explained that. Jesus/Christian God was the reason the lesser gods were being squeezed out of popularity.

He also usually has a strict non-interferance policy.

Susan

[ChrisW]

Er i thought it was the modern gods(tech,media,etc) that were squeezing out the old gods? Jesus isn't exactly new. I'm pretty sure there were newer gods than Jesus who were on the oldies side.He also usually has a strict non-interferance policy. Don't remember seeing that anywhere in the books.

[Rob B]

Mildly
Spoiler-
ific

:)
s
p
a
c
e

:)

IIRC in an interview Gaiman specifically mentioned that he did
NOT include Jesus in the novel.

However, a case can be argued that Shadow was Jesus or Jesus-like. He was crucified, etc. Then again, so was Odin which goes to show how alot of different relgious beliefs have things in common.

[Llama]

The book has a lot of logical problems but I think you've put your finger on the most obvious one. In the book the battle is between the gods of myth and legend and these new "gods" of media and technology, but in America as in most Western countries the old gods were eradicated by monotheistic Christianity, which continues to predominate. I think Gaiman just ignores the issue, partly because it would interfere with story, partly because I suspect he wanted to avoid letters from irate fundamentalists.

[Alucard]

I, too, noticed that Christianity was left out of the story, but I can see why Gaiman ommitted it. For one thing, people are very touchy about religion. If you get too preachy, you're asking to piss people off. Secondly, as Llama said, it would have interfered with the story. Either way, I really enjoyed it, even with its flaws.

[ezchaos]

I agree that it was probably a good idea to leave out God and Jesus in AGs. It would have really confused things if they were in there. Maybe, since the Christian God has so many worshippers, he is too powerful to care about the events in AGs. In the future, when religions like Christianity, Islam, etc are forgotten, maybe those gods will be just like the old gods are in the book. :D

[Eventine]

I though Jesus got mentioned by some of the characters at one stage.
Not sure if I recall correctly, but it may have been in the first conversation with Easter.

[manticore]

well, most of the gods in AGs are gods who have one particular role in the relevant pantheon. since jesus and the muslim/christian/jewish gods are onipotent figures rather than representatives of one particular aspect of divine power, it wouldnt have made sense to include them.

besides, you cant argue that modern gods like the media, etc. are doing anything to eradicate belief in the worlds major religions. hence not including the gods that most people in the world worship was not, i think, i logical flaw.

actually the biggest logical flaw i think was including the hindu gods among the ones that were being forgotten. because while the ancient egyptian/norse/european folk religions are more or less rare, hinduism has thousands of followers even in america. i know that some relatives of mine, from india, who live in america are deeply religious and worship a few of the gods mentioned in american gods. a slight gap in gaiman's research, maybe?

[manticore]

Originally posted by SusF
Hmm well I thought they explained that. Jesus/Christian God was the reason the lesser gods were being squeezed out of popularity.

He also usually has a strict non-interferance policy.

Susan


strongly suggest you re-read the book :D