Questions About The Books of Magic

by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Books of Magic, please sign up.

Answered Questions (2)

I am getting different reading orders online..is it necessary to read THE SANDMAN series before reading BOOKS OF MAGIC? what about the HELLBLAZER? MISTER E or TRENCHCOAT BRIGADE crossovers(?) issues?

Justin You should be fine going into Books of Magic with only a sketchy background in DC generally, and you might well beware of the comic book origin rabbit…moreYou should be fine going into Books of Magic with only a sketchy background in DC generally, and you might well beware of the comic book origin rabbit hole.**

My advice is to read Swamp Thing (vol2) #47-50. This is involves a mystical showdown organized by Constantine including almost all the characters in Books of Magic. (With the exception of Mister E, who I know nothing of, and was apparently revamped significantly by Gaiman for BoM.)

Final thought: If you haven't read The Sandman, make that your priority.

** e.g., John Constantine has been written by Gaiman before in The Sandman, but also in hundreds of issues of Hellblazer, but also he originated in Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, but if you don't read the earlier Swamp Things nothing makes sense....and then 500 issues and five years later you get around to Books of Magic only to discover there's 40 years of the Stranger and the Spectre you haven't read.(less)

flag

This book is about a child. I see it compared to Harry Potter. Is it appropriate for 'Young Adults'?

Cole I discovered The Books of Magic after a friend mentioned its superficial similarities to Harry Potter. There is some overlap: the small, dark-haired p…moreI discovered The Books of Magic after a friend mentioned its superficial similarities to Harry Potter. There is some overlap: the small, dark-haired protagonist discovers magic and is given an owl. But outside of those few parallels, the differences are quite stark.

Many of the scenes and stories within could easily be frightening for a child, and there are a few images of naked women. But on top of that, I'd say the concepts at hand are pretty high-minded and would generally be hard to grasp for a child or "young adult," though I guess that depends on the age of the reader in question.

Better fitted for teens and adults, in my opinion!(less)

flag

Unanswered Questions

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more