American Gods and Anansi Boys

[Radoslav]

I've recently started reading Anansi Boys, mostly because it was marked as American Gods #2. Turned out this is badly misunderstood and the book is actually completely standalone one. It's not a sequel, it's just having some common characters. As Neil Gaiman shares in his own blog:

- No, ANANSI BOYS isn't a sequel to AMERICAN GODS.
- I imagine it's set in the same world as AMERICAN GODS. (But then, several careful readers have pointed out that AMERICAN GODS is set in the same world as STARDUST ...)

I wanted to ask, if I should remove the American Gods #2 part from the books description in the current case.

[rivka, Librarian Moderator]

Radoslav wrote: "It's not a sequel, it's just having some common characters."

That would still qualify it as a sequel for Goodreads purposes.

[Radoslav]

Ok, then we should put Stardust in the series as well because it shares the same world. Also, we should put Norse Mythology because it also shares some characters.

[rivka, Librarian Moderator]

The connection to those is far more tenuous, as I understand it. Someone else who has read all of them might wish to weigh in.

[Radoslav]

In my opinion, the connection between American Gods and Anansi Boys is the same as the connection between American Gods and Norse Mythology. Also, I've already finished the first one and I am half through the 'second' one and they are nothing alike. Not to mention the only connection so far is ONE character, who on top of that is a secondary one. But even if I am wrong, the author himself says the book are not in a series. I agree that the rule for common characters/world is working most of the time, but I believe these two books are an exception.

[Krazykiwi]

They do certainly share a character and setting - there is also the other Shadow story in one of his anthologies (edit: Seems there's two of those, now I have to go hunt down the other one and read it!). Anansi Boys is more like a Mr. Anansi spin-off of AG in my mind. Also it's a little confused by the fact they've been bundled together as an omnibus in several editions.

Personally I would (and will, if Rivka ok's it):
a) Remove the numbering on the two novels.
b) Put an explanatory note on the series page, something like:
"AG and AB are standalone novels that share a character and do not need to be read in any order"

[Radoslav]

Krazykiwi wrote: "a) Remove the numbering on the two novels."

I believe the numbering should stay, but it should be changed to 1.3 and 1.7 for example. The two novels are part of the American Gods timeline, but they are not a major sequel/prequel/side story book.

[Krazykiwi]

Radoslav wrote: "Krazykiwi wrote: "a) Remove the numbering on the two novels."

I believe the numbering should stay, but it should be changed to 1.3 and 1.7 for example. The two novels are part of the American Gods..."

I suppose you mean the short stories. They are already decimal numbered.

The novels are American Gods and Anansi Boys.

The short stories do have a timeline relative to American Gods, but the novels do not need to be read in order (and reading one doesn't mean you need to read the other to "complete" a story).

[lethe]

Krazykiwi wrote: "Personally I would (and will, if Rivka ok's it):
a) Remove the numbering on the two novels."

I second this.

[Radoslav]

Sorry, I've misunderstood you - I was thinking about novella, not novel.

I would prefer AB to be removed completely from the series, but I am ok with your propositions as well, as far as it's clear that the two books are very loosely connected.

[rivka, Librarian Moderator]

Krazykiwi wrote: "a) Remove the numbering on the two novels.
b) Put an explanatory note on the series page, something like:
"AG and AB are standalone novels that share a character and do not need to be read in any order""

Sounds reasonable.

[Radoslav]

I've seen that the changes are already added. Thank you both Krazykiwi and Rivka for the help.