If you enjoy reading books by Neil Gaiman then you might also like the following authors:
Terry Pratchett is a fantastic storyteller known for his wit and humor. If you enjoy Neil Gaiman, you might find Pratchett’s work appealing too. One of his books, “Guards! Guards!”, introduces the City Watch of Ankh-Morpork, a ragtag group of misfits.
The story starts when a secret society summons a dragon, thinking they can control it. Captain Vimes and his quirky team, including a naïve new recruit named Carrot, get pulled into the chaos.
The book is filled with clever twists and sharp satire, all within a richly built fantasy world. It’s a tale where even the unlikeliest heroes can stand up and fight.
China Miéville writes stories that mix the strange and the fantastical with a gritty edge. His book “Perdido Street Station” pulls you into the city of New Crobuzon, a sprawling, chaotic place filled with humans, strange creatures, and all sorts of bizarre machines.
The story follows an eccentric scientist named Isaac, who stumbles upon a dangerous secret while working on a project involving a winged creature. The city itself feels alive, filled with political intrigue, shady dealings, and strange technologies.
If you enjoy Neil Gaiman’s ability to blend the magical with the everyday, Miéville’s world-building and unique style might grab your attention.
Susanna Clarke is an author who creates worlds filled with magic, strange characters, and deep mysteries. Her book, “Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell,” is set in a version of 19th-century England where magic once existed but has mostly disappeared.
The story follows two magicians—Mr. Norrell, a reclusive man who wants to control and limit magic, and Jonathan Strange, his ambitious pupil whose curiosity takes him down darker paths.
There’s an eerie fairy realm, ancient magical books, and a dangerous bargain that unravels in unexpected ways. Fans of Neil Gaiman might enjoy how Clarke mixes the ordinary with the fantastical in a way that feels grounded yet otherworldly.
Kelly Link writes books that feel strange and magical but grounded in everyday life. If you enjoy Neil Gaiman’s mix of the ordinary and the fantastical, her work is worth exploring. In her collection “Magic for Beginners,” she weaves stories that are full of odd twists.
One of the stories involves a TV show called “The Library,” where characters face bizarre rules and shifting realities. Another follows a boy whose mother becomes a zombie and lives in their pantry.
Her world-building feels natural, and the people in her stories react in ways that feel human, even when the world around them becomes surreal.
Patrick Rothfuss is an author known for bringing rich worlds and memorable characters to life. His book “The Name of the Wind” introduces Kvothe, a gifted young man who becomes a talented wizard, a musician, and a legend.
The story follows him through his childhood as the son of traveling performers, to his struggles as a penniless student in a mysterious university.
The book weaves tales of magic, love, and the mysteries of the past, all told through Kvothe’s own words as he recounts his life to a chronicler. It has a lyrical style and a narrator who pulls you right into his world.
Fans of Neil Gaiman might enjoy the blend of myth and personal story.
Jasper Fforde writes stories that mix the ordinary with the fantastical in a fun and clever way. His book, “The Eyre Affair,” introduces Thursday Next, a literary detective living in an alternate version of 1985.
In this world, books are a huge deal, time travel is real, and criminals can mess with literature itself. Thursday’s mission involves protecting “Jane Eyre” after someone steals a character from the original manuscript.
The story is packed with quirky twists and a world where fiction and reality blur in surprising ways. Fans of Neil Gaiman who enjoy strange but imaginative settings might enjoy this one.
Katherine Arden writes stories rooted in folklore and magic, often weaving them with dark, atmospheric settings. Her novel, “The Bear and the Nightingale,” is set in medieval Russia, where young Vasya lives in a small village surrounded by snow and forests.
She grows up hearing tales of spirits that protect their homes, but as Christianity spreads, those spirits start to weaken. When an ancient and dangerous power stirs, Vasya must face forces that threaten both her family and her world.
The book blends the real and the fantastical in a way that creates a vivid, timeless story. It has the kind of mythic edge that fans of Neil Gaiman might enjoy.
Gene Wolfe is a writer known for crafting stories that are layered and rich with imagination. One of his most celebrated works is “The Shadow of the Torturer,” the first book in * The Book of the New Sun* series.
It follows Severian, a young man trained as a torturer, who is exiled from his guild after showing mercy to a condemned prisoner. Set in a far-future world where the sun is dying, the story blends mystery and character growth with strange technologies and ancient traditions.
Wolfe’s writing explores Severian’s moral choices and the secrets of the world he inhabits, pulling readers into a dark, fascinating journey.
Lev Grossman is an author known for blending magic with the ordinary in ways that feel strikingly real.
His book “The Magicians” tells the story of Quentin Coldwater, a teenager who discovers that the magical world he read about as a child is real—and a lot darker than he ever imagined.
Quentin trains at Brakebills, a secretive magical college, but magic doesn’t fix his struggles with identity and purpose. The book explores what happens when fantasy meets harsh reality and doesn’t shy away from showing the messy parts of growing up.
Fans of Neil Gaiman might appreciate the way Grossman weaves fantasy into everyday life, creating a world that feels close to ours, yet full of wonder and danger.
Jonathan Carroll writes stories that blend the everyday with the extraordinary, creating worlds where the supernatural feels entirely natural.
In his book “The Land of Laughs,” a young teacher named Thomas Abbey becomes obsessed with a reclusive children’s author named Marshall France. Thomas decides to write France’s biography and travels to the author’s hometown with his girlfriend.
At first, the small town seems normal. But soon, strange events suggest the late author’s stories might have influenced reality. This mix of whimsy and eeriness makes the story unforgettable.
Fans of Neil Gaiman’s ability to merge the fantastical with the real might enjoy Carroll’s writing.
Tim Powers is known for weaving history and the supernatural together in a way that feels grounded yet fantastical. His book, “The Anubis Gates,” is a wild tale set in 19th-century London.
It follows Brendan Doyle, a modern-day scholar who finds himself pulled back in time and caught in a web of ancient Egyptian magic, secret societies, and terrifying sorcery.
Along the way, there are werewolves, body-swapping villains, and even cursed poets, all tied to a plot that moves fast and keeps you hooked. It’s strange, mesmerizing, and full of unexpected turns—a story where every piece seems to matter.
Garth Nix is an Australian author known for crafting stories that mix fantasy with dark, imaginative twists. One of his standout books is “Sabriel,” the first in the Old Kingdom series.
It follows Sabriel, a young woman who inherits her father’s title as the Abhorsen, a necromancer who lays the dead to rest instead of raising them.
Armed with a bandolier of magical bells and a sword, she must enter the mysterious and dangerous Old Kingdom to find her missing father. There are strange creatures, an ominous enemy, and a world where the dead don’t stay dead.
Nix creates a setting full of haunting magic, and the stakes feel very real. Fans of Neil Gaiman might enjoy the blend of the eerie and the fantastical in Nix’s writing.
Jo Walton writes stories that blend fantasy and reality in fresh and unexpected ways. One of her books, “Among Others,” follows Morwenna Phelps, a teenager who has a deep love for books and an ability to see magical creatures that others can’t.
After a tragic event involving her twin sister and a magical conflict with their mother, Morwenna starts over at a boarding school in Wales. There, she struggles to fit in while relying on classic science fiction and fantasy books to shape her world.
It’s a story about grief, healing, and the power of imagination, all set in a world where magic quietly exists alongside ordinary life. Fans of Neil Gaiman will probably enjoy Walton’s creative storytelling and literary references.
Charles de Lint is a Canadian author known for blending urban settings with folklore and fantasy. His book, “Moonheart,” is a great example of this style. The story follows Sara Kendell, who discovers a mysterious artifact in her uncle’s curio shop in Ottawa.
This find connects her to ancient magic and draws her into a world where modern life crosses paths with mystical forces. There’s mystery, danger, and a sense of wonder as Sara uncovers hidden secrets and faces incredible challenges.
Fans of Neil Gaiman’s ability to weave the magical into the everyday might enjoy de Lint’s approach to storytelling.
Ursula K. Le Guin is a writer known for creating vivid worlds and thought-provoking stories. One of her most famous books, “The Left Hand of Darkness,” takes place on a planet called Gethen, where the inhabitants can shift between male and female sexes.
The story follows a human envoy named Genly Ai as he navigates the politics and culture of this strange world. The book explores themes of identity, relationships, and the impact of seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.
Le Guin’s storytelling is rich and immersive, offering a journey that’s both strange and familiar.