InterWorld (InterWorld Trilogy, 1) Paperback – April 29, 2008

This is a light, easy-to-read, and skillfully constructed tale. Arc is customary for the genre, the ordinary kid discovering special powers and that he's crucial for some larger battle. Prose is far superior to most other efforts in the genre, vocabulary is much richer and more interestingly chosen than the overwhelming majority of putative adult novels.Imagery characterized by strong reliance both implicitly and explicitly on popular movies and TV shows. Implicitly, authors describe an image (for example, a grin turning over on itself) that directly evokes a particular famous image (the T1000's demise in T2); more notably, the narrative is full of express comparisons to various contemporary movies and TV shows.Although the plot gets very ambitious, if not convoluted, as is customary with Gaiman's works he maintains a clear over-arching logic to the various special powers and plot developments. It is as a matter of fact quite impressive how seamlessly and effortlessly so many plot complications are handled.This does lack, of course, the depth of characterization, the believability of characters, or the luminous prose of Gaiman's best work. But it does not aspire to be more than what it is, a light tale well-told.

Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves are both award winning writers. They also both rose to prominence outside the novel arena. Gaiman scripted the SANDMAN comic series that lasted 75 issues plus specials. Since that time he's gone on to script many other things, including novels, television shows, short stories, movie scripts, and continued working in the comics arena. His work for Marvel Comics to create the 1602 universe when heroes similar to the present-day Spiderman, Daredevil, Fantastic Four, etc rose at 300 years ago has rightfully garnered a lot of attention. He also helped flesh out the mythos of the comics industry's best-selling title, SPAWN.Michael Reaves has written many television cartoon scripts, including BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES, GHOSTBUSTERS, and others. He's also written short stories and novels.According to the notes in the latest book they have out together, INTERWORLD, they got the idea for the book about ten years ago. Reaves joined Gaiman at his house and they sat down and wrote the book together. The idea had originally started out as a pitch for the television people. Since they had trouble explaining the concept to television executives, they came up with the idea of writing a short novel about it. Even after the novels written, television wasn't prepared to make a series.Last year, the manuscript was given fresh life when it was shown around to some prospective publishers. Almost immediately, the book was greenlit for publication.I enjoy a lot of Neil Gaiman's work. His comics are great, his short stories haunt, and his novels are generally burst out loud laughing or truly epic. Sometimes both.I've read some of Reaves's books, but I'm not as familiar with his work. He seems to create some interesting worlds and some interesting characters.When I heard about INTERWORLD, the premise sounded truly exciting. Imagine a boy, Joey Harker, who could literally run into several of his alternate selves on parallel worlds. I figured immediately that the book had kind of a SLIDERS or Marvel Comics EXILES feel. I had a lot of hopes for the book.After getting the book in the mail today, I sat down and read it. It's an easy read. The prose just sails right along. And the story is simple. In fact, it's a little too simple compared to what I was expecting. Granted that the book was written with a nine to twelve year old audience in mind, there was a lot of concentration on the architecture of the nothingness that stretched between the worlds. And not enough focus on real character development or even a plot. Both of those turn out simple as well.I know the juvenile crowd will probably appreciate that, but this is the same market that has been reading Harry Potter books that were 1000 pages long with convoluted and heavily articulated plots.Still, this is Gaiman and there are flashes of brilliance as well as true emotion throughout. When he talks about his teacher Dimas, he sounds so true I couldn't help but wonder if Gaiman or Reaves really had a teacher like that. The "class assignments" were terrific, and found myself wishing for more of those.The book moves at high speed once it gets up and going, which is really very quickly. However Joey tends to be left on his own through much of the book. He always seems to be leaving people behind and not making any true and lasting friendships for a long time. In fact, the story was depressing there for awhile because everybody he met seem to die. Including himself.Overall, I was pretty happy with the book. I wish there had been more. But it felt like an interesting cross between a Heinlein juvenile, an early Andre Norton adventure, and Roger Zelazny's Amber series. INTERWORLD is a quick read with plenty of zip and provides a host of ideas with lots of action.

Neil Gaiman always delivers (by never delivering what you expect).This is no exception... Action, coming of age, magical and bizarre

With open heart and open mind, I set out to love this book.I read everything 'Gaiman' at some point.I own every copy of "Sandman" and have several signed (I waited on line, yes I did).I own all his books.I even own some rarities such as, "Being an Account Of The Life And Death Of The Emperor Heliogabolus" (#1927 our of 2000-signed) and his "Three-Penny Opera."Yeah...fanboy.This book was recommended to me as I must have missed its release somehow.I rushed to read it and...not so much.Perhaps it was the fact that this was co-authored (Michael Reaves)?Perhaps that it was obviously written to be a series?Perhaps that it was billed to be YA and follows that rote, simple formula?I am not sure.The main character is shallow which is really unlike anything I have ever read from Gaiman.Bit of a spoiler, but very early on~Joey is quick to abandon his life and move on to "bigger things."All things left behind he becomes a master at "Walking" between parallel universes/timelines.The concept is great.Every time a decision is to be made a new timeline is created: One with the person having made one choice and the other a different choice. Herein lies the genius as we then have infinite timelines (as we have infinite choices).The problem I find is that it gets a bit choppy. I am reading another book currently where the vehicle of "Time" also plays in and is overused. Not so in "Interworld," but it feels...well...odd and disjointed here and there.The "villains" are played up and very strong (and a bit cliche), but the ending leaves one wanting as it is too neat. Too quick.I felt as though our protagonists should have had far more difficulty escaping their predicaments.The characters are enjoyable and (AGAIN-POSSIBLE SPOILER) they are all versions of our main "Joey" from different timelines.The play amongst this is brilliant and great fun.The character "Hue" is fabulous and, even as a 40+ year-old man, I found myself wanting a magical friend like her.It is the simplicity in resolution, the lack of ties to a life left behind not explained, a certain lack of depth-these are the things missing and very 'Un-Gaiman.'That being said, I really found my pace reading this about 50% of the way through and from that point on it soared to the end (perhaps too quickly, but it soared nonetheless).Adding to that, I have purchased the second in the series, "The Silver Dream (An Interworld Novel)" and am looking forward to reading it though I already imagine what the evil is (much the same as the last).If this were written by anyone else I would have given it slightly higher marks, but in that it was written (even co-written) by Gaiman I can only afford it a solid "three stars."(Interesting back-story regarding how this book came to be having told it in short spurts, written for TV, etc. Check it out).For Gaiman fans it is a "must-read."Soon, on to "The Ocean at the End of the Lane."Namaste~

J'ai vraiment hâte de lire la suite. Histoire aussi bien pour enfants, ados et adultes. bonne lecture. Neil Gaiman ne me déçoit jamais!

This book pushes a lot of buttons for me. I'm on a Neil Gaiman catch up streak at the moment and decided to try this after finishing The ocean at the end of the lane (which was great). It's a good plot, well thought through. Gaiman has a habit of throwing in the odd emotional hand grenade - things that slightly disrupt or upset the reader and divert the plot from something too cosy or saccharine. It feels like it's written with younger readers in mind but like many an excellent book, if the story is well written and narrated then it appeals across all ages. I liked it a lot and went straight to the second in the series (which is also great).

The good thing about Neil Gaiman is that his writing is wonderfully new and refreshing. He avoids the usual dull detailing in order to fill pages, instead, he is creative and intelligent. Many of the concepts based on physics which are present in "interworld" such as Klein Bottles were suprising to me even though I have more than amateurish interest in the field. The plot is riveting and full of adventure and there is no point in the novel where you feel disappointed or stagnant . The tempo just keeps on building till the very end. It is a must have for those who like real unadultrated Sci-Fi filled with lasers and hyper dimensional "adventures".

Not bad young adult fiction. A little simple for adult tastes but good for teens. It's hard to believe Neil Gaimon had a hand in this.

There are a lot of great ideas in this book, unfortunately presented in the most dull and unimaginative way. Don't be fooled - I sense Neil Gaimans involvement here was very minimal. Save your money, give this one a swerve.