The book follows the adventures of ex-convict Shadow, who is released from prison a few days early due to the death of his wife, Laura, in a car accident that also kills his best friend. Because his best friend, who was to give Shadow a job, has died, Shadow is hired by the mysterious "con man" Mr. Wednesday to act as an escort and bodyguard, and travels across America visiting Wednesday's colleagues and acquaintances. Gradually, it is revealed that Wednesday is an incarnation of Odin the All-Father (the word "Wednesday" is derived from "Odin's (Woden's) day"). Wednesday is recruiting American manifestations of the Old Gods of ancient mythology, whose powers have waned as their believers have decreased in number, to participate in an epic battle against the New American Gods, manifestations of modern life and technology (e.g., the internet, media, & modern means of transport).

Mythological characters prominently featured in the book include Odin, Loki, Czernobog, the Zorya, the Norns, Anansi, Eostre, Kali, Thoth, Anubis, Horus, and Bast. In addition to the numerous figures from real-world myths, a few characters from The Sandman and its spinoffs make brief cameos in the book. Other mythological characters featured in the novel are not divine, but are legendary or folk heroes, such as Johnny Appleseed. Shadow himself is implied to be Balder, which is confirmed in the follow-up novella, "Monarch of the Glen". The story also features, in its most erotic chapter, a succubus-like re-invention of the Queen of Sheba, who while posing as a prostitute literally swallows a man through her sexual organs. "Bilquis", as she is called here, is later killed by one of the New Gods. Sexuality as a rule plays a prominent part in the plot and subplots; Mr. Wednesday courts several young women on the journey across America, while Shadow is successfully seduced by a humanoid version of Bast. An exception to the association with sexuality is the Midnight Star of the Zorya, who gives Shadow the Moon but does not require a kiss in return.

When the New Gods murder Wednesday - thus galvanizing the Old Gods into action - Shadow obeys Wednesday's order by holding his vigil. This is accomplished by re-enacting the act performed by Odin of hanging from a "World Tree" while pierced by a spear. Shadow eventually dies and visits the land of the dead, where he is guided by Thoth and judged by Anubis. Eostre later brings him back to life, obeying orders that she does not fully understand. During the period between life and death, Shadow learns that he is Wednesday's son, conceived as part of the deity's plans.

At the climax of the story, Shadow reveals that America is bad "growing ground" for Gods - that the power of gods eventually wanes as long as they spend time in America. Wednesday's attempt to rally the gods is proved to be a deception, in that the deaths of gods on both sides of the war would restore some of Odin's powers. The leader of the New Gods is revealed to be Loki, who was secretly working with Odin to create the "sacrifice of gods". Odin would feed on the Gods' deaths, while Loki would feed on the chaos of the battle to empower himself. Shadow's information stops the battle in its tracks.

Shortly after the battle, Shadow follows a clue given him by Ganesh to discover that a man called Hinzelmann, who had sometime been Shadow's neighbor, is a kobold using secret murders to empower himself and prevent the town of Lakeside from succumbing to the economic decay that has claimed many similar towns. Shadow confronts Hinzelmann, who is then shot by a local police man whose father Hinzelmann had previously killed to keep his secret. The presence of Hinzelmann as a kobold refers to the book's premise that dwarves, elves, leprechauns, and other spirits are derived from earlier myths of gods, and that whoever brings a story to a land brings the characters with it. Shadow later sees his friend and supporter, the apparently bisexual Samantha/Sam Black Crow, walking on a street with a companion, but does not speak to her. He goes unnoticed by both girls, despite being not a foot away from Natalie, the girl she is walking with. Shadow hands her the white roses he had bought for her, and leaves; without either girl knowing how they got there. He thought about speaking to her, but noticed the eyes she looked at Natalie with, who was implied to be her girlfriend, and knew that she'd never look at him with those eyes; at least not that way.

Following this, Shadow visits Iceland, where he meets the original Odin, of whom Wednesday is an incarnation. He accuses Odin of Wednesday's actions, whereupon Odin replies that "He [Wednesday] was me, but I'm not him". Shadow gives Odin Wednesday's glass eye, which Odin places in a leather bag as a keepsake. Shadow gives him the eye using a slight of hand trick to make it appear as if the eye just dropped out of nowhere, amusing the All-Father. The man asks for another trick, so Shadow threw a golden coin, not a magic one like the one that reanimated his wife, into the air. Shadow does not know where the coin falls, or even if it did; for he had already left.

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In 2002, American Gods won the following awards for Best Novel;
Hugo Award
Nebula Award
SFX Magazine Award
Bram Stoker Award

In the same year it was also nominated for the BSFA Award, World Fantasy Award, International Horror Guild Award and Mythopoeic Award.

In 2004, American Gods won the Geffen Award

American Gods

Paperback
Independent
'This is a fantastic novel...runs as precisely as clockwork, but reads as smoothly as silk or warm chocolate'

Peter Straub
'Poignancy, terror, nobility, magic, sacrifice, wisdom, mystery, heartbreak, and a hard-earned sense of resolution... Masterful storytelling'

American Gods

Hardback
"In the spirit of Roger Zelazny and even James Joyce, Neil Gaiman's American Gods combines elements of mythology with an almost naturalistic portrayal of American values in a stunning and absorbing novel. From the gods of the Norse pantheon to spirits of Native American deities, the history and development of American values is presented in a suspenseful, entertaining and thought-provoking manner. At the same time, the development and revelation of character, especially of the main protagonist Shadow and his wife Laura, is captivating and rewarding. This is an outstanding book that will stand re-reading often. "

American Gods

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