Trigger Warning By Neil Gaiman
- Mar 23, 2015
- 2 min read
4 stars
What you need to know;
Trigger Warning is a collection of shorts that have been previously published by Neil Gaiman with the addition of one new story from the world of Shadow in American Gods. What makes this collection unique is the introduction from Neil where he shares the thoughts, experiences, and inspirations behind each story. It is broken down by title so you get full access to delve into the author's mind which offers a reading experience on a whole new level. And believe me, as you read you'll be asking yourself, "How and why would anyone think of this?"
In these introductory words Neil offers fair warning for what is to come: a collection of myth, legend, fairy tale, folklore, science fiction, and Lovecraftian macabre that will creep under your skin if not into your nightmares.
Recommended for:
Readers of all ages but the faint of heart may want parental guidance and a night light.
Longer Version:
There is no guarantee of a happy ending. This rule applies to all of Gaiman's work but was particularly prevalent in this series of shorts. You think you're reading a fairy tale that you're familiar with and it feels cozy to know that you've entered a famiilair world, and then BAM. That world will never quite be the same. In some aspects the way that he subverts your preconceptions of stories reminds me of the main idea from the play and movie Into The Woods (2014). Even the settings seem similarly dark and mysteriously...alive.
The final story, "Black Dog", featuring Shadow from American Gods is one of my favorites and the one that has stuck with me the longest. I think it encompasses Gaiman's style and tone--it takes the form of a murder mystery but blends in folklore and Egyptian legend with a dash of Poe. I promise you, like all mysteries, the clues are there from the beginning.
On a final literary note, I thoroughly enjoyed Neil's playfulness with the concept of time. In each story time plays an important but unique role. He asks us, how does time work? Where does it begin? Where does it end? How does it make us age? How do we manipulate it? How can it be manipulated? What does "time" really mean and what does it have to do with us?
It's such a cool concept! If you noticed it too, then email me and let's dig in and let our literary nerd flags fly :)
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