This review is going to be a little different. This is mainly because the item I am reviewing is a bit different. Back in August of 2010 Neil Gaiman read one of his short stories at the Sydney Opera House in a multimedia event. Images were created from the prose and displayed on a screen while a string quartet played to the mood of the story. Last week I found out that this was going to be recreated at Carnegie Hall and that really excited me. Unfortunately I was not working in the NYC office that day, I was working out of HQ on LI and working late. I did the next best thing and bought the published version which came out June 17th 2014. While this story itself has been available online, Neil Gaiman only just released a multimedia version. That, as much as the “book” is what I will review.
Before I continue I have a word or warning to anyone looking for this hybrid version: read device support from your vendor. For example, the Kindle version only works on Kindle Fires and iOS devices. It does not work entirely with standard e-ink Kindles, Android apps or the PC. You can still read it, but not hear it. The same goes for the Nook edition, Nook devices only. I ended up with the Google Play enhanced eBook so that I could see it in color on my Nexus tablet and listen to it. That, obviously, is the version I will review.
The format of this special enhanced, multimedia… thing… was nice, unique, but could use refinement. It was different for sure. I did like the images with the story. It had a feel like a graphic novel at some points, specifically when text balloons were incorporated in the scenes. One thing I do enjoy when reading is creating the scene in your head, but it is nice to know that you are picturing what the author intended, so the guided images were a pleasant change. The audio included was a mixed experience as well. On one hand it felt like an read along audio book with Neil’s reading from the original event. I will discuss my thoughts on audio books at a later time, but I do like the idea of it having a combined presentation. I can see where some people might not love the idea, but both reading and listening are options and not mutually exclusive. The other side of the audio is that behind the reading is the string quartet. On some level I wish there was a separate track, but I realize that without being timed to the reading, it loses the effect. My major criticism is that the audio stops playing if you do anything. Go to the page that continues the text still being read and the audio stops. You cannot follow completely along. This may be different on other editions, but I cannot confirm. Overall, it was a nice experience, but that did bug me a few times.
On to the story. I am, admittedly, a biased Neil Gaiman fan. I know absolutely nothing of the story other than it was done by MR. Gaiman and that was good enough for me. Since it is a short story that can be read in about 90 minutes I really cannot discuss much without spoilers. In essence this is set on the Scottish countryside where one man enlists the help of a guide who has a known reputation, to find a cave in a hidden island filled with treasure. The story is absolutely fantasy based, with several twists, and really any interesting tidbits will give the story away. I considered and deleted even a single adjective a dozen times while writing this, trying to decide if it gave too much away.
While it was fairly interesting, I felt that the story was flat. It started very slow and mostly progressed the same way. There were a few big moments, but not enough to really make the story. The end felt right, but a little rushed considering how much the story felt teased out. There were some images as well as the cover that made me think it would be freakier than it was. The story was fine, but it does not really live up to what I have come to expect and love out of Neil Gaiman. Perhaps that is unfair, to judge on the author’s merits, not the sole story, but I honestly feel my rating would be the same either way. I would rate this 3/5 considering all aspects of the multimedia experience as well as story content.
Though Neil was already here in NY and in San Francisco, he can still be seen this week in the UK, in London on 7/4-7/5/14 and Edinburgh on 7/6/14. See his site, http://www.neilgaiman.com/, for details.