Books: Coraline

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Coraline
Written by Neil Gaiman
Art by P. Craig Russell
2008




Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Ooooooh. A horror story for children. Excellent!

Originally written as a children's book by Neil Gaiman in 2002 (featuring illustrations by Dave McKean! whoop!) Coraline comes from a long line of English fantasies about kids discovering portals to other worlds and the dangers that lurk within - with the added bonus of some Lovecraftian-style nameless nasties bolted on to the underneath. I've never read the book or the famous 2009 stop-motion film (although now I've read the comic I'm tempted to try both): so I don't know how you'll respond to this book if you're coming from the opposite direction - but speaking just for me - I had a great time. Adapted by P. Craig Russell (who seems to be making a habit of adapting Neil Gaiman prose tales into comic format - see: The Sandman: The Dream Hunters) the illustrations have just the sort of slightly-dreamy fairy-tale feeling necessary to make the story hit home and there's so many beautiful little grace notes that - as much as it kinda pains me to say something so cheesy - makes it all feel somehow timeless.

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Links: Newsarama Article.

Further reading: Anya's Ghost, The Sandman: The Dream Hunters, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book Stories, Stardust, Locke & Key.

Profiles: Neil Gaiman.

All comments welcome.