A friend recommended Neil Gaiman's work to me, and I guess I've had my head in the sand, because I'd hadn't come across his name or works before. Neverwhere was the first of his books I read, and now I'm a real fan. It's a dark tale; a journey that opens your mind to the stuff of myths and nightmares. This is not a fast-paced thriller. It's more like a map that unfolds. You follow the highway before you, not knowing where it's going, but not minding the journey because it's so intriging. If you haven't read his books before, don't let the discouraging reviews stop you. Gaiman has a unique voice, and this is is truly a peculiar tale. The characters live in a parallel world that is a bit of Dickens, and a dash of Gollem. Neverwhere is a place all it's own.