View source for Neil Gaiman

{{Short description|English writer (born 1960)}}
{{Redirect|Gaiman}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name             = Neil Gaiman
| image            = Kyle-cassidy-neil-gaiman-April-2013.jpg
| caption          = Gaiman in 2013
| pseudonym        = 
| birth_name       = Neil Richard Gaiman
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|11|10}}
| birth_place      = [[Portchester]], Hampshire, England
| occupation       = {{hlist|Author|comic book writer|screenwriter|voice actor}}
| spouses          = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Mary McGrath|1985|2007|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Amanda Palmer]]|2011|2022|end=separated}}}}
| children         = 4
| years_active     = 1984–present
| genre            = {{hlist|[[Fantasy literature|Fantasy]]|[[Horror fiction|horror]]|[[science fiction]]|[[dark fantasy]]|[[comedy]]}}
| notableworks     = ''[[The Sandman (comic book)|The Sandman]]'', ''[[Neverwhere]]'', ''[[American Gods]]'', ''[[Stardust (Gaiman novel)|Stardust]]'', ''[[Coraline]]'', ''[[The Graveyard Book]]'', ''[[Good Omens]]'', ''[[The Ocean at the End of the Lane]]''
| website          = {{URL|neilgaiman.com}}
| module           = {{Listen |embed= yes |filename= Neil_Gaiman_BBC_Radio4_Saturday_Live_12_OCt_2013_b03ccvtp.flac |title= Neil Gaiman's voice |type= speech |description= from the BBC programme ''[[Saturday Live (radio series)|Saturday Live]]'', 12 October 2013.<ref>{{Cite episode |title= Neil Gaiman |series= Saturday Live |series-link= Saturday Live (radio series) |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03ccvtp |station= [[BBC Radio 4]] |date= 12 October 2013 |access-date= 18 January 2014 }}</ref>}}
}}

'''Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|eɪ|m|ən}};<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teachingbooks.net/pronounce.cgi?aid=1433 |title=Author Name Pronunciation Guide – Neil Gaiman |publisher=Teachingbooks.net |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131022030005/http://www.teachingbooks.net/pronounce.cgi?aid=1433|archive-date= 22 October 2013|url-status= live|access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> born '''Neil Richard Gaiman'''; 10 November 1960) is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, audio theatre, and screenplays. His works include the comic series ''[[The Sandman (comic book)|The Sandman]]'' (1989–1996) and the novels ''[[Good Omens]]'' (1990), ''[[Stardust (Gaiman novel)|Stardust]]'' (1999), ''[[American Gods]]'' (2001), ''[[Coraline]]'' (2002), ''[[Anansi Boys]]'' (2005), ''[[The Graveyard Book]]'' (2008) and ''[[The Ocean at the End of the Lane]]'' (2013). He co-created the TV adaptations of ''[[Good Omens (TV series)|Good Omens]]'' and ''[[The Sandman (TV series)|The Sandman]]''.

Gaiman's awards include [[Hugo Award|Hugo]], [[Nebula Award|Nebula]], and [[Bram Stoker Award|Bram Stoker]] awards and [[Newbery Medal|Newbery]] and [[Carnegie Medal (literary award)|Carnegie]] medals. He is the first author to win the Newbery and the Carnegie medals for the same work, ''The Graveyard Book''. ''The Ocean at the End of the Lane'' was voted Book of the Year in the British [[Specsavers National Book Awards|National Book Awards]], and it was adapted into an acclaimed stage play at the [[Royal National Theatre]] in London.

Beginning in 2024, news outlets published sexual assault accusations against Gaiman by numerous women. This affected or halted production on several adaptations of his work. One accuser sued Gaiman and his estranged wife [[Amanda Palmer]] for [[rape]] and [[human trafficking]].<ref name="Vulture.com Feb 2025"/> Gaiman has denied these allegations.

== Personal life ==
===Early life and education ===
Neil Richard Gaiman<ref name=LexMinMan20110114>Born as Neil Richard Gaiman, with "MacKinnon" added on the occasion of his marriage to [[Amanda Palmer]]. {{cite web|website= [[GateHouse Media|Lexington Minuteman]]|date= 14 January 2011|title=Wedding: Palmer — Gaiman|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/lexington/newsnow/x1799249805/Wedding-Palmer-Gaiman|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131012070003/http://www.wickedlocal.com/lexington/newsnow/x1799249805/Wedding-Palmer-Gaiman|archive-date=12 October 2013|url-status= live}}</ref> was born on 10 November 1960<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=John Jackson|url=http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays|title=Comics Industry Birthdays|work=[[Comics Buyer's Guide]]|date=10 June 2005|publisher=[[Krause Publications]]|location=Stevens Point, Wisconsin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218031356/http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays|archive-date=18 February 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> in [[Portchester]], Hampshire.<ref name=Goodyear/> Gaiman's family is of [[Polish-Jewish]] and other [[Ashkenazi]] origins.<ref name="princeinterview">{{cite book|last1=Wagner|first1=Hank|last2=Golden|first2=Christopher|author-link2=Christopher Golden|last3=Bissette|first3=Stephen R.|author-link3=Stephen R. Bissette|title=Prince of Stories: The Many Worlds of Neil Gaiman|year=2008|publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]]|location=New York City|isbn=978-0-312-38765-5|pages=[https://archive.org/details/princeofstoriesm0000wagn/page/447 447–449]|chapter=The Interview|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/princeofstoriesm0000wagn/page/447}}</ref> His great-grandfather emigrated to England from [[Antwerp]] before 1914<ref>{{cite web|url= http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/01/journeys-end.html|title= Journeys End|first= Neil|last= Gaiman|date= 16 January 2009|publisher= Neil Gaiman's Journal|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120311025117/http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/01/journeys-end.html|archive-date= 11 March 2012|url-status= dead|access-date= 16 January 2009|quote= My paternal great-grandfather came to the UK before 1914; and he would have come from Antwerp.}}</ref> and his grandfather settled in [[Portsmouth]] and established a chain of grocery stores, changing the family name from Chaiman to Gaiman.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Andrew|last=Wearring|title=Changing, Out-of-Work, Dead, and Reborn Gods in the Fiction of Neil Gaiman|journal=Literature & Aesthetics|volume=19|issue=2|date=December 2009|page=236}}</ref> His father, [[David Gaiman|David Bernard Gaiman]], worked in the same chain of stores;<ref name="argus">{{cite news|last = Lancaster|first = James|title = Everyone has the potential to be great| pages = 10–11|newspaper = [[The Argus (Brighton)|The Argus]]|date = 11 October 2005|quote= David Gaiman quote: "It's not me you should be interviewing. It's my son. Neil Gaiman. He's in the ''New York Times'' Bestsellers list. Fantasy. He's flavour of the month, very famous}}</ref> his mother, Sheila Gaiman (née Goldman), was a pharmacist. Neil has two younger sisters, Claire and Lizzy.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008_12_01_archive.html|title= Trees|first= Neil|last= Gaiman|date= 20 December 2008|publisher= Neil Gaiman's Journal|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130929185556/http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008_12_01_archive.html|archive-date= 29 September 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= 26 July 2011}}</ref>

The Gaimans moved in 1965 to the [[West Sussex]] town of [[East Grinstead]], where his parents studied [[Dianetics]] at the [[Saint Hill Manor|Scientology centre]] in the town; one of Gaiman's sisters works for the [[Church of Scientology]] in Los Angeles. His other sister, Lizzy Calcioli, has said, "Most of our social activities were involved with Scientology or our Jewish family. It would get very confusing when people would ask my religion as a kid. I'd say, 'I'm a Jewish Scientologist.{{' "}} Gaiman says that he is not a Scientologist, and that like Judaism, Scientology is his family's religion.<ref name=Goodyear>{{Cite magazine |url= https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/01/25/100125fa_fact_goodyear|title= Kid Goth Neil Gaiman's fantasies|magazine= The New Yorker|first= Dana|last= Goodyear|date= 25 January 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130427005709/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/01/25/100125fa_fact_goodyear|archive-date= 27 April 2013|url-status= live}}</ref> About his personal views, Gaiman has stated, "I think we can say that God exists in the DC Universe. I would not stand up and beat the drum for the existence of God in this universe. I don't know, I think there's probably a 50/50 chance. It doesn't really matter to me."<ref>{{cite journal|last = Whitaker|first = Steve|author-link = Steve Whitaker|title = Neil Gaiman interview|journal = [[Fantasy Advertiser|FA]]|issue = 109|pages = 24–29|date = January 1989}}</ref>

Gaiman was able to read at the age of four. He said, "I was a reader. I loved reading. Reading things gave me pleasure. I was very good at most subjects in school, not because I had any particular aptitude in them, but because normally on the first day of school, they'd hand out schoolbooks, and I'd read them—which would mean that I'd know what was coming up because I'd read it."<ref>{{cite book|editor-last= Abbey|editor-first= Cherie D. |title= Biography Today General Series|year= 2010|page= [https://archive.org/details/biographytodayge0000unse_h7i3/page/66 66]|publisher= Omnigraphics Inc.|isbn= 978-0-7808-1058-7|url= https://archive.org/details/biographytodayge0000unse_h7i3/page/66}}</ref> When he was about 10 years old, he read his way through the works of [[Dennis Wheatley]]; ''The Ka of Gifford Hillary'' and ''The Haunting of Toby Jugg'' made a special impact on him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bloomsburyreader.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/before-there-was-ian-fleming-there-was-dennis-wheatley/ |title=Before there was Ian Fleming, there was Dennis Wheatley |publisher=Bloomsburyreader.wordpress.com |date=10 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303173023/http://bloomsburyreader.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/before-there-was-ian-fleming-there-was-dennis-wheatley/ |archive-date=3 March 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=12 June 2015 }}</ref>

Another work that made a particular impression was [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', which he got from his school library. Although they only had the first two of the novel's three volumes, Gaiman consistently checked them out and read them. He later won the school English prize and the school reading prize, enabling him to finally acquire the third volume.<ref name="Abbey"/> For his seventh birthday, Gaiman received [[C. S. Lewis]]'s ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]''. He later recalled that "I admired his use of parenthetical statements to the reader, where he would just talk to you ... I'd think, 'Oh, my gosh, that is so cool! I want to do that! When I become an author, I want to be able to do things in parentheses.' I liked the power of putting things in brackets."<ref name="Abbey"/> ''Narnia'' also introduced him to literary awards, specifically the [[Carnegie Medal (literary award)|Carnegie Medal]], won by the concluding volume in 1956. When Gaiman won the 2010 Medal himself, he said "it had to be the most important literary award there ever was"<ref name=bbc>
{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10404624|title= Neil Gaiman wins children's book prize|date= 25 June 2010|access-date= 25 June 2010|work=BBC News|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130911115608/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10404624|archive-date= 11 September 2013|url-status= live}}</ref> and "if you can make yourself aged seven happy, you're really doing well – it's like writing a letter to yourself aged seven."<ref name=flood>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jun/24/neil-gaiman-carnegie-graveyard-book|title=Neil Gaiman wins Carnegie Medal|newspaper= [[The Guardian]]|date= 24 June 2010|access-date= 26 June 2010|first=Alison|last=Flood|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131026001809/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jun/24/neil-gaiman-carnegie-graveyard-book|archive-date=26 October 2013 |url-status= live}}</ref> [[Lewis Carroll]]'s ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]'' was another childhood favourite, and "a favourite forever. Alice was default reading to the point where I knew it by heart." He also enjoyed [[Batman]] comics.<ref name="Abbey"/>
[[File:Ardingly College, Sussex.jpg|thumb|right|Gaiman attended [[Ardingly College]] in [[Ardingly]], West Sussex]]

Gaiman was educated at several [[Church of England]] schools, including Fonthill School in East Grinstead,<ref name="egnet" /> [[Ardingly College]] (1970–1974), and [[Whitgift School]] in [[Croydon]] (1974–1977).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exclusivebooks.com/features/authors/ngaiman.php|title=Neil Gaiman|publisher=Exclusive Books|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204103401/http://www.exclusivebooks.com/features/authors/ngaiman.php|archive-date=4 December 2008|access-date=2 February 2012}}</ref> His father's position as a public relations official of the [[Church of Scientology]] was the cause of the seven-year-old Gaiman being forced to withdraw from Fonthill School and return to the school which he had previously attended.<ref name=Goodyear /><ref>{{cite news|title=Head Bars Son of Cult Man|work=The Times|date=13 August 1968|page=2|url=http://cosmedia.freewinds.be/media/articles/tim130868.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211637/http://cosmedia.freewinds.be/media/articles/tim130868.html|archive-date=29 October 2013|url-status=dead|quote=A headmaster has refused the son of a scientologist entry to a preparatory school until, he says, the cult "clears its name". The boy, Neil Gaiman, aged 7, (...) Mr. David Gaiman, the father, aged 35, a former South Coast businessman, has become in recent weeks a prominent spokesman in Britain for scientology, which has its headquarters at East Grinstead.|access-date=7 May 2011}}</ref> He lived in East Grinstead for many years, from 1965 to 1980 and again from 1984 to 1987.<ref name="egnet">{{cite web|url= http://www.egnet.co.uk/halloffame/neilgaiman.htm|title= East Grinstead Hall of Fame – Neil Gaiman|date= n.d.|publisher= East Grinstead Community Web Site|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130818123747/http://www.egnet.co.uk/halloffame/neilgaiman.htm|archive-date= 18 August 2013|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

In the 1970s, he spent three years as an [[auditor (Scientology)|auditor]] for the Church of Scientology, an unusually high-ranking position given his age.<ref name="Vulture" /> He also sang in a [[punk rock]] band Ex Execs, formerly called Chaos.<ref>{{cite news |title=Punk is growing up, says singer Neil |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/east-grinstead-observer-punk-is-growing/152476974/ |newspaper=East Grinstead Observer |location=East Grinstead, West Sussex, England |date=April 26, 1978 |page=10 |access-date=}}</ref>

He met his first wife, Mary McGrath, while she was studying Scientology and living in a house in East Grinstead that was owned by his father. The couple were married in 1985 after having their first child.<ref name=Goodyear />

===Adult life===
[[File:Amanda Palmer - Arena Vienna 2011 a10 Neil Gaiman.jpg|thumb|right|Gaiman and wife [[Amanda Palmer]] in Vienna, 2011]]
Gaiman moved near [[Menomonie, Wisconsin]], in 1992 to be closer to the family of his then-wife, Mary McGrath, with whom he has three children.<ref name="Abbey"/><ref name="tg121205" /> Gaiman has also lived in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Gaiman |first=Neil |url=https://archive.org/details/oceanatendoflane00neil |title=The Ocean at the End of the Lane |date=18 June 2013 |publisher=[[William Morrow and Company]] |isbn=978-0062255655 |page=Back Flap |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name="tg121205">{{cite news | title=A writer's life: Neil Gaiman | date=12 December 2005 | newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/3648663/A-writers-life-Neil-Gaiman.html | first=Dina | last=Rabinovitch | author-link = Dina Rabinovitch| access-date=20 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113225058/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/3648663/A-writers-life-Neil-Gaiman.html |archive-date= 13 November 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> He was close friends with fellow author [[Terry Pratchett]] until the latter's death in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dougary |first=Ginny |date=2019-06-07 |title=Good Omens: Neil Gaiman reveals what he and Terry Pratchett shared |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/good-omens-neil-gaiman-reveals-what-he-and-terry-pratchett-shared-20190603-p51u1y.html |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> Gaiman met [[Amanda Palmer]] in 2008,<ref name="Vulture">{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Lila |date=13 January 2025 |title=There Is No Safe Word |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/neil-gaiman-allegations-controversy-amanda-palmer-sandman-madoc.html |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=Vulture |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113110712/https://www.vulture.com/article/neil-gaiman-allegations-controversy-amanda-palmer-sandman-madoc.html |archive-date=13 January 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the two entered a relationship in 2009,<ref name=":3">{{cite web |date=4 May 2020 |title=Amanda Palmer's Patreon Subscribes Found Out About Her Breakup Before Neil Gaiman Did |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/amanda-palmer-patreon-neil-gaiman-breakup.html |website=Vulture.com}}</ref> marrying in 2011.<ref name="Ology">{{cite web |last=Zutter |first=Natalie |title=Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman Marry |url=http://www.ology.com/celebs-and-gossip/amanda-palmer-and-neil-gaiman-marry |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909065144/http://www.ology.com/celebs-and-gossip/amanda-palmer-and-neil-gaiman-marry |archive-date=9 September 2012 |access-date=4 January 2011 |work=Ology Magazine}}</ref> They have one son together.<ref name="Vulture" /> The two had an [[open marriage]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Portwood |first=Jerry |date=20 September 2012 |title=Amanda Palmer Gets Intimate |url=http://www.out.com/entertainment/music/2012/09/20/amanda-palmer-neil-gaiman-open-relationship |access-date=26 November 2012 |work=out.com}}</ref> and encouraged one another to have affairs,<ref name="Vulture" /> including with fans of their work.<ref name="Vulture" />

Gaiman, Palmer and their son moved to [[New Zealand]] in March 2020. Weeks later, their marriage collapsed and Gaiman left the country,<ref name="Vulture" /> travelling from New Zealand to his holiday home on the [[Isle of Skye]], which broke [[COVID-19 lockdowns|COVID-19 lockdown]] rules. [[Ross, Skye and Lochaber (UK Parliament constituency)|Ross, Skye and Lochaber]] MP [[Ian Blackford]] described Gaiman's behaviour as unacceptable and dangerous.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 May 2020 |title=Author's 11,000-mile lockdown trip to Scots island |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-52697289 |access-date=19 May 2020 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Gaiman published an apology on his website, saying he had endangered the local community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flood |first=Alison |date=19 May 2020 |title=Neil Gaiman apologises to people of Skye for breaking lockdown rules |url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/19/neil-gaiman-apologises-skye-breaking-lockdown-rules-new-zealand |access-date=19 May 2020 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> After Gaiman's departure, Palmer announced on [[Patreon]] that she and Gaiman had separated.<ref name=":3" /> Gaiman stated the split was "my fault, I'm afraid", and requested privacy. The couple later released a joint statement clarifying that they were not getting divorced,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaiman |first=Neil |title=Where I am, what I'm doing, how I'm doing and how I got here |url=http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2020/05/where-i-am-what-im-doing-how-im-doing.html |access-date=15 May 2020 |website=Journal.neilgaiman.com}}</ref> reconciled in 2021,<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 January 2021 |title=UK author Neil Gaiman reunites with his son and Amanda Palmer in Havelock North |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/300204981/uk-author-neil-gaiman-reunites-with-his-son-and-amanda-palmer-in-havelock-north}}</ref><ref name="NotDivorced">{{cite news |last1=Kiefer |first1=Halle |date=15 May 2020 |title=Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer Weren't Driven to Divorce by Quarantine After All |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/neil-gaiman-and-amanda-palmer-arent-divorcing-says-gaiman.html |access-date=23 August 2021 |work=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref> but confirmed they would divorce in a November 2022 joint statement.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 November 2022 |title=A joint statement from Amanda and me |url=https://journal.neilgaiman.com/2022/11/a-joint-statement-from-amanda-and-me.html |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=NeilGaiman.com / Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=4 November 2022 |title=A joint statement from me and Neil |url=http://amandapalmer.net/posts/a-joint-statement-from-me-and-neil/ |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=AmandaPalmer.net}}</ref> {{As of|2025|January}}, in the fifth year of proceedings, negotiations had become "ugly", with Palmer moving in with her parents due to financial difficulties.<ref name="Vulture" />

====Blog and social media====
In February 2001, when Gaiman had completed writing ''[[American Gods]]'', his publishers set up a promotional website featuring a [[weblog]] in which Gaiman described the day-to-day process of revising, publishing, and promoting the novel. After the novel was published, the website evolved into a more general Official Neil Gaiman Website.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Neil Gaiman Website |url=http://neilgaiman.com/ |access-date=26 July 2011 |work=Neilgaiman.com}}</ref> Gaiman generally posts to the blog describing the day-to-day process of being Neil Gaiman and writing, revising, publishing, or promoting whatever the current project is. He also posts reader emails and answers questions, which gives him unusually direct and immediate interaction with fans. One of his answers on why he writes the blog is "because writing is, like death, a lonely business."<ref>{{cite web |date=11 February 2008 |title=Neil Gaiman's journal, 2/11/2008 |url=http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/02/m-is-for-mirrors-youll-stare-in-forever.html |access-date=26 July 2011 |work=Journal.neilgaiman.com}}</ref> The original ''American Gods'' blog was extracted for publication in the [[NESFA Press]] collection of Gaiman miscellany, ''Adventures in the Dream Trade''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Adventures in the Dream Trade: Table of Contents |url=http://www.nesfa.org/press/Books/Gaiman.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807161953/http://www.nesfa.org/press/Books/Gaiman.html |archive-date=7 August 2011 |access-date=23 August 2011 |work=www.nefsa.org |publisher=NEFSA Press}}</ref> To celebrate the seventh anniversary of the blog, the novel ''American Gods'' was provided free of charge online for a month.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gaiman |first=Neil |title=Death, and Free Revisited |url=http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/02/death-and-free-revisited.html |date=12 February 2011 |access-date=22 August 2011 |work=Neil Gaiman Journal}}</ref>

Gaiman joined [[Twitter]] in 2008. In 2013, Gaiman was named by ''[[IGN]]'' as one of "The Best Tweeters in Comics", describing his posts as "sublime".<ref>{{cite web |last=Yehl |first=Joshua |date=20 February 2013 |title=The Best Tweeters in Comics |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02/20/the-best-tweeters-in-comics |access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref>

==== Other personal relationships ====
Gaiman is godfather to Tori Amos's daughter Tash,<ref>{{cite web |date=30 November 2004 |title=Neil Gaiman's Journal: listening to unresolving |url=http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2004/11/listening-to-unresolving.asp |access-date=2 August 2010 |work=Journal.neilgaiman.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cochrane |first1=Kira |title=Tori Amos on trauma, Trump and Neil Gaiman: 'It's a heartbreaking grief' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/dec/03/tori-amos-on-trauma-trump-and-neil-gaiman-a-heartbreaking-grief |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=3 December 2024}}</ref> and wrote a poem called "Blueberry Girl" for Tori and Tash.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 July 2007 |title=Neil Gaiman's Journal: Blueberry Girls |url=http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2007/07/blueberry-girls.html |access-date=2 August 2010 |work=Journal.neilgaiman.com}}</ref> The poem was adapted into a book by illustrator [[Charles Vess]].<ref>{{cite web |date=6 July 2007 |title=News from Green Man Press " Blog Archive " Blueberry Wanderings |url=http://greenmanpress.com/news/archives/185 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525060731/http://greenmanpress.com/news/archives/185 |archive-date=25 May 2013 |access-date=2 August 2010 |publisher=Green Man Press}}</ref> Gaiman read the poem aloud to an audience at the Sundance Kabuki Theater in San Francisco on 5 October 2008 during his book reading tour for ''The Graveyard Book''.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 October 2008 |title=Neil Gaiman's Journal: Chapter Six in San Francisco yesterday |url=http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/10/chapter-six-in-san-francisco-yesterday.html |access-date=2 August 2010 |work=Journal.neilgaiman.com}}</ref> It was published in March 2009 with the title ''[[Blueberry Girl]]''.

====Advocacy====
In 2016, Gaiman, along with several other celebrities, appeared in the video "What They Took With Them", from the [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]], to help raise awareness of the issue of global refugees.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.unhcr.org/refugeeday/stories/|title=2016 Stories – #WithRefugees|newspaper=Unhcr |language=en-US|access-date=14 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.unhcr.org/refugeeday/what-they-took-with-them/|title=What They Took With Them – #WithRefugees|newspaper=Unhcr |date=7 September 2016|language=en-US|access-date=14 September 2016}}</ref>

Gaiman is a supporter of the [[Comic Book Legal Defense Fund]] and has served on its board of directors.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cbldf.org/articles/archives/000152.shtml|title= Neil Gaiman Talks ''Sandman'', CBLDF on NPR |date= 19 September 2003 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090814222141/http://www.cbldf.org/articles/archives/000152.shtml|archive-date= 14 August 2009|url-status= dead|access-date=22 September 2008}}</ref> In 2013, Gaiman was named co-chair of the organization's newly formed advisory board.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/25454/cbldf-announces-advisory-board|title=CBLDF Announces Advisory Board|website=[[ICv2]]|date=8 April 2013|access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>

In 2022, during the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Gaiman supported Ukraine by announcing on Twitter that he does not want to renew contracts with Russian publishers.<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Gaiman |first=Neil |user=neilhimself |number=1500158016494125056 |date=5 March 2022 |title=I'm trying to find out right now what Russian contracts I control and where they are in the publishing cycle. I would not want to renew them while Putin and this administration was in power, that is for certain. |access-date=12 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305171546/https://twitter.com/neilhimself/status/1500158016494125056 |archive-date=March 5, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Gaiman also encouraged donating to Ukrainian refugees.<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Gaiman |first=Neil |user=neilhimself |number=1499366200077393927 |date=3 March 2022 |title=1 million refugees in one week. That's how many people have been forced to flee into neighbouring countries from Ukraine. If you do just one thing today, please donate to @Refugees... |access-date=12 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303124936/https://twitter.com/neilhimself/status/1499366200077393927 |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 March 2022 |title=Killing, Gaiman, Evaristo: writers from around the world call for donations for Ukrainian refugees |url=https://chytomo.com/en/killing-gaiman-evaristo-writers-from-around-the-world-call-for-donations-for-ukrainian-refugees/ |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=chytomo.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2023, Gaiman signed an open letter addressed to Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]], alongside over 100 other public figures, calling for the release of Russian prisoner [[Alexei Navalny]].<ref>{{cite news |title=A letter to Vladimir Putin: Release Alexei Navalny |url=https://www.economist.com/letters/2023/04/28/a-letter-to-vladimir-putin-release-alexei-navalny |access-date=18 June 2024 |date=28 April 2023 |newspaper=[[The Economist]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Free Navalny! Western public figures sign open letter demanding Alexey Navalny's immediate release |url=https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/04/28/free-navalny-en |access-date=18 June 2024 |work=Novaya Gazeta Europe |date=28 April 2023}}</ref>

==Career==
===Journalism, early writings, and literary influences===
Gaiman has mentioned several writers who have influenced his work, including [[Mary Shelley]],<ref name="Abbey">Abbey p. 68</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/18/my-hero-mary-shelley-neil-gaiman |title=My hero : Mary Shelley by Neil Gaiman|journal=The Guardian|first= Neil|last= Gaiman|date= 18 October 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150606155237/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/18/my-hero-mary-shelley-neil-gaiman|archive-date= 6 June 2015|url-status= live}}</ref> [[Rudyard Kipling]], [[Edgar Allan Poe]], [[Michael Moorcock]], [[Dave Sim]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/books/review/neil-gaiman-shares-his-reading-habits.html |title=Neil Gaiman: By the Book |work=The New York Times |date=3 May 2012 |access-date=20 July 2021 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gaiman |first=Neil |title=''300 Good Reasons to Resent Dave Sim'' |magazine=[[Comics Buyer's Guide]] |date=7 August 1992 |location=Iola, Wisconsin|publisher=Krause Publications}}</ref> [[Alan Moore]], [[Steve Ditko]],<ref>{{Citation|last=Darren Wilshaw|title=In Search Of Steve Ditko (2007)|date=21 May 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwDnhMO8is| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/3gwDnhMO8is| archive-date=28 October 2021|access-date=19 August 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Will Eisner]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/07/neil-gaiman-will-eisner-comic-books|title=Neil Gaiman on Will Eisner: 'He thought comics were an artform – he was right'|last=Gaiman|first=Neil|date=7 March 2017|journal=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=19 August 2018}}</ref> [[Ursula K. Le Guin]], [[Harlan Ellison]], [[John Crowley (author)|John Crowley]], [[Lord Dunsany]], [[G. K. Chesterton]] and [[Gene Wolfe]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Gaiman| first=Neil| date=13 May 2011| title= My Hero: Gene Wolfe| work= The Guardian| url= https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/may/13/gene-wolfe-hero-neil-gaiman-sf}}</ref><ref name=MOR/> A lifetime fan of the [[Monty Python]] [[comedy troupe]], he owned a copy of ''[[Monty Python's Big Red Book]]'' as a teenager.<ref>{{cite news |title=Monty Python's greatest skits |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jun/22/monty-pythons-greatest-skits-best-sketches-o2-shows |access-date=25 August 2019 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> During a trip to France when he was 13, Gaiman became fascinated with the visually fantastic world in the stories of ''[[Métal hurlant|Metal Hurlant]]'', even though he could not understand the words.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Goldsmith|first=Jeffrey|title=Heavy Metal - Interview with Neil Gaiman|date=May 1998|pages=10–11}}</ref> When he was 19 or 20 years old, he contacted his favourite science fiction writer, [[R. A. Lafferty]], requesting advice on becoming an author and including a Lafferty [[pastiche]] he had written. Lafferty sent Gaiman an encouraging and informative letter back, along with literary advice.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://thislandpress.com/11/05/2014/lafferty-lost-and-found/?page_num=3|title= Lafferty Lost and Found|first= Natasha|last= Ball|work= This Land Press|date= 11 May 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150920174814/http://thislandpress.com/11/05/2014/lafferty-lost-and-found/?page_num=3|archive-date= 20 September 2015|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/aug/13/ra-lafferty-secret-sci-fi-genius-poised-for-comeback|title= RA Lafferty – the secret sci-fi genius more than ready for a comeback|journal= The Guardian|first= David|last= Barnett|date= 13 August 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150617183441/http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/aug/13/ra-lafferty-secret-sci-fi-genius-poised-for-comeback|archive-date= 17 June 2015|url-status= live}}</ref>

Gaiman has named [[Roger Zelazny]] as the author who influenced him the most.<ref name=Zelazny>"Of Meetings and Partings" by Neil Gaiman, introduction to ''This Mortal Mountain: Volume 3 of The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny'', NESFA Press, edited by David G. Grubbs, Christopher S. Kovacs, and Ann Crimmins, 2009, page 12.</ref><ref>"[http://www.tor.com/2012/11/11/something-else-like-roger-zelazny/ Something Else Like ... Roger Zelazny]" by Jo Walton, [[Tor.com]], 11 November 2012.</ref> Gaiman claims that other authors such as [[Samuel R. Delany]] and [[Angela Carter]] "furnished the inside of my mind and set me to writing".<ref name="Zelazny" /> Gaiman takes inspiration from the folk tales tradition, citing [[Otta F Swire]]'s book on the legends of the [[Isle of Skye]] as his inspiration for ''The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/14/books/neil-gaiman-follows-the-guiding-light-of-instinct.html|title=A Literary Expert on Driving in the Dark|work=The New York Times |date=13 June 2014 |access-date=20 November 2018|language=en|last1=Lee |first1=Felicia R. }}</ref>

In the early 1980s, Gaiman pursued journalism, conducting interviews and writing book reviews, as a means to learn about the world and to make connections that he hoped would later assist him in getting published.<ref name="Abbey"/> He wrote and reviewed extensively for the British Fantasy Society.<ref name="NGB">{{cite web|url= http://www.neilgaimanbibliography.com/bookreviews.html|title= Works by Gaiman – Book Reviews|date= n.d.|work= NeilGaimanBibliography.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131017032546/http://neilgaimanbibliography.com/bookreviews.html|archive-date= 17 October 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= 26 October 2013}}</ref> His first professional short story publication was "Featherquest", a fantasy story, in ''[[Imagine (AD&D magazine)|Imagine]]'' magazine in May 1984.<ref name="NGB" />

[[File:23 Denmark St.jpg|thumb|upright|Gaiman frequented the [[Forbidden Planet (bookstore)|Forbidden Planet]] comic store at its original location of Number 23, [[Denmark Street]], central London (pictured).]]

While waiting for a train at London's [[London Victoria station|Victoria Station]] in 1984, Gaiman noticed a copy of ''[[Swamp Thing]]'' by [[Alan Moore]], and read it. Moore's approach to comics had such an impact on Gaiman that he later wrote "that was the final straw, what was left of my resistance crumbled. I proceeded to make regular and frequent visits to London's [[Forbidden Planet (bookstore)|Forbidden Planet]] shop to buy comics".<ref name=MOR/>

In 1984, he wrote his first book, a biography of the band [[Duran Duran]], and co-edited ''[[Ghastly Beyond Belief]]'', a book of quotations, with [[Kim Newman]]. Although Gaiman thought he had done a terrible job, the book's first edition sold out very quickly. When he went to relinquish his rights to the book, he discovered the publisher had gone bankrupt.<ref name="Abbey"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LmfCGy_ZLg | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/7LmfCGy_ZLg| archive-date=28 October 2021|title=Authors at Google – Neil Gaiman interview |publisher=YouTube |date=3 October 2006 |access-date=26 July 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> After this, he was offered a job by ''[[Penthouse (magazine)|Penthouse]]''. He refused the offer.<ref name="Abbey"/>

He also wrote interviews and articles for many British magazines, including ''[[Knave (British magazine)|Knave]].'' During this, he sometimes wrote under pseudonyms, including Gerry Musgrave, Richard Grey, and "a couple of house names".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/01/rumour-control.html|title= Rumour control?|first= Neil|last= Gaiman|publisher= Neil Gaiman's Journal|date= 2 January 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120215045349/http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/01/rumour-control.html|archive-date= 15 February 2012|url-status= dead|access-date= 26 July 2011}}</ref> Gaiman has said he ended his journalism career in 1987 because British newspapers regularly publish untruths as fact.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=neilhimself|number=8379971068|title=This is why I stopped being a journalist in 1987. Just as true today|date=29 January 2010|access-date=26 July 2011||last=Gaiman|first=Neil|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108101401/https://twitter.com/neilhimself/status/8379971068|archive-date=November 8, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kanazawa |first=Satoshi |url= http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-scientific-fundamentalist/201001/british-newspapers-make-things|title=Psychology Today – British Newspapers Make Things Up |work=Psychologytoday.com|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130819193027/http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-scientific-fundamentalist/201001/british-newspapers-make-things|archive-date= 19 August 2013|url-status= live|date=24 January 2010|access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref>
In the late 1980s, he wrote ''[[Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion]]'' in what he calls a "classic English humour" style.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue345/interview.html|title= Neil Gaiman hitchhikes through Douglas Adams' hilarious galaxy|first= Kathie|last= Huddleston|date= n.d.|publisher= [[Syfy|Science Fiction Weekly]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080612042852/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue345/interview.html|archive-date= 12 June 2008|url-status= dead}}</ref>

Following this, he wrote the opening of what became his collaboration with [[Terry Pratchett]] on the [[comic novel]] ''[[Good Omens]]'', about the impending apocalypse.<ref name="Omens">{{cite web|first=Gwyneth |last=Williams |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/r4-good-omens |title=Radio 4 to make first-ever dramatisation of Good Omens – Media Centre |publisher=BBC |date=5 September 2014 |access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref>

===Comics===
[[File:Neil Gaiman and Tori Amos - Comic Connections.webm|thumb|Gaiman discusses ''The Sandman'' in 2014]]
{{See also|Neil Gaiman bibliography#Comics}}
After forming a friendship with [[Alan Moore]], who taught him how to write comic scripts,<ref name=MOR>{{cite book|last = Olsen|first = Steven P.|title = Neil Gaiman (Library of Graphic Novelists)|publisher = [[Rosen Publishing]]|year = 2005|location= New York, New York|pages = 16–18|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Jc9MaZrG3j8C&q=gaiman%20-%20moore%20-%20friendship&pg=PA18|isbn = 978-1404202856}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Citation |title=Neil Gaiman on the Secret History of 'The Sandman' & Killing a Bad Script by Leaking It Online | date=24 August 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWFDQRnSNOk |language=en |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref> Gaiman started writing comic books and picked up ''[[Marvelman|Miracleman]]'' after Moore finished his run on the series. He continued his professional relationship with Moore by contributing quotations for the supplemental materials in the ''Watchmen'' comic book series.<ref name=":1" />

Gaiman and artist [[Mark Buckingham (comic book artist)|Mark Buckingham]] collaborated on several issues of the series before its publisher, [[Eclipse Comics]], collapsed, leaving the series unfinished. His first published comic strips were four short ''[[Future Shocks]]'' for ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]'' in 1986–87. He wrote three graphic novels with his favourite collaborator and long-time friend [[Dave McKean]]: ''[[Violent Cases]]'', ''[[Signal to Noise (comics)|Signal to Noise]]'', and ''[[The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch]]''. Impressed with his work, [[DC Comics]] hired him in February 1987,<ref>{{cite book|last = Bender|first = Hy|title = The Sandman Companion|publisher = DC Comics|year = 1999|pages = 20–22|isbn = 978-1563894657}}</ref> and he wrote the limited series ''[[Black Orchid (comic book)|Black Orchid]]''.<ref name="vert-ency">{{Cite book|last = Irvine|first = Alex|author-link = Alexander C. Irvine|contribution = [[Black Orchid (comics)|Black Orchid]]|editor-last = Dougall|editor-first = Alastair|title = The Vertigo Encyclopedia|pages = 32–34|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn = 978-0-7566-4122-1|oclc = 213309015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Manning|first1= Matthew K.|last2=Dolan|first2=Hannah|chapter= 1980s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|year=2010|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9|page= 235|quote = Neil Gaiman scripted the complex ''Black Orchid'' prestige format limited series in December [1988], re-envisioning the character with the help of artist Dave McKean.}}</ref> [[Karen Berger]], who later became head of [[DC Comics]]'s [[Vertigo (DC Comics)|Vertigo]], read ''Black Orchid'' and offered Gaiman a job: to re-write an old character, the Sandman, but to put his own spin on him.<ref name="Abbey" />

''[[The Sandman (comic book)|The Sandman]]'' tells the tale of the [[Endless (comics)|ageless]], [[anthropomorphic]] personification of [[Dream (character)|Dream]] that is known by many names, including [[Dream (character)|Morpheus]]. The series began in January 1989 and concluded in March 1996.<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 238: "In arguably one of the greatest achievements in serialized modern comic books, writer Neil Gaiman crafted the seventy-five-issue ongoing series ''The Sandman'', introducing its readers to a complex world of horror and fantasy."</ref> The various artists who contributed to the series include [[Sam Kieth]], Mike Dringenberg, [[Jill Thompson]], [[Shawn McManus]], [[Marc Hempel]], and [[Michael Zulli]], with lettering by [[Todd Klein]], colours by Daniel Vozzo, and covers by [[Dave McKean]].<ref name="Abbey" /> The series became one of DC's top selling titles, eclipsing even ''Batman'' and ''Superman''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hoad |first=Phil |date=21 October 2013 |title=Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean: how we made The Sandman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/oct/22/how-we-made-sandman-gaiman?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025183948/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/oct/22/how-we-made-sandman-gaiman?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |archive-date=25 October 2013 |journal=The Guardian}}</ref> The 75 issues of the regular series, along with an illustrated prose text and a special containing seven short stories, have been collected into 12 volumes that remain in print.

In the eighth issue of ''The Sandman'', Gaiman and artist [[Mike Dringenberg]] introduced [[Death (DC Comics)|Death]], the older sister of Dream, who became as popular as the series' title character.<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 240: "Neil Gaiman, aided by penciller Mike Dringenberg, introduced the character Death to a fascinated readership...Death was an instant hit and arguably became more popular than the Sandman himself."</ref> The limited series ''[[Death: The High Cost of Living]]'' launched DC's [[Vertigo (DC Comics)|Vertigo]] line in 1993.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 262: "In March 1993, DC Comics debuted a three-issue limited series entitled ''Death: The High Cost of Living''...Written by Neil Gaiman and drawn by future comics superstar Chris Bachalo, ''The High Cost of Living'' had one notable trait besides a brilliant story: its cover bore a new logo. With this debut, DC's provocative new mature-reader imprint, Vertigo, was born."</ref>

Comics historian [[Les Daniels]] called Gaiman's work "astonishing" and noted that ''The Sandman'' was "a mixture of fantasy, horror, and ironic humor such as comic books had never seen before".<ref>{{cite book |last=Daniels |first=Les |author-link=Les Daniels |title=DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company|Bulfinch Press]] |year=1995 |isbn=978-0821220764 |location=New York, New York |page=206 |chapter=The Sandman's Coming: A New Approach to Making Myths}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=The Inevitable Post About Neil Gaiman's 'The Sandman' |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2009/11/the_inevitable_post_about_neil.html# |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816193925/http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2009/11/the_inevitable_post_about_neil.html |archive-date=16 August 2017 |access-date=16 August 2017 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref> DC Comics writer and executive [[Paul Levitz]] observed that "''The Sandman'' became the first extraordinary success as a series of graphic novel collections, reaching out and converting new readers to the medium, particularly young women on college campuses, and making Gaiman himself into an iconic cultural figure."<ref>{{cite book |last=Levitz |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Levitz |title=75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking |publisher=[[Taschen]] |year=2010 |isbn=9783836519816 |location=Cologne, Germany |page=567 |chapter=The Dark Age 1984–1998}}</ref>

Gaiman and [[Jamie Delano]] were to become co-writers of the ''[[Swamp Thing (comic book)|Swamp Thing]]'' series following [[Rick Veitch]]. An editorial decision by DC to censor Veitch's final storyline caused both Gaiman and Delano to withdraw from the title.<ref>{{cite book|last1 = Duncan|first1 = Randy|last2 = Smith|first2 = Matthew J.|title = Icons of the American Comic Book: From Captain America to Wonder Woman, Volume 1|publisher = [[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|year = 2013|location= Santa Barbara, California|pages = 741–742|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2GNaoeiY51EC&q=Neil+Gaiman+Jamie+Delano+Swamp+Thing&pg=PA741|isbn = 978-0313399237|quote= DC's censorship of Veitch's ''Swamp Thing'' #88 (1989) had a lasting negative impact on the series...With Veitch's immediate departure, the team that had been groomed to follow Veitch (writers Neil Gaiman and Jamie Delano) also left the title in solidarity with Veitch.}}</ref>

Gaiman produced two stories for DC's ''[[Secret Origins]]'' series in 1989: a [[Poison Ivy (character)|Poison Ivy]]<ref>{{cite book|last1= Manning|first1= Matthew K.|last2=Dougall|first2=Alastair|chapter= 1980s|title= Batman: A Visual History|publisher= [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year= 2014|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 183|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= ''Secret Origins'' No. 36 Neil Gaiman gave readers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Poison Ivy's mind.}}</ref> tale drawn by [[Mark Buckingham (comic book artist)|Mark Buckingham]] and a [[Riddler]]<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dougall (2014), p. 179: ''Secret Origins Special'' No. 1 "Gaiman wrote the Riddler's tale, with the help of artist Bernie Mireault."</ref> story illustrated by [[Bernie Mireault]] and [[Matt Wagner]]. A story that Gaiman originally wrote for ''[[Action Comics|Action Comics Weekly]]'' in 1989 was shelved due to editorial concerns but it was finally published in 2000 as ''[[Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|last= Martin|first= Brian|title= Where the ''Action'' is...Weekly|journal= [[Back Issue!]]|issue= 98|page= 77|date= August 2017}}</ref>

In 1990, Gaiman wrote ''[[The Books of Magic]]'', a four-part mini-series that provided a tour of the mythological and magical parts of the [[DC Universe]] through a [[frame story]] about an English teenager who discovers that he is destined to be the world's greatest wizard.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 247: "Neil Gaiman chronicled the adventures of magic pupil Timothy Hunter in this miniseries. each issue explored the realms of magic as portrayed by a different painter."</ref> The miniseries was popular, and sired an ongoing series written by [[John Ney Rieber]].<ref name="sj">{{cite web|url=http://www.seriejournalen.dk/tegneserie_indhold.asp?ID=15 |title=Interview with John Ney Rieber |last=Andreasen |first=Henrik |publisher=Serie Journalen |date=1 December 1995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620095158/http://www.seriejournalen.dk/tegneserie_indhold.asp?ID=15 |archive-date=20 June 2008 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

Gaiman's adaptation of ''[[Sweeney Todd]]'', illustrated by [[Michael Zulli]] for [[Stephen R. Bissette]]'s publication ''[[Taboo (comics)|Taboo]]'', was stopped when the anthology itself was discontinued.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/06/05/get-your-free-neil-gaiman-and-michael-zulli-sweeney-todd-comic-here/|title= Get Your Free Neil Gaiman And Michael Zulli ''Sweeney Todd'' Comic Here|first= Rich|last= Johnston|author-link= Rich Johnston|date= 5 June 2012|publisher= Bleeding Cool|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120709084524/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/06/05/get-your-free-neil-gaiman-and-michael-zulli-sweeney-todd-comic-here/|archive-date= 9 July 2012|url-status= live|access-date= 21 August 2013|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

In the mid-1990s, he also created a number of new characters and a setting that was to be featured in a title published by [[Tekno Comix]]. The concepts were then altered and split between three titles set in the same continuity: ''[[Lady Justice (comics)|Lady Justice]]'', ''[[Mr. Hero the Newmatic Man]]'', and ''[[Teknophage]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neilgaiman.info/Teknophage |title=Teknophage |work=Neilgaiman.info |date=23 July 2008 |access-date=26 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721230213/http://www.neilgaiman.info/Teknophage |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and tie-ins. Because the publisher aimed to expand their characters into other media such as television, Gaiman designed his concepts with potential TV and computer game adaptations in mind.<ref>[https://books.google.no/books?id=IKpzCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT222&dq=Neil+Gaiman+Tekno+Comix+media+TV&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGs93a55mQAxV2FxAIHUnBN2QQ6AF6BAgPEAM#v=onepage&q=Neil%20Gaiman%20Tekno%20Comix%20media%20TV&f=false Neil Gaiman's Mr. Hero Complete Comics Vol. 1: The Newmatic Man]</ref> Although his name appeared prominently as the creator of the characters, he was not involved in writing any of the above-mentioned books. 

Gaiman wrote a semi-autobiographical story about a boy's fascination with [[Michael Moorcock]]'s anti-hero [[Elric of Melniboné]] for [[Edward E. Kramer|Ed Kramer]]'s anthology ''Tales of the White Wolf.'' In 1996, Gaiman and Kramer co-edited ''[[The Sandman: Book of Dreams]]''. Nominated for the [[British Fantasy Award]], the original fiction anthology featured stories and contributions by [[Tori Amos]], [[Clive Barker]], [[Gene Wolfe]], [[Caitlín R. Kiernan]], [[Tad Williams]], and others.

Asked why he likes comics more than other forms of storytelling, Gaiman said: {{Blockquote
|text=One of the joys of comics has always been the knowledge that it was, in many ways, untouched ground. It was virgin territory. When I was working on ''Sandman'', I felt a lot of the time that I was actually picking up a machete and heading out into the jungle. I got to write in places and do things that nobody had ever done before. When I'm writing novels I'm painfully aware that I'm working in a medium that people have been writing absolutely jaw-droppingly brilliant things for, you know, three-four thousand years now. You know, you can go back. We have things like ''[[The Golden Ass]]''. And you go, well, I don't know that I'm as good as that and that's two and a half thousand years old. But with comics I felt like – I can do stuff nobody has ever done. I can do stuff nobody has ever thought of. And I could and it was enormously fun.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= http://www.wildriverreview.com/4/worldvoices-neilgaiman.php|title= Myth, Magic and the Mind of Neil Gaiman|first= Tim E.|last= Ogline|date= 20 November 2007|magazine= [[Wild River Review]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120915045414/http://www.wildriverreview.com/4/worldvoices-neilgaiman.php|archive-date= 15 September 2012|url-status= dead|access-date= 21 November 2007}}</ref>}}

Gaiman wrote two series for [[Marvel Comics]]. ''[[Marvel 1602]]'' was an eight-issue limited series published from November 2003 to June 2004 with art by [[Andy Kubert]] and [[Richard Isanove]].<ref>{{cite book|last1 = Manning|first1 = Matthew K.|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura|chapter= 2000s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 317|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= Neil Gaiman...took his creative vision and penchant for times past to Marvel, crafting this eight-issue limited series alongside fan-favourite artist Andy Kubert. Digitally painted by Richard Isanove...this series took an alternative look at what the classic Marvel pantheon would be like if they had existed in the 17th century.}}</ref> ''The [[Eternals (comics)|Eternals]]'' was a seven-issue limited series drawn by [[John Romita Jr.]], which was published from August 2006 to March 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=7266&page=article|title= Following in the Footsteps: Romita Talks ''Eternals''|first= Dave|last= Richards|date= 9 June 2006|website= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131015104751/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=7266&page=article|archive-date= 15 October 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= 25 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11093|title= CCI XTRA: Spotlight on Neil Gaiman|first= Jim|last= MacQuarrie|date= 3 August 2007|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121007033014/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11093|archive-date= 7 October 2012|url-status= dead|access-date= 25 October 2013}}</ref>

In 2009, Gaiman wrote a two-part [[Batman]] story for DC Comics to follow ''[[Batman R.I.P.]]'' titled "[[Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?|Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?]]"<ref>Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 337: "Writer Neil Gaiman and art legend Andy Kubert teamed up to present a touching imaginary tale of a wake for the dead Batman...A love song to the Dark Knight's long history...it went on to win SFX's Best Comic award in 2010."</ref> a play-off of the classic Superman story "[[Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?|Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?]]" by Alan Moore.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17463|title= CCI: DC One Weekend Later – Gaiman on ''Batman''|first= Hannibal|last= Tabu|date= 27 July 2008|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131023185626/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17463|archive-date= 23 October 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= 4 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.newsarama.com/639-sdcc-08-more-on-gaiman-batman-with-dan-didio.html|title= SDCC '08 – More on Gaiman-Batman with Dan DiDio|first= Matt|last= Brady|date= 27 July 2008|work= [[Newsarama]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131025163034/http://www.newsarama.com/639-sdcc-08-more-on-gaiman-batman-with-dan-didio.html|archive-date= 25 October 2013|url-status= dead}}</ref> He contributed a twelve-part [[Metamorpho]] serial drawn by [[Mike Allred]] for ''[[Wednesday Comics]]'', a weekly newspaper-style series.<ref>Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 338: "The [series] contained fifteen continuous stories, including...'Metamorpho' scripted by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Michael Allred."</ref><ref>{{cite web|first= Remy|last= Minnick|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19775|title= Gaiman & Allred on Metamorpho|website= Comic Book Resources|date= 30 January 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131020235739/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19775|archive-date= 20 October 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= 31 January 2009}}</ref> Gaiman and [[Paul Cornell]] co-wrote ''[[Action Comics]]'' #894 (December 2010), which featured an appearance by Death.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/09/23/neil-gaiman-co-wrote-action-comics-894/|title= Neil Gaiman Co-Wrote ''Action Comics'' #894?|first= Rich|last= Johnston|author-link= Rich Johnston|date= 23 September 2010|work= BleedingCool.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111019181629/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/09/23/neil-gaiman-co-wrote-action-comics-894/|archive-date= 19 October 2011|url-status= live|access-date= 25 October 2013}}</ref> In October 2013, DC Comics released ''[[The Sandman: Overture]]'' with art by [[J. H. Williams III]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a393167/neil-gaiman-returns-to-the-sandman-comic-con-2012.html|title= Neil Gaiman returns to ''The Sandman'' – Comic Con 2012|first= Hugh|last= Armitage|date= 13 July 2012|work= [[Digital Spy]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130522015701/http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a393167/neil-gaiman-returns-to-the-sandman-comic-con-2012.html|archive-date= 22 May 2013|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url= https://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/07/neil-gaiman-sandman-overture/|title= 25 Years Later, Neil Gaiman's ''Sandman'' Returns With a Prequel|magazine= Wired|first= Laura|last= Hudson|date= 25 July 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130901004735/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/07/neil-gaiman-sandman-overture/|archive-date= 1 September 2013|url-status= live|df= dmy-all}}</ref> Gaiman's [[Angela (character)|Angela]] character was introduced into the Marvel Universe in the last issue of the ''[[Age of Ultron]]'' miniseries in 2013.<ref name="Sunu">{{cite web|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=44385|title= Gaiman Returns to Marvel, Brings ''Spawn's'' Angela|first= Steve|last= Sunu|date= 21 March 2013|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130323192344/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=44385|archive-date= 23 March 2013|url-status= live|access-date= 23 March 2013|quote= Later this year, writer Neil Gaiman makes his return to Marvel Comics...Perhaps even more intriguing is the announcement that Gaiman plans to introduce Angela to the Marvel U.|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

Gaiman oversaw ''[[The Sandman Universe]]'', a line of comic books published by Vertigo. The four series — ''House of Whispers'', ''[[Lucifer (DC Comics)|Lucifer]]'', ''[[The Books of Magic]]'', and ''[[Dreaming (comics)|The Dreaming]]'' — were written by new creative teams. The line launched on 8 August 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bishop|first=Bryan|title=Neil Gaiman is turning The Sandman into an expanded comics universe|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/1/17069162/the-sandman-universe-neil-gaiman-dc-comics-vertigo|website=[[The Verge]]|access-date=29 April 2018|date=1 March 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180302172636/https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/1/17069162/the-sandman-universe-neil-gaiman-dc-comics-vertigo|archive-date= 2 March 2018|url-status= live|df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Polo|first=Susana|title=The Sandman Universe is Neil Gaiman's next comics project|url=https://www.polygon.com/comics/2018/3/1/17067712/sandman-dc-comics-universe-neil-gaiman|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|access-date=29 April 2018|date=1 March 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180302172220/https://www.polygon.com/comics/2018/3/1/17067712/sandman-dc-comics-universe-neil-gaiman|archive-date= 2 March 2018|url-status= live|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

After teaming with [[Colleen Doran]] for a series of graphic novel adaptations based on his short stories "Troll Bridge", "Chivalry", and "Snow, Glass, Apples", Gaiman and the Terry Pratchett estate chose Doran to adapt ''Good Omens'' into graphic novel form, and to self publish the work via the Pratchett estate's Dunmanifestin label. It was financed on Kickstarter where it became a record-setter in less than a week as the top fan-supported and top-earning comics project in the history of the platform.<ref>Myrick, Joe Anthony (7 August 2023). [https://screenrant.com/good-omens-comic-kickstarter-record/ "Good Omens Campaign Sets a New Kickstarter Record (After Being Fully Funded in 10 Minutes)."] ''[[Screen Rant]]''. Retrieved 13 August 2023.</ref>

===Novels===
{{See also|Neil Gaiman bibliography#Novels and children's books}}
[[File:Why We Need Fantasy.webm|thumb|Neil Gaiman and [[Roz Kaveney]] discuss Why We Need Fantasy at the British Library on 20 November 2023.]]
[[File:Gaiman-headshot.jpg|thumb|Gaiman in 2009]]
In a collaboration with author [[Terry Pratchett]], best known for his series of ''[[Discworld]]'' novels, Gaiman's first novel ''[[Good Omens]]'' was published in 1990. In 2011, Pratchett said that while the entire novel was a collaborative effort and most of the ideas could be credited to both of them, Pratchett did a larger portion of writing and editing if for no other reason than Gaiman's scheduled involvement with ''Sandman''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/words-from-the-master.html|first= Terry|last= Pratchett|title= Words from the Master|work= Lspace.org|date= n.d.|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130929041235/http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/words-from-the-master.html|archive-date= 29 September 2013|url-status= live|access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref>

The 1996 [[Neverwhere (novel)|novelisation]] of Gaiman's teleplay for the BBC mini-series ''[[Neverwhere]]'' was his first solo novel. The novel was released in tandem with the television series, though it presents some notable differences from the television series. Gaiman has since revised the novel twice, the first time for an American audience unfamiliar with the [[London Underground]], the second time because he felt unsatisfied with the originals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://slate.com/culture/2015/08/author-s-preferred-text-of-neil-gaiman-s-neverwhere-what-do-those-words-mean.html |title=What Does It Mean When a Book Is Stamped With the Words 'Author's Preferred Text?'|last=Martinelli |first=Marissa |date=20 August 2015 |website=Slate |access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>

In 1999, the first printings of his fantasy novel ''[[Stardust (Gaiman novel)|Stardust]]'' were released. The novel has been released both as a standard novel and in an illustrated text edition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BOOKS: Stardust: Neil Gaiman & Charles Vess |url=https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/local_news/books-stardust-neil-gaiman-charles-vess/article_07ef7ef6-6fc0-5f12-b023-83ebd495e6a9.html |website=Valdosta Daily Times |date=27 June 2020 |access-date=27 November 2020 |quote=However, Gaiman initially wrote "Stardust" for Vertigo Comics as a novel illustrated by comics legend Charles Vess. Vertigo published the earliest edition filled with Vess' gorgeous colour and black-and-white illustrations. Some subsequent editions have only contained Gaiman's words without Vess' illustrations.}}</ref> This novel was highly influenced by Victorian fairytales and culture.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gaiman|first=Neil|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/oct/13/film.fiction|title=Neil Gaiman on the importance of fairytales|date=12 October 2007|work=The Guardian|access-date=4 April 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

''[[American Gods]]'' became one of Gaiman's best-selling and multi-award-winning novels upon its release in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/About_Neil/Press_Releases/American_Gods_wins_a_Hugo!|title= American Gods wins a Hugo!|work= Neilgaiman.com|date= 17 September 2002|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130920150246/http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/About_Neil/Press_Releases/American_Gods_wins_a_Hugo!|archive-date= 20 September 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= 26 July 2011}}</ref> A special 10th Anniversary edition was released, with the "author's preferred text" 12,000 words longer than the original mass-market editions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/culture/2015/08/author-s-preferred-text-of-neil-gaiman-s-neverwhere-what-do-those-words-mean.html|title=What Does It Mean When a Book Is Stamped With the Words "Author's Preferred Text?"|last=Martinelli|first=Marissa|date=20 August 2015|website=Slate Magazine|language=en|access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> Gaiman has not written a direct sequel to ''American Gods'' but he has revisited the characters. A glimpse at Shadow's travels in Europe is found in a short story which finds him in Scotland, applying the same concepts developed in ''American Gods'' to the story of ''[[Beowulf]]''. The 2005 novel ''[[Anansi Boys]]'' deals with [[Anansi]] ('Mr. Nancy'), tracing the relationship of his two sons, one semi-divine and the other an unassuming bookkeeper, as they explore their common heritage. It debuted at number one on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].<ref name="NYT 2005-10-09">{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/09/books/bestseller/1009besthardfiction.html|title= Best-Seller Lists: Hardcover Fiction|date=9 October 2005|work= [[The New York Times]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131027003946/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/09/books/bestseller/1009besthardfiction.html?_r=0|archive-date=27 October 2013 |url-status= live|access-date= 6 March 2010}}</ref>

In 2002, Gaiman entered the world of children's books with the dark fairy tale ''[[Coraline]]''. In 2008 he released a [[young adult novel]], ''[[The Graveyard Book]]''. It follows the adventures of a boy named Bod after his family is murdered and he is left to be brought up by a graveyard. It is heavily influenced by [[Rudyard Kipling]]'s ''[[The Jungle Book]]'' and [[H. P. Lovecraft]]’s ''[[The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bleiler|first1=Richard|editor1-last=Olson|editor1-first=Danel|title=21st Century Gothic: Great Gothic Novels Since 2000|date=2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Plymouth, UK|isbn=9780810877283|pages=269–278|edition=1st|chapter=Raised by the Dead: The Maturational Gothic of Neil Gaiman's _The Graveyard Book_}}</ref> Literary critic [[Danel Olson]] defended it as one of the first canonical novels of 21st century Gothic literature.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Olson|editor1-first=Danel|title=21st Century Gothic: Great Gothic Novels Since 2000|date=2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Plymouth, UK|isbn=9780810877283|edition=1st}}</ref> {{As of|2009|01|alt=As of late January 2009}}, it had been on ''The New York Times'' Bestseller children's list for fifteen weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/11/beyond-tea.html|title= Beyone Tea|first= Neil|last= Gaiman|date= 19 November 2008|publisher= Neil Gaiman's Journal|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120215045029/http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/11/beyond-tea.html|archive-date= 15 February 2012|url-status= dead|access-date= 27 November 2008}}</ref>

In 2013, ''[[The Ocean at the End of the Lane]]'' was voted Book of the Year in the British [[Specsavers National Book Awards|National Book Awards]].<ref name="BOTY">{{Cite news |author=Press Association |date=26 December 2013 |title=Neil Gaiman novel wins Book of the Year |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/dec/26/neil-gaiman-book-year |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402181554/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/dec/26/neil-gaiman-book-year |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=27 December 2013 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> The novel follows an unnamed man who returns to his hometown for a funeral and remembers events that began forty years earlier.<ref>{{cite news|last=Byatt|first=AS|title=The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman – review|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jul/03/ocean-end-lane-gaiman-review|access-date=4 July 2013|newspaper=Guardian|date=3 July 2013}}</ref> Themes include the search for [[self-identity]] and the "disconnect between childhood and adulthood".<ref>{{cite news|last=Lofuto|first=Tina|title=With The Ocean at the End of the Lane, fantasy master Neil Gaiman presents a mythical view of childhood's fears|url=http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/with-the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane-fantasy-master-neil-gaiman-presents-a-mythical-view-of-childhoods-fears/Content?oid=3451385|access-date=4 July 2013|newspaper=Nashville Scene|date=3 July 2013|archive-date=27 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027102402/http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/with-the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane-fantasy-master-neil-gaiman-presents-a-mythical-view-of-childhoods-fears/Content?oid=3451385|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was later adapted into a critically acclaimed [[The Ocean at the End of the Lane (play)|stage play]] at the [[Royal National Theatre]] in London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/ocean-at-the-end-of-lane-review-b1952097.html|title=The Ocean at the End of the Lane review: A thunderous, sometimes terrifying adaptation|date=6 November 2021|work=[[The Independent]]|first=Anya|last=Ryan}}</ref>

In September 2016, Neil Gaiman announced that he had been working for some years on retellings of [[Norse mythology]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2016/09/a-cover-revealed-book-exposed-year.html|title=A cover revealed! A book exposed! A year mislaid!|last=Gaiman|first=Neil|website=journal.neilgaiman.com|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref> ''[[Norse Mythology (book)|Norse Mythology]]'' was released in February 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/2016/09/15/neil-gaiman-puts-his-spin-on-thor-in-norse-mythology-book/|title=Neil Gaiman Puts His Spin On Thor In Norse Mythology Novel|website=Comicbook.com|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>

Several of his novels have been published as paperbacks with retro covers by artist [[Robert McGinnis]].<ref>[https://www.tor.com/2016/09/22/robert-e-mcginnis-creates-retro-covers-for-neil-gaimans-anansi-boys-neverwhere-and-stardust/ Mr. Nancy is One Swingin’ Spider in the New Retro Cover for Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys!]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://neil-gaiman.tumblr.com/post/649850604049645568/the-graveyard-book-cover-ask-reminded-me-of|title=Neil Gaiman}}</ref>

===Film and screenwriting===
{{See also|Neil Gaiman bibliography#Film}}
Gaiman wrote the 1996 [[BBC]] dark fantasy television series ''[[Neverwhere]]''. He co-wrote the screenplay for the movie ''[[MirrorMask]]'' with his old friend [[Dave McKean]] for McKean to direct. In addition, he wrote the localised English language script for the [[anime]] movie ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'', based on a translation of the Japanese script.<ref name="princescripts">{{cite book|last1=Wagner|first1=Hank|last2=Golden|first2=Christopher|author-link2=Christopher Golden|last3=Bissette|first3=Stephen R.|author-link3=Stephen R. Bissette|title=Prince of Stories: The Many Worlds of Neil Gaiman|year=2008|publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]]|location=New York, New York|isbn=978-0-312-38765-5|pages=[https://archive.org/details/princeofstoriesm0000wagn/page/413 413–448]|chapter=The Scripts|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/princeofstoriesm0000wagn/page/413}}</ref>

After his disappointment with the production limitations of ''Neverwhere'', Gaiman asked his agent to pull him out of an (unnamed) UK television series that was to begin production immediately afterwards. "I didn't want to do it unless I had more control than you get as a writer: in fantasy, the tone of voice, the look and feel, the way something is shot and edited is vital, and I wanted to be in charge of that."<ref name="The View from the Cheap Seats"/>

He co-wrote the script for [[Robert Zemeckis]]'s ''[[Beowulf (2007 film)|Beowulf]]'' with [[Roger Avary]], a collaboration that has proved productive for both writers.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://video.stv.tv/bc/info-outFilmsVideo_interviews-20071120-neil-gaiman-and-roger-avary-shaping-beowulfs-story/?redirect=no|title= Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary: Shaping ''Beowulf's'' story|year= 2007|work= [[Stv.tv]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120625235711/http://video.stv.tv/bc/info-outFilmsVideo_interviews-20071120-neil-gaiman-and-roger-avary-shaping-beowulfs-story/?redirect=no|archive-date= 25 June 2012|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}}</ref> Gaiman has expressed interest in collaborating on a [[film adaptation]] of the ''[[Epic of Gilgamesh]]''.<ref>{{cite news |first = Tom |last= Ambrose|title = He Is Legend|newspaper=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date = December 2007|page= 142}}</ref>

[[File:Good Omens panel at NYCC (61091).jpg|thumb|Gaiman on a panel about the [[Good Omens (TV series)|''Good Omens'']] TV series at [[New York Comic Con]] in 2018]]
He was the only person other than [[J. Michael Straczynski]] to write a ''[[Babylon 5]]'' script in the series' last three seasons, contributing to the season five episode "[[Day of the Dead (Babylon 5)|Day of the Dead]]".<ref name="princescripts"/> The series also features a recurring alien race called the Gaim, who resemble the character of Dream and are named after Gaiman.

Gaiman has also written at least three drafts of a screenplay adaptation of [[Nicholson Baker]]'s novel ''[[The Fermata]]'' for director [[Robert Zemeckis]],<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/Cool_Stuff/Essays/Essays_About_Neil/Neil_Gaiman%27s_Film_Work|title= Neil Gaiman's Film Work|work= Neil Gaiman.com|date= 13 August 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130920140546/http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/Cool_Stuff/Essays/Essays_About_Neil/Neil_Gaiman%27s_Film_Work|archive-date= 20 September 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= 2 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=17624|title= Neil Gaiman Takes Hollywood|first= Tom|last= Burns|date= n.d.|work= UGO.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110513203340/http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=17624|archive-date= 13 May 2011|url-status= dead|access-date= 2 August 2010}}</ref> although the project was stalled while Zemeckis made ''[[The Polar Express (film)|The Polar Express]]'' and the Gaiman-[[Roger Avary]]-penned ''[[Beowulf (2007 film)|Beowulf]]'' film.

Neil Gaiman was featured in the [[History (American TV network)|History Channel]] documentary ''[[Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked]]''.<ref name="listing-for-oclc-61347142">
{{cite AV media
 | title = Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked
 | date = 2003
 | publisher = Triage Entertainment, Inc.
 | type = Television production
 | location = New York, USA
 | minutes = 73
 | isbn = 0-7670-8365-2
 | oclc = 61347142
}} Broadcast by the [[History (American TV network)|History Channel]].
</ref>

Several of Gaiman's original works have been optioned or greenlighted for film adaptation, most notably ''[[Stardust (2007 film)|Stardust]]'', which premiered in August 2007 and stars [[Charlie Cox]], [[Robert De Niro]], [[Michelle Pfeiffer]], [[Claire Danes]] and [[Mark Strong]], directed by [[Matthew Vaughn]]. A stop-motion version of ''[[Coraline (film)|Coraline]]'' was released on 6 February 2009, directed by [[Henry Selick]] and starring the voices of [[Dakota Fanning]] and [[Teri Hatcher]].<ref name="Goodyear" />

In 2007, Gaiman announced that after ten years in development, [[Death and Me|the feature film]] of ''[[Death: The High Cost of Living]]'' would finally begin production with a screenplay by Gaiman that he would direct for Warner Independent. Gaiman said that he agreed to direct the film "with the carrot dangled in front of me that I could direct it. And we'll see if that happens, and if I'm a good director or not."<ref name="The View from the Cheap Seats">{{Cite book|last=Gaiman|first=Neil|title=The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction|date=2016|isbn=978-0-06-226226-4|edition=1st|publisher=William Morrow|location=New York, NY|page=242|oclc=939277355}}</ref> [[Don Murphy]] and [[Susan Montford]] were named as producers, and [[Guillermo del Toro]] was named as the film's executive producer.<ref>{{cite web|last= Sanchez| first= Robert|title= Neil Gaiman on ''Stardust'' and ''Death: High Cost of Living''!|work= IESB.net|date= 2 August 2006|url= http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=105&Itemid=42|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060813153610/http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=105&Itemid=42|archive-date= 13 August 2006|url-status= dead|access-date= 25 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/labels/Death%20movie.html|title= The best film of 2006 was…|last= Gaiman|first= Neil|date= 9 January 2007|publisher= Neil Gaiman's Journal|access-date= 25 February 2007}}</ref> By 2010, it had been reported that the film was no longer in production.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/10/the_vulture_transcript_neil_ga.html|title=The Vulture Transcript: Neil Gaiman on Comics, Twilight, Twitter Etiquette, Killing Batman, and Sharing Porn With His Son|date=14 October 2010}}</ref>

Seeing Ear Theatre performed two of Gaiman's audio theatre plays, "[[Snow, Glass, Apples]]", Gaiman's retelling of [[Snow White]], and "[[Murder Mysteries]]", a story of heaven before the Fall in which the first crime is committed. Both audio plays were published in the collection ''[[Smoke and Mirrors (story collection)|Smoke and Mirrors]]'' in 1998.<ref>{{cite book|last = Gaiman|first = Neil |title = Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions|url = https://archive.org/details/smokemirrorsshor00gaim|url-access = registration|publisher = [[Avon (publisher)|Avon]]|year = 1998|page = 384|isbn = 978-0380789023}}</ref>

At [[Guillermo del Toro]]'s request, he rewrote the opening of ''[[Hellboy II: The Golden Army]]'' to make it look more like a fairy tale.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://ew.com/movies/hellboy-gave-neil-gaiman-his-start-in-writing-movies-tv/|title=Hellboy gave Neil Gaiman his start in writing for movies and TV|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|last=Holub|first=Christian|date=March 2, 2021|access-date=August 14, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250430161440/https://ew.com/movies/hellboy-gave-neil-gaiman-his-start-in-writing-movies-tv/|archive-date=April 30, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

Gaiman's 2009 [[Newbery Medal]] winning book ''[[The Graveyard Book]]'' will be made into a movie, with [[Ron Howard]] as the director.<ref>{{cite magazine |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ron-howard-talks-direct-disneys-414344|title= Ron Howard in Talks to Direct Disney's ''Graveyard Book''|first= Borys|last= Kit|date= 22 January 2013|magazine= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131026032403/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ron-howard-talks-direct-disneys-414344|archive-date=26 October 2013 |url-status= live|access-date= 25 October 2013}}</ref>

Gaiman wrote an episode of the long-running BBC science fiction series ''[[Doctor Who]]'', broadcast in 2011 during [[Matt Smith (actor)|Matt Smith]]'s second series as the Doctor.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/02/06/exclusive_neil_gaiman_confirms_doctor_who_episode/|title = Exclusive Neil Gaiman Confirms ''Doctor Who'' Episode|work = [[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130819135539/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/02/06/exclusive_neil_gaiman_confirms_doctor_who_episode/|archive-date = 19 August 2013|url-status = dead|access-date = 17 March 2010}}</ref> Shooting began in August 2010 for this episode, the original title of which was "The House of Nothing"<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10146657|title = Neil Gaiman reveals power of writing ''Doctor Who''|first = Tim|last = Masters|date = 24 May 2010|work= BBC News|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130318033931/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10146657|archive-date= 18 March 2013|url-status= live| access-date= 24 May 2010}}</ref> but which was eventually transmitted as "[[The Doctor's Wife]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/03/28/doctor-who-title-of-the-neil-gaiman-episode-revealed/|title=Doctor Who: Title Of the Neil Gaiman Episode Revealed|work=SFX|date=28 March 2011|access-date=6 May 2011}}</ref> The episode won the 2012 [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form|Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form)]].<ref name="Davis">{{cite web|first=Lauren|last=Davis|url=http://io9.com/5900047/the-2012-hugo-nominations-have-been-announced|title=The 2012 Hugo Nominations have been announced!|publisher=[[io9]]|date=7 April 2012|access-date=7 April 2012|archive-date=10 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210095208/http://io9.com/5900047/the-2012-hugo-nominations-have-been-announced|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web | url = http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/genreville/?p=2092 | title = Hugo Awards Liveblog | first = Rose | last = Fox | date = 2 September 2012 | access-date = 2 September 2012 | work = [[Publishers Weekly]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131013143317/http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/genreville/?p=2092 | archive-date = 13 October 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Gaiman made his return to ''Doctor Who'' with an episode titled "[[Nightmare in Silver]]", broadcast on 11 May 2013.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=DWMtweets|number=316494714994040832|title=... continued ... 7. Nightmare in Silver 8. TBA - still a secret!|author=Doctor Who Magazine|author-link=Doctor Who Magazine|date=26 March 2013|access-date=16 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123041018/https://twitter.com/DWMtweets/status/316494714994040832|archive-date=January 23, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Morgan|last=Jeffery|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a436955/doctor-who-writer-neil-gaiman-i-want-to-make-cybermen-scary-again.html|title=''Doctor Who'' writer Neil Gaiman: 'I want to make the Cybermen scary again'|work=Digital Spy|date=9 November 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121111175924/http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a436955/doctor-who-writer-neil-gaiman-i-want-to-make-cybermen-scary-again.html|archive-date= 11 November 2012|url-status= live|df= dmy-all|access-date=16 April 2013}}</ref>
Gaiman returned to the [[Whoniverse]] in 2020 for the web series ''[[Doctor Who: Lockdown]]''; he wrote the mini-episode "Rory's Story" which saw [[Arthur Darvill]] reprise his role of [[Rory Williams]]. Also in 2011, it was announced that Gaiman would be writing the script to a new film version of ''[[Journey to the West]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/03/quick-in-and-out.html |title=Neil Gaiman's Journal: A quick in and out |work=Journal.neilgaiman.com |date=12 March 2011 |access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/markets-festivals/neil-gaiman-to-script-journey-1118033705/ | work=Variety | first=Clifford | last=Coonan | title=Neil Gaiman to script 'Journey' | date=10 March 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313060152/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118033705 | archive-date=13 March 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Gaiman appeared as himself on ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[The Book Job]]", which was broadcast on 20 November 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12180166|title= Author Neil Gaiman to guest star on ''The Simpsons''|journal= BBC News|date= 13 January 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111230095521/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12180166|archive-date= 30 December 2011|url-status= live|access-date= 13 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2011/11/19/neil-gaiman-on-his-simpsons-appearance-teen-lit-and-trolls/|title= Neil Gaiman on His Simpsons Appearance, Teen Lit and Trolls|first= Josie|last= Campbell|date= 19 November 2011|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131005215624/http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2011/11/19/neil-gaiman-on-his-simpsons-appearance-teen-lit-and-trolls/|archive-date= 5 October 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= 26 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/11/hey-hey-were-er-on-simpsons.html|title= Hey Hey We're, er, on ''The Simpsons''|first= Neil|last= Gaiman|date= 20 November 2011|publisher= Neil Gaiman's Journal|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120124151056/http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/11/hey-hey-were-er-on-simpsons.html|archive-date= 24 January 2012|url-status= dead|access-date= 26 October 2013|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2015, [[Starz]] greenlighted a [[American Gods (TV series)|series adaptation]] of Gaiman's novel ''[[American Gods]]''. [[Bryan Fuller]] and [[Michael Green (writer)|Michael Green]] wrote and were showrunners for the series.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://www.ew.com/article/2015/06/16/neil-gaimans-american-gods-coming-starz|title= Neil Gaiman's ''American Gods'' gets series order at Starz|first= Dana Rose|last= Falcone|date= 16 June 2015|magazine= [[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150905055349/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/06/16/neil-gaimans-american-gods-coming-starz|archive-date= 5 September 2015|url-status= live|df= dmy-all}}</ref> Gaiman received a [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation#Long Form|Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form]] Hugo Award in 2020 for the [[Good Omens (TV series)|TV miniseries adaptation of ''Good Omens'']], for which he wrote the screenplay.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.tor.com/2020/07/31/announcing-the-2020-hugo-award-winners/| title = Announcing the 2020 Hugo Award Winners| date = August 2020}}</ref> He voiced [[Gef]] in the [[black comedy film]] ''[[Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose]]'', one of the film's titular characters, in 2023.<ref name="Gef">{{cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=1 December 2022 |title=Dark Comedy 'Nandor Fodor' Finds Its 'Talking Mongoose' In 'The Sandman's Neil Gaiman |url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/neil-gaiman-cast-in-dark-comedy-nandor-fodor-and-the-talking-mongoose-1235185442/ |accessdate=24 May 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>

===Radio===
A six-part [[Neverwhere (radio play)|radio play of ''Neverwhere'']] was broadcast in March 2013, adapted by Dirk Maggs for [[BBC Radio 4]] and Radio 4 Extra. The performance featured [[James McAvoy]] as Richard, [[Natalie Dormer]], [[Benedict Cumberbatch]], [[Christopher Lee]], [[Bernard Cribbens]], and [[Johnny Vegas]].<ref name="BBC Radio Neverwhere 2013">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r522y/profiles/about|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304053426/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r522y/profiles/about|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2013|title=BBC Radio 4 - Neil Gaiman - Neverwhere - About Neverwhere|website=BBC}}</ref>

In September 2014, Gaiman and Terry Pratchett joined forces with BBC Radio 4 to make the first-ever dramatisation of their co-penned novel ''Good Omens'', which was broadcast in December in five half-hour episodes and culminated in an hour-long final apocalyptic showdown.<ref name="Omens"/> In 2021, Gaiman was cast as Duke Aubrey in an adaptation of Hope Mirrlees' ''[[Lud-in-the-Mist]]'', a novel Gaiman had previously proclaimed one of his favourites (and to which he had contributed a foreword for an edition by Cold Spring Press), for BBC Radio 4.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011458|title=BBC Radio 4 - Drama, Lud-in-the-Mist|website=BBC}}</ref>

===Public performances===
Gaiman frequently performs public readings from his stories and poetry, and has toured with his wife, musician [[Amanda Palmer]]. In some of these performances he has also sung songs, in "a novelist's version of singing",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/arts/music/amanda-palmer-takes-connecting-with-her-fans-to-a-new-level.html?pagewanted=all|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=5 June 2012|title=Giving Love, Lots of It, To Her Fans|first=Ben|last=Sisario}}</ref> despite having "no kind of singing voice".<ref>{{citation|journal=[[The Independent]]|title=Amanda Palmer & Neil Gaiman, Queen's Hall, Edinburg|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/amanda-palmer--neil-gaiman-queens-hall-edinburgh-8038697.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/amanda-palmer--neil-gaiman-queens-hall-edinburgh-8038697.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=14 August 2012|first=David|last=Pollack}}</ref>

In 2015, Gaiman delivered a 100-minute lecture for the [[Long Now Foundation]] entitled ''How Stories Last'' about the nature of storytelling and how stories persist in human culture.<ref>[http://longnow.org/seminars/02015/jun/09/how-stories-last/ Neil Gaiman How Stories Last] Filmed on Tuesday 9 June 2015 at The Long Now Foundation. Audio and video available.</ref> In April 2018, Gaiman made a guest appearance on the television show ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', and his tweet about the show's fictional comic book store became the central theme of the episode "The Comet Polarization".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2405962/what-neil-gaiman-did-on-the-big-bang-theory|title=What Neil Gaiman Did On The Big Bang Theory|date=20 April 2018}}</ref>

===Intellectual property disputes===
In 1993, Gaiman was contracted by [[Todd McFarlane]] to write a single issue of ''[[Spawn (character)|Spawn]]'', for [[Image Comics]], which McFarlane had recently co-founded. McFarlane was promoting his new title by having guest authors Gaiman, [[Alan Moore]], [[Frank Miller]], and [[Dave Sim]] each write a single issue.<ref name="oralarg">Listen to the "Oral Argument," [http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fdocs/docs.fwx?caseno=03-1331&submit=showdkt&yr=03&num=1331.PD List of Documents in case: 03-1331 : Gaiman, Neil v. McFarlane, Todd] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020045431/http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fdocs/docs.fwx?caseno=03-1331&submit=showdkt&yr=03&num=1331.PD|date=20 October 2008}}. Retrieved 22 September 2008.</ref><ref name="Shabaz">See also the [http://vlex.com/vid/20111002 official decision by Judge John Shabaz in The United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit Nos. 03–1331, 03–1461] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205043220/http://vlex.com/vid/20111002|date=5 December 2008}}. Retrieved 22 September 2008.</ref>

In issue No. 9 of the series, Gaiman introduced the characters [[Angela (character)|Angela]], [[Cogliostro]], and [[Medieval Spawn]]. Prior to this issue, Spawn was an assassin who worked for the government and came back as a reluctant agent of Hell but had no real direction in his actions. In Angela, a cruel and malicious angel, Gaiman introduced a character who threatened Spawn's existence, as well as providing a moral opposite. Cogliostro was introduced as a mentor character for exposition and instruction, providing guidance. Medieval Spawn introduced a history and precedent that not all Spawns were self-serving or evil, giving additional character development to [[Malebolgia]], the demon that creates Hellspawn.<ref name="oralarg" /><ref name="Shabaz" />

As intended, all three characters were used repeatedly throughout the next decade by Todd McFarlane within the wider ''Spawn'' universe.<ref>See Judge Shabaz's ruling for the legal reasoning: "As a co-owner, McFarlane was not violating the Copyright Act by unilaterally publishing the jointly owned work, but, as in any other case of conversion or misappropriation, he would have to account to the other joint owner for the latter's share of the profits."</ref> In papers filed by Gaiman in early 2002, however, he claimed that the characters were jointly owned by their scripter (himself) and artist (McFarlane), not merely by McFarlane in his role as the creator of the series.<ref name="oralarg" /><ref name="Shabaz" /> Disagreement over who owned the rights to a character was the primary motivation for McFarlane and other artists to form Image Comics (although that argument related more towards disagreements between writers and artists as character creators).<ref>See [[George Khoury (author)|Khoury, George]], ''Image Comics: The Road To Independence'' ([[TwoMorrows Publishing]], 2007), {{ISBN|1-893905-71-3}}</ref> As McFarlane used the characters without Gaiman's permission or royalty payments, Gaiman believed his [[copyright]]ed work was being infringed upon, which violated their original oral agreement. McFarlane initially agreed that Gaiman had not signed away any rights to the characters, and negotiated with Gaiman to effectively "swap" McFarlane's interest in the character [[Marvelman]].<ref>See Judge Shabaz's [http://vlex.com/vid/20111002 ruling] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205043220/http://vlex.com/vid/20111002|date=5 December 2008}}: "A tentative agreement was reached that... Gaiman would exchange his rights in Medieval Spawn and Cogliostro for McFarlane's rights in another comic book character, Miracleman."</ref> McFarlane had purchased an interest in the character when [[Eclipse Comics]] was liquidated while Gaiman was interested in being able to continue his aborted run of the Marvelman title. McFarlane later changed his initial position, claiming that Gaiman's work had only been work-for-hire and that McFarlane owned all of Gaiman's creations entirely. The presiding judge, however, ruled against their agreement being work for hire, based in large part on the legal requirement that "copyright assignments must be in writing."<ref>Judge Shabaz, [http://vlex.com/vid/20111002 Official ruling] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205043220/http://vlex.com/vid/20111002|date=5 December 2008}}, as per "Schiller & Schmidt, Inc. v. Nordisco Corp., 969 F.2d 410, 413 (7th Cir. 1992)"</ref>

The [[United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit|Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals]] upheld the district court ruling in February 2004<ref>{{cite web |last=Yarbrough |first=Beau |date=3 October 2002 |title=Gaiman in Stunning Victory over McFarlane in Spawn Case: Jury Finds for Gaiman on All Counts |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=1513 |access-date=22 September 2008 |website=Comic Book Resources}}</ref> granting joint ownership of the characters to Gaiman and McFarlane. On the specific issue of Cogliostro, presiding Judge [[John C. Shabaz]] proclaimed, "The expressive work that is the comic-book character Count Nicholas Cogliostro was the joint work of Gaiman and McFarlane—their contributions strike us as quite equal—and both are entitled to ownership of the copyright".<ref>See Judge Shabaz's [http://vlex.com/vid/20111002 ruling] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205043220/http://vlex.com/vid/20111002|date=5 December 2008}} for similar statements on Angela and Medieval Spawn.</ref> Similar analysis led to similar results for the other two characters, Angela and Medieval Spawn.

This legal battle was brought by Gaiman and the specifically formed Marvels and Miracles, [[Limited-liability company|LLC]], which Gaiman had previously created to help sort out [[Ownership of Miracleman|the legal rights surrounding Marvelman]]. Gaiman had written ''[[Marvel 1602]] ''in 2003 to help fund this project<ref name="CBR1602">{{cite web |last=Weiland |first=Jonah |date=27 June 2003 |title=Marvel's "1602" Press Conference |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=2308 |access-date=22 September 2008 |website=Comic Book Resources}}</ref> and all of Gaiman's profits for the original issues of the series were donated to Marvels and Miracles.<ref name="CBR1602" /> The rights to Marvelman were subsequently purchased, from original creator [[Mick Anglo]], by Marvel Comics in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Phegley |first=Kiel |date=24 July 2009 |title=CCI: Marvel Acquires Marvelman |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22206 |access-date=24 July 2009 |website=Comic Book Resources}}</ref>

Gaiman returned to court again over the ''Spawn'' characters [[Dark Ages Spawn]], [[Domina (Image Comics)|Domina]], and [[Tiffany (comics)|Tiffany]], claiming that they were "derivative of the three he co-created with McFarlane."<ref>{{cite web |last=Treleven |first=Ed |date=25 May 2010 |title=Gaiman takes on McFarlane in Wis. federal court comic book clash |url=http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_03bae1b4-684e-11df-84dd-001cc4c03286.html |access-date=26 May 2010 |work=[[Wisconsin State Journal]]}}</ref> The judge ruled that Gaiman was right in these claims as well and gave McFarlane until the beginning of September 2010 to settle the matter.<ref>{{cite web |last=Melrose |first=Kevin |date=21 July 2010 |title=Judge rules Dark Ages Spawn, Domina and Tiffany are derivative characters |url=http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/07/judge-rules-dark-ages-spawn-domina-and-tiffany-are-derivative-characters/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819124043/http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/07/judge-rules-dark-ages-spawn-domina-and-tiffany-are-derivative-characters/ |archive-date=19 August 2013 |access-date=31 July 2010 |website=Comic Book Resources}}</ref>

==Sexual assault and misconduct allegations==
In July and August 2024, five women accused Gaiman of sexual assault and abuse. All five were interviewed on the [[Tortoise Media]] podcast ''Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman''. One, using the pseudonym "Claire", was also interviewed by ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref name="Jiménez 2024-09">{{cite news |last=Jiménez |first=Jesus |date=September 26, 2024|title=Production Linked to Neil Gaiman Is Halted Amid Sexual Assault Claims |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/26/business/neil-gaiman-allegations.html |access-date=September 27, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Claire described non-consensual kissing and groping by Gaiman after meeting him at a book tour event, with Gaiman making a $60,000 payment to her in August 2022.<ref name="Jiménez 2024-09" /> A woman identified as "K", who also first met Gaiman at a book signing, said that during their relationship he subjected her to painful sex that she "neither wanted nor enjoyed".<ref name="Vulture" /><ref name="Tortoise Media 2024-07">{{Cite web |last1=Caruana Galizia |first1=Paul |last2=Johnson |first2=Rachel |date=July 3, 2024 |title=Exclusive: Neil Gaiman accused of sexual assault |url=https://www.tortoisemedia.com/2024/07/03/exclusive-neil-gaiman-accused-of-sexual-assault/ |website=[[Tortoise Media]]}}</ref>

Scarlett Pavlovich, a former nanny for Gaiman and Palmer's child, alleges that Gaiman sexually assaulted her within hours of their first meeting in February 2022.<ref name="Tortoise Media 2024-07" /> Pavlovich recalled that he said "Amanda told me I couldn't have you" after the assault; according to one of Palmer's friends, Palmer had previously told Gaiman "You could really hurt this person and break her; keep your hands off of her". Pavlovich said that Gaiman had [[anal sex]] with her in the presence of his son.<ref name="Vulture" />

Caroline Wallner, a former tenant of Gaiman's named, alleges that he demanded sexual favours in exchange for being allowed to continue living on his property.<ref name="Vulture" /><ref name="Tortoise Media 2024-08">{{Cite web |last1=Caruana Galizia |first1=Paul |last2=Johnson |first2=Rachel |date=2024-08-01 |title=Exclusive: Two more women accuse Neil Gaiman of sexual assault and abuse |url=https://www.tortoisemedia.com/2024/08/01/exclusive-two-more-women-accuse-neil-gaiman-of-sexual-assault-and-abuse/ |website=[[Tortoise Media]]}}</ref> Wallner says that on one occasion, Gaiman grabbed her hand and placed it on his penis while his young son was asleep in the same bed.<ref name="Vulture" /> In 2021, Wallner, her ex-husband, and Gaiman signed a [[non-disclosure agreement]] (NDA), and Gaiman paid Wallner {{USD|275000|long=no}}. In early 2025, Gaiman and Wallner both requested [[arbitration]], the dispute resolution method mandated by the NDA, each accusing the other of violating the agreement.<ref name="Vulture.com Apr 2025">{{Cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Lila |date=April 21, 2025 |title=Neil Gaiman Seeks $500,000 From Accuser Caroline Wallner |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/neil-gaiman-nda-caroline-wallner.html |access-date=April 23, 2025 |website=[[Vulture.com|Vulture]] |language=en}}</ref>

The writer [[Julia Hobsbawm]] accused Gaiman of "an aggressive, unwanted pass" and described how Gaiman pushed her onto a sofa and [[French kiss]]ed her in 1986.<ref name="Tortoise Media 2024-08" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-08-01 |title=Mehrere Frauen erheben Vorwürfe gegen »Sandman«-Autor Neil Gaiman |url=https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/literatur/sandman-autor-neil-gaiman-immer-mehr-frauen-erheben-vorwuerfe-a-9653c1a8-d272-45ec-8ac4-620d0ca1c6a8 |website=[[Der Spiegel]] |language=de}}</ref>

In September 2024, [[Disney]] halted production on the film adaptation of ''The Graveyard Book'' due to a variety of factors, including the sexual assault allegations against Gaiman.<ref>{{cite web |last=Blauvelt |first=Christian |date=September 4, 2024 |title=Disney Pauses Neil Gaiman's 'The Graveyard Book' Adaptation in Wake of Sexual Assault Allegations — Exclusive |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/breaking-news/neil-gaiman-film-the-graveyard-book-sexual-assault-claims-1235043606/ |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shanahan |first1=Mark |date=September 5, 2024 |title=Amid allegations against Neil Gaiman, Disney postpones 'The Graveyard Book' adaptation |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/09/05/arts/neil-gaiman-sexual-allegations-disney-graveyard-book-movie/ |access-date=September 9, 2024 |work=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref><ref name="Jiménez 2024-09" /> That same month, production on season three of [[Good Omens (TV series)|''Good Omens'']] was put on hold; Gaiman ultimately left the project in October.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rice |first=Lynette |date=2024-09-09 |title='Good Omens': Production Paused On Amazon Drama From Neil Gaiman |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/good-omens-production-paused-on-amazon-drama-neil-gaiman-1236082924/ |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Peter |date=24 October 2024 |title='Good Omens' To End With One 90-Minute Episode As Neil Gaiman Exits Following Sexual Assault Allegations |url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/good-omens-to-end-90-minute-episode-neil-gaiman-exits-1236157372/ |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

In January 2025 [[New York (magazine)|''New York'' magazine]] published a cover story detailing the allegations against Gaiman. This article, which was published online on ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'', included interviews with four of the women who had previously spoken to Tortoise Media, as well as four more women.<ref name="Vulture" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Cobb |first=Kayla |date=January 13, 2025 |title=Neil Gaiman Accused of Sexual Misconduct by 4 More Women |url=https://www.thewrap.com/neil-gaiman-new-sexual-misconduct-allegations/ |access-date=January 13, 2025 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref> Later the same month, [[Dark Horse Comics]] announced that they would cut ties with Gaiman over the allegations, including cancelling his ongoing comic adaptation of ''Anansi Boys''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=William |date=January 25, 2025 |title=Dark Horse Comics dumps Neil Gaiman, cancels Anansi Boys adaptation |url=https://www.avclub.com/dark-horse-cuts-ties-neil-gaiman-abuse-allegations |access-date=January 25, 2025 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Gaiman was also dropped as a client by his agent Casarotto Ramsay.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kanter |first=Jake |date=January 30, 2025 |title=Neil Gaiman Scrubbed From Agent Casarotto Ramsay's Client List After Sexual Misconduct Allegations |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/neil-gaiman-dropped-agent-casarotto-ramsay-sexual-misconduct-claims-1236272049/ |access-date=January 31, 2025 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2025, Scarlett Pavlovich filed three federal lawsuits in the US that alleged human trafficking under the [[Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000|Trafficking Victims Protection Act]], alongside formal allegations of sexual assault and coercion. One named Gaiman and Palmer as co-defendants and two were against Palmer alone, seeking at least {{US$|7}}{{nbsp}}million in damages.<ref name="Vulture.com Feb 2025">{{Cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Lila |date=February 3, 2025 |title=Neil Gaiman Accused of Human Trafficking, Sexual Abuse in New Lawsuit |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/neil-gaiman-human-trafficking-amanda-palmer-lawsuit.html |access-date=February 4, 2025 |website=[[Vulture.com|Vulture]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2025 |title=Woman's lawsuits say sci-fi author Neil Gaiman repeatedly sexually assaulted her |url=https://apnews.com/article/neil-gaiman-federal-lawsuits-sexual-assault-59c66061118e47af9ee8a6b94900ef46 |access-date=February 5, 2025 |work=[[Associated Press News]] |language=en |last=Richmond |first=Todd}}</ref> In his response to the lawsuit, Gaiman claimed that the American court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case because the alleged assaults happened in New Zealand, and asked for the case to be dismissed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/05/neil-gaiman-asks-us-court-to-dismiss-lawsuit-alleging-and-sexual-assault |title=Neil Gaiman asks US court to dismiss lawsuit alleging rape and sexual assault |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |first=Ella |last=Creamer |date=5 March 2025}}</ref> Gaiman also accused Pavlovich of lying, presenting text messages in which she appeared to confirm that no sexual abuse had taken place, and claimed that police in New Zealand had already investigated her claims and found them to be false.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y07w7nyxzo.amp |title=Neil Gaiman says nanny's allegations are 'a sham' |newspaper=[[BBC News]] |date=5 March 2025}}</ref>

Gaiman has denied engaging in non-consensual sex, and dismissed Hobsbawm's allegations as his misreading of the situation.<ref name="Tortoise Media 2024-08" /><ref name=":2" /> Gaiman's representatives claim that Wallner initiated their sexual encounters and that none of these occurred in the presence of Gaiman's child.<ref name="Vulture" /> In a blog post responding to coverage of the allegations against him, Gaiman said there were "moments I half-recognise and moments I don't". He denies engaging in any non-consensual sexual activity, but said he could have "done so much better" and was "trying to do the work needed".<ref>{{cite web |last=Gaiman |first=Neil |title=Breaking the Silence |url=https://journal.neilgaiman.com/2025/01/breaking-silence.html |access-date=14 January 2025 |work=Neil Gaiman Journal |date=January 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114164831/https://journal.neilgaiman.com/2025/01/breaking-silence.html |archive-date=January 14, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Blair |first=Elizabeth |title=Neil Gaiman has responded to sexual misconduct allegations |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/14/nx-s1-5259516/neil-gaiman-response-sexual-misconduct-allegations|date=January 14, 2025 |access-date=January 14, 2025|work=[[NPR]] }}</ref><ref name="Egan Alter 2025-01">{{cite web |last1=Egan |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Alter |first2=Alexandra|date=January 15, 2025|title=Neil Gaiman Responds to Explosive Report of Sexual Assault |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/books/neil-gaiman-responds-sexual-assault-allegations.html?searchResultPosition=1 |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

==Artistic work==
===Bibliography===
{{Main|Neil Gaiman bibliography}}

===Literary allusions===
Gaiman's work is known for its use of [[allusion]]s.<ref>See particularly Rodney Sharkey, James Fleming, and Zuleyha Cetiner-Oktem's articles in ''ImageTexT''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> [http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v4_1/#Articles special issue] on Gaiman's work.</ref> Meredith Collins, for instance, has commented upon the degree to which his novel ''[[Stardust (Gaiman novel)|Stardust]]'' depends on allusions to Victorian fairy tales and culture.<ref>Collins, Meredith. [http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v4_1/collins/ "Fairy and Faerie: Uses of the Victorian in Neil Gaiman's and Charles Vess's Stardust"] ''ImageTexT'' 4.1.</ref> In ''The Sandman'', literary figures and characters appear often; the character of Fiddler's Green is modeled on [[G. K. Chesterton]], and both [[William Shakespeare]] and [[Geoffrey Chaucer]] appear as characters, as do several characters from ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''<ref>See this [http://www.satt.org/comic/02_10_faery_1.html detailed analysis].</ref> and ''[[The Tempest]]''. The comic also draws from numerous mythologies.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Analyzing Gaiman's ''[[The Graveyard Book]]'', bibliographer and librarian [[Richard Bleiler]] detects patterns of and allusions to the Gothic novel, from [[Horace Walpole]]'s ''[[The Castle of Otranto]]'' to [[Shirley Jackson]]'s ''[[The Haunting of Hill House]]''. He concludes that Gaiman is "utilizing works, characters, themes, and settings that generations of scholars have identified and classified as Gothic... [yet] subverts them and develops the novel by focusing on the positive aspects of maturation, concentrating on the values of learning, friendship, and sacrifice."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bleiler|first1=Richard|editor1-last=Olson|editor1-first=Danel|title=21st Century Gothic: Great Gothic Novels Since 2000|date=2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Plymouth, UK|isbn=9780810877283|pages=269–278|edition=1st|chapter=Raised by the Dead: The Maturational Gothic of Neil Gaiman's _The Graveyard Book_}}</ref> Regarding another work's assumed connection and allusions to this form, Gaiman himself quipped: "I've never been able to figure out whether ''Sandman'' is a gothic."<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Olson|first1=Danel|title=Casket Letters: The Essential Comics of Horror, Gothic, and the Weird for 2014|journal=The Weird Fiction Review|date=2014|volume=5|pages=285–291}}</ref>

Clay Smith has argued that this sort of allusiveness serves to situate Gaiman as a strong authorial presence in his own works, often to the exclusion of his collaborators.<ref>Smith, Clay. [https://imagetextjournal.com/get-gaiman-polymorpheus-perversity-in-works-by-and-about-neil-gaiman/ "Get Gaiman?: PolyMorpheus Perversity in Works by and about Neil Gaiman]" ''ImageTexT'' 4.1.</ref> However, Smith's viewpoint is in the minority: to many, if there is a problem with Gaiman's scholarship and intertextuality it is that "... his literary merit and vast popularity have propelled him into the nascent comics canon so quickly that there is not yet a basis of critical scholarship about his work."<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v4_1/introduction.shtml |title=A Special Issue on the Works of Neil Gaiman, Introduction |volume=4 |issue=1 |journal=English.ufl.edu |access-date=26 July 2011 |year=2008 |last1=Sandifer |first1=Philip |last2=Eklund |first2=Tof |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728061227/http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v4_1/introduction.shtml |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

David Rudd takes a more generous view in his study of the novel ''[[Coraline]]'', where he argues that the work plays and riffs productively on [[Sigmund Freud]]'s concept of ''[[Unheimlich]]'' ("the Uncanny").<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://digitalcommons.bolton.ac.uk/emcs_journals/1/ |title=An Eye for an 'I': Neil Gaiman's Coraline and the Question of Identity |last=Rudd |first=David |journal=Children's Literature in Education |volume=39 |number=3 |year=2008 |pages=159–168 |doi=10.1007/s10583-008-9067-7 |s2cid=144285798 |access-date=28 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928032720/http://digitalcommons.bolton.ac.uk/emcs_journals/1/ |archive-date=28 September 2008 }}</ref>

Though Gaiman's work is frequently seen as exemplifying the [[monomyth]] structure laid out in [[Joseph Campbell]]'s ''[[The Hero with a Thousand Faces]]'',<ref>See Stephen Rauch, ''Neil Gaiman's The Sandman and Joseph Campbell: In Search of the Modern Myth'', Wildside Press, 2003</ref> Gaiman says that he started reading ''The Hero with a Thousand Faces'' but refused to finish it: "I think I got about halfway through ''The Hero with a Thousand Faces'' and found myself thinking if this is true – I don't want to know. I really would rather not know this stuff. I'd rather do it because it's true and because I accidentally wind up creating something that falls into this pattern than be told what the pattern is."<ref>{{cite web |last=Ogline |first=Tim E. |url=http://www.wildriverreview.com/worldvoices-neilgaiman.php |title=The Wild River Review, "Interview with the Dream King" |work=Wildriverreview.com |access-date=26 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718061508/http://www.wildriverreview.com/worldvoices-neilgaiman.php |archive-date=18 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Awards and honours==

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Awards for Neil Gaiman
|-
! Work !! Year & Award!!Category !!Result !! Ref.
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[Ghastly Beyond Belief]]''
''(with [[Kim Newman]])''
|1986 [[Locus Award]]
|Non-Fiction/Reference
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfadb.com/Locus_Awards | title=Sfadb : Locus Awards }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[Violent Cases]]''
''(with [[Dave McKean]])''
|1988 [[Eagle Awards]]
|Favourite Comic Album-British Section
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |''[[Good Omens]]''
''(with [[Terry Pratchett]])''
|1991 Locus Award
|Fantasy Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|1990 HOMer Award
|Fantasy Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfadb.com/HOMer_Awards_1991 | title=Sfadb: HOMer Awards 1991 }}</ref>
|-
|1991 [[World Fantasy Award]]
|Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2000 [[Premio Ignotus]]
|Foreign Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2012 [[FantLab's Book of the Year Award]]
|Translated Novel/Collection
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2023 [[Audie Awards]]
|Fantasy
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2023 Audie Awards
|Audio Drama
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[Good Omens (TV series)|Good Omens]]'' (TV Series)
|2020 [[Hugo Award]]
|Dramatic Presentation - Long Form
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[Good Omens (TV series)|Good Omens]]'' (TV Series), Ep: "Hard Times"
|2020 [[Ray Bradbury Award]]
|
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="12" |''The Sandman''
|1989 Eagle Awards
|Favourite Writer - American Section
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|1990 Eagle Awards
|Favourite Writer - American Section
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|1991 [[Harvey Awards]]
|Best Writer
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|1991 [[Eisner Awards]]
|Best Writer
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|1991 Eisner Awards
|Continuing Series
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|1992 Harvey Awards
|Best Writer
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|1992 Eisner Awards
|Continuing Series
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|1993 Harvey Awards
|Continuing or Limited Series
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|1993 Eisner Awards
|Continuing Series
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|1993 [[Bram Stoker Award]]
|Other Media
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|1996 Eisner Awards
|Best Writer
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2021 [[British Book Awards]]
|Audiobook of the Year
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[The Sandman (TV series)|The Sandman]]'' (TV series)
|2023 [[Dragon Awards]]
|Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[The Sandman (TV series)|The Sandman]]'' (TV Series: Season One) (as writer)
|2023 Ray Bradbury Award
|
|{{CFinalist}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Sandman: The Doll's House''
|1991 Eisner Awards
|Graphic Album: Reprint
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[The Sandman: Dream Country|The Sandman: A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''
''(with [[Charles Vess]])''
|1991 World Fantasy Award
|Short Fiction
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Sandman'', ''Books of Magic'' & ''Miracleman''
|1992 Eisner Awards
|Best Writer
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Sandman: Season of Mists''
|2004 [[Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for Scenario]]
|
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Sandman: Seasons of Mist (#22 - #28)''
|1992 Eisner Awards
|Single Issue/One-Shot
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Miracleman'' & ''The Sandman''
|1993 Eisner Awards
|Best Writer
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Sandman #39: Soft Places''
|1993 Eisner Awards
|Single Issue/One-Shot
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Sandman #40: The Parliament of Rooks''
|1993 Eisner Awards
|Single Issue/One-Shot
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Signal to Noise''
''(with Dave McKean)''
|1993 Eisner Awards
|Graphic Album: New
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Sandman'' & ''Death: The High Cost of Living''
|1994 Eisner Awards
|Best Writer
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |''[[Death: The Time of Your Life]]''
|1997 [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book]]
|
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|1997 Eisner Awards
|Best Writer
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Sandman #50: Ramadan''
|1994 Eisner Awards
|Single Issue/One-Shot
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Troll Bridge''
|1994 World Fantasy Award
|Short Fiction
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[Angels and Visitations]]''
|1994 World Fantasy Award
|Collection
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Sandman: World's End''
|1996 [[British Fantasy Award]]
|Anthology/Collection
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |''[[The Sandman: Book of Dreams]]''
''(with [[Edward E. Kramer]])''
|1996 [[International Horror Guild Award]]
|Anthology
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|1997 British Fantasy Award
|Anthology/Collection
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Sandman #75: The Tempest''
|1997 Eisner Awards
|Single Issue/One-Shot
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |''[[Smoke and Mirrors (Gaiman book)|Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions]]''
|1998 [[Bram Stoker Award]]
|Fiction Collection
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|1999 SF Site Readers Poll
|SF/Fantasy
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfadb.com/SF_Site_Readers_Poll_1999 | title=Sfadb: SF Site Readers Poll 1999 }}</ref>
|-
|1999 Locus Award
|Collection
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2002 [[Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire]]
|Foreign Short story/Collection of Foreign Short Stories
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ay.cgi?25+2002 | title=2002 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire }}</ref>
|-
|2004 [[Geffen Award]]
|Fantasy
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |''[[Neverwhere (novel)|Neverwhere]]''
|1998 [[Mythopoeic Awards]]
|Adult Literature
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|1999 SF Site Readers Poll
|SF/Fantasy
|{{nom|4th Place}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfadb.com/SF_Site_Readers_Poll_1999 | title=Sfadb: SF Site Readers Poll 1999 }}</ref>
|-
|2008 Audie Awards
|Narration by the Author
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Sandman: The Wake''
|1998 British Fantasy Award
|Anthology/Collection
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |''[[The Sandman: The Dream Hunters]]''
|1999 Bram Stoker Award
|Illustrated Narrative
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2000 Locus Award
|Art Book
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2000 Eisner Award
|Comics-Related Book
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2000 [[Hugo Award]]
|Related Work
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Goliath''
|1999 HOMer Award
|Short Story
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfadb.com/HOMer_Awards_2000 | title=Sfadb: HOMer Awards 2000 }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="5" |''[[Stardust (Neil Gaiman novel)|Stardust]]''
|1999 Locus Award
|Fantasy Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|1999 Locus Award
|Art Book
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|1999 Mythopoeic Awards
|Adult Literature
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2000 Geffen Award
|Fantasy
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2000 [[Alex Awards]]
|
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Shoggoth's Old Peculiar''
|1999 World Fantasy Award
|Short Fiction
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[The Books of Magic]]''
|1999 [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book]]
|
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="15" |''[[American Gods]]''
|2001 International Horror Guild Award
|Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://horroraward.org/prevrec.html | title=International Horror Guild }}</ref>
|-
|2001 [[BSFA Award]]
|Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2001 Bram Stoker Award
|Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2002 Locus Award
|Fantasy Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2002 Mythopoeic Awards
|Adult Literature
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2002 Hugo Award
|Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2002 British Fantasy Award
|August Derleth Award
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfadb.com/British_Fantasy_Awards_2002 | title=Sfadb: British Fantasy Awards 2002 }}</ref>
|-
|2002 World Fantasy Award
|Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2002 SF Site Readers Poll
|SF/Fantasy
|{{nom|3rd Place}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfadb.com/SF_Site_Readers_Poll_2002 | title=Sfadb: SF Site Readers Poll 2002 }}</ref>
|-
|2003 [[Nebula Award]]
|Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2003 Italia Awards
|International Novel
|{{nom|2nd Place}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fantascienza.com/italcon/albo_premio_italia.php?anno=2003 | title=Italcon &#124; Premio Italia }}</ref>
|-
|2003 [[Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire]]
|Foreign Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ay.cgi?25+2003 | title=2003 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire }}</ref>
|-
|2003 Geffen Award
|Fantasy
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2012 Audie Award
|Audiobook of the Year
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2012 Audie Awards
|Fiction
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Complete American Gods''
|2022 Eisner Awards
|Graphic Album: Reprint
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="14" |''[[Coraline]]''
''(with [[Dave McKean]])''
|2002 International Horror Guild Award
|Long Form
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2002 Bram Stoker Award
|Work for Young Readers
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2002 Bram Stoker Award
|Long Fiction
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2002 BSFA Award
|Short Fiction
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2003 Mythopoeic Awards
|Children's Literature
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2003 World Fantasy Award
|Novella
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2003 Hugo Award
|Novella
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2003 Locus Award
|Young Adult Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2003 Audie Awards
|Middle Grade Title
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2003 SF Site Readers Poll
|SF/Fantasy
|{{nom|8th Place}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfadb.com/SF_Site_Readers_Poll_2003 | title=Sfadb: SF Site Readers Poll 2003 }}</ref>
|-
|2004 Nebula Award
|Novella
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2009 Eisner Awards
|Publication for Teens
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2023 Audie Awards
|Audio Drama
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2023 Audie Awards
|Middle Grade Title
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Coraline: The Graphic Novel''
''(with [[P. Craig Russell]])''
|2009 Locus Award
|Non-Fiction/Art Book
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |''[[The Wolves in the Walls]]''
''(with Dave McKean)''
|2003 International Horror Guild Award
|Illustrated Narrative
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2003 Bram Stoker Award
|Work for Young Readers
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2003 BSFA Award
|Short Fiction
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2004 Locus Award
|Non-Fiction/Art
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2005 [[Hampshire Book Awards]]
|Illustrated Book Award
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |''[[The Sandman: Endless Nights]]''
|2003 International Horror Guild Award
|Illustrated Narrative
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2003 Bram Stoker Award
|Illustrated Narrative
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2004 Eisner Awards
|Anthology
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2004 Locus Award
|Non-Fiction/Art
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Death and Venice'' (in ''The Sandman: Endless Nights'')
''(with [[P. Craig Russell]])''
|2004 Eisner Awards
|Short Story
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |''October in the Chair''
|2003 World Fantasy Award
|Short Fiction
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2003 Locus Award
|Short Story
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''A Walking Tour of the Shambles''
''(with Randy Broecker)''
|2003 Locus Award
|Novelette
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Murder Mysteries''
|2003 [[Gaylactic Spectrum Awards]]
|Other Work - Comic Book
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.spectrumawards.org/2003.htm#bestcomic | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714225358/http://www.spectrumawards.org/2003.htm#bestcomic | archive-date=14 July 2015 | title=Parked Domain name on Hostinger DNS system }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |''[[A Study in Emerald]]''
|2004 Hugo Award
|Short Story
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2004 Locus Award
|Novelette
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Bitter Grounds''
|2004 Locus Award
|Novelette
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Closing Time''
|2004 Locus Award
|Short Story
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Monarch of the Glen''
|2004 Locus Award
|Novelette
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Night of Dread Desire''
|2005 Locus Award
|Short Story
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Marvel 1602, Volume 1''
|2005 [[Quill Award]]
|Graphic Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Price'' (in ''Creatures in the Night'')
|2005 Eisner Award
|Short Story
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Neil Gaiman Audio Collection''
|2005 Audie Awards
|Young Listeners' Title
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Problem of Susan''
|2005 [[British Fantasy Award]]
|Short Fiction
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |''[[Anansi Boys]]''
|2006 Alex Awards
|
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2006 Locus Award
|Fantasy Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2006 Mythopoeic Awards
|Adult Literature
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2006 British Fantasy Award
|August Derleth Award
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2006 Geffen Award
|Fantasy
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2006 SF Site Readers Poll
|SF/Fantasy
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfadb.com/SF_Site_Readers_Poll_2006 | title=Sfadb: SF Site Readers Poll 2006 }}</ref>
|-
|2007 [[Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire]]
|Foreign Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ay.cgi?25+2007 | title=2007 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Sunbird''
|2006 Locus Award
|Short Story
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="6" |''[[Fragile Things]]''
|2007 Audie Awards
|Short Stories or Collections
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2007 Locus Award
|Collection
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2007 SF Site Readers Poll
|SF/Fantasy
|{{nom|6th Place}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfadb.com/SF_Site_Readers_Poll_2007 | title=Sfadb: SF Site Readers Poll 2007 }}</ref>
|-
|2007 British Fantasy Award
|Collection
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2008 [[FantLab's Book of the Year Award]]
|Novel/Collection
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2010 [[Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire]]
|Foreign Short story/Collection of Foreign Short Stories
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |''[[How to Talk to Girls at Parties]]''
|2007 Locus Award
|Short Story
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2007 Hugo Award
|Short Story
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |''Absolute Sandman, Vol. 1''
|2007 Eisner Awards
|Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2007 [[Eagle Awards]]
|Favourite Reprint Compilation
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Absolute Sandman Vol. 2''
|2008 Eagle Awards
|Favourite Reprint Compilation
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="24" |''[[The Graveyard Book]]''
|2008 [[Cybils Award]]
|Speculative Fiction: Elementary and Middle Grade
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2008 ''[[Los Angeles Times Book Prize]]''
|Young Adult Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2008 Black Quill Award
|Dark Genre Novel of the Year
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.darkscribemagazine.com/2nd-annual-nominees/ | title=Dark Scribe Magazine - 2nd Annual - Nominees }}</ref>
|-
|2008 The Dracula Society
|Children of the Night Award
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thedraculasociety.org.uk/the-children-of-the-night-award.html | title=The Children of the Night Award }}</ref>
|-
|2009 FantLab's Book of the Year Award
|Novel/Collection
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2009 Thumbs Up! Award
|
|{{sho|Honor}}
|<ref>{{cite web | title=MLA Thumbs Up! Award - Winner history | publisher=Michigan Library Association (MLA) | url=https://www.milibraries.org/assets/docs/MLA%20Thumbs%20Up%20Winner%20History%20v2022.pdf | access-date=2025-07-30}}</ref>
|-
|2009 [[Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award]]
|
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2009 [[Newbery Medal]]
|
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2009 World Fantasy Award
|Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2009 Hugo Award
|Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2009 Mythopoeic Awards
|Children's Literature
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2009 [[Indies Choice Book Awards]]
|Indie Young Adult Buzz Book/Fiction
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2009 Locus Award
|Young Adult Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2009 British Fantasy Award
|August Derleth Award
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?Year=2009 | title=2009 Award Winners & Nominees }}</ref>
|-
|2009 SF Site Readers Poll
|SF/Fantasy
|{{nom|6th Place}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfadb.com/SF_Site_Readers_Poll_2009 | title=Sfadb: SF Site Readers Poll 2009 }}</ref>
|-
|2009 [[Audie Awards]]
|Audiobook of the Year
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2009 Audie Awards
|Middle Grade Title
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2009 [[Booktrust Teenage Prize]]
|
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2010 Arkansas Teen Book Award
|Grades 7-9
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | title=Arkansas Teen Book Award - Level 1 Grades 7 - Reading list 2010 | url=https://library.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/artba-reading-list-2010.pdf | access-date=2025-08-28}}</ref>
|-
|2010 [[Hampshire Book Awards]]
|Book Award
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2010 [[Carnegie Medal for Writing]]
|
|{{Won}}
|<ref name="Neil Gaiman wins Carnegie medal">{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jun/24/neil-gaiman-carnegie-graveyard-book | title=Neil Gaiman wins Carnegie medal | work=The Guardian | date=24 June 2010 | last1=Flood | first1=Alison }}</ref>
|-
|2010 Kentucky Bluegrass Award
|Grades 6-8
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite web | title=Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle | website=Kentucky Association of School Librarians | url=https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle | access-date=2025-07-29}}</ref>
|-
|2011 Evergreen Book Awards
|
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.evergreenbookaward.org/past-winners-booktalks | title=Evergreen Book Award - Past Winners & Booktalks }}</ref>
|-
|2015 Audie Awards
|Middle Grade Title
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Witch's Headstone''
|2008 Locus Award
|Novelette
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[InterWorld]]''
''(with [[Michael Reaves]])''
|2008 Audie Awards
|Young Adult Title
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[M Is for Magic|M is for Magic]]''
|2008 Audie Awards
|Young Adult Title
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |''[[Odd and the Frost Giants]]''
''(with [[Brett Helquist]])''
|2009 [[Cybils Award]]
|Speculative Fiction: Elementary and Middle Grade
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2009 World Fantasy Award
|Novella
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2010 Audie Awards
|Narration by the Author
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2013 FantLab's Book of the Year Award
|Translated Novella or Short Story
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |''Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?''
''(with [[Andy Kubert]])''
|2009 [[Goodreads Choice Awards]]
|Graphic Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2010 Hugo Award
|Graphic Story
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2010 British Fantasy Award
|Comic/Graphic Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[Blueberry Girl]]''
''(with [[Charles Vess]])''
|2009 Goodreads Choice Awards
|Picture Book
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''An Invocation of Incuriosity''
|2010 Locus Award
|Short Story
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |''Stories: All New Tales''
''(with [[Al Sarrantonio]])''
|2011 [[Shirley Jackson Award]]
|Anthology
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2011 World Fantasy Award
|Anthology
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2011 Audie Awards
|Short Stories or Collections
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2013 FantLab's Book of the Year Award
|Anthology
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |''Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains''
|2011 Shirley Jackson Award
|Novelette
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2011 Locus Award
|Novelette
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2013 FantLab's Book of the Year Award
|Translated Novella or Short Story
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2015 [[Publishing Innovation Award]]
|Ebook - Fixed Format/Enhanced: Adult Fiction
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2019 [[Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire]]
|Foreign Short story/Collection of Foreign Short Stories
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Instructions''
''(with [[Charles Vess]])''
|2011 Locus Award
|Art Book
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Thing About Cassandra''
|2011 Locus Award
|Short Story
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''[[Crazy Hair]]''
|2011 [[Hampshire Book Awards]]
|Illustrated Book Award
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |''Doctor Who'': "[[The Doctor's Wife]]" (as writer)
''(with [[Richard Clark (director)|Richard Clark]])''
|2012 [[Ray Bradbury Award]]
|
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2012 Hugo Award
|Dramatic Presentation - Short Form
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''And Weep Like Alexander''
|2012 Locus Award
|Short Story
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |''The Case of Death and Honey''
|2012 Locus Award
|Short Story
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2012 [[Anthony Awards]]
|Short Story
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2012 [[Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Short Story|Edgar Allan Poe Award]]
|Short Story
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2013 Crime Writers Association
|Short Story Dagger
|{{sho}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thecwa.co.uk/past-winners/the-case-of-death-and-honey/ | title=The Case of Death and Honey }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |''Fortunately, the Milk''
|2013 Goodreads Choice Awards
|Middle Grade & Children's
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-childrens-books-2013 | title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Middle Grade & Children's! }}</ref>
|-
|2014 FantLab's Book of the Year Award
|Translated Novella/Short Story
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury''
|2013 FantLab's Book of the Year Award
|Translated Novella or Short Story
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="15" |''[[The Ocean at the End of the Lane]]''
|2013 [[British Book Awards]]
|Book of the Year
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2013 British Book Awards
|Audiobook of the Year
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2013 Goodreads Choice Awards
|Fantasy
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-fantasy-books-2013 | title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Fantasy! }}</ref>
|-
|2013 [[Not the Booker Prize]]
|
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2014 FantLab's Book of the Year Award
|Translated Novel/Collection by Foreign Writer
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2014 Locus Award
|Fantasy Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2014 British Fantasy Award
|Robert Holdstock Award
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?Year=2014 | title=2014 Award Winners & Nominees }}</ref>
|-
|2014 Mythopoeic Awards
|Adult Literature
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2014 World Fantasy Award
|Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2014 Nebula Award
|Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2014 Audie Awards
|Fiction
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2014 Audie Awards
|Narration by the Author
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2015 [[Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire]]
|Foreign Novel
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ay.cgi?25+2015 | title=2015 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire }}</ref>
|-
|2015 Geffen Award
|Fantasy
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2018 Goodreads Choice Awards
|Best of the Best
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-of-the-best-2018 | title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best of the Best! }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" |''The Sleeper and the Spindle''
|2014 Locus Award
|Novelette
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2016 Audie Award
|Young Adult Title
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2016 Audie Award
|Audio Drama
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Unnatural Creatures''
|2014 Locus Award
|Anthology
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |''[[Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances]]''
|2015 Goodreads Choice Awards
|Fantasy
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-fantasy-books-2015 | title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Fantasy! }}</ref>
|-
|2016 Locus Award
|Collection
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |''[[The Sandman: Overture]]''
''(with [[Dave Stewart (artist)|Dave Stewart]] & [[J. H. Williams III]])''
|2015 Goodreads Choice Awards
|Graphic Novels & Comics
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-graphic-novels-comics-2015 | title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Graphic Novels & Comics! }}</ref>
|-
|2016 Hugo Award
|Graphic Story
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2016 [[World Fantasy Special Award—Professional]]
|
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2016 [[Dragon Awards]]
|Graphic Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Black Dog''
|2016 Locus Award
|Novelette
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |''The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction''
|2016 Goodreads Choice Awards
|Non-Fiction
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-nonfiction-books-2016 | title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Nonfiction! }}</ref>
|-
|2017 Hugo Award
|Related Work
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2017 Audie Awards
|Narration by the Author
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2017 Locus Award
|Non-Fiction
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="6" |''[[Norse Mythology (book)|Norse Mythology]]''
|2017 Goodreads Choice Awards
|Fantasy
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-fantasy-books-2017 | title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Fantasy! }}</ref>
|-
|2018 British Fantasy Award
|Collection
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2018 Audie Awards
|Narration by the Author
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2018 Locus Award
|Collection
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2020 [[Tähtifantasia Award]]
|
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2021 [[Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award]]
|Graphic Novel or Collection
|{{sho|Honorable Mention}}
|<ref>{{cite web | title=Here are the winners of the (Gasp!) 20th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror awards – The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards | website=rondoaward.com | url=https://rondoaward.com/rondoaward.com/blog/?p=1270 | access-date=2025-08-28}}</ref>
|-

| rowspan="1" |''The Mushroom Hunters''
|2018 [[Rhysling Award]]
|Long Poem
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |''Cinnamon''
|2019 Hampshire Books Awards
|Illustrated Book Award
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |''[[Snow, Glass, Apples]]''
|2019 Bram Stoker Award
|Graphic Novel
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2020 Eisner Awards
|Adaption from Another Medium
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |''The Sandman: Act II''
|2022 British Book Awards
|Fiction Audiobook of the Year
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|2022 Audie Awards
|Fantasy
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |''Chivalry''
''(with Colleen Doran)''
|2023 Locus Award
|Illustrated and Art Book
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2023 Eisner Awards
|Adaptation from Another Medium
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2023 Excelsior Award
|Red (14 years old & up)
|{{sho}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.excelsioraward.co.uk/shortlists-2023 | title=Shortlists 2023 }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="1" |
|1991 [[Inkpot Award]]
|
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |
|1993 [[Adamson Awards]]
|
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |
|2002 [[National Comics Awards]]
|Writer in Comics
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |
|2003 National Comics Awards
|Best Comics Writer Ever
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |
|2004 Eagle Awards
|Roll of Honour
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |
|2007 [[List of Eisner Award winners|Eisner Awards]]
|Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award
|{{Won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |
|2007 Comic-Con Icon Award
|
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.comic-con.org/awards/icon-award | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823033331/http://www.comic-con.org/awards/icon-award | archive-date=23 August 2013 | title=Icon Award &#124; Comic-Con International: San Diego | work=Comic-Con International: San Diego }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="1" |
|2015 [[James Joyce Award]]
|
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://journal.neilgaiman.com/2015/02/ | title=Neil Gaiman's Journal }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="1" |
|2018 [[New Academy Prize in Literature]]
|
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
| rowspan="1" |
|2020 Forry Award
|Lifetime Achievement
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lasfs.org/the-forry-awards/ | title=The Forry Awards }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="1" |
|2023 [[St. Louis Literary Award]]
|
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|}
'''Note:''' Gaiman's Carnegie Medal win for ''The Graveyard Book'' made him the first author to have won both the Carnegie & Newbery Medals for the same work.<ref name="Neil Gaiman wins Carnegie medal"/>

;Other Awards & Honours
* 3- time winner (1991/1992/1993) of the [[Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards]] for "Favorite Writer".
* 3-time (1992/1993/1994) winner of the [[Don Thompson Awards]] for "Best Achievement by a Writer".
* 1997 [[Comic Book Legal Defense Fund]] Defender of Liberty award<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/Cool_Stuff/Essays/Essays_About_Neil/Neil_Gaiman_and_Comics |title=Cool Stuff &#124; Essays &#124; Essays About Neil &#124; Neil Gaiman and Comics |work=Neilgaiman.com |access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref>
* 2005 The [[William Shatner]] Golden Groundhog Award for Best Underground Movie, nomination for ''[[MirrorMask]]''. The other nominated films were ''[[Green Street Hooligans]]'', ''[[Nine Lives (2005 film)|Nine Lives]]'', ''[[Up for Grabs (2004 film)|Up for Grabs]]'', and ''[[Opie Gets Laid]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Shatner-Gets-His-Own-Award-2037.html | title=Shatner Gets His Own Award | access-date=10 September 2009 | last=Tyler | first=Joshua | date=10 January 2006 | publisher=Cinema Blend}}</ref>
* 2007 & 2008: Winner of the [[Galaxy Award (China)|Galaxy Award]] for Most Popular Foreign Writer.
* 2010 Gaiman was selected as the Honorary Chair of National Library Week by the [[American Library Association]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/october2009/nlwgaiman_pio.cfm| title=Neil Gaiman named Honorary Chair of National Library Week| date=12 October 2009| access-date=15 April 2010 }}</ref>
* 2012: Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the [[University of the Arts (Philadelphia)|University of the Arts]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://uarts.edu/news/2012/05/neil-gaiman-headlines-134th-commencement|title= Neil Gaiman Headlines 134th Commencement: Award-winning author, graphic novelist tells graduates to 'make good art'|publisher= [[University of the Arts (Philadelphia)|University of the Arts]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130513035650/http://www.uarts.edu/news/2012/05/neil-gaiman-headlines-134th-commencement|archive-date= 13 May 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= 17 May 2012|df= dmy-all}}</ref>
* 2016: [[University of St Andrews]] Honorary degree of Doctor of Letters<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2016/title,561592,en.php|title= Laureation Address: Professor Neil Gaiman|date= 21 June 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170213164121/https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2016/title,561592,en.php|archive-date= 13 February 2017|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all|access-date= 12 February 2017}}</ref>
* 2018: Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mopop.org/sffhof/neil-gaiman | title=Neil Gaiman &#124; SFFHOF Inductee }}</ref>
* 2019: [[Poets & Writers#Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award|Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award]] ("celebrat[ing] authors who have given generously to other writers or to the broader literary community.") Gaiman was given the award "for advocating for freedom of expression worldwide and inspiring countless writers."<ref>{{cite web| url = https://locusmag.com/2019/01/gaiman-wins-writers-for-writers-award/| title = Gaiman Wins Writers for Writers Award| date = 8 January 2019}}</ref>
* 2020: [[Children's Literature Lecture Award]]
* Inducted into the [[Harvey Awards]] Hall of Fame in 2022.
* 2023: ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''’s [[Time 100|100 most influential people in the world]] list<ref>{{cite news |url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2023/ |title=Time 100 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=13 April 2023 |access-date=15 April 2023 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q210059|q=Neil Gaiman|c=Category:Neil Gaiman|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
* {{official website}}
* {{OL author}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120417212254/http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2010/06/neil-gaiman-the-prospect-interview/ Neil Gaiman in conversation] with [[Tom Chatfield]] in [[Prospect magazine]], 2010
*{{C-SPAN|68016}}
* {{ISFDB name |410 |Neil Gaiman}}
* {{gcdb|type=credit|search=Neil+Gaiman|title=Neil Gaiman}}
* {{IMDb name|id = 0301274|name=Neil Gaiman}}

{{Neil Gaiman}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Franchises based on Neil Gaiman's works
|list =
{{The Sandman}}
{{Coraline}}
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{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Neil Gaiman
|list =
{{Bram Stoker Award Best Novel}}
{{Eisner Award for Best Writer}}
{{Hugo Award Best Novel 2001–2020|state=collapsed}}
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{{Locus Award for Best Short Story|state=collapsed}}
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{{Nebula Award for Best Script/Bradbury Award 2001–2020|state=collapsed}}
{{World Fantasy Award Best Short Fiction}}
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