Reading order · 2 books · 2001 to 2005 · Set in Across America
American Gods Books in Order
American Gods and Anansi Boys share a world in which the old gods, brought to America by the people who believed in them, are fading, while new gods of media and technology rise. Mr Nancy, the trickster Anansi, appears in both.
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Series facts
- Books
- 2
- Published
- 2001 to 2005
- First book
- American Gods
- Latest
- Anansi Boys (2005)
- Setting
- Set in Across America
The reading order
Every American Gods book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
2 books · Set in Across America
- 1American Gods2001With Shadow MoonShadow Moon gets out of prison to find that his wife has died.Buy on Amazon
- 2Anansi Boys2005With Fat Charlie NancyFat Charlie Nancy learns that his embarrassing late father was Anansi, the trickster god, and that he has a brother he never knew about, who turns up and turns his life upside down.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
The books can be read in either order. American Gods came first; Anansi Boys is lighter and stands alone.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Shadow Moon | Fat Charlie Nancy | Mr Nancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 American Gods | LLead | MMajor | |
| 2 Anansi Boys | LLead | MMajor |
Characters in the American Gods books
4 characters from Neil Gaiman’s chart, with the number of American Gods books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow MoonEx-convict hired by Mr Wednesday | 1 | American Gods 2001 |
| Fat Charlie NancyMr Nancy's son | 1 | Anansi Boys 2005 |
| Mr NancyAnansi, the trickster | 2 | American Gods 2001 |
| Mr WednesdayCon man and old god | 1 | American Gods 2001 |