"Fat Charlie" Nancy has been the good-natured doormat all his life; demonstrated through his ever-so-submissive groveling to a pigheaded boss and domineering fiance. That all changes the day his father dies summoning Fat Charlie to a funeral for a man he hardly knew. Thinking it just another hassle, Charlie attends only to satisfy Mrs. Higgler (a very old friend of the family). It's only after the funeral that revelations fall concerning Fat Charlie's god-like inheritance and his separated-at-birth/never-known-about twin brother-- Spider. Following introductions, it is at once evident that Spider (though Charlie’s mirror image) is everything Charlie isn't, but would like to be. Spider is in control; always capable but never hasty, permeating confidence while embracing trepidation, a winner. Within 24 hours (more or less), Spider and Charlie catch up on 30 lost years of brotherhood through (what else)...wine, women and song. With all the reunion confusion, Charlie nearly forgets his normal life and altogether forgets Mrs. Higgler's (what could only be nonsense) talk about how he and Spider are offspring of the mythical African god, Anansi (hence the last name 'Nancy'). But before long, certain quirky events slowly bring Charlie around to the knowledge that there must be something to his inheritance. Thus begins the brother’s real world/myth realm adventure which will determine their entire lives...and beyond.
This is another breathtaking novel by Neil Gaiman, a writer whose work is synonymous with Homer as much as H.P. Lovecraft for all the creative talent shoved into his one brain. Known for his books like Stardust, Good Omen/Bad Omen, & Interworld as well as story collections like Fragile Things, Gaiman has essentially taken the fantasy fiction world to another level. With Anansi Boys, reader's will discover a multi-genre epic linking the mundane to the mythic and transforming other world realms into accessible reality.
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