Books

10 Must-Have Accessories For Nail Gaiman Superfans

by Charlotte Ahlin

Every since stumbling upon the Sandman comics at the angsty age of fifteen, I've been a devout Neil Gaiman reader. Have I had more nightmares since I started reading Gaiman all those years ago? Yes. But when it comes to creepy, beautiful, clever stories about myths and monsters and ocean-sized ponds (or maybe pond-size oceans?) no other author even comes close. So if you're looking to rep your love of Coraline and Shadow Moon and the Endless and London Below and so forth, here are some Neil Gaiman accessories to get you started.

Neil Gaiman's imagination has brought us apathetic gods, bookish angels, fallen stars, boys raised by ghosts, and a very cheerful personification of Death. All of his worlds are brimming with magic and mayhem. It should surprise no one, then, that Gaiman's writing has inspired so much art—and these accessories really are art that you can wear and hold and pin to your backpack. I used to doodle the Endless incessantly on my folders and notebooks when I was in high school. If I'd known about Etsy back then, I'd probably be bankrupt.

So treat yourself to one of these Neil Gaiman accessories for a daily dose of all things clever and creepy:

1. Coraline Quote Necklace

Is this Neil Gaiman quote actually Neil Gaiman paraphrasing a G. K. Chesterton quote? Well, yes, but that doesn't make this pendent any less beautiful. The text is from Coraline: “Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”

Coraline Quote Neckalce, $9, Etsy

2. Sandman Button Set

Sandman 1'' Pinback Button Set, $2, Etsy

Short on cash? You can still cover you clothes/hats/bags with enigmatic symbols from everyone's favorite dysfunctional family of anthropomorphized concepts. Each of these adorable buttons represents one of the Endless with their signature sigil.

3. Anansi Boys Mug

How Do You Like Your Coffee? Mug, $15, Redbubble

How do you like your coffee? If you answered, "Black as night, sweet as sin," then you are a true Anansi Boys fan, and you are permitted to purchase this mug and drink coffee out of it (as long as the coffee you're drinking is indeed black and sweet).

4. New York Public Library Pouch

NYPL Neil Gaiman Pouch, $15, NYPL

If you want to carry around a Neil Gaiman quote, support the New York Public Library, and carry pens and pencils from one location to another, then you need this pouch. On one side you have the quote, "A book is a dream you hold in your hand," and on the other you have the classic Lion logo from the NYPL, so everyone will know that you support both lions and accessible literature.

5. Sandman: Overture iPhone Case

Sandman Overture iPhone Case, $27, Redbubble

Let's face it: your phone could stand to look more otherworldly and mysterious. Try this ridiculously gorgeous phone case with art from Sandman: Overture. Now every time you look at your phone, you can also see Morpheus looking kind of sad.

6. American Gods Book Clutch

American Gods Book Clutch, $94, Etsy

Yes. This is a clutch literally made from a copy of American Gods and Anansi Boys. If you're opposed to cutting up books, this isn't the purse for you. But if you're looking to splurge on a literary handbag that makes a statement, then this is that handbag.

7. Neil Gaiman Book Locket Charms

Neil Gaiman Book Locket Charms, $8, Etsy

Tiny books? That you can wear as a bracelet? These are incredibly adorable charms for all your bracelet/necklace/key chain needs. Titles include American Gods, Anansi Boys, Fragile Things, How to Talk to Girls at Parties, Neverwhere, Smoke and Mirrors, The Graveyard Book, and Stardust.

8. "Make Good Art" Tote

Make Good Art Tote Bag, $16, Redbubble

Make Good Art. Simple advice, but invaluable. Neil Gaiman's "Make Good Art" speech resonates with artists, writers, and other creative people everywhere, and now you can carry a little piece of it around on your tote bag, to inspire the other people on the bus.

9. Death Pendant

Neil Gaiman's Death Pendant, $15, Etsy

Death is hands-down the fan-favorite character from The Sandman, and you can totally see why. Just look at that adorable little face. You can almost hear her saying "peachy keen!"

10. Simply Ineffable Sticker

"Simply Ineffable" Sticker, $2, Redbubble

And of course, for fans of the Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett novel Good Omens, there is this sticker. For moments and/or people that are simply ineffable.

Images: Paramount Pictures