Neil Gaiman is a prolific English author known for his contributions to various forms of media, including comic books, novels, and screenplays. His notable works encompass the comic book series "The Sandman," as well as novels such as "Good Omens," "Stardust," "Anansi Boys," "American Gods," "Coraline," and "The Graveyard Book." Gaiman's creative endeavors extend to television, where he played a key role in adapting both "Good Omens" and "The Sandman" into successful series.
1914: Gaiman's Great-Grandfather Emigrates to the UK
Before 1914, Neil Gaiman's great-grandfather emigrated from Antwerp, Belgium, to the UK. His grandfather eventually settled in Portsmouth and established a chain of grocery stores, changing the family name from Chaiman to Gaiman.
1956: C.S. Lewis's "The Chronicles of Narnia" Inspires Young Neil Gaiman
The concluding volume of C.S. Lewis's "The Chronicles of Narnia" series won the Carnegie Medal in 1956. This event made an impact on Neil Gaiman, who received the series as a gift when he was seven years old and would later go on to win the same award himself in 2010.
November 1960: Birth of Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman was born on 10 November 1960 in Portchester, Hampshire, England.
November 1960: Neil Gaiman is Born
Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman was born in November 1960. He would become an accomplished English author, writing in a variety of formats including short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre, and screenplays.
1965: Gaiman Family Moves to East Grinstead
In 1965, the Gaiman family moved to the West Sussex town of East Grinstead. There, Neil's parents, David and Sheila Gaiman, studied Dianetics at the Scientology centre.
1965: Gaiman Family Moves to East Grinstead
Neil Gaiman's family moved to East Grinstead in 1965 and stayed there until 1980.
1970: Gaiman Attends Ardingly College
Neil Gaiman attended Ardingly College from 1970 to 1974.
1974: Gaiman Attends Whitgift School
Neil Gaiman attended Whitgift School in Croydon from 1974 to 1977.
1977: Gaiman Completes Education at Whitgift School
Neil Gaiman finished his education at Whitgift School in Croydon in 1977.
1980: Gaiman Family Leaves East Grinstead
The Gaiman family left East Grinstead in 1980.
May 1984: Gaiman Publishes First Professional Short Story
In May 1984, Neil Gaiman's first professional short story, a fantasy piece titled "Featherquest," was published in "Imagine Magazine".
1984: Gaiman Discovers Alan Moore's Work
While waiting for a train at London's Victoria Station in 1984, Neil Gaiman came across a copy of "Swamp Thing" by Alan Moore. Gaiman was so impressed by Moore's approach to comics that it inspired him to start buying and reading comics regularly.
1984: Gaiman Returns to East Grinstead
Neil Gaiman returned to live in East Grinstead in 1984.
1984: Gaiman Publishes First Book and Co-Edits "Ghastly Beyond Belief"
Neil Gaiman published his first book, a biography about the band Duran Duran, in 1984. The same year, he co-edited the book of quotations "Ghastly Beyond Belief" with Kim Newman. The book sold out quickly, but the publisher went bankrupt.
1985: Gaiman Marries Mary McGrath
Neil Gaiman married Mary McGrath in 1985 after the birth of their first child, Michael. They had met while McGrath was studying Scientology and living in a house in East Grinstead that belonged to Gaiman's father.
1986: Gaiman Publishes First Comic Strips
Neil Gaiman's first published comic strips, four short "Future Shocks," appeared in the British science fiction anthology comic "2000 AD" between 1986 and 1987.
February 1987: DC Comics Hires Gaiman
Impressed by his previous work, DC Comics hired Neil Gaiman in February 1987 to write the limited series "Black Orchid". Karen Berger, who would later head DC Comics' Vertigo imprint, offered Gaiman the job of rewriting the character of The Sandman.
1987: Gaiman Ends Journalism Career
Neil Gaiman decided to end his journalism career in 1987 due to his disillusionment with British newspapers' tendency to publish false information as factual.
1987: Gaiman Departs East Grinstead
Neil Gaiman left East Grinstead in 1987.
January 1989: The Sandman Series Launch
Neil Gaiman's groundbreaking comic book series, The Sandman, debuted in January 1989, introducing the world to Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams.
1989: Contributions to DC Comics
Neil Gaiman penned two stories for DC Comics' Secret Origins series in 1989, one featuring Poison Ivy and the other, the Riddler.
1990: Good Omens Publication
"Good Omens," a collaborative novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, was published in 1990, blending humor and fantasy in a story about an angel and a demon trying to prevent the apocalypse.
1990: The Books of Magic Miniseries Debut
Neil Gaiman's four-part miniseries, "The Books of Magic," was published in 1990, introducing readers to the magical side of the DC Universe through the story of a young wizard.
1991: Beginning of Friendship with Tori Amos
Neil Gaiman's friendship with musician Tori Amos, a fan of his work, began in 1991 after she mentioned "Neil and the Dream King" on her demo tape.
1992: Move to Menomonie, Wisconsin
Neil Gaiman relocated to Menomonie, Wisconsin, in 1992. The move was motivated by a desire to be closer to the family of his then-wife, Mary McGrath, with whom he has three children.
1993: Birth of Vertigo Comics
In 1993, DC Comics launched its Vertigo line with Neil Gaiman's "Death: The High Cost of Living," a spin-off from the popular Sandman series, featuring Dream's sister, Death.
1993: Spawn Issue #9
In 1993, Neil Gaiman was commissioned by Todd McFarlane, the creator of the popular comic book series "Spawn," to write a single issue (#9) for Image Comics. This was part of McFarlane's promotional strategy for his new title, which involved inviting renowned authors such as Alan Moore, Frank Miller, and Dave Sim to each contribute an issue.
March 1996: The Sandman Series Concludes
After a successful run, Neil Gaiman's The Sandman comic book series concluded in March 1996, leaving a lasting legacy on the world of graphic novels.
1996: Publication of "The Sandman: Book of Dreams"
In 1996, "The Sandman: Book of Dreams," an anthology of original stories edited by Neil Gaiman and Ed Kramer, was published, featuring contributions from notable authors like Clive Barker and Gene Wolfe.
1996: Neverwhere Miniseries Release
Neil Gaiman's dark fantasy miniseries, "Neverwhere," aired on BBC television in 1996.
1996: Neverwhere Novel Release
Neil Gaiman's first solo novel, "Neverwhere," a dark fantasy based on his BBC miniseries of the same name, was published in 1996.
1998: Seeing Ear Theatre Audio Plays
In 1998, Seeing Ear Theatre, a company specializing in audio productions, performed two of Gaiman's works for audio theater: "Snow, Glass, Apples," a reimagining of the Snow White fairy tale, and "Murder Mysteries," a story set in heaven before the fall of man, exploring the theme of the first crime ever committed.
1999: Stardust Novel Release
Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel "Stardust," inspired by Victorian fairytales, was published in 1999, later adapted into a film.
2000: Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame Release
A Neil Gaiman story originally written for Action Comics Weekly in 1989, but shelved due to editorial concerns, was finally published in 2000 as "Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame."
February 2001: American Gods Website and Blog Launch
In February 2001, upon finishing his novel American Gods, Neil Gaiman's publishers launched a promotional website featuring a blog where Gaiman chronicled the journey of revising, publishing, and promoting the book. This later grew into his general website.
2001: American Gods Publication
"American Gods," a critically acclaimed novel by Neil Gaiman exploring the relationship between ancient deities and modern society, was published in 2001.
2002: Spawn Character Ownership Dispute
In early 2002, Neil Gaiman initiated legal proceedings against Todd McFarlane concerning the ownership of characters he had created for the "Spawn" comic book series. Gaiman contended that the characters were jointly owned by himself as the writer and McFarlane as the artist, not solely by McFarlane as the series creator.
2002: Coraline Publication
Neil Gaiman's dark fantasy novella for children, "Coraline," was published in 2002, later adapted into a stop-motion animated film.
November 2003: Marvel 1602 Series Launch
Neil Gaiman's eight-issue limited series for Marvel Comics, "Marvel 1602," debuted in November 2003, featuring art by Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove.
2003: Marvel 1602 Publication
Neil Gaiman wrote the comic book miniseries "Marvel 1602" in 2003 to financially support his company, Marvels and Miracles, LLC, which he had established to help resolve the legal issues surrounding the character Marvelman. Gaiman donated all of his profits from the original issues of "Marvel 1602" to Marvels and Miracles.
February 2004: Court Rules in Favor of Joint Ownership
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, in February 2004, upheld the district court's decision to grant joint ownership of the "Spawn" characters to Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane. This ruling affirmed Gaiman's claim that he had not relinquished his rights to the characters he created.
June 2004: Marvel 1602 Series Conclusion
Neil Gaiman's "Marvel 1602" series for Marvel Comics concluded in June 2004 after an eight-issue run.
2005: Anansi Boys Publication
Neil Gaiman's novel "Anansi Boys," a spin-off from "American Gods" focusing on the trickster god Anansi and his sons, was published in 2005 and debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.
August 2006: The Eternals Series Launch
Neil Gaiman's seven-issue limited series for Marvel Comics, "The Eternals," illustrated by John Romita Jr., began its publication run in August 2006.
March 2007: The Eternals Series Conclusion
Neil Gaiman's "The Eternals" series for Marvel Comics concluded in March 2007 after a seven-issue run.
August 2007: Stardust Film Premiere
The film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's "Stardust," directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring Charlie Cox, Robert De Niro, and Michelle Pfeiffer, premiered in August 2007.
2007: Death: The High Cost of Living Film Announcement
In 2007, Neil Gaiman revealed that a feature film adaptation of his graphic novel, "Death: The High Cost of Living," was finally entering production after ten years in development. Gaiman shared that he would be directing the film from his own screenplay and expressed both excitement and curiosity about his directorial debut.
October 2008: Gaiman Reads "Blueberry Girl" at Book Reading
Neil Gaiman read his poem "Blueberry Girl" aloud at a book reading event in San Francisco in October 2008 during a promotional tour for his book The Graveyard Book.
2008: Gaiman Joins Twitter
Neil Gaiman joined Twitter in 2008.
2008: The Graveyard Book Publication
Neil Gaiman's children's novel, "The Graveyard Book," inspired by Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book," was published in 2008.
2008: The Graveyard Book Wins Newbery and Carnegie Medals
In 2008, Neil Gaiman's novel "The Graveyard Book" earned him both the Newbery and Carnegie medals, making him the first author to win both awards for the same work.
January 2009: The Graveyard Book on New York Times Bestseller List
By late January 2009, Neil Gaiman's children's book, "The Graveyard Book," had spent fifteen weeks on The New York Times Bestseller children's list.
February 2009: Coraline Film Release
A stop-motion animated film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's "Coraline," directed by Henry Selick and featuring the voices of Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher, was released on February 6, 2009.
March 2009: Publication of "Blueberry Girl"
"Blueberry Girl," Neil Gaiman's poem, was published as a book with illustrations by Charles Vess in March 2009.
June 2009: Gaiman and Amanda Palmer Begin Dating
Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer announced they were dating in June 2009.
2009: Batman Story and Wednesday Comics Contributions
In 2009, Neil Gaiman wrote a two-part Batman story titled "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" for DC Comics and contributed a twelve-part Metamorpho serial to the "Wednesday Comics" series.
2009: The Graveyard Book Film Announcement
In 2009, Neil Gaiman's novel, "The Graveyard Book," which won the prestigious Newbery Medal, was slated for a movie adaptation with renowned director Ron Howard at the helm.
2009: Marvel Comics Acquires Marvelman Rights
Marvel Comics acquired the rights to the character Marvelman from the character's original creator, Mick Anglo, in 2009. This development marked a significant shift in the ownership of the character that Gaiman had been involved with.
2009: Relationship with Amanda Palmer Begins
Neil Gaiman's romantic relationship with musician and performance artist Amanda Palmer began in 2009.
January 2010: Gaiman and Palmer's Engagement
Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer announced their engagement on Twitter in January 2010.
August 2010: Doctor Who Episode Filming Begins
Filming commenced in August 2010 for an episode of the iconic BBC science fiction series, "Doctor Who," penned by Neil Gaiman. This episode was part of Matt Smith's second season as the Doctor.
September 2010: Additional Spawn Character Ownership Dispute
Neil Gaiman returned to court in a legal dispute over the ownership of additional characters from the "Spawn" comic book series: Dark Ages Spawn, Domina, and Tiffany. Gaiman asserted that these characters were derivatives of the three he had co-created with Todd McFarlane. The judge ruled in Gaiman's favor, acknowledging his claim. McFarlane was given a deadline of early September 2010 to reach a settlement in the matter.
November 2010: Gaiman and Palmer's Flash Mob Wedding
In November 2010, Amanda Palmer organized a non-legally-binding flash mob wedding celebration for Neil Gaiman's birthday in New Orleans.
December 2010: Action Comics #894 Release
December 2010 saw the release of Action Comics #894, co-written by Neil Gaiman and Paul Cornell, featuring an appearance by Death from The Sandman series.
2010: Neil Gaiman Wins the Carnegie Medal
Neil Gaiman won the Carnegie Medal in 2010. Having been inspired by C.S. Lewis's win in 1956, he considered this to be a significant achievement.
2010: Death: The High Cost of Living Film Production Halted
By 2010, it was reported that the film adaptation of "Death: The High Cost of Living" was no longer in active production, marking a setback for the project.
January 2011: Gaiman and Palmer's Legal Marriage
In January 2011, Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer were legally married at the home of writers Ayelet Waldman and Michael Chabon.
November 2011: The Simpsons Guest Appearance
Neil Gaiman made a cameo appearance as himself in "The Book Job," an episode of the animated sitcom "The Simpsons," which aired on November 20, 2011.
2011: Terry Pratchett on Good Omens Collaboration
In 2011, Terry Pratchett clarified that while "Good Omens" was a collaborative effort with Neil Gaiman, he (Pratchett) took on a larger share of the writing and editing due to Gaiman's commitments to The Sandman.
2011: Journey to the West Film Announcement
In 2011, it was announced that Neil Gaiman would be lending his writing talents to a new film adaptation of the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West."
2011: "The Doctor's Wife" Doctor Who Episode Airs
Neil Gaiman's episode for the long-running BBC science fiction series "Doctor Who" was broadcast in 2011. The episode, initially titled "The House of Nothing," was eventually aired as "The Doctor's Wife."
2012: "The Doctor's Wife" Wins Hugo Award
Gaiman's "Doctor Who" episode, "The Doctor's Wife," earned him the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) in 2012, recognizing his exceptional writing in the science fiction and fantasy genres.
March 2013: Neverwhere Radio Play Broadcast
A six-part radio play adaptation of Neil Gaiman's urban fantasy novel "Neverwhere" was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra in March 2013. The radio play, adapted by Dirk Maggs, featured a star-studded cast, including James McAvoy, Natalie Dormer, Benedict Cumberbatch, Christopher Lee, Bernard Cribbens, and Johnny Vegas.
May 2013: "Nightmare in Silver" Doctor Who Episode Airs
On May 11, 2013, Gaiman's second episode for the "Doctor Who" series, entitled "Nightmare in Silver," was broadcast, further solidifying his contribution to the show.
October 2013: The Sandman: Overture Release
DC Comics released "The Sandman: Overture," a prequel to the Sandman series, written by Neil Gaiman with art by J. H. Williams III, in October 2013.
2013: Gaiman Becomes Co-Chair of Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's Advisory Board
Neil Gaiman was named co-chair of the newly established advisory board for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in 2013.
2013: The Ocean at the End of the Lane Wins Book of the Year
Neil Gaiman's novel "The Ocean at the End of the Lane," exploring themes of childhood and self-identity, was voted Book of the Year in the British National Book Awards in 2013.
2013: "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" Named Book of the Year
In 2013, Neil Gaiman's novel "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" was voted Book of the Year in the British National Book Awards. It was later adapted for the stage and received critical acclaim at the Royal National Theatre in London.
2013: Gaiman Named One of the Best Tweeters in Comics
In 2013, IGN recognized Neil Gaiman as one of "The Best Tweeters in Comics," praising his posts as "sublime."
2013: Residency in Cambridge, Massachusetts
As of 2013, Neil Gaiman has also resided in Cambridge, Massachusetts, expanding his living experience beyond Menomonie, Wisconsin.
September 2014: Good Omens Radio Play
In a collaborative effort, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett teamed up with BBC Radio 4 in September 2014 to create the first-ever radio dramatization of their jointly written novel, "Good Omens."
2014: Professor at Bard College
Neil Gaiman took on a new role in 2014 as a professor in the arts at Bard College, where he has been teaching courses on theater and performance, written arts, and experimental humanities.
September 2015: Birth of Gaiman and Palmer's Son
Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer welcomed a son in September 2015.
2015: How Stories Last Lecture
Neil Gaiman delivered a 100-minute lecture titled "How Stories Last" for the Long Now Foundation in 2015. The lecture explored the essence of storytelling and how these narratives endure and resonate within human culture.
2015: Terry Pratchett's Death
Neil Gaiman experienced the loss of his close friend and fellow author, Terry Pratchett, who passed away in 2015.
2015: American Gods Series Greenlit
Starz, a premium cable network, gave the go-ahead for a series adaptation of Neil Gaiman's celebrated novel "American Gods" in 2015, with Bryan Fuller and Michael Green taking on the roles of writers and showrunners.
September 2016: Norse Mythology Announcement
In September 2016, Neil Gaiman announced that he was working on a book retelling Norse myths.
2016: Gaiman Appears in UN Refugee Agency Video
Neil Gaiman joined several other celebrities in 2016 for a video campaign by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to raise awareness about global refugees.
February 2017: Norse Mythology Publication
Neil Gaiman's "Norse Mythology," a retelling of classic Norse myths, was published in February 2017.
April 2018: The Big Bang Theory Guest Appearance
In April 2018, Neil Gaiman made a guest appearance on the popular television show "The Big Bang Theory." Adding to the meta-nature of the appearance, a tweet Gaiman posted about the show's fictional comic book store became a central plot point in the episode titled "The Comet Polarization."
August 2018: The Sandman Universe Launch
The Sandman Universe, a line of comic books overseen by Neil Gaiman and featuring new stories set in the Sandman world, was launched by Vertigo in August 2018.
March 2020: Lockdown in New Zealand
In March 2020, Neil Gaiman, Amanda Palmer, and their son were in Havelock North, New Zealand, when the government implemented a complete lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2020: Gaiman Breaks Lockdown Rules and Apologizes
Neil Gaiman faced criticism after traveling from Havelock North to his holiday home on the Isle of Skye in May 2020, breaching New Zealand's lockdown rules. He subsequently issued a public apology on his website, acknowledging the risk he posed to the local community.
2020: Hugo Award for Good Omens
In 2020, Neil Gaiman's work on the TV miniseries adaptation of "Good Omens," based on the novel he co-authored with Terry Pratchett, earned him a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form. Gaiman wrote the screenplay for the miniseries.
2020: Separation from Amanda Palmer
Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer separated in 2020 after being romantically involved for over a decade.
2021: Lud-in-the-Mist Radio Play Role
In 2021, Neil Gaiman took on the role of Duke Aubrey in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of "Lud-in-the-Mist," a fantasy novel by Hope Mirrlees that Gaiman had previously expressed admiration for, even contributing a foreword to an edition published by Cold Spring Press.
2021: Gaiman and Palmer Reconcile
Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer reconciled in 2021.
November 2022: Gaiman and Palmer Announce Divorce
In November 2022, Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer released a joint statement announcing their decision to divorce.
2023: Gaiman Stops Personally Posting on Twitter
As of 2023, Neil Gaiman no longer personally posts on his Twitter account (@neilhimself). Instead, updates are posted on his behalf.
2023: Gaiman Signs Open Letter for Alexei Navalny's Release
Neil Gaiman added his name to an open letter in 2023, alongside over 100 other public figures, demanding the release of Russian political prisoner Alexei Navalny. The letter was addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
2023: Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose Voice Role
Neil Gaiman took on the voice role of Gef, one of the titular characters, in the black comedy film "Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose," released in 2023.