"American Gods," the novel-turned-TV show that Neil Gaiman said could only have been written in the Midwest is now also a coloring book. Of course. (You can kind of see a devolution here, can't you? From printed words, to video, to a graphic-novel version, to nothing but pictures.)

The novel, first published in 2001, is dark and all-engrossing, a blend of fantasy, reality and mythology. It is the story of ancient gods struggling to survive in contemporary America. It has won awards (including both the Hugo and the Nebula) and has been an international best-seller.

In 2011, Gaiman published a new version — the writer's cut, with an additional 12,000 words. (Writers get to do that — well, when they are Neil Gaiman.)

The coloring book contains 48 illustrations by illustrators Yvonne Gilbert, Jon Proctor, and Craig Phillips. It follows the trajectory of the novel swiftly — from the writer's cut of nearly 500 pages, to 48 pages.

Buy extra crayons, especially ivory, for corpses and skulls.

Laurie Hertzel • 612-673-7302

@StribBooks