An inquisitive observer, thoughtful commentator, and assiduous craftsman, Neil Gaiman has long been celebrated for the sharp intellect and startling imagination that informs his bestselling fiction. The View from the Cheap Seats brings together for the first time ever more than sixty pieces of his outstanding nonfiction.

Analytical yet playful, erudite yet accessible, this cornucopia explores a broad range of interests and topics, including authors past and present; music; storytelling; comics; bookshops; travel; fairy tales; America; inspiration; libraries; ghosts; and the title piece, at turns touching and self-deprecating, which recounts the author’s experiences at the 2010 Academy Awards in Hollywood.

Insightful, incisive, witty, and wise, The View from the Cheap Seats explores the issues and subjects that matter most to Neil Gaiman—offering a glimpse into the head and heart of one of the most acclaimed, beloved, and influential artists of our time.

Paul Sheldon, a bestselling novelist, finds himself in a precarious situation when his biggest fan, Annie Wilkes, rescues him from a car accident. What seems like a stroke of luck turns into a nightmare as Paul realizes that Annie is not just a devoted reader, but also his nurse—and now his captor. Trapped in her isolated house, Paul is forced to confront the reality that Annie will do anything to keep him under her control.

As Annie's obsession grows, so does Paul's desperation. The situation takes a dark turn when Annie discovers that Paul has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain, in his latest book. Refusing to accept this, Annie demands that Paul write a new book—one that revives Misery and satisfies her fanatical demands. With no escape in sight, Paul is thrust into a harrowing ordeal that tests the limits of his will to survive.