Neil Gaiman on "Game of Thrones," Favorite Words and Tattoos

We asked author Neil Gaiman if he'd rather live in the "Game of Thrones" world or in "Lord of the Rings."
Subscribe for more WNYC videos: bit.ly/13xNzwW

[@strega0]

i can listen to this man all day. 😝

[@p1rgit]

i did... and then more, i guess - how long is full graveyard book, as he reads it? tiny part of me hopes that he gives up writing and will be full time story-reader and audio-book-voice :) and it is something, because i greatly admire and love his writing.

[@gameplays_ts]

I know right?

[@ashleylaricci2023]

He is really good about answering questions without angering anyone, no matter their position. Maybe that was the point.

[@RachelBethAhrens]

I would love to have tea with him and some other writers that I adore: Gail Carriger, Victoria Aveyard, maybe J.K. Rowling if she'd ever come down from Scotland, and Robert Aspirin if he was still alive. This is what makes me want to write novels and short stories for all kinds of people.

[@susanmoore3942]

Same. He just seems to be such a nice person, and I love his work.

[@miriamsheaffer5219]

He had me at fucking.

[@jamesbeyea5037]

sounds like neil wants to live in discworld.....plumbing and dentistry, lol

[@Galastel]

Yeh, it is such a Pratchett thing to say.

[@manuellee1307]

Sounds like the mushroom kingdom to me

[@Nekrotropik]

What you meant I believe is the Cohen thing about the best things in life according to him are "hot water, good dentishtry and shoft lavatory paper". Awesome quote and thank you for getting me to remember it :)

[@ronald48]

I think so too! He wants to live in the Discworld.

[@reddalchemy5970]

It’s plumbing. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 that hat me dying🤣🤣🤣🤣.

[@martineldritch]

"Moisture" is a wonderful word when kept in a meteorological or environmental context but "moist" seems like it is only used passive aggressively to induce cringe and shudder.

[@paulwilliams7465]

2:27 *humongous gasp.*

[@emmamiele5850]

Paul Williams it feels weird to hear him curse, doesn't it?

[@barrybudenos]

What is it with everyone and being bothered by moist?

[@locnar1]

The word "Squelching" is much, much worse than "Moist".

[@bagrym]

oh my god he looks like an older version of Ben Solo

[@bevrosity]

he says moist a lot for hating it so much.

[@turabulhaq9698]

Neil Gaiman? On Game of Thrones? *Volume: 100*

[@davidlean1060]

fuck is a great word, but Bollocks and arse are my fav words! They are expletives, but there is so much humour in both words!

[@qwertyTRiG]

Moist ... ... von Lipwig.

[@susanadiasjohnson457]

🤔creo que tiene razon pero mis paises favoritos no los tienen. la gente humilde son de puros corazones. you are right in what you say, but problem is that the nicest folks i ever met live without those options......

[@Nonresponder01]

a semicolon tattoo has another meaning too, it is mental health related. something about depression and self harm and overcoming it. maybe... I'm not certain.

[@Shmyrk]

Nonresponder01 it’s for those who wanted to end the sentence (their lives) but who chose to continue it, instead.

[@Sentientmatter8]

I think maybe he knows that. An ampersand has a similar meaning of resilience and having more to live for.

[@benmillward7765]

I love the interobang!?

[@valentinbonnarde9345]

MoistCritikal shaking in his chair

[@jordanthomas4379]

Neil's looking a little tired, maybe needs a break from all the writing, he probably works too much?

[@stahppls2293]

Jordan TRusso he doesn't shave until he finishes the project he's working non. His wife hates it.

[@contessa.adella]

Neil always looks tired and kinda rockstar rough....

[@davidlean1060]

He's pushing 60 now, he looks great for his age. He is nearing 60, but looks 15 years younger.

[@reddalchemy5970]

Probably the traveling. He’s probably jet lagged out his mind here🤣. But he wears it well and still gives great and lyrical interviews.⭐️👍🏽⭐️

[@deevyadeo971]

Neil Gaiman makes 'moist' sound nice. This man makes everything sound nice. WHAT IS THAT ACCENT??!!!!

[@Missjunebugfreak]

Neil has a beautiful voice.

[@wikkidperson]

My least favourite word is "perched." (Unless it's talking about actual birds or extremely graceful, bird-like women.)

[@1111thalamus]

Thor actually shows up in "the sandman" issue two.

[@p1rgit]

oh, it was my first thought actually - that they mean same thor as in loki and sandman and that world. - but again, it is the same thor, or...? as in norse mythology?

[@halloweenfan158]

@@p1rgit Norse mythology. Gaiman doesn’t talk about marvel at all only dc and he’s a fan of Norse mythology

[@p1rgit]

@@halloweenfan158 still, is Loki, Thor et al. in Sandman world the same as in norse mythology...? that's what i meant. Sandman's Loki vs. mythology Loki. (i do not know sh... about marvel things, never seen those movies, only seen some memes and stuff.)

[@halloweenfan158]

@@p1rgit the sandman is Scandinavian folklore so Thor would be in the same world

[@p1rgit]

@@halloweenfan158 er... a sandman might be, in many a folk tales, but i think the Sandman, Dream, brother of Death of the Endless is Neil Gaiman's creation. as in graphic novels Sandman.

[@emmawho8966]

I just love Neil Gaiman 💙💙💙

Legend

[@lukaspeciura6225]

kind of like super mario's world

[@JEKAZOL]

Floppy hair attack!

[@Kikilang60]

He should drink less, and sleep more. I've heard the moist thing before on "Dead Like Me"

[@csillakaszas7285]

So... did Neil Gaiman actually have a suicide attempt, or he just doesn't know what a semicolon tattoo means?? someone should probably tell him.

[@mero7731]

The semi colon isn’t just for suicide

[@haskna]

people have been getting semicolon tattoos before its association with suicide.

[@richtea615]

I fucking hate ampersands.

[@vonBottorff]

_chuckle_ is a terrible, terrible word.

[@santoshr2984]

Hehehehe .. fan-fucking-tastical ... I heard .. fan-fucking-testicles :0) ...

[@themperorgontier]

this man is a genius

[@javiercarrera6092]

Neil doesn’t know about composting toilets. They are cozy and clean and I’m quite sure hobbits had them.

[@brucefreadrich1188]

I was about to say plumbing… and then he said it for me.

[@delpantion6045]

now that I think about it damp is a pretty badass word

[@achamparambath]

Amanda Fucking Palmer

[@MolecularMindz]

So he wants to live in the mushroom kingdom. Working septic or not living in themushroom kingdom might not be so good. Mario cant seem to keep the peace. Baddies keep pooping up!

[@queerchoreography54]

OMG well done. These are great questions,😆

[@OverpepperedSoup]

semi-colon on the neck in red ink?

[@teeniebeenie8774]

loooooooooooove him. harlan too.

[@markleegolden2785]

During summer, when people ask, "How are you?" I like to say, "Warm and moist." Makes for an awkward moment.

[@daveh3997]

Least favourite word: "Moist." Amen to that! Combine it with "Plinth," and you are off the Creep-o-Meter scale.

[@davidlean1060]

I don't mind plinth, probably Sam Beckett has used one as a prop in his plays. When Beckett uses a plinth, they become transcendent!

[@simonjohansson248]

This lovely man just keep on inspiring me to write things!

[@contessa.adella]

Neil issssss ssssecretly a sssssnake.......moissssssst Lolsssssssss

[@Shmyrk]

Ok no. That way my man Neil licked his lips after he said “moist”. Nope.

[@natemiller770]

Moist definitely my least favorite word.

[@ScottBlade]

Who killed Laura Palmer?

[@maylinth7830]

PREACH!

[@felixvenus666]

I have a ; tattoo

[@gpeddino]

Moisssst

[@RAMSEY1987]

LoTR then

[@gpschlichter]

Pretty sure Tyrion mentioned something about running the sewers in lannisport implying some form of plumbing so maybe GoT?