[Editor's Note: We learned minutes after we sent out our weekly newsletter that the reading is now sold out. In a measly 24 hours. What a rock star. Please follow us on twitter @aarondavidscott to make sure not to miss future announcements.]

This just in: tickets go on sale today for a visit from the dark god of fantasy and graphic novels himself, Mr. Neil Gaiman (it’s a little surprising that he hasn’t been knighted yet so that we can officially call him Sir Gaiman). He’ll be appearing at the Crystal Ballroom on June 29 at 3 pm for what is being billed as an “Afternoon with…,” meaning there’ll be reading, questions, book signing, and, if you're lucky, maybe a Skyped in appearance from his wife, the dark goddess of social media and the ukulele, Ms. Amanda Palmer. (The two performed an epic four-hour public love letter to each other and the audience over a year ago at the Aladdin that featured duets, readings, and a surprise appearance by director John Cameron Mitchell).

Gaiman is on tour to promote his first novel in eight years, The Ocean at the End of the Lane. The $35.99 tickets include a copy of the book. Wear black. And maybe a cape.

More from Powell’s:

From one of the world's most beloved storytellers - #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman - comes his first adult novel in eight years. Wondrous and imaginative, and at times deeply scary, The Ocean at the End of the Lane captures the very essence of childhood fear and uncertainty. In a clash of memory and reality, it is a pitched fever dream of a novel, and could very well be Gaiman’s most accomplished work to date.

Neil Gaiman has long been one of the top writers in modern comics and has also penned many books for readers of all ages, including American Gods, Anansi Boys, Coraline, and M Is for Magic. He is listed in the Dictionary of Literary Biography as one of the top 10 living post-modern writers and is a prolific creator of works of prose, poetry, film, journalism, comics, song lyrics, and drama. He has written multiple New York Times bestselling books and is a Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, SFX, and Locus Award winner. He has also worked in support of First Amendment rights and was awarded the Defender of Liberty Award in August 1997 by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund for his efforts. Born and raised in England, Neil now lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has somehow reached his forties and tends to always need a haircut.

Tickets are available Wednesday, April 3 at Etix.com, as well as at the Bagdad Theater, the Crystal Ballroom, and Edgefield.



