American Gods is a novel by Neil Gaiman. The novel is an ambitious blend of Americana, fantasy and various strands of mythology centring on a mysterious and taciturn protagonist, Shadow. It was, approximately, Gaiman's fifth novel, being preceded by Good Omens (a collaboration with Terry Pratchett), Neverwhere, and Stardust (a fairy tale illustrated by Charles Vess), and The Sandman graphic novel series, (collectively), for which he is best known.

It was published in 2001 by Headline in the UK and by William Morrow in the United States.

The book was nominated for a BSFA award in 2002. It received the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel from the Horror Writers' Association in 2002. It has also been nominated for Best Novel in the 2003 Nebula Awards.