"American Gods" for Gaiman.

Both have books that are more reminiscent of Strange and Norrell that are quite good but I really enjoyed both of these novels and found that other people have found them to be good introductions to the authors.

I was thinking about this post today of literature that combines our banal world with the fantastical. When I read a book that I think is very good, one way which I try to compare it to other works is asking my self is people will still read it one-hundred years from now. Powers and Gaiman might not meet that test, they are good, but maybe not that good. One guy I think is that good is Haruki Murakami. I would really recommend reading either "Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the Universe" or "The Wind up Bird Chronicle." It's much more literary than any other other stuff above or Ms. Clarke's novel. both of these novels weave a reality unseen to us in our normal lives i to the world in compelling ways. I liked "Hard Boiled" a bit better. Really incredible author in my opinion.

I'd also say that none of this literature would exist in the quality it does without the work of H.P. Lovecraft. I really think he was the great early blender of fantasy and reality, if others do it better it's only because they stand on his shoulders.