According to Gaiman, not a single person showed up at an early book signing event in Manhattan.[11][12]
The book has received the following awards:
- World Fantasy Award nominee for Best Novel, 1991[1]
- Locus Award nominee for Best Fantasy Novel, 1991[1]
- Mir Fantastiki Special Award for "The most anticipated book", 2012
- Won FantLab.ru poll for "Best Translated Novel", 2012[2]