In a New York magazine cover story about Neil Gaiman published on Monday, multiple women accused the British fantasy writer of sexual assault and misconduct. It was not the first time, although the interviews were the first granted to a major publication. On the whole, his agents and publishers have been slow to address the accusations, although HarperCollins, Marvel, and W.W. Norton confirmed that they do not have future books planned with the author.

Gaiman’s literary agent, Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House, did not respond to requests for comment by press time, nor did his public speaking agent, Steven Barclay of the eponymous agency, leaving it unclear as to whether either has dropped him as a client. On Gaiman's website, a page called “Contacting Neil,” which had listed both agents alongside his Hollywood representation, is now down, although the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine indicates that it was live as recently as last month.

At present, it is unclear if Gaiman, the author of nearly 50 books that have sold more than 50 million combined copies worldwide, has any new forthcoming titles currently under contract, although some publishers have confirmed that if he does, it is not with them. On the trade book side, a spokesperson from HarperCollins, Gaiman's primary publisher in the United States, told PW that it “does not have any new books by Neil Gaiman scheduled.”

A spokesperson for Norton, which released Gaiman’s 2018 book on Norse mythology as well as an illustrated version last year, confirmed to PW that “Norton will not have projects with the author going forward.” (Notably, in 2021, after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct were leveled at author Blake Bailey, the publisher ceased publication of Bailey’s Philip Roth: The Biography and took that book, and one other by Bailey, out of print.)

In the comics world, a representative from Dark Horse Comics, which has published a number of comics and graphic novel titles by Gaiman as well as the Neil Gaiman Library series, said that the publisher is currently working on a statement, but was unable to comment further. Marvel Comics told the New York Times that it has no books in the works with Gaiman. DC Comics, the publisher of Gaiman's Sandman series and many of his other comics titles, did not respond to requests for comment; DC had previously announced plans to reprint a classic work by Gaiman in a new format in September.

Accusations of sexual assault were first made against Gaiman in July 2023 on a six-episode podcast from U.K.-based media outlet Tortoise, which detailed allegations from four different women, with a fifth woman making her accusations on a separate podcast. The New York magazine exposé reviews these allegations in depth as well as those from four additional women. Several adaptations of Gaiman's books were halted or canceled following the initial allegations.

On Tuesday, Gaiman responded to the accusations on his blog, writing: “I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.” He added: "As I reflect on my past – and as I re-review everything that actually happened as opposed to what is being alleged – I don't accept there was any abuse.”

On social media, authors from the science fiction/fantasy and comics and graphic novel worlds, including some of Gaiman’s longtime friends, weighed in with a mixture of anger, anguish, and disgust, as well as compassion for the women involved.

All those f*ckers in SF/fantasy who made excuses for Neil Gaiman on the last round of allegations really are the worst. You were so invested in the whole "he was nice to me" bullshit or invested in how *invested* you'd been in him to care about the truly disgusting behavior on display.

— Jeff VanderMeer (@jeffvandermeer.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 12:31 PM

I hate every single possible thing about this, and I'm heartbroken about all of it. www.vulture.com/article/neil...

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— John Scalzi (@scalzi.com) January 13, 2025 at 6:35 AM

There are layers and layers of vicious ugliness in New York Magazine’s piece on Gaiman. Broad outlines have been known since July, but this adds sickening detail, including psychological abuse of his own child. I’ll join others in urging caution to the vulnerable as to reading it.

— Guy Gavriel Kay (@guygavrielkay.bsky.social) January 13, 2025 at 11:42 AM

The truth is, it is quite likely everyone knows an abuser and are not aware of it. It’s a terrible feeling, even if you never met the person and only know them by their work.

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— Gail Simone (@gailsimone.bsky.social) January 14, 2025 at 3:56 AM

A personally difficult story for us, but a necessary one. My statement below, for the record [as an image+alt text, so it all fits on one page]. It's all I can manage at this time.

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— scott⚡️mccloud (@scottmccloud.bsky.social) January 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM