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sempiece's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
bioniclib's review against another edition
3.0
This volume covers the battle between Princess Barbara and the vile Cuckoo for control of the part of the Dream World known as The Land. The side characters, which Mr. Gaiman is always so strong in creating, include a drag queen, a lesbian couple, and a witch. The last has a pretty gruesome way of getting even. It also makes mentions of some characters from previous volumes tying together two seemingly unrelated casts of characters.
Probably, my least favorite of the series so far. Though it's unfair to say so because volume 4 was just so dang good. Still, this volume is worth a read.
Probably, my least favorite of the series so far. Though it's unfair to say so because volume 4 was just so dang good. Still, this volume is worth a read.
fakewriter9's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
astopotro's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mikime's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
This is the story of Barbie's world and of Wanda and of their other friends and neighbours.
From Samuel R. Delany's Preface (1993)
"It seems to me what Gaiman is saying, with the help of the artists who draw the pictures, is that, in the rich, complex and socially constructed world around us, you cannot ultimately be what - or who - you want to be without some support from me. Wanda supports Barbie at the beginning of the story. At the moment end of the story, [... ] Barbie supports Wanda. The element of death, however, makes it a much darker tale than that simple and rather Pollyanna reduction presupposes.
We're not talking simple altruism hete. We're talking about something much deeper, that allows individuals to exist; we're talking about the hidden, shifting, undersea reefs on which every individual stands - rocks that so rarely show clear above the tides of illusion and desire. That's the support we mean, and it always begins in something outside the self.
Gaiman is also saying that, because of death - even a fantasy death that allows articulation and information to come from beyond its borders, when magicked up by a centuries-old witch - no one can win the Game of I. Wanda cannot win it. Barbie cannot win it. (...) Nor will I. Nor will you. (...) Thus, for Gaiman, A GAME OF YOU is the only game worth playing - because it is the only game where, in the end, there's any chance of coming out ahead.
Even if one wins only by a name written on a stone that will wash away with the next shower, at least that allows something to persist in memory - and thus may lead to something else. But without even the name preserved momentarily in the real world by real action (and here, as I hope we can see, "real" is not the catch-all antonym for fantasy but rather a specific synonym for the political - as it is whenever it's used intelligently), there's no hope at all. Gaiman shows us the most marginal win possible in A GAME OF YOU. But it's still won by moments, however small, of real social bravery. And that's what, at the end of A GAME OF YOU, Gaiman portrays. Thus, in a fantasy world whose tragedies are not real (i.e., not political) but are, nevertheless through that fantasy, deeply recognizable (and readable in any number of real ways), he has given us a triumph. "
From Samuel R. Delany's Preface (1993)
"It seems to me what Gaiman is saying, with the help of the artists who draw the pictures, is that, in the rich, complex and socially constructed world around us, you cannot ultimately be what - or who - you want to be without some support from me. Wanda supports Barbie at the beginning of the story. At the moment end of the story, [... ] Barbie supports Wanda. The element of death, however, makes it a much darker tale than that simple and rather Pollyanna reduction presupposes.
We're not talking simple altruism hete. We're talking about something much deeper, that allows individuals to exist; we're talking about the hidden, shifting, undersea reefs on which every individual stands - rocks that so rarely show clear above the tides of illusion and desire. That's the support we mean, and it always begins in something outside the self.
Gaiman is also saying that, because of death - even a fantasy death that allows articulation and information to come from beyond its borders, when magicked up by a centuries-old witch - no one can win the Game of I. Wanda cannot win it. Barbie cannot win it. (...) Nor will I. Nor will you. (...) Thus, for Gaiman, A GAME OF YOU is the only game worth playing - because it is the only game where, in the end, there's any chance of coming out ahead.
Even if one wins only by a name written on a stone that will wash away with the next shower, at least that allows something to persist in memory - and thus may lead to something else. But without even the name preserved momentarily in the real world by real action (and here, as I hope we can see, "real" is not the catch-all antonym for fantasy but rather a specific synonym for the political - as it is whenever it's used intelligently), there's no hope at all. Gaiman shows us the most marginal win possible in A GAME OF YOU. But it's still won by moments, however small, of real social bravery. And that's what, at the end of A GAME OF YOU, Gaiman portrays. Thus, in a fantasy world whose tragedies are not real (i.e., not political) but are, nevertheless through that fantasy, deeply recognizable (and readable in any number of real ways), he has given us a triumph. "
kittykate7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was always one of my favourite stories which resonated as much with my teen self as it does today.
vera_baetas's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book and the whole story. A rescue is gonna go badly. And the appearance of Morpheus was perfect. Special guest star: Death. I loved Wanda and Barbie friendship. It taught me a lot.
namrata_jain's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn't as intriguing as the previous volumes. It's a completely disconnected story to the central plot of Sandman and frankly I found it very muddled with characters without any explanation of who they were - might clear up in later volumes, maybe? The story wasn't as compelling either.
drwhodat's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lancefestivalen's review against another edition
3.0
Sammanhållen story. Lättläst. Inte tillräckligt utmanande, kanske? Men bra, förstås.