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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
In this addition to the Sandman chronicle, each of the Endless gets their own short story. As with many Sandman stories, they're all somewhat dark and full of improbabilities that we take in stride. Death and Dream's stories were probably my favorites, Death because she is my favorite, and it felt the most like the stories I liked best from Sandman. The dark side isn't overwhelming, despite the way the teller of the tale ends his story, it explores a little loop in time and death, and Death is graceful as ever. Dream's because of the characters (stars and other universal aspects given human-esque forms and personalities) and because it filled in another little gap in Dream's history. Also Sol (our sun-star) is adorable in pre-life-filled-plant phase.
Desire's story is "loosely inspired by a historical anecdote mentioned by George MacDonald Fraser" and reads like a first-person account of a tale that would be told in the mead-hall, or at the Round Table, or sung by a Grecian bard. You know, the kind without an exactly happy ending, though certianly a heroine. There's always a price to pay for getting what you want, and (Desire's words) "getting what you want and being happy are two quite different things."
Despair's story is not so much a story. In fact, it is called "Fifteen Portraits of Despair" and that is exactly how it goes, with words and images. Delerium's story, while technically following a plot, is told via the delirious, pays little heed to sense or panel divisions, and leaves clues to lead the reader through to a resolution.
In some ways the knowledge of who Delerium was before (Delight) and the events of this story make it even harder to get through than the portraits of Despair. For me, the way I read it, anyway. It has a better ending, though, than some of the other stories. There's a rainbow.
Destruction's story follows Delerium's, though sheds little more light on the previous, and is entirely it's own story anyway. It's another, like Death's, in the vein of a traditional (if that can be said) Sandman mini episode. Mysterious things happen to regular people, their lives intersect with the Endless, and there is an ending, but it mostly leaves then ends loose. Not as good as Death's story, though, and I couldn't say why.
Destiny gets an episode, too, though since Destiny simply is, it is not really a story, more an eight-page portrait of the book that contains all stories, and the being who holds that book. Again, Gaiman's words from the introduction: "Destiny‰Ы_ it seemed to me when I had finished writing these stories, was a theme they ahd in common."
All these stories get towards the essence of the Endless they are describing, and in that way, these are all good stories. Personally, though, I found that I wasn't as interested in some of the stories, or (in the case of Despaire and Delerium) I was torn between reading all in one go to get through the story or taking pausing to get a break from it in the middle. Neil Gaiman (in combination with various talented artists) is always an exceptional story-maker, but in comparison to himself, I think this one was not as good as others.
Desire's story is "loosely inspired by a historical anecdote mentioned by George MacDonald Fraser" and reads like a first-person account of a tale that would be told in the mead-hall, or at the Round Table, or sung by a Grecian bard. You know, the kind without an exactly happy ending, though certianly a heroine. There's always a price to pay for getting what you want, and (Desire's words) "getting what you want and being happy are two quite different things."
Despair's story is not so much a story. In fact, it is called "Fifteen Portraits of Despair" and that is exactly how it goes, with words and images. Delerium's story, while technically following a plot, is told via the delirious, pays little heed to sense or panel divisions, and leaves clues to lead the reader through to a resolution.
In some ways the knowledge of who Delerium was before (Delight) and the events of this story make it even harder to get through than the portraits of Despair. For me, the way I read it, anyway. It has a better ending, though, than some of the other stories. There's a rainbow.
Destruction's story follows Delerium's, though sheds little more light on the previous, and is entirely it's own story anyway. It's another, like Death's, in the vein of a traditional (if that can be said) Sandman mini episode. Mysterious things happen to regular people, their lives intersect with the Endless, and there is an ending, but it mostly leaves then ends loose. Not as good as Death's story, though, and I couldn't say why.
Destiny gets an episode, too, though since Destiny simply is, it is not really a story, more an eight-page portrait of the book that contains all stories, and the being who holds that book. Again, Gaiman's words from the introduction: "Destiny‰Ы_ it seemed to me when I had finished writing these stories, was a theme they ahd in common."
All these stories get towards the essence of the Endless they are describing, and in that way, these are all good stories. Personally, though, I found that I wasn't as interested in some of the stories, or (in the case of Despaire and Delerium) I was torn between reading all in one go to get through the story or taking pausing to get a break from it in the middle. Neil Gaiman (in combination with various talented artists) is always an exceptional story-maker, but in comparison to himself, I think this one was not as good as others.
A nice extra collection for those not quite ready to let go of the Sandman and his family. The despair vignettes were particularly impactful.
And so, after months with Gaiman's magnum opus, i must finally move on to reading other things... So long morpheus.
And so, after months with Gaiman's magnum opus, i must finally move on to reading other things... So long morpheus.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the last of the primary series of works (if you place <i>Preludes and Nocturnes</i> as an earlier read) and it's a supplement to the main storyline 'completed' in Volume 10. Each of these is a great experiment in examining an aspect (and even a plot chapter) of the Endless. The Delirium, Despair, and Death chapters are standouts in terms of their success, achievable in their fashion only in this medium, perhaps. A nice final tour of the Siblings to round out my foray into Gaiman's masterwork.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexual content
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
So very strange. The art in this collection is absolutely stunning. Every page feels like there are a million things to see and absorb. Reading this novel feels like wandering through a surrealist art exhibit.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
An artistic but unsatisfying anthology with one story for each of the Endless.
It fails to offer any kind of satisfying epilogue to the original story, yet bizarrely still attempts to hint at a storyline that could’ve (and probably should have) occupied a whole Sandman collection but here in only two short stories. These two not only frustrate by hinting at an exciting story happening behind the scenes, but also by undoing the resolution of an important character arc from the original series without explanation or even a hint at a new satisfying trajectory.
As much as it has to offer some fans, it is also an unsatisfying effort that reopened the door to the world of the Endless just the barest crack only to shut it just as fast, before committing to actually telling a Sandman story. Nothing here holds a candle to the memorable and affecting stories that made The Sandman great.
It fails to offer any kind of satisfying epilogue to the original story, yet bizarrely still attempts to hint at a storyline that could’ve (and probably should have) occupied a whole Sandman collection but here in only two short stories. These two not only frustrate by hinting at an exciting story happening behind the scenes, but also by undoing the resolution of an important character arc from the original series without explanation or even a hint at a new satisfying trajectory.
As much as it has to offer some fans, it is also an unsatisfying effort that reopened the door to the world of the Endless just the barest crack only to shut it just as fast, before committing to actually telling a Sandman story. Nothing here holds a candle to the memorable and affecting stories that made The Sandman great.
The most devestating thing about Sandman is the fact that the series ends.
Endless Nights was Gaiman's first revisit to his Endless universe in some time, and I think his time away sort of shows. The stories are about each of the seven Endless, and there's some great stuff in there, but it doesn't have quite the oomph of his earlier work.
Still worth it.
Endless Nights was Gaiman's first revisit to his Endless universe in some time, and I think his time away sort of shows. The stories are about each of the seven Endless, and there's some great stuff in there, but it doesn't have quite the oomph of his earlier work.
Still worth it.
The Sandman novel series returns to storytelling in comic book style. In this volume you get a little more story of the Endless and another minor character. I really enjoyed getting to know Despair on another level. The artist told her story in a different way that has been used during the series.
Death, Dream, Destruction and Desire's stories were great.
Delirium's was fun if a bit hard to follow (go figure). Destiny's "story" wasn't really a story, it was more of a coda.
Despair...oh boy. I know what Gaiman was trying to do there, but I hated it.
Delirium's was fun if a bit hard to follow (go figure). Destiny's "story" wasn't really a story, it was more of a coda.
Despair...oh boy. I know what Gaiman was trying to do there, but I hated it.