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4.44 AVERAGE
4.44 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The doors to Hell are legion. There are entrances less-well-guarded than this one, gates more poorly defended. But I am here as Dream of the Endless. I wear my helm of office. I am caparisoned formally. I have no choice but to use the Main Gate. If necessary, I am prepared to storm the gateway. To force an entry. I have power enough to do that. It is no great task. I can open doors. Even the doors of hell. There is, however, no need for that. Not now. It would seem my visit has been anticipated. The gates of Hell are open. Unopposed, I enter Hell.
Ah, [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg]; you devil, you!
Here, in volume 4, Neil weaves threads that he introduced in both [b:The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes|39208021|The Sandman Vol. 1 Preludes & Nocturnes|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540852734l/39208021._SY75_.jpg|1228437] and [b:The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House|39208033|The Sandman Vol. 2 The Doll's House|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540049944l/39208033._SY75_.jpg|2648].
We previously met Nada, who fell in love with Dream but spurned his offer to be his Queen. Enraged, Dream banished her to hell. Ten Thousand years have now passed and during a council of the Endless, Dream comes to realise that the punishment may have been harsh and that it is time for him to visit hell and release Nada. However, with Lucifer Morningstar running hell, the task may not be as easy as it seems!
Another great story which I really couldn't put down once I started. All hail [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg]!
Ah, [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg]; you devil, you!
Here, in volume 4, Neil weaves threads that he introduced in both [b:The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes|39208021|The Sandman Vol. 1 Preludes & Nocturnes|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540852734l/39208021._SY75_.jpg|1228437] and [b:The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House|39208033|The Sandman Vol. 2 The Doll's House|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540049944l/39208033._SY75_.jpg|2648].
We previously met Nada, who fell in love with Dream but spurned his offer to be his Queen. Enraged, Dream banished her to hell. Ten Thousand years have now passed and during a council of the Endless, Dream comes to realise that the punishment may have been harsh and that it is time for him to visit hell and release Nada. However, with Lucifer Morningstar running hell, the task may not be as easy as it seems!
Another great story which I really couldn't put down once I started. All hail [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg]!
My favorite since the first one.
It's been over thirty years since this was published, and it still managed to do things that surprised me. Morpheus, or Dream the Endless, has been informed that consigning his human lover Nada to hell for 10,000 years for the crime of rejecting him and wounding his pride was a not great thing to do, so he sets out to make things as right as he can, which means once again descending into hell and facing Lucifer. He makes his preparations, says his goodbyes, fully expecting that he will have to fight Lucifer, and that he might lose. But when he gets there, things don't go as expected.
Spoilers ahoy.
When he gets to Hell, he finds it empty. Lucifer has quit, and released the denizens to go where they may, including Nada. When I say he quit, I mean he has decided to no longer reign over Hell, and he's just done. He wants to go lay on a beach somewhere and watch the sunset (he does). And he gives the key to Hell to Morpheus to do with as he wishes. This is the form his revenge takes.
First, I kept thinking Lucifer was playing a trick. Then I realized he wasn't, and then I could only think, Wait, can he do this? He's doing this! The rest of the story became about the fallout. What will Morpheus do with Hell? Who will he give its care over to? (There are many factions who show up at his realm begging an audience, wanting to bargain with him and plead their case as to why Hell should be given to them.) How can he find Nada now?
Several things he does here will most likely have lasting consequences for the story, but it works on its own as a complete arc as well. It also opens up some very interesting paths for Lucifer as a character (no doubt this is why he has is own comic, which I also haven't read, but now am more interested in than I was before).
Side note, the edition I read has a truly execrable introduction by Harlan Ellison, in which he only manages to praise Gaiman and his story by putting down literally everyone else, and making himself look like a first class wanker in the process.
[4.5 stars]
It's been over thirty years since this was published, and it still managed to do things that surprised me. Morpheus, or Dream the Endless, has been informed that consigning his human lover Nada to hell for 10,000 years for the crime of rejecting him and wounding his pride was a not great thing to do, so he sets out to make things as right as he can, which means once again descending into hell and facing Lucifer. He makes his preparations, says his goodbyes, fully expecting that he will have to fight Lucifer, and that he might lose. But when he gets there, things don't go as expected.
Spoilers ahoy.
When he gets to Hell, he finds it empty. Lucifer has quit, and released the denizens to go where they may, including Nada. When I say he quit, I mean he has decided to no longer reign over Hell, and he's just done. He wants to go lay on a beach somewhere and watch the sunset (he does). And he gives the key to Hell to Morpheus to do with as he wishes. This is the form his revenge takes.
First, I kept thinking Lucifer was playing a trick. Then I realized he wasn't, and then I could only think, Wait, can he do this? He's doing this! The rest of the story became about the fallout. What will Morpheus do with Hell? Who will he give its care over to? (There are many factions who show up at his realm begging an audience, wanting to bargain with him and plead their case as to why Hell should be given to them.) How can he find Nada now?
Several things he does here will most likely have lasting consequences for the story, but it works on its own as a complete arc as well. It also opens up some very interesting paths for Lucifer as a character (no doubt this is why he has is own comic, which I also haven't read, but now am more interested in than I was before).
Side note, the edition I read has a truly execrable introduction by Harlan Ellison, in which he only manages to praise Gaiman and his story by putting down literally everyone else, and making himself look like a first class wanker in the process.
[4.5 stars]
Right now, I started to see why this serie is considered to be a masterpiece.