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wiffles87's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
francesfincher's review against another edition
4.0
'You can know anything. It's all there. You just have to find it.'
dyno8426's review against another edition
5.0
I had been meaning to read this perhaps the most popular and acclaimed of Gaiman's works for quite a long time. And I didn't know that giving colours to his imagination could be so justified as this book very first volume does. To those who haven't read other works of magical realism by Neil Gaiman, this is a foreword that he reimagines myths and represents folklores in his stories, and sets them up in the "real" world as we know. That's why, the first impression that his books (based on personal experience) will usually have is of its uniqueness and inability to place them in any similar category of fictions read before. Among those I have read, I don't find other magical-realist authors achieving the same leap of imagination in terms of his characters and fantastic stories which Gaiman achieves.
The Sandman series is another such fictional rendition of Morpheus, the God of Dreams, and this volume talks about his capture and consequent quest to reacquire his tools that provide him the power of dreams. Like all of his stories, his style has the same fairy tale like quality in content and writing. But for grown ups, as the fantasy here is really dark. His imagination crafts up the darkest corners of vices and symbols of evil and constructs realms of netherworlds, the boundaries of which are just hairline away from our tragic, pain inflicted world. I always find his books refreshing and awe inspiring in this respect of giving dimensions to the things which we couldn't believe to exist. And like fairy tales, he leaves the readers with that everything's-going-to-be-alright feeling of goodness and normalcy, both of whose fragility he asserted in the course of story. Taking dreams as the language of sub-conscious of humans, the author weaves into his themes the purpose that dreams serve for us and the stability of our consciousness. How the absence of dreams is horrifying and can even be catastrophic. Using parallels that he draws with death - dreams also being a transition from one form of consciousness to the other, dreams are seen as powerful tools in defining who we are and how we are connected to reality.
I am really looking forward to read the next serial volumes to see the adventures that Dream will stir up.
The Sandman series is another such fictional rendition of Morpheus, the God of Dreams, and this volume talks about his capture and consequent quest to reacquire his tools that provide him the power of dreams. Like all of his stories, his style has the same fairy tale like quality in content and writing. But for grown ups, as the fantasy here is really dark. His imagination crafts up the darkest corners of vices and symbols of evil and constructs realms of netherworlds, the boundaries of which are just hairline away from our tragic, pain inflicted world. I always find his books refreshing and awe inspiring in this respect of giving dimensions to the things which we couldn't believe to exist. And like fairy tales, he leaves the readers with that everything's-going-to-be-alright feeling of goodness and normalcy, both of whose fragility he asserted in the course of story. Taking dreams as the language of sub-conscious of humans, the author weaves into his themes the purpose that dreams serve for us and the stability of our consciousness. How the absence of dreams is horrifying and can even be catastrophic. Using parallels that he draws with death - dreams also being a transition from one form of consciousness to the other, dreams are seen as powerful tools in defining who we are and how we are connected to reality.
I am really looking forward to read the next serial volumes to see the adventures that Dream will stir up.
lancefestivalen's review against another edition
3.0
After re-reading this some 20 years later, I must admit the magic has somewhat faded. As has my general interest in Gaiman's fiction, to be honest. It's not bad in any particular way - it's just... vague.
As a reader, I'm never really invited to share the specific rules that govern the dreamworld. Morpheus' powers seem to vary from God-like to human, providing small possibilities for me to assess the threats posed by humans, madmen or demons.
Agreed, the grapic novel(s) can be seen as a grand tour of hitherto unknown worlds and universes. As such it really is magnificent. But that might be something to bear in mind when reviewing the complete series. As a standalone volume, I cannot help but to give it the standard three stars.
Sorry 'bout that, Neil.
As a reader, I'm never really invited to share the specific rules that govern the dreamworld. Morpheus' powers seem to vary from God-like to human, providing small possibilities for me to assess the threats posed by humans, madmen or demons.
Agreed, the grapic novel(s) can be seen as a grand tour of hitherto unknown worlds and universes. As such it really is magnificent. But that might be something to bear in mind when reviewing the complete series. As a standalone volume, I cannot help but to give it the standard three stars.
Sorry 'bout that, Neil.
changes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ratcousin's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Karen Burger's introduction at the beginning is delightful, and she is right about this first volume; you can really feel Gaiman hit his stride with The Sound of Her Wings.
chrys_marin's review against another edition
3.0
A mystic cult seeking to capture Death mistakingly traps Death's younger brother instead, Dream. Unable to escape, Dream remains in the human world for decades, leading to the deterioration of the Dream World, which has a devastating impact on the human world. In order to save the human world and his realm, Dream must embark on a journey to recover what he has lost.
Very dark but beautifully drawn and written, "Preludes & Nocturnes" contains the first eight issues of the graphic novel "The Sandman." Even though the volume most definitely follows a story arch, each issue is very distinctive and has its own emotional and literary tone. As Mr. Gaiman admits himself in the afterword, you can tell the difference between his early chapters and the later ones, as his storytelling skill improves with issue, the last one of the eight issues contained in this volume ("The Sound of Her Wings") being my favourite. I would recommend this graphic novel to fans of horror stories (particularly the sixth issue, "24 hours," so terrifying I just wanted to quickly end it), comic books and just generally of good storytelling.
Very dark but beautifully drawn and written, "Preludes & Nocturnes" contains the first eight issues of the graphic novel "The Sandman." Even though the volume most definitely follows a story arch, each issue is very distinctive and has its own emotional and literary tone. As Mr. Gaiman admits himself in the afterword, you can tell the difference between his early chapters and the later ones, as his storytelling skill improves with issue, the last one of the eight issues contained in this volume ("The Sound of Her Wings") being my favourite. I would recommend this graphic novel to fans of horror stories (particularly the sixth issue, "24 hours," so terrifying I just wanted to quickly end it), comic books and just generally of good storytelling.
interstellarcas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
froginawaistcoat's review against another edition
5.0
This was great. I understand the hype now.
So much gender found in Dream. I love the way Dream and Death where characterized. It’s perfect. I felt like something new was added to the sandman idea. I’m excited to continue the series.
P.S.
I love when DC universe comics also throw in some Batman references. Scarecrow being in it made me so happy.
I also liked the casual queer elements in it. Didn’t like the single time a slur was used, though. I get the point but don’t think authors who can’t say it should write it.
So much gender found in Dream. I love the way Dream and Death where characterized. It’s perfect. I felt like something new was added to the sandman idea. I’m excited to continue the series.
P.S.
I love when DC universe comics also throw in some Batman references. Scarecrow being in it made me so happy.
I also liked the casual queer elements in it. Didn’t like the single time a slur was used, though. I get the point but don’t think authors who can’t say it should write it.
heidi0902's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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
4.0