Reviews

This version of Absolute Sandman collects a few issues from Fables and Reflections, Brief Lives, and World's End. I guess Neil Gaiman heard my complaint about the plot not thickening in Absolute Sandman Vol. 2. Brief Lives and the last few pages of World's End had my eyes glued to the page.

Brief Lives gave me some much wanted insight on Delirium, which I appreciated and enjoyed. It was interesting to watch her appearance change with her mood. Delirium and Dream finally seek out the seventh Endless, Destruction, who gave me more much needed insight. Destruction is used as a vehicle to show what the Endless are all about and what their responsibilties mean. Neil Gaiman said in the afterword that this was the trade that he finally had to nail down where the plot was going and it showed.

World's End is another collection of stories, these ones stemming from patrons in a bar between dimensions. The stories were sometimes uninteresting and sometimes convoluted (especially the stories INSIDE stories). Not Neil Gaiman's best work, but it led to a few full-page spreads at the end that I assume foreshadow the rest of the series that excited me. I'm on to the next and last volume.

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ninj's review against another edition

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3.0

Still plenty of good stories and elements in here, but feeling a little more patchy and a little less engaging overall. One main family arc (Brief Lives) and a loose collection of semi-related stories from people of different places and times gathered together. Weakest of the three volumes so far.

jonwesleyhuff's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-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

5.0

I've had these books for a very long time. I became a fan of Gaiman's through is prose writing at first, and so there was a complex melange of feelings about why I didn't just tear through Sandman right away. Maybe I was worried it wouldn't live up to its reputation. Maybe I was slightly intimidated by the heft of the book itself. Maybe a few other things besides. But I finally did start reading. And then, I put Volume 3 off because I wanted to make it last. I wanted to delay the experiencing of these stories for the first time. Gaiman is one of those rare creators whose stuff just really resonates with me, and this was no different.

plnear's review against another edition

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5.0

Five stars, as always. These just never disappoint, what do you want me to say?

canadajanes's review against another edition

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4.0

Really enjoyed the stories in this collection, especially the ones at the Inn at the Worlds End.

elihr's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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