Sandman

[grim_fist]

I keep on hearing how good Neil Gaiman's Sandman is, and I want to get into it, but I'm not sure where to start. Any suggestions on which book (Compilation) to read first?

[girlcreeture]

Aw, you're keeping me awake with this (so sleepy, but had to check CHUD!) but I will post http://www.chud.com/board/ubbhtml/wink.gif

Sandman is, nay Neil Gaiman is fabulous. I had said the same thing to myself about reading Sandman, "hhmmm, should I bother?" Well Im glad I did. The trades are:
Preludes & Nocturnes
The Doll's House
Dream Country
Season of Mists
A Game of You
Fables & Reflections
Brief Lives
World's End
The Kindly Ones
The Wake
Some of them are $20 and some are %15. Don't know if they're in order, its actually been a bit since I read em, but your local comic clerk should know the order I'd think....

Then there's:
Death-The High Cost of Living
Death-The Time of Your Life

Then you must read his other work, all of which is just SO GOOD. He recently did a new Sandman story with Yoshitaka Amano doing the illustrations and it's a beautiful book. It's called The Dream Hunters. He and Dave McKean also did a CD called Warning: Contains Language that has Gaiman reading a selection of his stories and McKean doing the music. Very cool.

Can you tell I just love the guy? He's worth every penny you might spend on his stuff.

[willko]

i will second the overall approval of gaiman's work. sandman is his best overall work to date (because of the amazing level of quality maintained over the complete length of it... most of his novels and short fiction are also worth tracking down).

i'd say gaiman is one of the best comics writers to come out of england (along with alan moore). his work on sandman is critically praised (and rightly so) because it is so literate, deliberate, multi-tiered, and yet based on the familiar archetypes of storytelling and mythology.

also recommended:
good omens (by gaiman and terry pratchett) - a hilarious novel about the apocalypse told in a style reminiscent of the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy.

neverwhere - gaiman's first solo novel (written after his run on sandman concluded), is a very british fairy tale set partially in the modern day. it deals with an alternate reality found beneath the subways and sewers of london... perfect for chudders. http://www.chud.com/board/ubbhtml/smile.gif

stardust - this novel was also released in graphic novel format (in three parts) with charles vess illustrations. that format is the one worth getting if you can, but otherwise... the story is an outright fantasy/fairy tale featuring adventure and both loves lost and won.

check out amazon.com for details about these three books.

...the more you know...
...and knowing is half the battle...

/willko.

[This message has been edited by willko (edited 08-20-2000).]

[grim_fist]

AWESOME! Thanks girlcreeture and willko.

[The Duke]

Is the entire Sandman story run contained within the trade paperbacks, or is it only a best-of series?

[willko]

the entire run was collected into trade paperbacks and girlcreeture's post above listed them all in the order that they were published. some of the trades collect fill-in issues that happen outside of major storylines, but you should probably read them in that order.

they are all there for a relatively cheap price. dc/vertigo has recently re-released the trades in a unified format (meaning all the cover schemes are similar, with volume number's in roman numerals more plainly visible). you can track them all down via a comics shop (previews has them on order every month out of their tradepaperback forms). it'll definitely be a dent in the wallet, but you won't be sorry.

/willko.

[grim_fist]

I busted open my piggy bank, and I'm heading to the comic shop tomorrow to *hopefully* pick up Preludes & Nocturnes and maybe The Doll's House.

[grim_fist]

Dammit! I went to two different comic shops and they didn't have any Sandman TPB's. Oh well, Amazon.com here I come!

[Blofeld]

I have the complete run of Sandman ... and the "Death" issues ... is anyone interested in starting a Sandman readers thread ... you know, we each read issue #1 and then comment upon it, and then issue #2 and comment upon it ... ??

[willko]

blo, i'd be there. sounds fun. i've also snagged a copy of the reader's guide or whatever vertigo called it, that had some interviews and pseudo-inside info on the book for added insights.

/willko.

[captain supermarket]

Well, last month was my first forray into Sandman's (and Gaiman territory, for that matter) majestic world, and I can't beleive what I've been missing out on. This is the type of adult fary tales that I had longed for as a teenager.

After getting tired of the conventional comics, and having quit reading them for years, it's a refreshing return to the artform, for me. Reading a comic without explosions, archvillains, and soap opera romances is such a beautiful change from what I was used to reading in my youth. After seeing Spiderman last night, I realized that that type of 'bigger-than-life' superhero just was never my interest, but that's all that my local comic shop had to offer me. It's nice to find alternatives.

And Death has got to be the greatest comic book character of all times.

A few questions: the Hellblazer series, staring John Constatine, do they have anything to do with the character from one of the early Sandman issues? Are they worth checking out? And is the whole Hellblazer series available in TB?

[Marksda1]

I'm recent to the Sandman series myself. I heard good things about it but it wasn't in a period when I was venturing outside of the traditional comics I grew up reading. I think I tried one issue, it was the midst of some storyline and I had no idea what was going on and passed on it.

Kinda regret that.

Even though the series was over, I kept hearing good things, so last Christmas, one of my gifts was the first volume of the TPB's. Loved it. Picked up the next two volumes at <a href="http://www.atlantacomicon.com" target="_blank">Atlanta Comicon</a> a couple of months ago. Truly enjoyed them. Even lent them to a non-comic-reading friend who enjoyed the first three TPB's as well. Tho we differred on one point. Tho I enjoyed the first two, it was all the little shorts in Volume 3 that I enjoyed most.

Definitely a series I'll continue as funds allow. Concerning the two Death TPBs, can they be read at any point, or do they fit into the grand scheme of the Sandman stories at some point???

Later,

Mark

[Big Black]

I've got a big chunk of the single issues, but spent the last year gradually picking up all the trades. Sandman is astonishingly great.

Re-reading it over the last months has given me an all-new appreciation for how tightly it all fits together. I love how begins, flows, and ends; it's rare to see something so neatly orchestrated feel so natural. The damn thing makes me laugh and cry in all the right places.

NG and the huge assortment of artists' work on the book is FUCKING GENIUS. Believe the hype.

[Big Black]

captain supermarket:
A few questions: the Hellblazer series, staring John Constatine, do they have anything to do with the character from one of the early Sandman issues? Are they worth checking out? And is the whole Hellblazer series available in TB?YES - that is The John Constantine. You can find the trade paperback(brand new edition and cover just got released) of 'Original Sins' which collects the first 8 issues or so. I don't think the entire series is out in tpb yet, but Original Sins is damn good, it's really worth it to check out the first book. It was written by Jamie DeLano back then and it's fanTASTIC fucking stuff. Another incedible storyline from that book, one of the best comics has EVER had to offer, is 'Dangerous Habits', which is also collected into a single TPB. That was done during the Preacher team of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's run, which is flat out fucking spectacular.

Definitely check it out if you feel even vaguely interested in the character.

[Michael Rabattino]

Sandman is damn good stuff.

I just finished Preludes and Nocturnes...absolutely awesome. "24 Hours" was amazing, and so was "Dream a little dream of me".

Gaiman's idea of hell was neat. The Wood of Suicides was cool, and then when EVERY demon in hell was summoned...awesome.

[Slater]

Haven't gotten to the comics yet, but "Neverwhere" "Good Omens" and "Coraline" are fantastic novels that are well worth tracking down. "American Gods" was interesting, but a little to flawed to merit a full reccomendation.

And I've got "Preludes and Nocturnes" on preorder from Amazon...

[Michael Rabattino]

And I hope you folks know, I probably would have never discovered Preacher or Hellblazer or Hitman or Sandman if it weren't for you.

Thanks!

[Sethos]

heh, it's funny: I only recently rediscovered The Sandman. I have Preludes & Nocturnes, butthe other trades I only borrowed from a friend. now I'm slowly (well, as fast as my bank account will let me) buying them for myself, and re-discovering how great this series is.... "Ramadan" (Sandman #50) is still my favorite though.

Also, I recommend checking out Gaiman's fiction. most of it's been mentioned, but not his short story collection "Smoke & Mirrors". great shorts, including what will probably be the only "Werewolf versus Elder Gods" story ever...

[Rath/Brendan]

American Gods is brilliant stuff.

[TheBandit: Cunning Linguist]

i kind of thought "American God's" was a rehashing of his sandman stuff, and not even a good rehash. I don't mean to dog it, but it just seemed to be without anything that made it stand out. I don't know maybe i have my head up my ass.

[Rath/Brendan]

Nah, man, I've heard that argument before, and it's a valid one. However, I feel that he takes the "rehash" andapplies them to Americana. As a big American folklorist, I thought it was really cool. And there's a real house on the rock.

[willko]

I don't know if anybody here like books on CD/Tape, but two short stories by Neil Gaiman came out this past summer as set narrated by Brian Dennehy (Murder Mysteries) and Bebe Neuwirth (Snow Glass Apples).

Both are kick ass short stories in their own right and the CD called Two Playes For Voices is definitely worth picking up if you are a fan of Gaiman. Murder Mysteries was also adapted this summer as a hardbound graphic novel, illustrated by P. Craig Russell (also worth gettin').

And as mentioned on the main board, NG mentioned the Creature Corner review of the screenplay for Coraline in his blog recently. Sweet.

/willko.

[Rath/Brendan]

willko:
I don't know if anybody here like books on CD/Tape, but two short stories by Neil Gaiman came out this past summer as set narrated by Brian Dennehy (Murder Mysteries) and Bebe Neuwirth (Snow Glass Apples).

Both are kick ass short stories in their own right and the CD called Two Playes For Voices is definitely worth picking up if you are a fan of Gaiman.For FREE:

Murder Mysteries (Dennehy does rule): <a href="http://www.scifi.com/set/playhouse/murder/" target="_blank">http://www.scifi.com/set/playhouse/murder/</a>

Snow Red Apples: <a href="http://www.scifi.com/set/playhouse/snowglassapples/" target="_blank">http://www.scifi.com/set/playhouse/snowglassapples/</a>

[Sister Gracie Lou]

A slow leak in closet from an apartment upstairs robbed me of my comic collection. I really have to replace The Sandman, Death and many others...
I just read "Good Omens", it is officially one of my favorite books.

[TheBandit: Cunning Linguist]

RathBandu:
Nah, man, I've heard that argument before, and it's a valid one. However, I feel that he takes the "rehash" andapplies them to Americana. As a big American folklorist, I thought it was really cool. And there's a real house on the rock.I see what you are saying about Americana. I just don't know that it mixes that well with his charachters. To be honest, Shadow just kind of got on my nerves. It just, to me, doesn't have the beauty or the scope of his other writings. However, when i read the book i found it a fun read.

[Kriegaffe]

I seem to be dragging this thread up from several years ago, but this is actually a really engrossing series. I'm up to tthe 4th TPB (of 11) and today I realised I was hooked.

[matches]

You say that like you expected it to be a waste of time. Sandman is one of the all time great comics in my opinion.

[Judas Booth]

I seem to be dragging this thread up from several years ago, but this is actually a really engrossing series. I'm up to tthe 4th TPB (of 11) and today I realised I was hooked.

I bought all of the comics in their original run (and have many of them autographed by Neil) but I also have them in TPB form for ease of reading. You're on my favorite one, although there really isn't a clunker in the bunch. Enjoy!

[Luca S.]

You say that like you expected it to be a waste of time. Sandman is one of the all time great comics in my opinion.
100% agree. This is what fantasy should be like. Professional grouch Greg David once said fantasy is the most restrictive genre there is, as it's written today. It's always elves/dwarves/orcs sub-Tolkien bullshit, while the very word implies you have absolutely free reign. I think Sandman is a textbook example of how it should be done.

[Kriegaffe]

You say that like you expected it to be a waste of time. Sandman is one of the all time great comics in my opinion.

What happened is I bought 2 books (one and six) about 10 years ago and didn't connect with it at all.

The art didn't strike me and there are no real action scenes. Instead many things play out in the metaphysical world.What prompted me to return to the series was reading American Gods.

On the back of the TPBs they say that they can be read out of order, but I think it's much better reading them in sequence.

This 4th book has been especially good as it has the family meeting of the Endless, and it resolves the storyline with Nada.

So in response to your post, I didn't expect it to be a waste of time. I do think it's a very unique book among comics and it can take a while to get into the flow of things.

[FrankCobretti]

By the way, if you enjoyed American Gods, you must read Anansi Boys. It's Gaiman's best prose work.

[Kriegaffe]

So I'm still kicking along through this and it's getting even better.

I just finished the seventh book, Brief Lives. There were two pages in that where my jaw dropped.

I must admit I'm a bit of a dunce and often don't pick up the subtext immediately. Reading the introductions by other authors has been informative. A common sentiment in these introductions is that it's more than just great stories, they are about topics that really matter. Reading these stories actually make you think about life. I think I'd have to agree with these sentiments.

[The Prankster]

100% agree. This is what fantasy should be like. Professional grouch Greg David once said fantasy is the most restrictive genre there is, as it's written today. It's always elves/dwarves/orcs sub-Tolkien bullshit, while the very word implies you have absolutely free reign. I think Sandman is a textbook example of how it should be done.

Yeah, I hate that so much fantasy is Tolkien ripoffs. Even if you want to go with the "epic adventure in a detailed imaginary world" subgenre, there are so many other ways to do it, not to mention all the other kinds of fantasy stories that so rarely get touched on.

Krigaffe, opinions are split on The Kindly Ones, but I was majorly impressed by how well it wove all the many plot threads together. If nothing else it's a kick to see almost every major character in the series put in an appearance.

By the way, I was in the comic store the other day flipping through some book that professed to be a comprehensive review guide to comics, sort of like those video review encyclopedias by Leonard Maltin or whoever. I knew it was eminently ignorable after I flipped to the Sandman entry and read 1000 words or so moaning about how slow-paced the plot was. I half expected them to say "and where are the action sequences? And why doesn't Wolverine guest-star?"

[teledork]

The Sandman TPBs are my prize possession. I bought two of them for a buddy once...just because he'd mentioned wanting to read them. I gave them to him, and while he read through one I paged through the other and saw Morpheus do the whole "Assertion of Reality" bit in Hell.

Within a week I'd bought all of them from a place that was going out of business. They are re-read on a regular basis. They were offered to my middle daughter to read and she went nuts.

These books are ones that I carry with me as one of the requirements of my happiness. I also have the Collected works of Shakespeare, The collected works of Poe, and the entire collection of Will and Ariel Durant's "The Story of Civilization" as part of those requirements.

[Timothy225]

I just finished my annual re-read of Preacher, and I've been considering re-reading Sandman again. Scanning through this thread has inspired me.

[jack_rabbit]

Holy shit. This thread just reminded me that I need to re-buy all the trades, having had them lost to an ex-girlfriend with arson issues.

How much is Absolute Sandman going for, these days?

[Judas Booth]

I just finished my annual re-read of Preacher...

Good to know that I'm not the only one who does this. I must admit to reading the 'Good Old Boys' one shot more frequently.

[Timothy225]

Not a clinker in the bunch, Judas. Until the End of the World, Salvation, Alamo - all of 'em are great.

[Judas Booth]

I've got a big softspot for 'Salvation'. If you took the 'word of God' ability out of the story, a great standalone movie could be made that didn't involve the 'Preacher' universe.

'Preacher' derailment ended.

[Tieman]

How much is Absolute Sandman going for, these days?

They've only released the first 4 volumes, and they're running between $63-$77 each on Amazon (that's £35-£49)

[jack_rabbit]

They've only released the first 4 volumes, and they're running between $63-$77 each on Amazon (that's £35-£49)

Yeesh. Yeah, maybe I'll hold off. Or pick up individual issues in an actual store. They have some really fucking awesome ones in Stockholm, which makes my returning to Sweden a little more palatable.

Hmm, I wonder if there's a thread about good / hidden comicbook stores....

[FrankCobretti]

Gaiman just won the Newberry Award:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/newbery-medal-for-childrens-literature-goes-to-neil-gaiman/

[Sethos]

They've only released the first 4 volumes, and they're running between $63-$77 each on Amazon (that's £35-£49)

there only are four volumes. they collect all 75 issues of the Sandman and the annual. There's an Absolute Death coming later this year, I think. and probably another volume of Absolute Sandman in a few years collecting Endless Nights, The Dream Hunters comic and assorted shit.

[Tieman]

Wow. That's cool. I assumed it was 1 to 1 with the graphic novels.
Now I might actually consider picking those up. I got Absolute Watchmen for Christmas and it kicks ass.