World Famous Comics: The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes
The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes
By: Neil Gaiman Publisher: Vertigo Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Vertigo Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 240 Publication Date: December 07, 1993 Release Date: December 07, 1993
Product Description: "Wake up, sir. We're here." It's a simple enough opening line--althoughnot many would have guessed back in 1991 thatthis would lead to one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comics of the second half of the century.In Preludes and Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman weaves the story of a man interested in capturing the physical manifestation of Death but who instead captures the King of Dreams. By Gaiman's own admission there's a lot in this first collection that is awkward and ungainly--which is not to say there are not frequent moments of greatness here. The chapter "24 Hours" is worth the price of the book alone; it stands as one of the most chilling examples of horror in comics. And let's not underestimate Gaiman's achievement of personifying Death as a perky, overly cheery, cute goth girl! All in all, I greatly prefer the roguish breaking of new ground in this book to the often dull precision of the concluding volumes of the Sandman series. --Jim Pascoe
Amazon.com Review: "Wake up, sir. We're here." It's a simple enough opening line--although not many would have guessed back in 1991 that this would lead to one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comics of the second half of the century.
In Preludes and Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman weaves the story of a man interested in capturing the physical manifestation of Death but who instead captures the King of Dreams. By Gaiman's own admission there's a lot in this first collection that is awkward and ungainly--which is not to say there are not frequent moments of greatness here. The chapter "24 Hours" is worth the price of the book alone; it stands as one of the most chilling examples of horror in comics. And let's not underestimate Gaiman's achievement of personifying Death as a perky, overly cheery, cute goth girl! All in all, I greatly prefer the roguish breaking of new ground in this book to the often dull precision of the concluding volumes of the Sandman series. --Jim Pascoe
Just Beautiful This Graphic Novel is Breath Taking. I like Neil Gaimen's work but this would be my favorite. Preludes & Nocturnes is instantly one of my favorite graphic novels. It has an original plot and characters that you just find interesting at the moment that they are introduced. The writing style is wonderful. I can't wait until I get the next Sandman.
TRIPPY Even Neil Gaiman proclaims that this is his clumsiest and least favorite of all of the sandman titles. In that case this has to be the greatest series of all time because i thought the first volume was amazing. What lost it a star was it was a bit anti-climactic in places and the showdown with doctor destiny didn't live up to my expectations. But this book will forever change how you sleep. Some find this book a little weird and rightfully so. But aren't our dreams trippy and crazy? This book is like nothing else I have ever read or experienced. I recommend it to everyone who is ready for a huge departure from your everyday superhero comic.
Good but Not Great I bought the entire Sandman series based on two things: I am a huge fan of Neil Gaiman's novels and the reviews of the readers. To tell you the truth, I am not that impressed. The art work is not that great and the story lines are not as good as his novels. I read a lot of graphic novels and this was good, but not great. I know that this is supposed to be the "weakest" in the series, but I haven't been blown away by any of them. In my opinion, they are just average.
It's Art, It's Literature, It's GOOD Any new review of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series must at least MENTION those who came before. This series, which represents a decade of Mr. Gaiman's professional life, was originally published by the DC Comics imprint Vertigo, and is now available as a set of ten softbound "graphic novels." Each of these volumes boasts a foreword by a different notable personality, and these introductions share one commonality: they are positively lavish in their praise for Mr. Gaiman's opus.
The "introducers":
* Karen Berger * Clive Barker * Steve Erickson * Harlan Ellison * Samuel R. Delaney * Gene Wolfe * Peter Straub * Stephen King * Frank McConnell * Mikal Gilmore
This list (in case you didn't notice) includes some of genre fiction's all-time greats. It was this list (which I discovered as I was idly perusing the back cover of my newly-purchased copy of "Preludes and Nocturnes") that gave me my first clue that I was onto something rare. "OMG," I thought to myself (and yes, sometimes I think in acronyms). "If THESE bad boys of fiction have deemed the Sandman worthy of praise, then it's certainly good enough for me!"
As for the books themselves? They did not disappoint.
The Sandman series loosely chronicles the life of Morpheus, King of Dreams. Dream and his alliteratively-named family (Death, Destiny, Delirium, Despair, Desire, and Destruction) comprise the "Never-Ending," and it is the trials and travails of this group that makes up the heart of the Sandman series.
Though this work falls squarely in the realm of "fantasy," it is the tales' pragmatic humanity that makes them great. In The Sandman, Gaiman explores a broad range of worldly issues ranging from man's struggle with mortality to intra-familial communication to the onerous responsibilities of work. Gaiman doesn't shy away from life's most fundamental affairs, and he somehow manages to do this in an easygoing style tinged with just the right amount of wry humor. What's more, his literary acumen is such that EVERYONE will catch a reference to something they've read, and I suspect that everyone will miss many more.
Comic books are supposed to make you laugh out loud. But tear up? In public? And what comic book author quotes Kipling on life after death?!
"They will come back, come back again, As long as the red earth rolls. He never wasted a leaf or a tree. Do you think He would squander souls?" -Rudyard Kipling
(You've got to give him points for brevity!)
The Sandman is the real deal. It's art, it's literature, and most importantly it's a damn good story. Though I'm not overly familiar with the medium, I can safely say this: The Sandman is the first work I'd recommend to a reader completely unfamiliar with the genre.
5 Reason for 5 Stars This piece of fiction is one of my favorites of any genre, not just graphic novels or comics. Sandman is compelling and original in its characters especially in the way Neil Gaiman weaves myth and traditions into an unfolding scene. There are very few books I can read or movies I watch were I can't either predict what will happen next or predict the end. With Sandman Preludes I couldn't predict anything and it was great to be taken on a trip with dream.
Which brings me to the five reasons for 5 stars:
1) The showdown in between Chorozone, the High Duke of the Eighth Circle and the Dreamlord. This was a very, very interesting twist on the old "shoot out at the OK coral." I loved it.
2) The reaction John Constantine has to Dream and then their working together to find dust in the second quest. Very original.
3) Mr Burgess, the occult leader, wants to control death. (who doesn't) He ends up failing and ends up unintentionally bringing a sleep sickness onto the world. This is a twist in storytelling I hadn't seen before.
4) The return of Doctor Destiny, is very interesting. But be warned this is an extremely dark and disturbing place. He has the finally element the Dreamlord seeks to restore order and it gets all screwed up.
5) How weirdly indifferent, yet human the main character and his sister are. Even though they are not humans you will recognize them and their compassion, however, that side is juxtaposed against cold, unfeeling or maybe unknowing side of inhumanity. In the final chapter you meet her, the one none of us what to meet. Death.
This is not just a light reading comic book, this is a dark graphic novel. You get taken on a trip, an adventure worthy of a vivid Dreamlord. It has some humor but I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone feeling dark already.
The art work, ink colors and backgrounds are all fantastic and only serve to enhance the story. This is a great graphic novel!
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