The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes (New Edition)
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Product Description
Product Description
"New York Times" best-selling author Neil Gaiman's transcendent series "SandMan" is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision. In "Preludes" and "Nocturnes", an occultist attempting to capture Death to bargain for eternal life traps her younger brother Dream instead. After his seventy-year imprisonment and eventual escape, Dream, also known as Morpheus, goes on a quest for his lost objects of power. On his arduous journey Morpheus encounters Lucifer, John Constantine, and an all-powerful madman. This book also includes the story "The Sound of Her Wings", which introduces us to the pragmatic and perky goth girl Death.
About the Author
Neil Gaiman is the most critically acclaimed comics writer of the 1990s and is the author of numerous books and graphic novels. He is the New York Times No. 1 bestselling author of American Gods and Anansi Boys, and won critical acclaim for his first feature film, Mirrormask, with long-time collaborator Dave McKean.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The world of comic books was a very different place before the Sandman came into being. Neil Gaiman revolutionized the graphic novel with "The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes," an exquisite story filled with shadowy realistic art and strange magical beings. This is one of those rare stories that tantalizes you with beauty and chills you to your core, all at the same time.
A group of occultists are attempting to summon and trap Death... but instead, they capture Dream and lock him in a glass orb. Decades pass, and countless people are locked in slumber -- unable to dream, unable to wake for long. One day, Dream escapes his prison and reenters the world, but loses the last of his power with his final act of revenge.
His Dreamworld palace has fallen into ruin, and his magical items have been scattered. To regain his power, he must get back his helm, his pouch of sand, and his dreamstone. His journey to regain them will take him across worlds -- to John Constantine and a woman destroyed by dreams, to the depths of Hell at a demonic club, and a ghastly madman who drives various people to depravity and death.
The world of "The Sandman" is a strange one -- it lightly interlocks with other graphic novel series, effortlessly slips from one world to another, and exposes both the beauty and ugliness of our own world. "Preludes and Nocturnes" is an excellent introduction to Neil Gaiman's strange, expansive world -- as well as his hollow-eyed anti-hero.
At its core, the story is rather simple, since it's basically a quest for Dream's three magical "tools." But Gaiman paints it with foreshadowing, nightmarish grotesqueries (flesh melting off bones, John Dee's drooling lipless face), and some zanily macabre humor (the Hellfire Club... in hell!). And as the dust settles, Gaiman caps his story off with a quieter interlude in which Dream encounters his sister Death.
And the artwork is sublime -- realistic in style, but often bizarre and a little frightening in theme. And despite the core colors being shadowy greys, whites and blacks, there are splashes of bright colors everywhere. Green fields, blue hallways, psychedelic skies, hallucinations filled with sickly pallid hues.
And Gaiman created one of his most iconic, complex characters in Dream -- his inhumanness is underlined by acts of great cruelty and kindness, and his sad, grim demeanor is more than a little touching. The author also spun up a very nonstereotypical version of Death. No robes, scythes or skeletal faces here. In fact, forget about anything sinister -- this version of Death is a delightfully quirky, perky goth chick.
"Preludes and Nocturnes" is a harrowing and hypnotic look into the world of dreams -- what happens when the Sandman is imprisoned, and what must be done after. Sublime.
A group of occultists are attempting to summon and trap Death... but instead, they capture Dream and lock him in a glass orb. Decades pass, and countless people are locked in slumber -- unable to dream, unable to wake for long. One day, Dream escapes his prison and reenters the world, but loses the last of his power with his final act of revenge.
His Dreamworld palace has fallen into ruin, and his magical items have been scattered. To regain his power, he must get back his helm, his pouch of sand, and his dreamstone. His journey to regain them will take him across worlds -- to John Constantine and a woman destroyed by dreams, to the depths of Hell at a demonic club, and a ghastly madman who drives various people to depravity and death.
The world of "The Sandman" is a strange one -- it lightly interlocks with other graphic novel series, effortlessly slips from one world to another, and exposes both the beauty and ugliness of our own world. "Preludes and Nocturnes" is an excellent introduction to Neil Gaiman's strange, expansive world -- as well as his hollow-eyed anti-hero.
At its core, the story is rather simple, since it's basically a quest for Dream's three magical "tools." But Gaiman paints it with foreshadowing, nightmarish grotesqueries (flesh melting off bones, John Dee's drooling lipless face), and some zanily macabre humor (the Hellfire Club... in hell!). And as the dust settles, Gaiman caps his story off with a quieter interlude in which Dream encounters his sister Death.
And the artwork is sublime -- realistic in style, but often bizarre and a little frightening in theme. And despite the core colors being shadowy greys, whites and blacks, there are splashes of bright colors everywhere. Green fields, blue hallways, psychedelic skies, hallucinations filled with sickly pallid hues.
And Gaiman created one of his most iconic, complex characters in Dream -- his inhumanness is underlined by acts of great cruelty and kindness, and his sad, grim demeanor is more than a little touching. The author also spun up a very nonstereotypical version of Death. No robes, scythes or skeletal faces here. In fact, forget about anything sinister -- this version of Death is a delightfully quirky, perky goth chick.
"Preludes and Nocturnes" is a harrowing and hypnotic look into the world of dreams -- what happens when the Sandman is imprisoned, and what must be done after. Sublime.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Here starts the story arc of The Sandman, one of the seven Endless who are manifestations of aspects of life. The story starts with Morpheus being mistakenly trapped by a Crowley-esque magician, who was angling to ensnare his big sister, Death and thus ensuring himself immortality. Unsure what to do with the silent Dream, he leaves him locked in a basement for over 70 years. Dream waits patiently; in the meantime his Realm is falling into ruin and dreamers all over the world suffer. When he escapes, Dream has to gather together his symbols of power, taken by the magician and stolen by his friends, in order to retake his Realm. His quest leads him into the path of the Kindly Ones, Justice League of America characters, Arkham Asylum and a brief trip to Hell. Meanwhile, Doctor Dee is playing very sick games indeed with some people trapped in a diner with him...The story concludes with the ever-miserable Dream brooding (for a change) while his perky sister Death tries to give him a dose of perspective. If I tried to cram all the references, foreshadowing and allusions that Gaiman crams into just one book, I would be here a looong time. Suffice to say, read it, read it again and then , after a bit of a ponder, read it again! I am always finding new things in the whole series. Gaiman is one of those rare comic book authors in that he rounds out his characters' psychologies. You may not like Dream much to begin with, but you will weep buckets come the Kindly Ones. Cannot recommend this highly enough to anyone with a heart, soul or brain...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I first discovered the Sandman series, I was hooked. I have never in all the world of literature found a more beautiful tale, told through the much-maligned medium of the graphic novel (sometimes referred to disparagingly as "comics"). Neil Gaiman is a master storyteller and in my opinion this is his best medium and his best work. The Sandman story tells us a lot about ourselves, and a lot about the best and the worst of our natures, sympathetically, intelligently, elegantly and eloquently describing the human condition in a unique way. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and everything in between. "Preludes and Nocturnes" is your first step through a doorway into another world, step with caution because the experience may change you subtly forever!
If you haven't read them yet I envy you. Enjoy...
If you haven't read them yet I envy you. Enjoy...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sandman
Bought for my partner who loves Neil gamen. Thought I would give this series a try and he hasn't be able to put I down. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Fleurish
Great writing, great art, great for fans of Gaiman
I was aware before I opened this comic and read the introduction that The Sandman was among some of the principle writing which established Neil Gaiman's profile. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Lark
interesting
Having never been much into the strange world of "graphic novels" and despite being massively into the novels and short stories of Neil Gaiman, I've always put off giving the... Read more
Published 14 months ago by dapto9
Excellent
Better things are to come for Sandman the series becomes far more like a childhish fantasy typical og Gaiman reflected mainly in the artwork. Read more
Published 15 months ago by R. Martin
The Sandman
I have to admit that I brought this as a gift but it came very highly recommended - put simply this is one of those graphic novels you have to read before you die! Read more
Published 16 months ago by L. Southgate
Mish mash of events devoid of excitement
This story starts off well, building plenty of tension, and mystery. However, after the capture of the sandman, plenty of things happen, but none of it is particularly connected. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Cowboy36
one out of the three essentials
I came to Sandman through Endless Nights. The artwork in that is gobsmacking. A great graphic novel needs three things:
1 excellent writing
2 excellent drawing
3... Read more
1 excellent writing
2 excellent drawing
3... Read more
Published on 12 July 2007 by S. Murphy
Really a prequel, but a good one at it
An occult sekt performs a ritual meant to trap Death itself but it goes horribly wrong and instead they wind up with Death's younger brother Dream as their prisoner. Read more
Published on 6 July 2001
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