- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Titan Books Ltd; New edition edition (20 Oct 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1840231645
- ISBN-13: 978-1840231649
- Product Dimensions: 22.4 x 15 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 737,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Ever the victim of the Literary Establishment's arrogant snorts, comic books would not silence the critics until works like Sandman showcased the true potential of the medium. The only comic to win a major literary award, the story of Neil Gaiman's 2,000-page opus was always going to be a fascinating one, as the ethereal realms of the King of Dreams spawned some extraordinary human dramas. Sandman's one immutable triumph was Gaiman's expert fabrication of tales rich in myth, magic and mysticism, all drawn from eminent literary influences (Shakespeare, Roger Zelazny), yet occurring just a stone's throw from the superhero antics of the DC Universe. With The Sandman Companion,author Hy Bender explores the genesis of Gaiman's modern fairytale, dissecting all 10 volumes of the series and offering concise analysis of the series and its vivid elements. Yet, while Sandman cries out for serious critical examination, Bender does the sensible thing and leaves that to Gaiman himself (extensively interviewed here) -who does not disappoint with his insightful candour. Phenomenally well read, Gaiman is acutely aware that words are much underrated in an image-dominated medium, and whose concerted effort for the stories to beat the forefront was the series backbone- though successfully aided by vividly eclectic art styles. Strong, memorable characters were forged from brilliantly simple twists of logic, such as his sexy Goth chick incarnation of Death: "[Death] has been doing her job for a long, long time, and she's very skilled at it, so I figured why can't she be nice about it?" There is a fine balance between stuffy academic insights and cloying fan-boy enthusiasm, with Bender producing a tome that cannot fail to enhance your enjoyment of this acclaimed series. While some may cry for more depth, this has hardly been a wasted opportunity, with Bender allowing Gaiman to provide an excellent record of one of Comicdom's greatest triumphs. Danny Graydon
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Product Description
The most comprehensive work ever on Neil Gaiman's masterpiece series, now available in paperback. This entertaining read will appeal to both long-time fans as well as being accessible and welcoming to the newcomer. A chapter is devoted to each of the 10 volumes in the saga, with plot summary and extensive interview material with the creators. There is also full analysis of the major characters and evolving themes of the series plus full creator credits, Sandman related story details, and CDs, articles, books and websites that carry Sandman information.
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First Sentence
Mysteries are vital to both our lives and the stories that sustain our lives. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Mysteries are vital to both our lives and the stories that sustain our lives. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I'll admit that there was a certain amount of trepidation involved in this, my first ever Amazon purchase.
The Sandman is one of those affairs that people tend to take to their hearts and, in the same way that deconstructing poems can destroy the illusion, I worried that applying the formaldehyde and pinning the Sandman's wings to the board might destroy the butterfly. In this, I'll put my hands up. I was wrong.
It was fascinating to learn how much had passed me by. The main thing that has come out of reading this highly readable (bed, bath & train) companion volume was that I am looking forward to going back to the original books again. Hy Bender's work throws light into corners I hadn't even realised were dusty! The wealth of allusion, in-jokes and references was always apparent to anyone but the most casual reader, (did the Sandman have any casual readers?) but a myriad of new references lay undiscovered until now. Gaiman comes across as a mixture of fanboy, technician and always artist but what was more interesting to me was his sense of humour.
Buy it, read it and go back to the originals. You thought you knew what happened. Now look again; the dream has changed beyond recognition...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Sandman Companion by Hy Bender
I had the honour of reading DC Vertigo's comic The Sandman as it was being released as a monthly comic in the 1990s, and Bender has written an excellent concordance, elegantly and clearly written, the kind of book that sends you straight back to the comics themselves to see what it is being talked about.
Part 1 (Overview) does what it says on the tin, it introduces The Sandman (Chapter 1) and gives a brief biography of its creator Neil Gaiman and his creative influences (Chapter 2).
Part 2 (The Sandman Collections) comprises chapters 3-12, each chapter is dedicated to of the 10 trade paperbacks that collected the 75 issues and 3 specials and this is done in chronological order. Bender begins each chapter with a well written synopsis of the comic issues covered by each tpb and then moves on to 'Some Things Worth Noticing' before finishing each chapter with an extended interview with Gaiman. Each chapter is interspersed with black and white illustrations and by grey text boxes which contain information, anecdotes and interviews from the dozens of pencillers, inkers, colourists, letterers, editors and celebrities that were involved with the series.
In the centre of the book is a gorgeous set of colour plates displaying some of the Sandman trading cards, tarot cards, proposal sketches, posters, figurines and Dave McKean covers.
Part 3 (Backstory) covers the origins of the major and some of the minor characters of the series (some are mythology, some have their roots in the older DC Universe, some from literature and some just out of Gaiman's imagination), repeating motifs and patterns, the nature of comic as medium and The Sandman's audience.
A worthy collection, certainly not just a cash-in
I had the honour of reading DC Vertigo's comic The Sandman as it was being released as a monthly comic in the 1990s, and Bender has written an excellent concordance, elegantly and clearly written, the kind of book that sends you straight back to the comics themselves to see what it is being talked about.
Part 1 (Overview) does what it says on the tin, it introduces The Sandman (Chapter 1) and gives a brief biography of its creator Neil Gaiman and his creative influences (Chapter 2).
Part 2 (The Sandman Collections) comprises chapters 3-12, each chapter is dedicated to of the 10 trade paperbacks that collected the 75 issues and 3 specials and this is done in chronological order. Bender begins each chapter with a well written synopsis of the comic issues covered by each tpb and then moves on to 'Some Things Worth Noticing' before finishing each chapter with an extended interview with Gaiman. Each chapter is interspersed with black and white illustrations and by grey text boxes which contain information, anecdotes and interviews from the dozens of pencillers, inkers, colourists, letterers, editors and celebrities that were involved with the series.
In the centre of the book is a gorgeous set of colour plates displaying some of the Sandman trading cards, tarot cards, proposal sketches, posters, figurines and Dave McKean covers.
Part 3 (Backstory) covers the origins of the major and some of the minor characters of the series (some are mythology, some have their roots in the older DC Universe, some from literature and some just out of Gaiman's imagination), repeating motifs and patterns, the nature of comic as medium and The Sandman's audience.
A worthy collection, certainly not just a cash-in
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I thought this was a great book. It essentially looks at each collection in turn, with Hy Bender describing the story arc and 'Some Things Worth Noticing' and then he lets Neil Gaiman talk about the creative process and points of interest for that section. Neil Gaiman is a really articulate interviewee and gives great value, and its what he talks about that is the main interest in the book. Fortunately there's lots of space for him and its fascinating to read. The only slight disappointment is that the 'Some Things Worth Noticing' section for each collection is normally only a couple of pages long and, while it does give some interesting interpretations, this bit is just too short. It would have been interesting if this bit was expanded for the author to attempt more exploration and critical analysis of subtext, mythology etc. Neil Gaiman does touch on this at times but this feels like a missed opportunity.
For me, the book could have been twice as long as it is so readable and The Sandman is a massive work which fully justifies the attention. This isn't a criticism but rather an expression of how much I enjoyed reading this book. Highly recommended.
For me, the book could have been twice as long as it is so readable and The Sandman is a massive work which fully justifies the attention. This isn't a criticism but rather an expression of how much I enjoyed reading this book. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Overrated, but good nonetheless
Bender's "Companion" is not so much a companion as I was led to believe it was; the general vibe seemed to suggest it would take you through the grand arc of "The Sandman" graphic... Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2004 by J. Kelly
A fantastic informative book
A truly essential book for all sandman fans. Informative, well written, and imaginative. This book takes you through Gaimans ideas the whole way through the series. Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2001
Excellent for those who want to know more about Morpheus...
At first I was considering whether or not to get this book - after all, so many 'Companions' are out there now for this and that, most of them drull 'facts' which you can already... Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2000
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