mimosaeyes's review against another edition
4.0
Talk about stories within stories (within stories...) - this is intricately constructed, and clever but with heart and imagination. I like some stories more than others (the hangman one, and Charlene Mooney's little spiel), but that's par for the course.
That ending. I know what's coming, since I've come late to this series, but just... the beautiful eerie feeling of Death looking right at you, the art on those two-page spreads. This is an immense story in every sense.
That ending. I know what's coming, since I've come late to this series, but just... the beautiful eerie feeling of Death looking right at you, the art on those two-page spreads. This is an immense story in every sense.
tcgarback's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Critical Score: B
Personal Score: C-
Reading Experience: 📘📘(2/5)
Well, the Sandman continues its disappointment streak with its most promising story collection, thanks to its delightful frame narrative, but I finished with mostly a sense of relief that I could move on to The Kindly Ones.
This batch of tales is maybe the weirdest, but I still felt myself straining to get through them. The other two collections had higher highs and lower lows. This is the most meh of the three.
Gaiman has been dipping away from his more emotional theme work and instead favoring a very nauseating classic literature state of mind, with references galore and a lack of modern appeal and missing his signature spark—or at least, that spark of his I liked most.
At this point, I’m looking for the next volume to bring redemption, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.
My ranking of the stories:
“World’s End” B. I was so glad to return to the frame narrative, and despite a moment of some weird faux feminism, this is the best part of the volume, though it leaves tons of questions.
“The Golden Boy” B. I loved how weird this one was, though I wanted more from the ending.
“Cluracan's Tale” B-. A mildly entertaining political fantasy.
“Cerements” B-. A creepy world. Dense with embedded narratives.
“Hob’s Leviathan” C. Very meh. Some appealing, but at this point redundant, musings on the nature of stories.
“The Tale of Two Cities” C. The art is dreadful, and the story is almost cool but never quite gets there.
Critical Score: B
Personal Score: C-
Reading Experience: 📘📘(2/5)
Well, the Sandman continues its disappointment streak with its most promising story collection, thanks to its delightful frame narrative, but I finished with mostly a sense of relief that I could move on to The Kindly Ones.
This batch of tales is maybe the weirdest, but I still felt myself straining to get through them. The other two collections had higher highs and lower lows. This is the most meh of the three.
Gaiman has been dipping away from his more emotional theme work and instead favoring a very nauseating classic literature state of mind, with references galore and a lack of modern appeal and missing his signature spark—or at least, that spark of his I liked most.
At this point, I’m looking for the next volume to bring redemption, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.
My ranking of the stories:
“World’s End” B. I was so glad to return to the frame narrative, and despite a moment of some weird faux feminism, this is the best part of the volume, though it leaves tons of questions.
“The Golden Boy” B. I loved how weird this one was, though I wanted more from the ending.
“Cluracan's Tale” B-. A mildly entertaining political fantasy.
“Cerements” B-. A creepy world. Dense with embedded narratives.
“Hob’s Leviathan” C. Very meh. Some appealing, but at this point redundant, musings on the nature of stories.
“The Tale of Two Cities” C. The art is dreadful, and the story is almost cool but never quite gets there.
melancholylethe's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting set of stories that lead to an intriguing ending. Who's funeral was it and who exactly is the girl at the bar? Does her necklace mean something? Looking forward to the next installment and hoping it answers some questions.
levibaus's review against another edition
5.0
This collection of stories was fantastic, especially the stories within stories within stories within the story. Neil Gaiman sure has some serious story telling chops and it is quite evident in this volume. He is at his prime and I was enthralled by this volume.
The themes, the little nuggets throughout the story tying things together, the references to other stories and famous works, and the through-line narrative of it all. Fantastic!
The themes, the little nuggets throughout the story tying things together, the references to other stories and famous works, and the through-line narrative of it all. Fantastic!
cadeunderbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.5
inthelunaseas's review against another edition
4.0
Another excellent volume by [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg]. My partner has told me that another comic book series that he reads, [b:House of Mystery, Vol. 1: Room and Boredom|3754399|House of Mystery, Vol. 1 Room and Boredom|Matthew Sturges|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320519139s/3754399.jpg|3798263], seems to be based on this edition of Sandman, and I have to agree.
Of the tales that were told, I think the one about the sleeping cities is what I enjoyed the most. Also the story of Prez, the youngest president, was interesting with Boss Smiley. And then there was the story of the young woman on the Sea Witch... and the idea that the fruit of life was eaten by the Indian man aboard the ship.
This story is slightly askew of the main Sandman plot, but it's still part of the lore.
Of the tales that were told, I think the one about the sleeping cities is what I enjoyed the most. Also the story of Prez, the youngest president, was interesting with Boss Smiley. And then there was the story of the young woman on the Sea Witch... and the idea that the fruit of life was eaten by the Indian man aboard the ship.
This story is slightly askew of the main Sandman plot, but it's still part of the lore.
cursedherondale's review against another edition
4.0
"Big things happen, and they echo. Those echoes crash across the worlds. They are ripples in the fabric of things. Often they manifest storms. Reality is a very fragile thing, after all."
Stories within a story, and within them are some stories more. I often forget that the story I'm currently reading isn't even the main story. You get lost to these stories and you're gonna be okay about it (am i still making sense? Lol). The ending though, I had a very bad and sad feeling about that funeral.
Stories within a story, and within them are some stories more. I often forget that the story I'm currently reading isn't even the main story. You get lost to these stories and you're gonna be okay about it (am i still making sense? Lol). The ending though, I had a very bad and sad feeling about that funeral.
jennderqueer's review against another edition
3.0
If I have to read about characters that aren't Dream, this is the way I want to do it. These were very interesting short stories and I enjoyed them a lot.
daytonm's review against another edition
4.0
A slim volume of short stories within stories within stories, it didn't carry quite the power for me of Sandman at its best but there was still lots of brilliant and thoughtful stuff in here, and as a whole it was even greater than the sum of its parts. Plus, just plain fun throughout.
coboshimself_'s review against another edition
5.0
"I think I fell in love with her, a little bit. Isn't that dumb? But it was like I knew her. Like she was my oldest, dearest friend. The kind of person you can tell anything to, no matter how bad, and they'll still love you, because they know you. I wanted to go with her. I wanted her to notice me. And then she stopped walking. Under the moon, she stopped. And looked at us. She looked at me. Maybe she was trying to tell me something; I don't know. She probably didn't even know I was there. But I'll always love her. All my life.”