Again, an explanation probably isn’t necessary, but I’ll use Fridays to write about my all-time favorite books and series, again trying to find a balance between classics and some lesser-known titles. Ok, on with the review.
In ancient times, mythology was used to provide explanations for natural events, as well as to give the people guidance on how to lead their lives. Divine beings were often given human characteristics, including the very same flaws that characterize humans. In The Sandman, Neil Gaiman has accomplished the impressive feat of creating his own mythology, a rich and intriguing world that interacts with our own, and teaches us a few things about ourselves.
The Sandman is centered around Dream (not the god of dream, he is “Dream”…you’ll see) and his “siblings,” Destiny, Death, Desire, Despair, Destruction, and Delirium, who form a group of beings called the Endless. The series begins with Dream imprisoned by a cult attempting to gain his power. I won’t say much more about the plot, but it mostly concerns Dream’s interactions with mortals, whether in the waking world or the realm of dreams. In the process Gaiman weaves in boatloads of mythology and folk tales and manages to blend a huge array of traditions from around the world into a cohesive whole. What really makes The Sandman special is that Gaiman doesn’t restrict events to the mythical worlds he creates, he has the characters interact with our world, regular people in places like London and New York. These forays into the mortal world have a lot to show us about the anxieties of modern life, and the effect that dreams can still have on us, even in this age of technology.
One of the most astounding aspects of Sandman is the way in which Gaiman sets up events and characters very early on that become significant later in the story. Two books in the ten are comprised of shorter stories, often only marginally related to Dream, and yet nearly all of them are woven back into the main thread of the story later on. Maybe revealing that takes away from the surprise somewhat, but it’s certainly worth mentioning in a review, and I doubt that me telling you about it will tarnish the experience very much. It really is virtuosic in its execution, and I’m sure you’ll find yourself marveling at Gaiman’s skill as well.
A note: nearly every issue of Sandman is drawn by a different artist, which to me is a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand you get a very wide variety of styles and visual interpretations of Gaiman’s writing, but on the other, if you find that you’re really fond of one particular artist’s style, you may be disappointed by not seeing that artist’s work in the series again. But the changing styles do have some relevance to the story and the shifting nature of the Endless, so it’s forgivable.
As the story unfolds, Dream is forced to make some very difficult decisions, which he makes to the best of his ability and judgment, and is then forced to deal with the consequences. Everyone is subject to these situations, Gaiman tells us, even an Endless, and the best thing one can do is to do what they believe to be right. If we can recognize that everyone else goes through tough times, we can take comfort in knowing that we’re not alone, and maybe do something to ease the burden of others.
Pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed.
Happy reading,
-Nate
P.S. You can probably find this one at a library, and if not, at least you could get it on loan.
Tired of Superheroes 