March 27, 2005

YA42: The Sandman, Vol 1: Preludes & Nocturns

sandman.jpgThe Sandman: Volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes (Sandman #1)
by Neil Gaiman
Illustrators: Mike Dringenberg, Malcolm Jones III
DC Comics, 1991 (originally published as individual magazines, 1988-89)

Read this one today (since I realized that many of my library books were overdue and couldn't be renewed again so I might as well finish as many as I can up so I can return them when the library is open on Tuesday). Can't say I really liked it or understood most of it, but I think it will grow on me as I read more of them and have a chance to talk to folks who really love the series.

The introduction by Virgigo Executive Editor Karen Berger explains that, "This first volume of the SANDMAN series is very much a work in progress; that of a talented writer who eventually honed and refined his skills and progressively developed his initial concept -- a series about dreams: personal, nocturnal, and imaginary -- and expandid it in ways that produced some classically modern and unforgettable stories." She also writes that, "SANDMAN also has a dispropotionate number of women who read the series, probably the most of any mainstream comic. In a medium that is still widely occupied by males, that in itself is a major achievement."

Preludes & Nocturnes is the 1st volume of 10 in THE SANDMAN LIBRARY. The back explains that you can read them in order or as individual volumes.

summary

Posted by Emily at March 27, 2005 06:42 PM
Comments

Stick with the series; it ultimately proves very rewarding. It rises to a very high level by the end (I admit to shedding a few tears at The Wake.)

I had the opportunity to read the whole thing over the course of about 3 days back in 1998 and there are still stories from the series that still haunt me (for good or ill.) It's easily on or above the level of Alan Moore's work (The Watchmen, V for Vendetta), which I also recommend.

The Sandman was the first Neil Gaiman work I read - I wonder how it will compare now, in context of his novels?

Posted by: Brett at April 10, 2005 06:50 AM