I’ve been wanting to read Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes for ages because I like Neil Gaiman, because I like to make forays into the world of graphic novels from time to time, and because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. My expectations were high and Sandman didn’t quite deliver. I found the story to be rather choppy and at times a bit confusing but it all ended on an up note that made me think, maybe the next one will be better. And then I read the author’s note.
Gaiman himself admits that the story was choppy and could have been better. This was his first venture into graphic novels and he didn’t really know what he was doing, though felt, and I agree, that it got better as it went along. He suggests that this book contains the seeds and it begins to flower in the next. So I suppose I will try whichever one is next–does anyone know what that one is?–sometime.
The story in brief, the Sandman is one of the Endless and he is, well the guy who brings you dreams. He is king of the Dreamworld and he keeps it all in balance. He looks rather like a rocker with punked blue-black hair and a penchant for long flowing coats. He also looks ever so slightly like Neil Gaiman which I thought was both funny and a nice touch.
A powerful magician gets all the ingredients together with the plan to trap death and become immortal. But he catches the Sandman instead. The magician has no idea who he has caught and Sandman won’t talk. Sandman is relieved of all his official tools, a ruby, a mask, and his bag of sand. The longer Sandman is trapped the more the world slips into chaos because the world of dreams falls apart. People start falling asleep and not waking up. They don’t die, but they are lost in their dreams with no way of escaping them.
One thing leads to another and eventually Sandman gets out of the trap but he is week and has barely any power. His tools have been dispersed and he must find them and get them back. The best part of the book is the final section when all is done and Sandman is a bit depressed about everything and his sister, Death, makes an appearance in an effort to cheer up her brother. Death turns out to be a rather chirpy rocker chic dressed in black tank top, tight black jeans, and an ankh necklace, she has heavy black eye makeup and long black hair. I like her. Good thing too since I have a graphic novel in which she stars.
If you like Gaiman and haven’t read Sandman then definitely give it go but don’t expect to be wowed by Preludes and Nocturnes. If you’ve never read Gaiman before, don’t start with this one or you will not be likely to want to read him again.
I’d encourage you to stick with it. The brilliance of this series, and it is brilliant, is that there really are things that happen in issue one that play out to the very end. Little things here and there effect other things and the story just builds and builds. There are many people who have a hard time with this first volume and part of the reason is hype and expectation. I read it when it wasn’t nearly as well known and was hooked from the very beginning. Don’t give up on it, it is an amazing story.
The next volume is The Doll’s House, by the way.
LikeLike
Keep reading. I’ll second what Carl says – this is one of the most amazing pieces of literature ever written in any format. It’s quite simply quite brilliant – & funny & sad & irritating & wonderful – all those things all at once. Even better, Neil Gaiman is a great big book nerd & these are full of references to all kinds of books & bits of historical trivia – that makes it fun, too – teasing out all that stuff. Add to that the ever increasing quality of the illustration & Sandman is just a treat.
& yes, The Doll’s House is next. Here’s the order:
Preludes & Nocturnes
The Doll’s House
Dream Country (a couple of stories in here are big favorites – Dream of a Thousand Cats & the take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Season of Mists
A Game of You (my absolute favorite)
Fables & Reflections
Brief Lives (also just lovely)
World’s End
The Kindly Ones
The Wake
Okay, I’ll stop hijacking your blog by being a fangrrl. =]
LikeLike
I have to say I’ve never read a graphic novel, although the students gave me one that featured the first section of Proust’s A la recherche several years ago! I do have a Gaiman on the shelf, but it’s… hang on… Smoke and Mirrors and I think it’s short stories.
LikeLike
I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels, and I’ve never read Gaiman so I won’t be trying this one soon. But I would like to try Gaiman one of these days, since so many bloggers I respect really like his work.
LikeLike
Stefanie, please read The Invention Of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. I wrote about it on The Curious Reader several months back. It was my first and only foray into graphic novels and I wasn’t sure about it. But I truly loved it. It is as thick as the Bible, but you’ll read it in just a few hours. It is really spellbinding. Although I probably won’t read many graphic novels, this one was truly special.
LikeLike
I’ll add my voice to the crowd’s: keep reading. I actually was fairly wowed by “Preludes and Nocturnes” but it’s different for each person. For instance, “A Game of You” (Caitlin’s favorite) is one of my least favorite additions, same for “Dream Country” (interesting but far from the better ones). Meanwhile, I think vol. 6-9 are all absolutely brilliant. And 4 and 10 are incredibly special and fascinating as well. Everybody likes different parts to the series for different reasons but it doesn’t change the fact: the Sandman is genius.
It’s not even just the story. It’s not the art (The Kindly Ones is, in particular, bizarrely drawn but you’ll understand why once you read it). It’s not even Gaiman’s ever excellent writing. It’s the whole process, the bigger picture and the way that nothing is as meaningless as it seems. Nothing. No character is left pale and empty, no scene is not fully developed. Things constantly surprise and (perhaps more importantly) amaze.
I know the hype can be disconcerting (and yes, I realize I’ve added quite a bit to it) but the series is truly brilliant. I’m not going to pretend that there aren’t people who dislike it – there are. But sometimes people dislike one book more than the others, even when others might like it quite a bit. So again, my recommendation: stick with it. I hope you find the later books more satisfying.
LikeLike
I do enjoy graphic novels but I think I tend to go for ones that are a bit more memoir-like (Persepolis, Fun Home, French Milk, etc.). Something like this sounds a bit different for me but I’d like to give them a go one of these days.
LikeLike
I’ve got Sandman on my TBR shelves but haven’t picked it up yet. But thank heaven for fangrrrls like Caitlin! I love having the series listed in order.
LikeLike
That’s sort of satisfying, to hear that the author felt just the way that you did. It’s an interesting kind of confirmation of your own feelings, although I strongly believe that what authors say about their work doesn’t matter 🙂 I’ve never read Gaiman, but Hobgoblin is a fan, and maybe I will one day.
LikeLike
I’m picking this up from the library today and am looking forward to it. I think I read a few Sandman comix quite a few years ago, but I like to read things from the beginning so I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s like most Gaiman… the more you read, the more you love…
LikeLike
My God, we are twins. This was exactly my reaction to the book, from the reason I read it, to the feeling it was choppy and hard to follow, to reading Gaiman’s note and deciding I needed to read more. I haven’t read more yet, though.
LikeLike
Carl, thanks for the encouragement. I am glad it really does turn out to be brilliant! I will stick with it for sure then.
Caitlin, or should I say fangrrl? 😉 Between what you and Carl say I would be silly not to continue with the series. Thanks for the list of the whole order! That is very much appreciated! I will save it and keep it handy.
Litlove, we have to get you to read a graphic novel sometime. I’d love to know what you make of the genre! As for Gaiman, I suspect you would find him interesting because storytelling is a very important theme for him and he loves the mythic too.
Verbivore, do give Gaiman a try sometime. He has one of those fascinatingly creative minds.
Grad, the Invention of Hugo Cabret, noted and requested from the library 🙂
Bibliobio, Carl and Caitlin convinced me to keep reading, your comment actually got me to request Doll’s House from the library. I’m going to hold all of you to your promises now of brilliance! 😉
Iliana, I really liked Persepolis. I need to read the sequel. I think memoirs work great in graphic form. It certainly provides a different perspective. I think you would enjoy fiction too if you found the right place to start.
Carrie, I’m glad I wasn’t the only one Caitlin got excited about the series!
Dorothy, LOL, if you ever tell an author that what s/he says about her/his book doesn’t matter, I would really love to be there in person to see the author’s reaction! 🙂
Daphne, get with it girl! I thought you had picked it up last week and have been hoping to see you post about it 🙂
LikeLike
Emily, my twin 😉 Let’s read more. I have requested the next one from my library. That also reminds me that I have to read Blankets still! I had better pull that out!
LikeLike
Pingback: Death: The High Cost of Living « So Many Books
Pingback: The Invention of Hugo Cabret « So Many Books
Pingback: The Sandman: The Doll’s House « So Many Books