Rating: 
Summary: Figuring a departure into fantasy
Review: Preludes and Nocturns is my favorite book period. I write this review in order to 1)make my case and 2) allow my case to influence the overall star rating of this work. Preludes begins with the explorations of an occult society in modern day England, an obvious comment on the place that the mystical has been confined too in the modern world. What a better figure for what Gaimen is doing? Gaimen begins his journey from the fantastically real (traditional modern comic) to the fantastical (Sandman comics) in mundane (if you consider occult rituals and the like mundane, which in the comic world, it is) reality. Admitedly, the 'sleeping disease' was a little bit weak, but beautifully done. From here, Gaimen establishes Morpheous as a character by having him, esseintally, reconstruct himself. This has become such a pervasive theme in recent theatrical and literary works, that the only comment worth making here is that Gaimen did it before it was cool. Further, can you have a more visceral conveyence of the reality and delusions of a madman than '24 Hours'? I think not. Anyone who is not transfixed and horrified by that episode should return to thier fufilling lives of Ally McBeal and reruns of the Cosby Show. Finally, 'The Flutter of Her Wings' provides a welcome and necessary contrast to the horror of '24 Hours' and demonstrates Gaimens perceptive need for emotional juxtaposition even when so allegedly 'inexperienced'. Without this episode, while in my opinon certainly not the most affective episode, the graphic novel would be incomplete, unbalanced. Beyond that, the addition of anymore episodes of this tone would have abraded the feeling of release that 'Her Wings' presented. Preludes and Nocturns is my favorite work in the Sandman series, for perhaps the very reason that the narrative is not so meticously constructed. Gaimen was, at this point, playing with his ideas, and it lent a tone of possibility and mysticism that resonated throughout the rest of the series, as the series became more and more routinized in traditional plot structure. In my opinion, Preludes is the work that broke the ground for Sandman, not as a well-written series, but as a well done and well-exicuted series.
Rating:
Summary: Oh come on people, four stars?
Review: This introduction to the greatest graphic novel of all time is just that. An Introduction. I got angry when i read other reviews which only give it three or four stars because it lacks the intensity of some of the other books. I beg to differ. 24 hours is my favorite story in Sandman because it is so twisted and demented. Eternal waking is in this book, and that is one of the coolest things about the series. If you want to read Sandman, you have to start with this book. It's just that simple.
Rating:
Summary: Exit light,enter night
Review: The sandman is unlike anything I have ever read before, is it good or bad you ask?It is good,no,VERY good.The sandman isn't about another kind hearted super hero out to save the world from some villian who has a master plan to rule the universe,infact,the sandman isn't even kindhearted,he isn't evil either although he is very dark.The sandman is more like a catalyst, a watcher and player sometimes in the game of life and death,he doesn't look for trouble,it comes to him.Neil Gaiman (my favourite author after reading the sandman series) truly outdid himself here, he is outstanding,very unpredictable and easy to read,Mike mckean did an amazing job with the illustrations as well.The sandman is a series that will amaze anyone who reads it old and young,why? because a good book is a good book no matter what,and this qualifies as a VERY good book.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I got this book for Christmas and i have not been able to put it down. I have already ordered two more books in the series and with good cause. i have never really been a fan of comics to begin with, but the thing about this book is, is that it's not just a comic. It's an amazing journey into the world of dark fantasy. I would defenitly recommend this book to anyone who needs something interesting in their life.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth it for the opportunity to see Lucifer as Davie Bowie
Review: Preludes and Nocturnes starts in quite a clichéd manner, with the stereotypical occult portrayal and the rather redundant phrases used in the spell used to evoke Death, but quickly accelerates. The chapter where Morpheus travels to Hell is truly excellent, and I swear that Lucifer Morningstar *is* Davie Bowie! The battle between Morpheus and an unassuming demon is quite invenitve. I absolutely detested the inclusion of superheroes, as I felt it sort of cheapens the whole book, and makes it temporarily childish. I am currently reading The Doll's House, and I will give you one piece of advice if you wish to read these books in order: take note of small, seemingly unimportant phrases, as they tie-in beautifully in the subsequent chapters and even different books! You must *NOT* miss this. I felt a little foolish reading a comic book at first, but you forget all this when the powerful story washes over you. Most definitely worth the money. Read them in order.
Rating:
Summary: The Sound of Wings
Review: If this book only contained Issue #8, it would still be a must-have for Sandman fans. I refuse to give out ANY spoilers, and I would advise everyone out there who hasn't read Sandman to avoid seeing any. Let yourself be surprised. You deserve it.Okay, Preludes isn't as strong as some others, yada yada yada - SO WHAT? It's Sandman. It's the first issue. You have to read it, and you can't have a complete collection without it. I just finished reading World's End, and the last panel of issue 8 remains the defining image of the Sandman for me. There is a lot of powerful stuff in here, and I would suggest it to anyone who genuinely loves comics, mythology, or intelligent writing.
Rating:
Summary: The Standard for the Rest
Review: Only giving it 4 stars, because I will save 5 for future issues which get better... I am not going to waste words trying to explain why Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" is the epitomy of modern stoytelling. Enough has been written already and if you are just being introduced to this series as I have been, then you have already heard all about the stories themselves. I will just say that "Preludes and Nocturnes" is a MUST to read first. It's important to know some of the things that will be explained and referred back to in later stories. Gaiman goes to Hell and back (literally) and covers a whole spectrum of things, from the whimsical to the horrifying. Gaiman's storytelling is masterful and believe me as someone who has taught English before, his books will someday (if they are not already) be used within some college course to learn the great literature that was produced in the latter days of the 20th Century. The self-absorbed literary intelligensia in this country will probably dismiss it as "mere comic strips," not to be elevated up to the level of true literature...they are pompous windbags. Some might even dismiss these stories as pagan or even (gasp) satanic. That would be nothing new in the comic world. Those folks are limited in scope and little of brain. Am I saying too much? Wait and see. Better yet. Pick up these books and find out for yourself. I doubt you will be disappointed. If you are intelligent and want to be able to put a book down and continue to think about it for another week because it was THAT GOOD, then these need to be in your collection of must reads. You will read them again, so forget about about trying to borrow them from a friend. Describing these as comics is a great understatement and mischaracterization. To say it's a graphic novel probably is too weak, but it will do until some future generation develops their own classification of this literature ("graphic-literature?" --has promise.) Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: First chapter in a book of wonder.
Review: "GLACK. NAAAGH. FLEURGH." Such were my squeals of pain when forced by my conscience to only give this four stars, but this was written when Neil was still learning how to write down his stunning imagination and so does not rank quite as highly as the incredible latter Sandman books. Still, it is well worth buying. Praise, then criticism I think. Well, the second half of the book does not put a foot wrong and has one of the most chilling horror stories in the history of pretty much anything. '24 Hours' is truly terrifying with a ravaged man pushing people's minds over the edge in a cafeteria. 'The Sound of Her Wings' is a beautiful introduction for everyone's fave anthropomorphic personification, Death, who amazingly turns out to be a sensible, cute, perky young goth girl. The first half of the book is a bit more uneven. The opening story is written very well in the style of old English horror and has pretty good art by Sam Keith, who captures the oppressive Edwardian feel very well. The second story is also written well, but patchy and cartoony art lets it down. Keith's portrayals of Cain and Abel are excellent, as is the intensly cute gargoyle Irving (sorry Cain, Goldie)but his artwork for the Hecate and the appearence of Morpheus upon seeing his castle don't cut the mustard. The third and second stories are good once again with an excellent battle of imagination in Hell and everybodies fave occultist from Newcastle, Sam Keith's Hell is also pictured well, the oozing flesh and rubbery consistancy takes on a life of it's own, and the Hellfire club art is excellent. Unfortunatly we then come to the moderatley pleasing fourth issue where Neil makes some fundamental mistakes. Once of Sandman's greatest tricks is portraying a world where everything seems normal but where ancient beings and great magic live alongside us, only we never notice them because they move so quietly... unless your paths cross, then you are catapulted into THEIR world. Neil made the mistake of writing in some superheroes in this issue which pretty much crippled that concept whilst being a bit pointless when he could have chosen more plausible characters. Fortunatly he does not make the same mistake again. There are still gems in that issue though. So what we have in the end is a satisfying opening chapter that skillfully introduces a lot of big characters without ever seeming rushed. Buy it but be aware that the Sandman gets immesurably better in plot, script and art. A worthy purchase then and essential (otherwise it'd be like starting a book at the second chapter)but a flawed one. (Sam Keith left after the 4th issue, his other work is good, but he just didn't fit the Sandman).
Rating:
Summary: A good start
Review: Saying this isn't the best SANDMAN volume isn't saying much, since the entire set is overall excellent, and it would be depressing if the series hadn't improved on its beginning. Anyway, this is where you need to start -- it sets up the whole Dream mythos and establishes his character as he accumulates all his lost tools. The journey takes him from a house whose inner walls are made of a body turned inside out, to Hell itself, to the scene of a diner massacre, and even to the home of the Martian Manhunter. The art is a bit iffy. Sam Kieth wasn't the best match for SANDMAN and he admitted as much when he left. But once Mike Dringenberg and Malcolm Jones III come on board, the art gets noticeably better and, well, more SANDMAN-esque. Look at the difference between Dr. Dee in "Passengers," where he looks like a pathetic little psycho, and the same character in "24 Hours" and "Sound and Fury," where he is a truly frightening presence (especially on p. 175, panel 4, "Because I can"). Not to mention the first appearance of Death at the end of the book (though this may have been removed depending on which edition you find -- it was never meant to be included at the tail end of this volume; in any event, it continues to be available in the second volume). I'd also praise Neil Gaiman but what is there to say that hasn't already been said a million times?
Rating:
Summary: I didn't know comics could be like this
Review: I never was a comics fan, in fact the word comics to me used to mean cheap Superhero stuff. Used to, because obviously I had to change my mind after reading this first issue of the Sandman series. A friend loaned it to me, and said that I had to read it, since it would demolish my narrow-minded perspective on comics. And she was right. It's so smart, and sometimes deeply ironic. The intelligence of the writing had me literally pausing at some points to savour Gaiman's wit -- I was fascinated by the Sandman's perspective on hell. So it's supposed to be a graphic novel, and it wouldn't be fair not to acknowledge the graphics also, but it was really a lot of Gaiman's writing that struck me. Read one, read the rest of the series. In fact I've just finished "A Game of You". I'd have to say some of the issues are weaker than the rest, but are still of a particular thought-provoking standard.
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