Rating: 
Summary: The best, most intense and satisfying Sandman collection.
Review: I don't understand the people who say that "Preludes & Nocturnes" is the worst of the Sandman collections. It's undoubtedly better than most of the non-Dream collections, like the regrettable Dream Country and the unfocused (but nice) World's End. It has "24 Hours", arguably the best issue of the whole series, and the whole of Dream's return to power is beautifully drawn, beautifully written, very very well done.
Rating: 
Summary: Neil Gaiman is a God
Review: I don't read comics as anything more than a passing entertainment but for Sandman I make an exception. I borrowed a copy from a friend and ended up reading it cover to cover in a few hours and hung on every word and thought about it for weeks afterwards. Neil Gaiman's brilliant storytelling and excellent writing combined with thought-provoking subject matter make this more a piece of literature than a comic book. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I've only read the first two graphic novels and if they are so good I don't want to feel bad if a later one is better and I give it "only" 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: The beginnings of greatness
Review: "Preludes and Nocturnes" is the first and most uneven of the Sandman collections. Neil Gaiman gives himself a large task of having to explain many things about the Sandman, thus justifying the lack of cohesion in the first few issues. However, I think this is one of the best collections. The first story is a classic gothic horror tale that explains how Dream became mistakenly imprisoned for almost 80 years and how people all over the world began to sleep all the time. At the end, Dream tricks his captors and escapes. The other tales follow Dream's quest to regain his magical items and his kingdom, which is in disarray in his absence. Familiar characters from the DC universe show up here such as John Constantine, Hellblazer, Mr. Miracle and Martian Manhunter from the Justice League, and the old super-villain Doctor Destiny. Neil manages to use John Constantine and Dr. Destiny quite well but isn't sure what to do with the Justice League. Nevertheless, the Sandman's journey is an interesting one particularly his trip to Hell and his encounter with Doctor Destiny in a 24 hour diner that manages to bring out the worst in human nature. The last tale introduces us to Death and is a great tale about life despite being about well, Death. Neil Gaiman laid down the blueprints for the entire Sandman series here. Many of the characters would appear again in later stories and many events mentioned here would later be expanded upon. This is the place to start if you want to get into Sandman.
Rating: 
Summary: Dreaming of Greatness...
Review: Preludes and Nocturnes is easily the weakest of the individual Sandman novels... but still better than most of the funny-books out there. The first chapter is a self-contained story dealing with Morpheus' seventy-year imprisonment by an amateur English magician, and his escape. The rest of the novel deals with his adventures re-claiming his three tools: his sand pouch, his ruby, and his helmet. The second chapter is set-up for the rest of the story, featuring DC Comics' horror mainstays Cain & Abel. The third story is one of the best in this book, guest-starring Hellblazer's John Constantine, whose ex-girlfriend is in possession of the bag of sand. Part four is one of my all-time favorite Sandman stories: "A Hope in Hell", where Morpheus goes to the pit, running into Lucifer Morningstar (one of the best characters in the series), and challenging a demon to regain his helmet. Parts five through seven involve a super-villain named Dr. Destiny (not to be confused with the real Destiny, Dream's brother) escaping from a madhouse, going on a murderous rampage in one of the most horrific stories I've ever read in a comic. Part six "24 Hours," especially so, where Dr. Destiny slowly drives the customers in an overnight diner mad, eventually killing each other. But chances are, if you're buying this, and you've heard of Neil Gaiman's Sandman before, it's for part eight, "The Sound of Her Wings", the introduction of the most famous (and nicest) member of the regular cast, Dream's big sister Death. She shows up to take her depressed brother with her for a hard day's work of taking people to the next life, quoting Mary Poppins all the while. This is a fine story, a nice promise of the kind of story that there are to look forward to later on. Neil's style was just coming onto its own here, but his lyrical, poetic style is for the most part intact, as well as his original, and at times terrifying ideas. The superhero stuff really doesn't work all that well. Surely Gaiman could have thought of some more interesting hero than Mister Miracle to aid Sandman in his search, and the cameo by Martian Manhunter, while nicely handled by having him recognize Morpheus as the Martian god of dreams, left that character grossly mischaracterized. On the other hand, I was impressed that so many characters that would be important later on were introduced here, given the feeling that Gaiman was still cutting his chops in this book. The art style is a bit weak, compared to the other novels in the series. "Preludes" is the one that looks the most "four-color", more like a traditional comic. Sam Keith's (who was absolutely right when he describes his work on Sandman as "Jimi Hendrix playing with the Beatles") work is a little too cartoony, though I must admit, the man draws one mean Hell. Mike Dringenberg's style, on the other hand, works very well with Sandman, despite being a bit too sketchy, and not having enough detail in faces. In closing, I'd recommend to anyone thinking of purchasing this book to either read it before the others, because it won't seem as diminished as it would after reading some of the other classics later on in the series, or after the others, since there are other books in the series that give the reader much more bang for your buck.
Rating:
Summary: enter a different world
Review: It's hard to review just one book of the series 'cause they are part of a larger story. Gaiman uses fables and myths and converts them to a modern story which at the same time feels like a ancient fary tale. If you have the chance watch Neverwhere, it's a BBC series about a world below modern Londen.
Rating:
Summary: It only Gets Better
Review: This is a great graphic novel as graphic novels go, but you should know that the Sandman series gets far better after this book. You have to read this to begin though, because the Sandman series is essentually one gigantic novel (2000 pages), and this is the beginning of that novel. Still, the story is great and won't let you down.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!!!
Review: This was the first graphic novel I've ever bothered to read, and I'm so glad that I did. I bought it on the recommendation of someone whose opinion I greatly value, and he did not lead me wrong. I'm not sure what my expectations for this were, but it certainly surpassed whatever they might have been. Neil Gaiman has created a masterpiece with a very interest concept, compelling plot, and fascinating characters. I was most impressed with his development of Death and Lucifer. I can't wait to read the next book and see what surprises Gaiman has in store for me.
Rating:
Summary: Mythology, literature, and a damn good read!
Review: I always hated comic books -- there was nothing to them. Gaiman changed my opinion. The synthesis of art and word works to create an intense, ever-changing world of The Endless, not quite gods, not quite mortals, but something more necessary altogether. This is the beginning and, in some ways, the weakest of the series, and yet it is brilliant (can I give 6 stars to some of the others???). This is not a "comic book"; this is literature in disguise. Anyone interested in mythology, folklore, pyschology, religion, and the Seven D's should read these books -- often!
Rating:
Summary: Good start to a GREAT series!!!!!!!
Review: Having read all the sandman novels i must say this is my leat favorite. I still highly recomend reading it, but it is obvious that gaiman is just starting to get the feel of what he wants the series to be, and it does not have quite the quality of the other sandmans.The last story in the book " The sound of her wings" is actually one of my favorites. Highly recomended!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The beginning of a wonderful journey
Review: The Sandman is, in my opinion the best whole comic series that ever existed. Certain mini series may have been better than Sandman stories along the way, but at an ongoing, year spanning series goes, Sandman is the very best that every happened. This book, the beginning of the Sandman comic is not the best Sandman story, but it still deserves the highest rating I can give it. Dream's (the Sandman) battle with John Dee in this story is the most amazing fight I've ever seen in a comic, especially because it strays from physical combat as much as possible. And even that scene which I rave about is not the best that this book has to offer. Go ahead, I dare you... read it!
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