Rating: 
Summary: Confusing..
Review: I think that this was confusing simply because I had not read any prior Sandman books, other than the one I previously reviewed. But that's what happens when you get books from the library.
But, after getting over the intial confusion, I found my bearings and this story was absolutely great. Once more, it's refreshing to see this kind of story-telling. Though it's in comic book form; it's recreating mythology for this era. I did find the art to be a little cartoony in this but it did not detract from the story.
Overall; I am definately am going to read the earlier volumes.
Rating: 
Summary: The best of the series, which says a lot!
Review: I thought this was most definitely the best: the most dramatic, with a fast-moving plot and characters I could identify with as a reader even though most of them aren't human; one of the most thought-provoking, with social and literary commentary put forth with compassion and insight; even the art, which is somewhat cartoonish, compared with, say, _The Wake_, but if they had to pick one to put the most basic art into, this was the right choice. Everything about the book was a combination of the right choices. The dialogue is tremendous, powerful, just like the rest of it. Characters who have been rather minor up to this point are filled out, portrayed in greater depth than in the previous eight books. A warning, though: this book is not for someone who can't handle violence or insanity in reading. It's also not for someone with a closed mind, it forces your horizons to widen, and makes you look at some things differently. A masterpiece not only of comic books, but of the fantasy genre as a whole.
Rating:
Summary: A fitting end
Review: I would have to give it a 10, if just for the final Mervyn scene. The art is not "beautiful", and at times seems the modern/edgy/graphic design stylism gets tiresome, but in general it complements and adds to the story as good comic art should.
Rating:
Summary: meep?
Review: I've been reading bits and pieces of this book, because I can't afford to buy it and I rarely have access to it...it is breathtaking, in every sense of the word. Everything, it all fits together perfectly. I hope I can scrounge up the money within the next couple of months to buy this book, and I would encourage anyone who loves to read to pick up this book.
Rating:
Summary: Death of a Dream
Review: I've been thinking of what I should or could write that can possibly sum up or adaquetly describe that once in a lifetime expierence that is The Sandman, and that one of a kind character, Dream of the Endless.The Kindly Ones is the winding up of one of the greatest and noblest works of literature of all time period. In most tragedies, regardless of whether it takes place in a play or movie, we have perhaps an hour, at most, to become acquanted with the hero, to know the greatness and flaws in his heart, to see the tragedy begin to unfold. With The Sandman, we've had years to do so. For years all of us fans have come to know and love the dream king, to see inside his soul, to the very deepest parts of him, and yet he has also continued to elude us, mystify and surprise us. It is a most rare character, either in real life or in fiction, who can do so. And this volume, The Kindly Ones, is the story of his downfall. As fiction, the Kindly Ones is an excellent work, perhaps a bit overlong and containing a few too many sidestories, but otherwiseit is quite good. I guess the real reason I gave it four stars is because it is the volume where Dream dies, and tht keeps me from giving it the top notch. But it does take a great story, and a great character, to make you cry, and The Kindly Ones succeeds in that. Yes, Dream dies. A great and terrible sorrow has been lying in his heart for a long time, and the death of Orpheus is the final straw. After that, Dream can see his doom coming, can see the fate laid out for him, but can no longer escape it, because he doesn't want to. The issue here is change, as Gaiman has subtly driven home. Dream cannot change, will not allow himself to do so, because it would destroy or undermine so much of who he is, or was, or will be. And since he cannot change, he also cannot heal, cannot mend the sorrows in his heart that are tearing him apart. And so, he lets himself fall to the Furies. In fact, you'll notice that when he makes his decision to die, and sends Matthew away, it is perhaps the only time he smiles in the entire book. Desire, at the end of Brief Lives, talked about Dream with Despair, "It's almost sad, in a way. He was a wreck just waiting for a place to happen." And it's true. Dream has just been waiting for that place to break down since he was captured by Roderick Burgess, or since the first death of Orpheus, or perhaps since some point even earlier. And the effects of Dream's death are everywhere, even in this volume. We see that Desire and Despair were both affected by the foreshadowing of Dream's death in Brief Lives, we see the tears of Titiana, the pained face of Lucifer as he counsels Delerium, and even the anger and hurt of Death, all knowing Death, even she is unnerved and surpirsed by her brother. And we will see those effects further in The Wake, on Daniel and Hob and Lyta, on all the friends and enemies of Dream. But when it comes to the subject of Dream's death, and why he chooses it, perhaps Mikal Gilmore, in his introduction of The Wake, says it best. "In the end, Morpheus' heart could not be fixed or healed; it could not simply be set right by his own will, or therapy, or medication, (gods-or their equals-do not get to opt for therapy or medication) and Morpheus, in these tales has come to understand the futility of living with a heart that cannot be fixed-especially living endlessly with such a heart."
Rating:
Summary: Comic-book format, classic tragedy
Review: If you think comics are just for kids, this collection will change your mind. The same can be said of the entire Sandman series, but for sheer drama, tightly woven storytelling, and fascinating characterization, "The Kindly Ones" is the best of the lot. Readers of previous Sandman collections will recognize many plotlines and characters finding closure here, but the story is also fascinating for the new reader. In a previous story arc, the Lord of Dreams killed his own son, Orpheus (yes, *that* Orpheus). The consequences of blood-debt, as any reader of Shakespeare will tell you, are terrible; in "The Kindly Ones," Dream, arguably one of the most powerful entities in all of creation, must face those consequences himself. In contrast with previous Sandman story arcs, Dream takes a much more active role; instead of being a catalyst, he is a central figure who drives the story. This does not mean that other characters who have taken that role in the past are forgotten, however. They're all here -- Hippolyta, Rose Walker, Queen Titania and her royal court of Faerie, Matthew the Raven, Cain and Abel, Lucifer, even Death herself. And the Corinthian...but I won't spoil that for you. If there is any justice in this world, Neil Gaiman will be remembered as one of the finest storytellers of our times. Sure, it's a comic book -- or, if you prefer, the more adult term "graphic novel" -- but you shouldn't let that stop you. This isn't Spiderman or Mary Worth. It isn't Tintin or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Gaiman has taken the medium to a whole different level, a level that demands that you take it seriously to fully appreciate the content. And if nothing else, the covers by Dave McKean are alone worth the price of admission
Rating:
Summary: So It ends...
Review: In his introduction Frank McConnell refers to this series as a tragedy, and that is a true summation of this series. How long has Dream prepared for his own ending? The Fates, who have been seen throughout the series in various incarnations, are empowered to punish those who spill blood within their own family. Dream is now on their list. But hasn't Dream been setting this up throughout the series? Looking back you will see how masterfully Gaiman has planned this out. Unlike Destruction, Dream could not leave his kingdom unattended, forsaking his responsibility. Instead he sets the wheels of change in motion, and in essence he pulls the strings of fate (The fates?) himself. The outcome of this epic tale is never in doubt but it is bittersweet at best. All stories, even great ones must come to an end.
Rating:
Summary: oh, the finality...
Review: It made me cry, ya know, even though I knew what was coming. The art *is* a bit cartoonish, but it has a neat and distinctive feel to it, and it's fun to see, and it certainly suits Delirium well.
The story is about vengeance and responsibility, guilt and grief. It's the climax of the SANDMAN series, and it brings a lot of things together. I love it (though it's still not my favorite, that's Brief Lives).
Rating:
Summary: outstanding!!!
Review: It seems all the other reviewers have done page long essays on this book. I'll keep it brief. As far as I'm concerned, there are two kinds of people in the world. People who cried when Dream died, and people who *admit* they cried when he died. Everyone else is inconsequential. Not to be rude to those who haven't read it yet, but.... I can understand the need to change and evolve and stop....but I still want Sandman to go on forever. I want to know that Dream will be there with new and exciting adventures....or at least new conversations with Death and silly somber faces at Delerium....and I haven't missed a character so much since I read "Little Women" in third grade when Beth died and I wailed all night long. I guess somewhere along the line, I fell in love with the Dream King. This is the best in the Sandman series. This is the best in contemporary fiction. This is the best in literature, period.
Rating:
Summary: outstanding!!!
Review: It seems all the other reviewers have done page long essays on this book. I'll keep it brief. As far as I'm concerned, there are two kinds of people in the world. People who cried when Dream died, and people who *admit* they cried when he died. Everyone else is inconsequential. Not to be rude to those who haven't read it yet, but.... I can understand the need to change and evolve and stop....but I still want Sandman to go on forever. I want to know that Dream will be there with new and exciting adventures....or at least new conversations with Death and silly somber faces at Delerium....and I haven't missed a character so much since I read "Little Women" in third grade when Beth died and I wailed all night long. I guess somewhere along the line, I fell in love with the Dream King. This is the best in the Sandman series. This is the best in contemporary fiction. This is the best in literature, period.
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