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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
A maybe minor entry into The Sandman, but no less satisfying to read. Similar to Dream Country, it is a collection of short stories that tie into the larger whole or, in many ways, are just joyous to read. These are all delightful in their own forms or fashion, some darker than others, some more funny, some incredible, truly though that they are. The best part for these is their historical place in the long run and how The Endless' reach comes and goes from generation to generation and it is fun seeing history and tale and myth blend together and make a cohesive narrative whole as well. In part, the title, Reflections, is good to consider in this edition. To reflect and ponder each of these is in due time, very good. Fables, well that goes without really saying much. Gene Wolfe's introduction is crucial, but so are most of the introductions in these volumes if you are to ask me. Nonetheless, essential reading to getting into the mindset of this volume.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A bit hit and miss. Some great stories and some boring stories. Probably my least favourite volume so far.
There was also a quote, "and love is known her too, if all the tales of passion, aye, and rape so long ago have any truth or honesty to them," which was especially icky given everything that's coming out about Neil Gaiman at the moment.
I'm not sure whether to continue reading the series.
💔
There was also a quote, "and love is known her too, if all the tales of passion, aye, and rape so long ago have any truth or honesty to them," which was especially icky given everything that's coming out about Neil Gaiman at the moment.
I'm not sure whether to continue reading the series.
💔
This volume covers different eras, regions, and rulers- and how their rule is influenced by their “Dreams”. Another great installment of The Sandman!
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Whole volume was just short stories incorporating dream and his siblings into pre-existing tales and myths and that’s exactly what I wanted
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The old man wakes in the night, sweating and cold. He listens to the silence, for one sick moment afraid that he has fallen back in time; is once more a quivering boy... In the darkness he fears that the whole of his life since that black night has been nothing more than a fever's dream. He shouts for a storyteller. There is always a storyteller waiting in the anteroom. The old man sleeps alone, but solitude scares him. The gaudy tales of brass men and dragon's teeth comfort him, and, a child again, he sleeps.
Volume 6! Just wow. A collection of independent stories from throughout history where we see Dream interacting with the waking world. We meet Dream's son, [a:Orpheus|1051932|Orpheus|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], the first Emperor of America, Joshua Abraham Norton, the infamous explorer, [a:Marco Polo|9262|Marco Polo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1246069644p2/9262.jpg], and Cain and Abel, to name but a few.
We see how Dream influenced these figures from throughout history and the lengths some will go for love, to be remembered, or to escape their fates.
Despite being independent stories there are still nods to previous stories as we meet Dream on his way back to his realm having escaped his entrapment in [b:The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes|39208021|The Sandman Vol. 1 Preludes & Nocturnes|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540852734l/39208021._SY75_.jpg|1228437] and there is also some set up for the continued story that occurs in [b:The Sandman Vol. 7: Brief Lives|41091629|The Sandman Vol. 7 Brief Lives (The Sandman #7)|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547594593l/41091629._SY75_.jpg|40666827] which I started my Sandman journey with and will now be re-reading with all the history in hand. I wonder what new delights I will notice!
Volume 6! Just wow. A collection of independent stories from throughout history where we see Dream interacting with the waking world. We meet Dream's son, [a:Orpheus|1051932|Orpheus|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], the first Emperor of America, Joshua Abraham Norton, the infamous explorer, [a:Marco Polo|9262|Marco Polo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1246069644p2/9262.jpg], and Cain and Abel, to name but a few.
We see how Dream influenced these figures from throughout history and the lengths some will go for love, to be remembered, or to escape their fates.
Despite being independent stories there are still nods to previous stories as we meet Dream on his way back to his realm having escaped his entrapment in [b:The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes|39208021|The Sandman Vol. 1 Preludes & Nocturnes|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540852734l/39208021._SY75_.jpg|1228437] and there is also some set up for the continued story that occurs in [b:The Sandman Vol. 7: Brief Lives|41091629|The Sandman Vol. 7 Brief Lives (The Sandman #7)|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1547594593l/41091629._SY75_.jpg|40666827] which I started my Sandman journey with and will now be re-reading with all the history in hand. I wonder what new delights I will notice!
I kind of almost want to give this one five stars. And it was all short stories!
I've been slowly making my way through Sandman since last year, but this is really the first time I feel like I've really gotten what this series was about. It was just great from beginning to end. Each of the nine stories were great in their own way, and they tied together thematically as well, but in that great subtle way that sneaks up on you slowly. Normally, there's at least one dud in a short story collection, if not more, but here literally every one was so well crafted. Certain ones spoke to me more than others, but all of them I would read again.
I'm not sure why I'm holding back on the five stars here. Maybe I just want to see what's coming in Vols. 7-10. This volume feels kind of like a turning point, like something much bigger is coming soon. So I want to wait and see what the whole picture looks like. This of course means I will be re-reading the whole series. But I've done this with every great graphic novel series, so this isn't really surprising.
I've got the next one up in a couple of weeks, but my library's copy of Vol. 7 is now lost, which is frustrating, after I waited on hold for it for over a month. And now the series is gone from Kindle Unlimited, so I'm going to have find another way to read it. Normally I would just go into Barnes & Noble and sit there in the café and read it with a coffee, but this whole COVID-19 mess is probably going to make that a not-great thing to do. Ugh, I'll probably just buy it on Kindle.
[4.5 stars]
I've been slowly making my way through Sandman since last year, but this is really the first time I feel like I've really gotten what this series was about. It was just great from beginning to end. Each of the nine stories were great in their own way, and they tied together thematically as well, but in that great subtle way that sneaks up on you slowly. Normally, there's at least one dud in a short story collection, if not more, but here literally every one was so well crafted. Certain ones spoke to me more than others, but all of them I would read again.
I'm not sure why I'm holding back on the five stars here. Maybe I just want to see what's coming in Vols. 7-10. This volume feels kind of like a turning point, like something much bigger is coming soon. So I want to wait and see what the whole picture looks like. This of course means I will be re-reading the whole series. But I've done this with every great graphic novel series, so this isn't really surprising.
I've got the next one up in a couple of weeks, but my library's copy of Vol. 7 is now lost, which is frustrating, after I waited on hold for it for over a month. And now the series is gone from Kindle Unlimited, so I'm going to have find another way to read it. Normally I would just go into Barnes & Noble and sit there in the café and read it with a coffee, but this whole COVID-19 mess is probably going to make that a not-great thing to do. Ugh, I'll probably just buy it on Kindle.
[4.5 stars]
Rating: 4.5 stars
Edit: Seriously! What the hell?! Why can't I just enjoy reading without the author turning out to be a giant piece of garbage!
I have a personal rule about not supporting monsters financially, so finding out that Neil Gaiman has sexually assaulted multiple women (apparently he's also a Zionist) is intensely disappointing. I have loved everything I've read by him so far. I've spent a lot of money on his books. American Gods was my favourite book for ages. I listed him as one of my favourite authors. I named my cat after one of his characters! And it turns out he's been a monster all along.
I can't reverse time and un-spend my money and I can't change my cat's name, but I can add him to the list of artists who I no longer support (*cough* J.K. Rowling *cough*). I still own several of his books which I have not read yet; I will still read/rate them, but afterwords I will be donating all 16 of my Neil Gaiman books to my local library.
At least Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Kurt Vonnegut and Anne Rice can't disappoint me since they're dead.
Edit: Seriously! What the hell?! Why can't I just enjoy reading without the author turning out to be a giant piece of garbage!
I have a personal rule about not supporting monsters financially, so finding out that Neil Gaiman has sexually assaulted multiple women (apparently he's also a Zionist) is intensely disappointing. I have loved everything I've read by him so far. I've spent a lot of money on his books. American Gods was my favourite book for ages. I listed him as one of my favourite authors. I named my cat after one of his characters! And it turns out he's been a monster all along.
I can't reverse time and un-spend my money and I can't change my cat's name, but I can add him to the list of artists who I no longer support (*cough* J.K. Rowling *cough*). I still own several of his books which I have not read yet; I will still read/rate them, but afterwords I will be donating all 16 of my Neil Gaiman books to my local library.
At least Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Kurt Vonnegut and Anne Rice can't disappoint me since they're dead.
This volume was hit or miss with me. I really enjoyed the story of Orpheus and the one about Daniel, the boy conceived in the Dream realm. Many of the other stories didn't really hold my interest, though.