Product Description
Herbert George Wells was perhaps best known as the author of such classic works of science fiction as The Time Machine and War of the Worlds. But it was in his short stories, written when he was a young man embarking on a literary career, that he first explored the enormous potential of the scientific discoveries of the day. He described his stories as "a miscellany of inventions," yet his enthusiasm for science was tempered by an awareness of its horrifying destructive powers and the threat it could pose to the human race. A consummate storyteller, he made fantastic creatures and machines entirely believable; and, by placing ordinary men and women in extraordinary situations, he explored, with humor, what it means to be alive in a century of rapid scientific progress. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Superbly chosen introduction to the short work of the master
This review is for the paperback edition of the "Oxford World Classics" edition edited by Michael Sherborne, with 33 stories collected.It's probably the best place to start on HG Wells' short fiction, containing the title story, his most well-known, and also many other masterpieces including the quite chilling realist revenge story "The Cone", a great example of his early comedic style in "The New Accellerator" and the story that is in my opinion his best, "The Door in the Wall." This is a story that is all atmosphere, sentiment and heartbreak; not typical of Wells but he carries it off in an extraordinarily powerful way in just a few pages. Certainly one of the most significant and influential stories of a door into another place....

Wells proves to be a master of most of the popular shorter forms of his day - the psychological horror, the monster story, the odd invention story, the romance, the harsh and gritty realistic story of crime.There are a few pieces here that I'm not crazy about, but nothing out and out bad.At any rate, if you don't find something to love in the stories I've mentioned, or most of the others in this collection, you are probably not a Wells fan. This is a touchstone.

Just what I wanted
Clean, new, and everything it promised to be.When I was 14, in 8th grade English class, I'd read a short story that had had a message that had stayed with me through life.Though I'd forgotten the author and title of it, I'd referred to it many times in my thoughts, and in telling other people the message, too.I've been searching for it for about 30 years or so, and finally found it on Amazon's search engine.(I'd tried before, but nothing ever surfaced.)Anyway, here it is:The Country of the Blind by H.G. Wells.It's a wonderful story with great metaphors and, unfortunately, it contains a message about what happens to special people with unusual insights while they are alive, and the narrowmindedness and blindness of us all, and the strength of peer pressure.I'm so grateful to have it now.

Free SF Reader
A fairly substantial chunk of Wells' short stories, and it appears that basically they have included all of the best, here, so a good option if you don't want to wade through the complete variety.

Country of the Blind : THE JILTING OF JANE - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE CONE - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE STOLEN BACILLUS - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE FLOWERING OF THE STRANGE ORCHID - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE AVU OBSERVATORY - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : AEPYORNIS ISLAND - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE REMARKABLE CASE OF DAVIDSON'S EYES. - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE LORD OF THE DYNAMOS. - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE MOTH - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE TREASURE IN THE FOREST - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE STORY OF THE LATE MR. ELVESHAM - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : UNDER THE KNIFE - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE SEA RAIDERS - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE OBLITERATED MAN - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE PLATTNER STORY - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE RED ROOM - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE PURPLE PILEUS - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : A SLIP UNDER THE MICROSCOPE - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE CRYSTAL EGG - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE STAR - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : A VISION OF JUDGMENT - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : JIMMY GOGGLES THE GOD - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : MISS WINCHELSEA'S HEART - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : A DREAM OF ARMAGEDDON - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE VALLEY OF SPIDERS - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE NEW ACCELERATOR - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE TRUTH ABOUT PYECRAFT - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE MAGIC SHOP - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE EMPIRE OF THE ANTS - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE DOOR IN THE WALL - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE COUNTRY OF THE BLIND - H. G. Wells
Country of the Blind : THE BEAUTIFUL SUIT - H. G. Wells

No good.

2 out of 5


Too hot here.

3 out of 5


Anarchy plague hard to swallow.

3.5 out of 5


Hothouse leech.

3.5 out of 5


Big flying thing I think.

3.5 out of 5


Big egg hatching.

4 out of 5


Remote viewing.

3.5 out of 5


Engine sacrifice.

3.5 out of 5


Not fair to die before the end of the debate.

4 out of 5


Poison gold.

3.5 out of 5


Swap is not replacement.

3.5 out of 5


Operation scare.

3.5 out of 5


Cephalopod people eaters.

4 out of 5


Bad play.

2.5 out of 5


Other world reversal.

3 out of 5


Fear place.

4 out of 5


Magic mushies.

3 out of 5


Exam cheating.

3 out of 5


Tuning in Mars.

4 out of 5


Just a near miss, that planet going past Earth. Nothing to worry those Martians.

4 out of 5


It is really not a good idea to stop the Earth's rotation.

3.5 out of 5


Supernatural stuff seen.

2 out of 5


Deity impersonation.

3 out of 5


Snooks not for me.

2.5 out of 5


Future war visions.

3 out of 5


Puffballs, too many legs.

3.5 out of 5


Flash tonic.

3.5 out of 5


A man needs to get his physics straight when asking for supernatural dieting assistance.

4 out of 5


Genuine article here.

3.5 out of 5


Just waiting for the takeover.

4 out of 5


Other places to go.

3 out of 5


Hard to be King, no matter how many eyes.

4 out of 5


Fashion victim.

2.5 out of 5



3.5 out of 5

33 short stories of mixed quality
COUNTRY OF THE BLIND is a collection of 33 short stories hand picked by H.G. Wells as his best.The stories were written first published between 1894 and 1906 in both magazines and other Wells' anthologies.Most of the stories are science fiction, though a few are not.Among my favorites were "The Stolen Bacillus," "The Lord of the Dynamos," "Under the Knife," "The Sea Raiders," "The Crystal Egg," "The Man Who Could Work Miracles," "The New Accelerator," "The Truth About Pyecraft," "The Magic Shop," "Empire of the Ants," and "Country of the Blind.""The Crystal Egg" and "The Magic Shop" both appear to have influenced Stephen King's NEEDFUL THINGS.Other stories were uninspired sleepers. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of stories for wise young people and immature old people, written by favorites of all ages: Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy), John Scieszka (The Stinky Cheese Man), Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, American Gods), and many others. Each story features color illustrations by a different artist, including Barry Blitt, Marcel Dzama, and Lane Smith.

Lemony Snicket adds an introduction and a story of his own—at least, he starts one, and then it is up to the reader to finish. The story appears on the inside of the dust jacket; you add your own thrilling, joyful, or disgusting ending. The jacket then folds up into a fancy envelope, addressed to us. Our favorite ending will receive a fabulous prize of some sort. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A hit and miss.
I didn't really know what to expect with this book. It seemed so mysterious to me at first, with its super long title and the impressive line up of contributors. This was my introduction to Nick Hornby, an author that I'm incredibly curious about since I read this book. His short story, "Small Country", is the one I liked the most.

As expected with almost every anthology, not everything therein is guaranteed to be a hit. There will be a couple of misses almost all the time, I realized. Some of the stories in the book were kind of painful to finish. I won't single out a story, to be fair, but one in particular bored me to tears. I kept reading though, expecting something rewarding at the end, but no. It was quite a disappointment.

This is a young adult book that can also pass for a children's book. I especially liked the illustrations that came with the story and Lemony Snicket's introduction. It's a light read and you'll get through it easily in no time. While I was reading, I was mostly looking forward to flipping the pages to see the illustrations. But I enjoyed this book, or rather, most of it.

The Book You Wish Was Around When You Were Growing Up
What a crazy title for a book! And what can one expect? Well, this is the kind of book you buy for your ten-year-old son or daughter, and then keep for yourself. A hilarious, edgy and somewhat sassy collection featuring short stories from today's most sought out writers including Nick Hornby, Neil Gaiman and Jonathan Safran, plus an introduction from Lemony Snicket, //Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs and Some Other Things...//is highly readable, totally unpredictable and fiercely original.

Guaranteed to keep the young reader turning each page in fascination, the stories feature no common thread except for the fact that they all seem to be over-the-top tall tales. There's a lot to like about this book. The funny illustrations that accompany the stories, the challenge to find a good story ending and the extremely difficult crossword puzzle make this book truly unique and a quirky addition to any child's library.

Good reading, expired offer
Great gift for young readers but the complete-the-story contest offer, which would be fun experience, is expired.

A great collection of short stories for young readers
After hearing Nick Hornby read his short story "Small Country" on NPR, I had to pick up this book.I was not disappointed.The stories are odd, humorous, and a bit-off center, but they are also immensely enjoyable.The themes are geared primarily towards younger readers (stories about parents leaving for Peru, monsters at summer camp, over protective fathers - you get the idea), with a tongue-in-cheek parody about them that is reminiscent of Lemony Snicket (who, in fact, wrote the introduction.)

Most stories are sure to be a hit with the grade 3 - 6 crowd; the final story by Jonathan Safran Foer ("The Sixth Borough") is a bit less kid-friendly, but the collection as a whole is a fun read.Highly recommended for young readers.

great book
My10 year old daughter absolutely loved this book. She was a bit intimidated by the title initially , so I started off reading her the stories. We both were intrigued and read the whole book together. I thought is was so good , when we finished, I gave the book to our school library for other kids to read - my daghter nearly killed me for giving it away! ... Read more

Product Description
One of the most celebrated writers in the history of comics teams up once again with one of the industry's most accomplished artists! For the first time in nine years, since the award-winning 50th issue of Sandman, Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell once again venture into the world of myth and angels. Constructing and maintaining all of heaven and earth is an immense task, which God has divided up amongst the various ranks and stations of angels. As with any such huge effort, there are bound to be casualties. This unique passion play sheds light on the hands behind creation, as well as one lonely man in Los Angeles who gets to hear the whole story of a most unspeakable crime: a murder in paradise! P. Craig Russell adapts Neil Gaiman's poignant short story with the subtlety and grace which earned him two Eisner Awards last year for his work on Dark Horse's Ring of the Nibelung series. The reunion of these two legendary comics creators is a guaranteed masterpiece. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Mysterious ways
At the beginning of Creation, an angel is murdered and Raguel, the Vengeance of the Lord, is sent to discover the culprit. Meanwhile Lucifer, his presence at the crime scene unaccounted for, walks in the shadows as he contemplates Creation and God's ultimate purpose.

I loved the way Gaiman wrote the character of Lucifer. Here he seems much more compelling and interesting a character with the way he tries to understand God's designs and uses his head, rather than the pure evil version many Christians choose to believe in.

The misdirection as to the murderer's identity is a nice addition to the story and a nod to the genre it is written in. It keeps the reader guessing until the reveal at the end. Even then though, the murder mystery solved, the real mystery - God's plans - remain obscured. It's this that is the true mystery. Why would God create evil? Why would God not destroy Lucifer since he has the power to? We never find out.

The framing device is clever and adds another twist to the ending. It makes you appreciate what an accomplished writer Gaiman is that he never lets up with an ending. Just when you feel that he can stop, that he's tied up the loose ends, he keeps going and takes the story to a different place where you're completely surprised again.

Despite this being one of Gaiman's best short stories, it's translated very well into comics form by the masterful P. Craig Russell. His beautiful artwork brings the angels to life and gives you breathtaking visions of Creation. He also does a wonderful job of drawing Death. No, not the skeleton in a black cowl with a scythe, but the concept of Death. Very imaginative, Russell's drawing abilities matches Gaiman's writing and imagination perfectly.

One of the finest of this series of Gaiman adapted comic books, and a brilliant standalone comic book for those who are put off by ordinary prose, "Murder Mysteries" is a fantastic read and will hold your attention from the first page to the last.

Nice book.
Nice story by Gaiman, not a master piece but close enought.

Kept me hooked to the book until the end (not too hard since the book is short).

Nice idea of a murder in heaven, even more interesting the ending; not that surprising though, but still a good reading.

Short but rich - marvelous story!
This is a short graphic novel, so I finished it in less than an hour. However, the story is a wondrous tale of a murder in Paradise and Raguel, the angel made to be the Lord's vengeance, is awoken to find the murderer. It involves the construction of the Universe by various angels and Raguel meeting them and Lucifer. Contrary to what people might expect, Lucifer *didn't* commit this murder.

It's wonderfully drawn and written, and told by an old man. A Brit stuck in L.A. from an unexpected stop over visits an old friend of his, then goes for a walk and offers two cigarettes and a matchbook for an old man. When he won't take money, the old man offers this tale as his payment, a tale of *his* past.

It's really short, but so rich. I kind of wished it was longer, just so I had more to read and get absorbed in, but at the same time I wouldn't want it to peter out and kind of lose its greatness.

I definitely recommend this book to Neil Gaiman fans and people who have an open mind about God and his plans.

A mystery not solved, but resolved
Two of the best things that can happen to a comic are to have Gaiman write it and Russell illustrate it. The combination emerges as a wonderful, haunting story. It imagines Lucifer's fall from heaven - a baffling rebellion, unless some specific needs to be rebelled against. And, with an all-powerful god, even Lucifer's rejection of heaven must itself have been divinely ordained. This story posits wholly sufficient reason, a real theological thorn that irritates many mere mortals, and a Macchiavellian orchestration of Lucifer's departure.

This isn't bible-thumping, though. It's story-telling, the kind where elegant images set off a thoughtful, thought-provoking myth. Along the way, it reminds us that the age of myths isn't over. Our own age needs to understand itself through fiction as much as any other ever did, and Gaiman and Russell contribute to that understanding.

-- wiredweird

Even better than Neil Gaiman's original short story!
It's hard to improve on something as good as the original Neil Gaiman short story this graphic novel is based upon, yet Russell does it. An amazing work, one of the best graphic novels of the decade. Easily! ... Read more

Product Description
Once upon a time, in a gloomy castle on a lonely hill, where there were thirteen clocks that wouldn’t go, there lived a cold, aggressive Duke, and his niece, the Princess Saralinda. She was warm in every wind and weather, but he was always cold. His hands were as cold as his smile, and almost as cold as his heart. He wore gloves when he was asleep, and he wore gloves when he was awake, which made it difficult for him to pick up pins or coins or the kernels of nuts, or to tear the wings from nightingales.

So begins James Thurber’s sublimely revamped fairy tale, The 13 Clocks, in which a wicked Duke who imagineshe has killed time, and the Duke’s beautiful niece, for whom time seems to have runout, both meet their match, courtesy of an enterprising and very handsome prince in disguise. Readers young and old will take pleasure in this tale of love forestalled but ultimately fulfilled, admiring itsupstanding hero (”He yearned to find in a far land the princess of his dreams, singing as he went, and possibly slaying a dragon here and there”) and unapologetic villain (”We all have flaws,” the Duke said. “Mine is being wicked”), while wondering atthe enigmatic Golux, the mysterious stranger whose unpredictable interventions speed the story to its necessarily happy end. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (61)

Courtship like CLockwork?
I was introduced to this marvelous fantasy in junior high and despite the passing of decades and the reading of hundreds of Young Adult books and dozens of Children's Classics I still recall this tale with fondness. Known for his droll and irreverent Midwestern sense of humor Thurber is generally known for his outrageous short stories like, "The Night the Bed Fell" and "The Night the Ghost Got In,"the Ohio journalist let out all the literary stops when he took pen in hand (or was it just an old Royal typewriter?) to decant a fairy tale of 50's vintage.

Also a pen and ink artist, whose spare cartoons are more charica- tures of people and animals, Thurber easily captured the traditional elements of a fairy tale: a beautiful princess, her evil guardian who fiendishly discourages all suitors with impossible quests, a prince with an unusual name, and a "pet" monster whose loyalty is casual at best.

But it is Thurber's use/invention of Words which boggles readers of all ages; his vocabulary is from out of this galaxy and his descriptive expressions are beyond creative--brainchildren of his darkly satirical genius.Today's young readers--trained in video games of fantasy--are remarkably resilient, and will handle the physical violence verbally unscathed. Gleep! Is that the ubiquitous Todal slurking off in disregust, because the 13 clocks risk being ungefrozen as a result of human happiness? This short book should be considered a kids' klassik--no shame to adults who rejoice in their inner kiddom.

"And he ate only pops that were lolly."
Many "modern" writers seem to miss the mark, (because the mark is not themselves;)...[even if they are named "Mark"];)). Somehow, attempts at a modern faiy tale by more modern writers would seem frivolous or contrived. One can tell that Thurber has been properly informed by literary tradition, as explained by T.S. Eliot in his essay "Tradition and the Individual Talent." Writers can do nothing on their own, cut away from tradition, and purely as individuals. This is the flaw of much of our modern writers who have not read the classics and merely focus on themselves.

13 Clocks is witty and non-chalantly sarcastic. It is down to earth enough to be a fairy tale, a real fairy tale.

There is, in a sense, a sense of Odysseus in Circe's forest at one point and another, a Shakespearean minstrel, and a bit of old Disney, with prose that combines Dr. Seuss and The Brothers Grimm.


This book would make a clever gift for a clever child.

A favorite from my childhood
I found this book in my school library in 5th grade, and it is one of the few books from my childhood that I never forgot. Admittedly, it has some dark scenes, and I remember it giving me chills when I read it as a kid. But it's also beautifully written, with funny and memorable scenes. I was so thrilled to "rediscover" this book as an adult and to find it was just as magical 20 years later.

This fairy tale is not for kids
The 13 Clocks is a wonderful and witty story, but on rereading it I realize that it contains so much physical violence that it hardly qualifies as a children's book. Very enjoyable, like most of Thurber's works, but you wouldn't read it to a six-year old.

Quite Possibly the Best Book Ever Written
I wish I'd found this book long before I was 53 years old, but I am having a wonderful time reading it with my son. I own a book store and I'm going to be hand-selling this like mad, to kids who think that Harry Potter is literature.

I am also a writer, and the writing is literally amazing. Reading it aloud is the most fun I've had in a long time. I was really unhappy that my son fell asleep, I wanted to keep reading it aloud to myself. (I did finish the chapter while he snored.)

I agree with the man who wrote the introduction, and other reviewers here. This may well be the best book ever written. It is definitely my new baby shower and birthday party gift. It's an absolute treasure.

I wish I could give it more than five stars. ... Read more

Product Description
THE SANDMAN, written by New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman, was the most acclaimed comic book title of the 1990s. A rich blend of modern myth and dark fantasy in which contemporary fiction, historical drama and legend are seamlessly interwoven, THE SANDMAN is also widely considered one of the most original and artistically ambitious series of the modern age. By the time it concluded in 1996, it had made significant contributions to the artistic maturity of comic books and become a pop culture phenomenon in its own right.

Now, DC Comics is proud to present this comics classic in an all-new Absolute Edition format. The first of four beautifully designed slipcased volumes, THE ABSOLUTE SANDMAN VOL. 1 collects issues 1-20 of The Sandman and features completely new coloring, approved by the author, on the first 18 issues, as well as a host of never-before-seen extra material, including the complete original Sandman Proposal, a gallery of character designs from Gaiman and the artists who originated the look of the Sandman, and the original script to the World Fantasy Award-winning THE SANDMAN #19, "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," together with reproductions of the issue’s original pencils by Charles Vess. Also included are a new introduction by DC’s president Paul Levitz and a new afterword by Gaiman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (71)

A First-Time Sandman Reader's Review
One would say I'm behind the times - after all, Sandman premiered over 20 years ago. I finally got my hands on a copy of Absolute Sandman and I can honestly say this is the most beautiful hardcover comic I own. Spanning over 600 pages, you won't be reading Absolute Sandman anywhere but the comfort of your home. The book is covered in beautiful black leather with etched logos on the front and sides. Included in the binding of the book is a silk bookmark so you can always start where you left off. It includes a graphic slipcover made of very sturdy cardboard but I think it distracts from the beautiful craftsmanship of the actual book.

The great thing about The Sandman is the actual story. While the artwork is decent and the recoloring is nicely done, you're reading this for Gaiman's beautiful writing. As a first time reader, I really enjoyed the first volume and immediately purchased the other 3 volumes before I was even finished with this volume. Reading about Dream/Morpheus entering hell and recovering his kingdom is really interesting for someone who is into religious lore. I also like the fact that the longer stories are broken up with one-offs like my personal favorite, "Men of Good Fortune", which tells the story of Dream and Death allowing a man to live forever - Dream visiting him every 100 years to tell stories.

Get this book. Now. If you like comics at all, this is a must buy. The only people I wouldn't recommend this book to is people who are extremely squeamish or children. This book is definitely for adults and has a lot of gore and disturbing images.

Fine quality
This is a keeper. The packaging was as classy as the book. the quality of the paper is fine. If you like comics and super heroes this book is worth the money. It will always be a part of my library.

Not for the squeamish
There are some horrific stories here and some wonderful ones, but all throughout the story telling is great, even if Gaiman looks back today and sees some awkwardness and clumsiness. I especially enjoyed reading the proposal for the Sandman comic series, as it gave me a real taste for how extensive an outline can be while allowing a great deal of room to flex and follow inspiration wherever it leads.

Quick
I received the book quickly and in great condition. My son and I were happy with the purchase.

Absolute Sandman Review
I love this graphic novel! I have been reading bits and pieces of the whole that are sold in sections. T
his brings the whole story together and creates a wonderful world to explore.
It seemed like when I read the stories right before bed, I have awesome dreams. Coincidence?
It's well worth getting the Absolute Sandman Vol. 1. I plan on getting the other volumes as well to complete my collection.
Sweet dreams! ... Read more

Product Description
From pages of The Sandman graphic novels, Morpheus' sister, Death, returns for a second solo outing in a haunting tale of music, mortality, friendship and the power of love in the face of death. Fan favourite author Neil Gaiman reintroduces and expands upon the characters introduced in his acclaimed and best-selling graphic novel Death: The High Cost of Living in this all-new collection. This lushly illustrated and thought-provoking volume comes complete with three brand new story pages to flesh out the story's conclusion and a gallery of favourite renderings of Death by the likes of Dave McKean, Bill Sienkiewicz and many others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Not exactly a favorite
Although I am a rather adept Neil Gaiman fan I am not exactly pleased with this contribution to the story of Death. We follow a pop singer, Foxglove, around as the people around her either make deals with Death or die to meet her. The message is simple, to have something to die for. To have something worth living for as well. It's about having moments when you know you're alive and when you know that this is all you can do with the life that is given to you. It's a common theme and therefore a bit exhaustive. They are good themes, but definitely overused at this point.
The characters also seemed a bit out of place and there was a few random scenes that I couldn't quite wrap my head around. Namely, when Foxglove attempts magic to follow Hazel into the shadow realm where she is talking with Death. One minute she was a depressed rock star, the next she's drawing ankh's on a table in her own blood. It didn't sync up properly in my mind.
It's supposed to be a snapshot of their lives, and I understand that, but I feel like some of the story could have been elaborated on. Otherwise, it's a good read.

Review of Gaiman's "Death: Life"
Stop expecting the Sandman.

This wakeful novel covers a variety of important themes: sexuality, fidelity, fame, and, of course, death. Death is as distant in this novel as she is in all the Sandman novels; the main characters are a pair of lesbians, one a famous singer. This is a novel about their lives, and possibly about the end of their lives.

There wasn't quite as much symbolic flourish as I would usually expect from Gaiman, but, still, a great read.

Better than HIgh Cost of Living...
I've only purchased two Death books, this one and The High Cost of Living.This is by far my favorite of the two, and I think any reader who's a fan of Sandman would appreciate this read on a different level than what was possible with High Cost of Living.The artwork is good and moody, and the plot revolves around two of the more minor characters from the Sandman series.I personally love how Gaiman incorporates regular people into his stories and gives them center stage attention.After a while, you don't care that it's been four pagesin and you've not yet seen the title character, because you're so interested in the normal, mortal human beings.Which isn't difficult, since you've already invested a bit of reading time into them if you've read through the Sandman series.Basically, he takes the extraordinary and mixes it in seamlessly with the mundane, creating some of the most unique reads in comic books.That's not to say that Death herself isn't the same, entertaining character you've grown to appreciate.She's there in all her odd pleasantness.Basically, if you're familiar with Gaiman's comic book work, you'll enjoy this read.

Nice addition to the Sandman universe
While not quite as good as the first Death book, this book is still a good addition to the Sandman universe. If you're curious about Foxglove and Hazel - appearing a couple of times in the Sandman series, one of the stories in this book features these two prominently. The extra Death pictures from various artists make for a great treat.

A little less serious Death
This follow up to Gaiman's popular and, in my opinion excellent, take on Death in Death: The High Cost of Living is less focused on Death, and more on two supporting characters from The Sandman Vol. 5: A Game of You.While the story isn't bad and Gaiman keeps it moving along at an entertaining pace, if you are looking for something that matches the previous Death book, or Gaiman's Sandman series, then you will be a bit disappointed.It is a shame that Gaiman didn't continue working with Death, as the character has a lot of flexibility to be worked into almost any story.I think the greatest flaw with this book is that Death is actually in it a bit too much.Many Sandman stories covered similar territory and Dream, the titular Sandman, would appear in just a single panel.

The art by Chris Bachalo is detailed and easy to look at without being showy.Some of the more fantastic imagery is rendered with a bit too much of the washed-out colors look that the book takes as its style, but overall the art is subtle and effective.Gaiman's books are usually noticed morefor their words than their pictures, and Bachalo has a distinctive style but not one that draws attention to itself over Gaiman's wordplay. ... Read more

Product Description

Who will come to the aid of beleaguered King Hrothgar, whose warriors have become the prey of the vengeful outcast monster Grendel?

Customer Reviews (3)

Beowulf: The Script Book
Beowulf: The Script Book
Very Interesting, providing background and extras as well as the story.

beowulf the script
this book - script is amazing, interesting, insightful. I would recommend this to anyone young and old. I can't wait to see the movie.I was very pleased that the description on amazon.com was so correct on the product. thank you, dechelle

The World's Leading Fantasy Writer
Who will save the Danish warriors from the monster Grendel? Find out at the movies or read the script version co-authored by Gaiman, the world's leading fantasy writer. ... Read more

Product Description
THE SANDMAN, written by New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman, was the most acclaimed comic book title of the 1990s.A rich blend of modern myth and dark fantasy in which contemporary fiction, historical drama and legend are seamlessly interwoven, THE SANDMAN is also

widely considered one of the most original and artistically ambitious series of the modern age. By the time it concluded in 1996, it had made significant contributions to the artistic maturity of comic books and had become a pop culture phenomenon in its own right.

Now, DC Comics is proud to present this comics classic in an all-new Absolute Edition format. The second of four beautifully designed slipcased volumes, THE ABSOLUTE SANDMAN VOL. 2 collects twenty tales of THE SANDMAN and features completely new coloring, approved by the author, as well as never-before-seen extra material. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

absolute sandman II
Great medium for enjoying the masterpiece of Neil Gaiman's Sandman.Beautiful book of collector quality at a great price compared to buying individual issues

An Amazing Series
A beautiful series, both graphically and lyrically.I originally read this story from a friend's old set of 10 graphic novels, and it is worth the extra money to buy this new edition.

great story, quality of books is wanting
I give the story 5 out of 5 stars, however, the quality of the books themselves is wanting:All four volumes came to me inside their sleeves and shrink wrapped, yet there was slight scuffs to the covers!Also, volume four had one page folded over and miscut.For books that cost $99 each, there should have been more attention to detail/quality control.One last thing, although the story is one of if not the best comics stories out there, the art was sometimes not to my liking at all.

Neail Gaiman!!!
I can't say better words, I'll repeat all good things, feelings better speakers have mention... This collection is one of the best...

Chapeau Mr Gaiman...

Destinys Tome
This book is gorgeous and gives me a renewed sense of bibliophilia. The heft and feel and its overall appearance give it a classic old book feel. The binding is superb and looks excellent on the shelf. After reading e-books and than returning to physical books, this version reminds me of all the reasons I adore the printed page. The new coloring and larger format also enhance the reading experience. Re-visiting this story after a few years, I find it still rich and absorbing. Well worth the price for any Neil Gaiman fans. ... Read more

Product Description
The day after they moved in, Coraline went exploring....

In Coraline's family's new flat are twenty-one window and fourteen doors. Thirteen of the doors open and close, The fourteenth is locked, and on the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage to another flat in another house just like her own.

Only it's different....

At first, things seem marvelous in the other flat. The food is better. The toy box is filled with wind-up angels that flutter around the bedroom. But there's another mother, and another father, and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.

Other children are trapped there as well, lost souls behind the mirrors. Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with all her wits if she is to save the lost children, her ordinary life, and herself.

What's on the other side of the door? A distorted-mirror world, containing presumably everything Coraline has ever dreamed of... people who pronounce her name correctly (not "Caroline"), delicious meals (not like her father's overblown "recipes"), an unusually pink and green bedroom (not like her dull one), and plenty of horrible (very un-boring) marvels, like a man made out of live rats. The creepiest part, however, is her mirrored parents, her "other mother" and her "other father"--people who look just like her own parents, but with big, shiny, black button eyes, paper-white skin... and a keen desire to keep her on their side of the door. To make creepy creepier, Coraline has been illustrated masterfully in scritchy, terrifying ink drawings by British mixed-media artist and Sandman cover illustrator Dave McKean. This delightful, funny, haunting, scary as heck, fairy-tale novel is about as fine as they come. Highly recommended. (Ages 11 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (466)

Ok, but movie was better.
I bought this book after I watched the movie.The movie & book have their own pros & cons.In the movie they definitely made it more interesting but they really didn't elaborate on why the Other Mother did the things she did.It's like she was just some lady that made up another world because she wanted to love someone & eat up her life for what reason?That's the question that was not answered in the movie, however the book definitely elaborates more, although there is no Wybie in the book & you need more of an imagination to paint a picture for the characters because the book mentions few details on how the characters look.The movie was definitely way more interesting, but the book did elaborate more on why things were the way they were that the movie left out.

A great book for children and those just young at heart
I first heard of Coraline when the movie was released I was excited to find out that the movie was based on the book by the same name. I never ended up seeing the movie, but the book made it to my to-read list. I have picked it up several times in the bookstore, but never ended up purchasing it. I was inspired to finally make the purchase when I found out it was a challenged book.

This story is geared towards a much younger audience-ages 8 and up-than the books I usually read. I was concerned this would make the story feel childish, but this was not the case. Gaiman created a suspenseful tale that I enjoyed very much. He depicted a rich world that I felt like I was traveling in. The quirkiness of the characters added to the story instead of serving as a distraction. Everything worked well together to create a book I didn't want to put down.

This book has been challenged due to questions of its "age appropriateness." It appears that parents have found the book "scary for younger children." I know as a 20-something I found parts of this book to be on the scary side. I can see how someone twenty years younger than me would be scared by these passages. However, these bits of the book only added to the suspense. Any fear I experienced was for Coraline, and not for myself. Anything that was scary was written to advance the plot, and not for the sole purpose of scaring someone. The end result is a great tale that I would love to share with my child someday.

Good for young reader
After watching the film I got the novella ready for a good comparation. «Coraline» is one of the few cases where the film is much better than the book. I think that the main problem is that the original work is intended for young readers. Therefore, the development of the plot and the building of the characters is over simplistic. That is, if you are a grown up reader, probably this novel will not satisfy you. It is too short, and the characters are very sketchy. They lack depth and so does the story. However, if I were to recommend this book to a young reader, I certainly would. If you are looking to read something from this author, probably «The Graveyard Book», while still a novella, gets closer to what a mature reader expects. In any case, watch the film. You will not be disappointed.

Deliciously dark!
Wow. This book will stay with you. I loved the movie, but the book is quite different, and in a good way. Really spooked me, and that doesn't happen very often. I loved this book and will be reading it again and again.Children take warning, though. It is pretty frightening and will likely scare kids. Adults however are sure to love it....if you love a good scare!

For children (and adults) who like to squirm
Coraline's family has just moved into a new flat. Her parents are always busy with their own work and Coraline (please don't call her Caroline) has no friends or siblings to play with. She spends her time exploring her new apartment complex and the surrounding grounds. She's got some eccentric neighbors: two little old ladies who love to reminisce about their time on the stage and an old man who trains mice to sing and dance.

But what's really strange is the extra door in Coraline's flat. It doesn't go anywhere. Coraline's mom says it used to connect to the vacant flat next door, but now it's bricked up. Except that it's not always bricked up... sometimes it does go somewhere...

Coraline is a terrific little heroine. Curious and brave, but appropriately cautious, she sets out to discover what's in the vacant flat. And though what's there seems rather wonderful at first, Coraline soon realizes that it's actually rather horrible. Not in a bloody gory kind of way, but in a spooky, spine-tingling, why-the-heck-is-this-so-scary kind of way.

Neil Gaiman understands creepy: buttons for eyes, long red tapping fingernails, long dark hallways, talking rats, trapped and soulless children... I'm not sure why, but just the thought of an "other mother" automatically evokes goosebumps -- How incredibly disturbing! The eeriness is accented with excellently terrifying drawings by Dave McKean (who did the Sandman covers).

Coraline is excellent fantasy for sensitive but brave children who like to squirm. I read it to my daughters, and I'm sure I squirmed just as much as they did. My girls enjoyed Coraline's adventure and maybe now they'll even be a little less put out when Mommy is too busy to play. ... Read more

Product Description
This collection includes Harlequin Valentine, Locks, The Problem of Susan, Instructions, How Do You Think It Feels?, My Life, Fifteen Painted Cards from a Vampire Tarot, Feeders and Eaters, and Diseasemaker's Croup. ... Read more

Product Description
This acclaimed series, winner of numerous World Fantasy Awards, continues its tradition of excellence with scores of short stories from such writers as Michael Bishop, Edward Bryant, Angela Carter, Terry Lamsley, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, A.R. Morlan, Robert Silverberg, Michael Swanwick, Jane Yolen, and many others. Supplementing the stories are the editors' invaluable overviews of the year in fantastic fiction, Edward Bryant's witty roundup of the year's fantasy films, and a long list of Honorable Mentions-all of which adds up to an invaluable reference source, and a font of fabulous reading.
Amazon.com Review
The 10th volume of this excellent annual anthology series notonly collects 39 stories and 4 poems in these overlapping genres, butreports on the year's best in books, movies, and other media. Thehorror and dark fantasy tales are by Jay Russell (family ghost),Angela Carter (fairy tale ghost), Edward Bryant (aliens), RobertSilverberg (dark goddess), Yxta Maya Murray (Southwestern folkloreghost), Thomas Ligotti (secret society), Graham Masterton (macabrerecipe book), Douglas Clegg (anguished love), Stephen Dedman (childlamia who knew Lewis Carroll), Terry Lamsley (monster"pet"), Isobelle Carmody (phoenix), Delia Sherman (witchesand wolves), Lisa Russ Spaar (Rapunzel), Neil Gaiman (queen bee),Philip Graham (oppressive angel), Terry Dowling (monomania), DennisEtchison (L.A. paranoia), Kathe Koja and Barry N. Malzberg (ravagingbears), A. R. Morlan (rock 'n' roll sleaze), Michael Marshall Smith(entrapping relationship), and Ron Hansen (magic realism). All thedark tales are high quality, and a few are among the best in theseries so far. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Pretentious and Overblown
Ohhhhh.....Where to begin? I'll start with co-editor Terri Windling. Her opening essay on the year in Fantasy was almost enough to make me hurl down the book in irritation. If she said "Magic Realism" one more time....I lost track at 37. Unbearable. Just unbearable. I have a pretty steadfast rule that, no matter how bad a book may be, I read EVERY SINGLE WORD. Every word. No matter what. I had to skim through Windling's essay, because it was either skim or put my fist through the wall. "Magic Realism. Magic Realism. Magic Realism." Ugh.

Ellen Datlow's essay is slightly more interesting, and the sections on Media and Comic Books were very well done. Now, on to the stories themselves.

I've read a few of the previous Year's Best volumes, and it always bothered me how the book slants towards Fantasy over Horror (Terri Winling is the Fantasy Editor, Ellen Datlow the Horror Editor), but this edition is WAY over the top. Out of 35 stories, Windling's name is on over twenty. Her tastes run towards oblique, overwritten, pretentious tripe, and strange poetry. One of her selections, Gerald Vizenor's Oshkiwiinag: Heartlines on the Trickster Express put me beyond the newfound sacrilige of skimming. I actually had to skip the remainder of the story after five endless, pointless pages. I have never read such strange shizznit in my whole life. I literally had NO idea what he was writing about. Ugh. Another Windling pick (Among The Handlers, by Michael Bishop) is endlessly long, written in an awful hillbilly dialect, and is neither Fantasy or Horror, but IS god-awful. I'll avoid Vizenor and Bishop like the plague, thanks to these stories. We also get other Windling-picked classics like Birthdream, (A poem about childbirth, not Horror or Fantasy, but also awful. If I wanted bad poems, I'd get a poetry book.) Caribe Magico, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (A travelogue. For God's sake, a travelogue! Not Horror, not Fantasy...but as Windling says...MAGIC REALISM! Code for "Pretentious story that makes no sense."), and Beckoning Nightframe by Terry Dowling, about a woman who is scared of her neighbor's open window. FOR 16 PAGES! UGH. Her only decent choice is Little Beauty's Wedding, by Chang Hwang. It's an unforgettable story.

Ellen Datlow fares better in her choices. The Secret Shih Tan (By Graham Masterson), Never Seen By Waking Eyes (By Stephen Dedman), and the grotesque Three Bears pastiche "Ursus Triad, Later" (By Kathe Koja & Barry N. Malzberg) are all incredible, and I'm glad to have discovered writers I wasn't familiar with, but the overall feeling I had when reading the book was one of irritation with the all-encompassing pretentiousness of the package. I'd say the stinky outweighed the good by 90%. I'm VERY sorry that I'vealready purchased the next four volumes....But at least I've learned to skim & skip!

Interesting, But Not Very Horrorific
Interesting collection of writers, some famous and some unknowns, but all in all not a real page turner. Some stories I couldn't even finish I got so bored. Some were so good I got goose pimples. Go figure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

"One day you'll be the death of me." "I hope so."
When I saw this book and looked through it, I thought one thing.
"Wow - for a "children's edition", this thing really has a lot of words. I think I'll take a peek inside."
The next thing i know, I'm inside the house with my head stuck to a small book, looking through it as if it held something amazing. I've always had this thing for fairytales and, well, mirrormask is a modern day telling of something worthwhile. It has its harrowing portions for the young and it has the funny little portions for the not-to-young, and it has the drawings that one can expect along the way. It really was more than I thought I would EVEr find in a book like this. It had the dark side and the light side and the point to all the sides. Altogether, it was like the movie and yet it was its own thing.

If you do not know mirrormask, it rests in the hands of a young girl. She is part of a circus, her father's pride and joy, and everyone would think she would love it there. Her mothe rloves to point out that kids would love to run off and be part of this world, but all she wants to do is "run off and join Real-life." This provokes her mother, who says "you will be the death of me." And then her mother becomes ill and, truly, it seems like she might be the death of her mother. While her mother is sick, she finds herself pulled into this othe rworld, where the queen there is sick and no one knows why. They only know that light is faltering and darkness is arising. So the girl, consumed by enough darkness, tries to cure this world of its affliction.

The book is a thing that is a child inside, and I like that. I liked the movie, too, but thebook has more of the fairytale feel to it. It is light in places and dark in others, and it teaches a system of notions and emotions to people who perhaps don't know them or need a nice reminder. Me - I enjoy the reminders and I enjoyed this book, liking the characters and the fact that darkness has a lot of the same reasons as light does.
This is uplifting and, at the same time, dark and Gaimanesque.

Beautiful artwork, wandering storyline
I love Gaiman's works, Corilane was one of my favorite children's books. I had high hopes for Mirrormask, we own the movie, and though it's a bit dark for the younger children, it's still a very creative and visually stunning film.

After reading the book I'm glad that the movie was visually stunning. For some reason the book does not flow, or hold together well. Had I not seen the movie I would be completely lost in attempting to follow this book. The concept of standing on the books to cross the gorge, or the giants locked together, or the darkness and what it is doing - is all lost. Now you can say that it was for the simplicity of making it a children's book - but I don't buy it. The concepts involve possible death, a brain tumor, and an evil girl willing to sacrifice the entire world she lives in to try something new (not our main character - the bad guy).

The book follows a young girl who has grown up in a circus, she want's to live a normal life and gets in a argument with her mother about it. Her mother then collapses and is hospitalized with a brain tumor. Feeling quilty, Helena withdraws into a world of her strange artwork. That night she wakes up to find herself drawn into a world of her own creation - someone has stolen the mirrormask and traded places with her. Now she has to travel through a strange and hostile world ruled by a Queen of Light and a Queen of Darkness, to find the only way home - the stolen mirrormask.

The artwork was good and the concept is great - but to read it without having seen the movie will leave the reader a bit perplexed. If reading to children, go with one of Gaiman's other works before this one.

An appealing, visually vivid format is presented.
Helena has been raised in a family of circus performers and dreams of a normal life - until haunting music leads her far from home to a magical world where her real life is stolen. Her only hope is to rescue her new home from a threat - if she can. MirrorMask is a film: Gaiman's story here pairs with artist/director Dave McKean to provide a blend of novella and art, supplemented by images from the film. An appealing, visually vivid format is presented.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

"Let them join the circus. I want to join real life."
I personally found the fantastical MIRRORMASK to be an enjoyable read. The story itself wasn't too terribly gripping but I loved the way in which it was written. Neil Gaiman is a master at creating new worlds and painting vivid imagery with his captivating words. But please note that while this is called the "children's edition" I'd have to say it is more like a young adult read. Granted it's a short book with only 80 pages of storytelling intersperced with pictures taken from the movie as well as illustrations from Dave McKean, in a sense it is too grown-up for real young kids to enjoy. ... Read more

Product Description
Take a trip into the dark, surreal world of a little dead girl with a knack for (often) unintentional mayhem!

Lenore might only be small, but her talent for mischief — and occasional wanton destruction — is anything but. Witness the mayhem that ensues when Lenore and friends are attacked by a gaggle of vicious militant mice, and cower in the face of an assault by undead German soldiers from Hell! Never has the term ‘something for everyone’ seemed more sinister and bizarre. ... Read more

Product Description
In this modern retelling of a classic commedia dell' arte legend of tomfoolery and hopeless, fawning love, creators Neil Gaiman (Sandman) and John Bolton (Manbat: Batman) update the relation of Harlequin and Columbine. A buffoon burdened with a brimming heart, Harlequin chases his sensible, oblivious Columbine around the streets of a city, having given his heart freely. Consumed with love, the impulsive clown sees his heart dragged about town, with a charming surprise to bend the tale in a modern direction. Gaiman's writing is poetic and as loopy as the subject matter. Bolton's art, a combination of digitally enhanced photo-realism and dynamic painting provides sensational depth with bright characters over fittingly muted backgrounds. Those who have spent Valentine's Day alone know that the cold February holiday can be hard to swallow. Gaiman and Bolton want you to know that all it takes is a steak knife, a fork, and a bottle of quality ketchup.Contains an additional 8-page backup feature written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by John Bolton on the history of commedia dell' arte! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Average effort
The artwork is beautiful, the story is average. :) C for effort. And I might be missing something, but it is amazingly short.

Illustration gives new life to a fantastical story!
This is quite a journey through the mysterious world of Harlequin.As a fan of Neil Gaiman's short stories, this was a must-buy for me.I highly recommend this fabulous tale of unrequited love to even the most cynical skeptic.

haunting, cool, fun
Neil Gaiman is my current obcession in books, graphic novels, and movies, and I think John Bolton's artwork is amazing, so naturally I really enjoyed this book.The story is fun, creepy, and interesting, and the illustration is really cool.Gaiman lovers, check this one out.

A flighty story of love and longing, mime and mystery style
Based on the old mime shows, Gaimen has written a fickle and fun tale of love and hearts given freely; of yearning for the affection we all crave, and how we are sometimes oblivious to those who love us the most.

Told in the first person by Harlequin himself, he leads us through the giving of his heart, literally, to his beloved Columbine.Dancing across the pages, flitting through the city as he follows Missy, meeting up with his modern day cast of characters: Columbine, Peirrot, the Doctor, Pulcinella, Pantaloon, and others.

Gaimen has a particular talent with Graphic Novellas in that he manages to tell a rich, lush tale with only a few words.Harlequin Valentine is one of his better works, with artist John Bolton bringing Gaimen's story to life, animating it with sharp photographic quality characters cavorting in stark relief against fuzzy and uncertain backgrounds.This style of art work really brought Harlequin and Missy and the others directly to the center of our attention, keeping the focus on the characters despite the few words, and smoothing the flow of the tale to read like silken thoughts of love.

At the end of the story, Gaimen adds a short piece with a terrific explanation and glossary of the Harlequinade and its characters; which for those like me who are uneducated in older forms of theatrical art is a real bonus to the book.Also added as a tasty treat is a little tale called "Drawn in Darkness" that Gaimen added about artist John Bolton.

If you like Graphic Novels that have a softer, more playful side, you will love this particular Gaimen.Enjoy!

A good beginning...
... but it kinda peters out towards the end.

A lot of the other reviewers have covered the basic premise of the plot already so I won't repeat what's been said.

The artwork itself is beautiful, detailed painterly quality pictures by John Bolton. You won't be disappointed in that aspect. The color palete is cold (his Valentine is painted as a pale, waifish figure) but warm at the same time due to the splashes of red from the Harlequin's outfit and yes, his heart...

Personally, I found the story to be a little short, thus making it a bit unsatisfying for me. The beginning is promising with Harlequin pinning his heart to her door and Valentine's indifference as she removes the pin to take it down. She travels around town trying to find the owner of the heart but without explanation, knows who it is at the end by devouring it. Why would she devour it, this woman who had been clueless before?

All in all, this would have been better if Neil had fleshed the story out more. The characters seem to be 2-dimentional, at the precipice of being 3-dimentional had a bit more effort been made to do so. Great for diehard to midhard Gaiman fans, but not particularly impressive if it's your first Gaiman read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

great story, quality of books is wanting
I give the story 5 out of 5 stars, however, the quality of the books themselves is wanting:All four volumes came to me inside their sleeves and shrink wrapped, yet there was slight scuffs to the covers!Also, volume four had one page folded over and miscut.For books that cost $99 each, there should have been more attention to detail/quality control.One last thing, although the story is one of if not the best comics stories out there, the art was sometimes not to my liking at all.

Awesome
All of the Absolute Sandman are must haves.I suggest buying the 4th volume now before it becomes harder to find and more expensive due to discontinuation like the 2nd volume is.

Neail Gaiman!!!
I can't say better words, I'll repeat all good things, feelings better speakers have mention... This collection is one of the best...

Chapeau Mr Gaiman...

Worth its weight in gold
The Sandman is one of the greatest comic series ever writen and this compilation, Sandman Absolute vol 1, 2, 3 and 4 have the quality that this piece of art deserves!

Awesome finishing, all the extras and comments, the box and hardcover are flawless!

This is a must have for any comic addicted and is the best "graphical novel" writen by Neil G. that you may ever find on earth!

"Conflicting Realities Will Fall and Spin and Shatter Across Time and Existence"
This volume, which concludes the Absolute Sandman series, consists mostly of two storylines: the thirteen episode "The Kindly Ones," and the four episode "The Wake."

In "The Kindly Ones," Dream's life is made very difficult by Lyta Hall, a character who was introduced in the "Doll's House" storyline, contained in volume one.I won't say anything about "The Wake," because I got criticized for spoilers.You'll have to read this breathtaking volume for yourself.

There are three more episodes contained in the volume: "The Castle," in which a mortal dreamer is given a tour of the heart of The Dreaming; "Exiles," in which Morpheus, both the old one and the new one, meet an ancient Chinese diplomat and we read his reflections on the experience; and "The Tempest," in which William Shakespear completes his final play and joins the Sandman for a drink and conversation about his life and the role the supernatural has played in his career.

I liked this volume because we see Morpheus at his most vulnerable.We see his vulnerability in the face of adversity, and we even hear him confess to Shakespeare that being the Dream King is a lonely enterprise.As the stoicism he showed in the previous volumes broke down, I was moved to pity him.

Also contained in this volume is "A Sandman Miscellany," which gives us pictures of various Sandman memorabilia, posters, and the script and original penciling of "The Tempest." It rounds out the volume well and makes for interesting reading.

I have to confess that I was completely addicted to these comics.I actually read the entire volume in one day.For me, the final words of part 3 of "The Wake" ring true: "Wishing it would go on forever, sure that once the dream was over, it would never come back, you wake up." ... Read more

Product Description
1995 Softcover Edition in Very Good Condition. Cover has slight edge-wear but nothing major. Text is clean and unmarked. Prompt shipping with a Free Delivery Confirmation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

What it is
Neil Gaiman with music by Dave McKean and the flash girls. Stories and poems from angels & visitations. The short cuts: the song of the audience, nicholas was, babycakes, cold colours, the white road, banshee. The long haul: Chilvary, Troll bridge. Audio cd, stories (c) 1995. ... Read more