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Sandman, The: A Game of You - Book V (Sandman Collected Library) [Paperback]

Neil Gaiman , Samuel R. Delany , Shawn MacManus , Colleen Doran , Bryan Talbot
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)


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Paperback, September 3, 1993 --  
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Book Description

September 3, 1993 Sandman Collected Library (Book 5)
You may have heard somewhere that Neil Gaiman's Sandman series consistedof cool, hip, edgy, smart comic books. And you may have thought, "What the helldoes that mean?" Enter A Game of You to confound the issue even more, while at the same time standing as a fine example of such a description. This is not an easy book. The characters are dense and unique, while their observations are, as always with Gaiman, refreshingly familiar. Then there's the plot, which grinds along like a coffee mill, in the process breaking down the two worlds of this series, that of the dream and that of the dreamer. Gaiman pushes these worlds to their very extremes--one is a fantasy world with talking animals, a missing princess, and a mysterious villain called the Cuckoo; the other is an urban microcosm inhabited by a drag queen, a punk lesbian couple, and a New York doll named Barbie. In almost every way this book sits at 180 degrees from the earlier four volumes of the Sandman series--although the less it seems to belong to the series, the more it shows its heart. --Jim Pascoe


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You may have heard somewhere that Neil Gaiman's Sandman series consisted of cool, hip, edgy, smart comic books. And you may have thought, "What the hell does that mean?" Enter A Game of You to confound the issue even more, while at the same time standing as a fine example of such a description. This is not an easy book. The characters are dense and unique, while their observations are, as always with Gaiman, refreshingly familiar. Then there's the plot, which grinds along like a coffee mill, in the process breaking down the two worlds of this series, that of the dream and that of the dreamer. Gaiman pushes these worlds to their very extremes--one is a fantasy world with talking animals, a missing princess, and a mysterious villain called the Cuckoo; the other is an urban microcosm inhabited by a drag queen, a punk lesbian couple, and a New York doll named Barbie. In almost every way this book sits at 180 degrees from the earlier four volumes of the Sandman series--although the less it seems to belong to the series, the more it shows its heart. --Jim Pascoe

Product Details

  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Vertigo (September 3, 1993)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1563890895
  • ISBN-13: 978-1563890895
  • Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.4 x 10.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Where, oh where, has that little girl gone? July 14, 2000
Format:Hardcover
I have always found this to be an underappreciated chapter in the Sandman series. I don't think people realize what Gaiman has pulled off here. Besides coming up with a fascinating adventure story and a dizzying sideline into how we categorize ourselves (profession, gender, dreams, affinities, relations), he has done something few men have ever done -- written intelligently about what it is like to be a woman and a little girl.

At first this may not seem like much, but the whole tale of Barbie's quest is inherently feminine. The dream world she inhabits is not a boys world. The questors are female (well, most of them and the last one is trying hard), and the ending turns around the whole notion of being a girl (even more than merely a child) that one of my female friends was convinced that someone TOLD Gaiman what to write!

This is also a tale of loyalty. When it all comes down, each of the characters has to make a decision based one what has happened, a decision that could ultimately change each of their lives. Surprising decisions are made, but they are understandable if you stop and think about them.

I love this volume, as I love the Sandman series in general. I only wish (as many did) that Gaiman had written some more. Like any good story, we hate to see it come to an end.

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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A great story of identity and finding your inner child August 13, 1999
Format:Paperback
Neil Gaiman does it again! He takes Barbie, a marginal character in the "Doll's House" storyline and makes her into a 3 dimensional character. He also introduces some other great characters like Hazel, Foxglove, Clarissa, and my personal favorite in this volume, Wanda. After reading this tale, I was struck by how the characters matter so much in Sandman stories. How Neil cares about them so much that they keep popping up again and again in unlikely places. Even when someone mentions another person, I can tell that Neil has a character description written up for that person and they will appear in another story. Clarissa will appear again in "Kindly Ones", while Hazel and Foxglove are in both "Death" mini-series. (Also Foxglove is mentioned by another character in the "24 Hours" chapter in "Preludes and Nocturnes.")

That aside, "A Game of You" is probably the most personal story of the entire Sandman oeuvre. It's primarily the story of Barbie and her childhood dreams that become very real. The heart of the story is Barbie's relationship with Wanda which is both funny and touching. Dream doesn't appear much in this one, but the story is so good and the main characters so interesting that you won't mind at all.

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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars One caution... October 27, 1999
By A Customer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Of course it's good. All Sandman is good.

In this one, though, I'd suggest you not read Samuel Delany's foreword until you've read the book. He analyzes things as if you've read them, gives some surprises away, and generally kills the mood. It's a fine commentary; it's just that it should be an afterword.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars A terrific yarn
The introduction provides a useful guide of things to watch out for while reading. In all, it was an enjoyable, imaginative experience. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Oliver Ravela
5.0 out of 5 stars The Sandman Vol 5
Thus far, The Sandman is a terrific series. I look forward the the remaining volumes. I would recommend this series for anyone who loves highly creatives stories and characters.
Published 14 days ago by Susan Long
5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal
The writing, illustration, everything is phenomenal. If you are looking for a great read, Gaiman does not miss the mark!
Published 24 days ago by Evan Tamayo
5.0 out of 5 stars Good addition
I'm finally getting around to filling in my collection of the Sandman. This edition arrived quickly and is just slightly worn (as listed), but that doesn't bother me!
Published 1 month ago by Erica Capito
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful tale with an edge
One of the, well, dreamiest entries in the "Sandman" series, this is the story of Barbie. Unable to dream since the events of The Sandman, Vol. Read more
Published 3 months ago by morehumanthanhuman
5.0 out of 5 stars Gift
This was purchased as a gift for my brother. He loves this series so we got it for him for Xmas and his Birthday.
Published 3 months ago by Katie
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story
I did not feel this was one of the better story arcs, but it is still an interesting one, and we see the reappearance of Barbie from Volume 2 of this series. Read more
Published 5 months ago by M
5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite?
This may be my favorite edition of The Sandman series. I loved the way Gaiman created an entirely different world based on real world objects (that are seemingly figments of the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. Smallridge
5.0 out of 5 stars This series is to be appreciated like a fine wine. You have to let it...
This series is to be appreciated like a fine wine. You have to let it ferment inside your mind, and then do it again. This is a classic in my mind.
Published 16 months ago by TurkeyFrier
5.0 out of 5 stars A better Kindle version than some of the earlier volumes
I loved these stories in the trade paperback form, and I really looked forward to them on the Kindle Fire. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Martin L. Shoemaker
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