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Neil Gaiman

The Sandman 1: Preludes & Nocturnes Paperback – October 19, 2010

by Neil Gaiman (Author), Sam Keith (Illustrator), Mike Dringenberg (Illustrator),

4.6 2,009 ratings

Part of: The Sandman

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An occultist attempting to capture the physical embodiment of Death to bargain for eternal life traps her younger brother Dream instead. After his seventy-year imprisonment and eventual escape, Dream, also known as Morpheus, goes on a quest for his lost objects of power to reclaim his reign. From there, one of the greatest series in the history of the graphic novel genre begins...

New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman's transcendent series The Sandman is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in comics storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision.

This graphic novel--a perfect jumping-on points for any reader--includes the introductions of Morpheus, Lucifer and The Endless, all intricate parts of this enduring series that is still as relevant today as ever.

Includes issues #1-8 of the original series with completely new coloring, approved by the author.

Part of Series

The Sandman
Print length

144 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Vertigo
Publication date

October 19, 2010
Dimensions

6.65 x 0.35 x 10.16 inches
ISBN-10

9781401225759
ISBN-13

978-1401225759
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes: Before and After
Click on the images below to see full pages with all-new and original coloring.

Page 14: New coloring (left) vs. old (right) Page 42: New coloring (left) vs. old (right) Page 128: New coloring (left) vs. old (right)

Review

Praise for Neil Gaiman's The Sandman:

"The greatest epic in the history of comic books"—The Los Angeles Times Magazine

"One of the few comics that segued from the comics crowd, entering the intellectual and art worlds, winning over a large non-comics-reading audience..."—The Hollywood Reporter

"The Sandman is a modern myth, as well as a precis on why the stories we tell matter so much."—Playboy

"The landmark comic-book series that actually made Death seem . . . cool."—Entertainment Weekly

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1401225756
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vertigo; Reprint edition (October 19, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781401225759
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1401225759
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.65 x 0.35 x 10.16 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #430,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,061 in DC Comics & Graphic Novels
- #1,168 in Fantasy Graphic Novels (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 2,009 ratings

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Neil Gaiman

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Neil Gaiman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including Norse Mythology, Neverwhere, and The Graveyard Book. Among his numerous literary awards are the Newbery and Carnegie medals, and the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner awards. He is a Professor in the Arts at Bard College.

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4.6 out of 5

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Kristen

A graphic novel I actually like

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2014

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I became aware of Neil Gaiman in general - and Sandman in particular - listening to Tori Amos as a teenager. She has a line in a song called "Tear In Your Hand," on her debut album Little Earthquakes, that goes, "If you need me, me and Neil'll be / Hangin' out with the Dream King."

Way back then, I researched it and found out about Sandman. But this was before the Internet, and before I had my own money to spend.

Fast forward about *mumble* years. I've read several of Gaiman's novels. I've long since stopped devouring every Tori Amos album as soon as it comes out. (Or at all, to be honest.) And I'm browsing Amazon and come across The Sandman series. So I buy the first volume. Along with one of my favorite early Tori albums, just to really get back to my roots.

I read Volume 1 in one sitting. I've never been much of a fan of comics. I read The Watchmen and, at my husband's urging, one of the Batman ones. The Dark Knight something or other. I like comic book characters, I love the Marvel movies, but reading graphic novels is difficult for me. I never know which panel to go to next, and I feel like I miss things.

I'm not an idiot, I swear. There's just something about the way they're put together that makes it hard for my brain to digest.

The Sandman was not too difficult to grasp, though. For the most part the action was clear, and of course Neil's stories were beautiful. I loved Dream, I adored Death, the art was phenomenal, and I couldn't stop turning the pages. I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of the series. I am forcing myself to wait a few days before I order Vol. 2, because I don't want to spend $100 in one month on comic books. I mean, I DO want to, but I probably shouldn't.

62 people found this helpful

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Liz

A fantasic introduction to the characters and storyline to follow

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2014

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First up, all of the 10 volumes of The Sandman novels deserve 5 stars. They are a phenomenal acheivement in not only graphic novels but in storytelling itself. The story is complex and cerebral and the characters so well developed that Sandman is one of my favorite stories period. The novels are intensely violent and often disturbing but everything that happens serves a purpose, and nothing happens by chance or just for the sake of things happening. Something that happens in one volume may become vitally important 3 or 4 volumes later. By the end of the 10th volume everything has come full circle with an appropriate and satisfying end.

With regards to Volume 1, many consider it to be a weak link in the series but I do not. Granted it is primarily focused on introducing characters and setting up the plot for the entire story, but it's done well. The plot concerns a cult attempting to capture and control Death. Instead they get her brother Dream, who is then held prisoner for decades. This is not without some disturbing consequences as people fall prey to a "sleeping sickness" and Dream's kingdom falls into utter disarray. Upon escaping Dream must regain control of his kingdom but in order to do so he must retrieve the sources of his power which he placed into objects. Subsequently these objects have been scattered during his imprisonment.

As far as the volume's content on the Kindle Fire - I was hesitant to abandon the volumes in print worried that the Kindle Fire might provide a more difficult viewing experience. That hasn't turned out the be the case. The novel is easy to read, you can scan in to specific boxes, and the colors are vibrant.

12 people found this helpful

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Hapax Legomenon

An average beginning to an extraordinary series... and the improved art makes a big difference!

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2011

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Like almost anyone who has an interest in comics, I had heard the hype for Sandman for years. I have been a fan of Neil Gaiman's work since my early teens (American Gods and Stardust are incredible, and his short stories are a must-read!), but for some reason I had never gotten around to reading what many consider to be his magnum opus. Finally, I was hanging out at Barnes & Noble one day, waiting for a ride, and I picked up a copy of Preludes & Nocturnes. What I found left me a bit conflicted. The story was decent, and the concept of the series is spectacular. Understanding that this was just an introduction to the series and the point at which Gaiman was testing the water, it was a pretty good comic-- storywise. The art, I must say, was a turnoff. The TPB I was reading was released prior to the recoloring, and it was a mess, to say the least. So, when I found out that the recolored editions were being released in TPBs, I didn't hesitate. The newly colored and remastered edition makes a significant difference.Though the pencils and inking are still not so great, we can probably chalk that up to the fact that when the series was first published, DC wasn't throwing too much money at the production. I'm now up to Volume 5, and the story just keeps getting better, and the art becomes more beautiful by the issue. In fact, as production quality had improved by the early to mid 90's, the original print TPBs are fine to buy for volumes 6-10. My suggestion is to buy this book, enter the world of Sandman, and then keep going.

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Suad

One of the best stories I've read ever, let alone this year

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 17, 2016

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One of the best stories I've read ever, let alone this year.

So, here's the thing. I'm not a huge reader of comics or graphic novels. In fact, I can honestly say, I've only read a handful of them, very carefully selected or recommended by people I know and trust. However, with this series...it was a mood. I was in the mood to delve into the world of graphic novels, but not the usual Superman, Batman stuff, and The Sandman series happen to be one of the top rated series of all times. I went for it on a whim. Ordered the whole thing! Crazy, I know, for someone who's never even been interested in this type of thing.

Once the set arrived, I immediately began reading the first installment, which seemed to be a collection of seven issues. I was amazed at how engrossed I became in the happenings of Morpheus - Lord of Dreams - and his captivity and all that it led to. It was such a dark and thrilling tale, going off on tangents here and there, only to have it all tied up and connected quite nicely in the end. When I finished it, I reached out for the second book, but stopped myself. It was so good, a world so brilliantly created, that I wanted to prolong it for as long as I possibly could. The only way I knew how to do that was to spread out the readings rather than devour them all at once. So I picked up another book, and forced myself out of this world, with the knowledge that I will be back there soon.

The series begins in the 1900s with Roderick Burgess, a man who dabbles with magic, as he attempts to summon and capture Death in order to achieve immortality, only to find that he had instead captured Dream. With no way out of the circle of dark magic that Burgess created, Dream is unable to free himself and therefore decides to bide his time until a time when he can, knowing that eventually, Burgess will have to slip somehow. However, it isn't Roderick Burgess who slips, but his son - after his death. When Roderick dies, his son Alexander carries on his father's imprisonment of Dream, not knowing what else he could possibly do. After almost a century of captivity, 70 or so years to be exact, Alexander inadvertently breaks the spell that holds Dream in the circle allowing him to access the sleep of his captors and free himself, punishing them in the process. And what greater punishment is there than to have them live in a constant nightmare for the rest of their lives?

As Dream proceeds to return to his Dream realm, he finds that a lot has changed in the years he's been gone. His world has been destroyed, some people have been caught in a coma of dreams and his 3 totem of powers have gone missing. He realizes he cannot fix anything until he gains back his totem of powers, and so begins the search for them as he travels to restore his power one piece at a time.

What a dark and mysterious world, and what incredible character development. You can tell that this installment is meant to act as a backdrop to the rest of the series, introducing us to Dream and other characters and slowly setting us up for what's coming next. The end of this book brings us face to face with none other than Death...Dream's older sister. Yes, Death is a female and is a sassy, young and attractive one to boot, and you can tell that she will be playing a very integral role in the parts to come.

Neil Gaiman slowly builds up Dream's characters, allowing us to see bits and pieces of him, one story at a time. Although strangely alluring, there's also something dark and twisted about him. You root for him, but you're not sure why. You realize there's more to him and it's not all good.

He's a hero, but a flawed one for sure.

17 people found this helpful

Eva Reitenbach

Ein Comic für Intellektuelle und all diejenen, die sonst keine Comics lesen

Reviewed in Germany on October 10, 2017

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er Sandmann ist eine gequälte, tragische Figur, die es durchaus mit den großen Leidenden der Weltliteratur aufnehmen kann. Er ist der Herrscher der Träume, der guten und schlechten, kurz „Dream“. Einem Shakespeare-Helden gleich plagt er sich nach Jahrzehnten in nicht gerechtfertigter Gefangenschaft durch Menschen, all seiner Kräfte und seines Reiches beraubt, den Sinn seines „Lebens“ wiederzufinden. Der Sandmann sollte eigentlich ein Superheld aus der DC Welt sein, doch er weigert sich dagegen und Gaiman entwickelte ihn konsequent und trotzig in eine andere Richtung. Schon von der ersten Seite an sträubt er sich in ein heroisches Raster zu rutschen. Er ist melancholisch, depressiv, menschlich und unmenschlich zugleich. Und er wird umringt von anderen, sehr zugänglichen und alles andere als glatten Charakteren, mit denen man sehr schnell zu sympathisieren beginnt. Im ersten Band begleiten wir die sympathische, schwarze Seele dabei, ihre alte Macht wieder zusammen zu klauben und lernen sein nahezu untergegangenes Reich kennen. Ganz unbemerkt wächst uns der große Stille dabei ans Herz.

Ein Kennzeichen Gaimans ist, dass er Mythologie und Alltag, Vergangenheit und Gegenwart, Literatur und Historie fließend ineinander webt. Man trifft auf mythologische und biblische Figuren und auf Charaktere, die man so auch bei der morgendlichen U-Bahn-Fahrt erlebt. Im ersten Sammelband „Preludes & Nocturnes“ finden sich noch einige Inkonsistenzen im Vergleich zum Rest der Reihe, gerade in der Visualisierung. Trotzdem ist das Werk durchzogen von besonderen Schmuckstücken, die den ersten Sandman besonders machen. In späteren Bänden werden Stolpersteine nacheinander ausgemerzt, Gaiman findet zu seinem Stil. Die generelle Vielfalt und Veränderung der Reihe liegt natürlich aber auch daran, dass er mit unterschiedlichen Zeichnern zusammenarbeitete. Und mit dem Zeichner Sam Keith ist ihm ein guter Auftakt gelungen, den man sich nicht entgehen lassen sollte. Letztendlich verschmelzen fantastische Welten mit der unseren äußerst kunstvoll zu einem Gesamtwerk, mit, man kann es wirklich sagen, philosophischer Tiefe.

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Teoodor

Cut differnetly

Reviewed in Germany on July 16, 2023

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the issue is cut in a strange way, making it smaller in size compared to the other books of the same edition. I guess this is a manufacturing problem, as the book arrived sealed and brand new.

Mathieu Dumouchel

New fan ?

Reviewed in Canada on April 21, 2014

Verified Purchase

Have i discovered a masterpiece ???

The awnser is YES.

The beginig is a little bit low to start but when it starts it never stops. The storyline is breathtaking, the character is unforgetable, the universe is just UNIQUE. Knowing that The Sandman is already i success i hesitated from ordering the big omnibus vol.1 wich is 106$ for the issue 1-47 ! About 1000 pages ! I definitly gonna order the whole thing the moment i can. The Sandman universe follow the adventures of Morpheus, the one, the only king of the dreams and nightmares. In this your gonna follow im in peoples dream, dream/nightmare real, adventure with nobody else than John Constantine, your gonna enter in Arkham Asylum and go to Hell to speak with Lucifer himself*. And more and more. For this little issue your get so much of awesomeness.

Enterr the fanbase of Neil Gaiman as soon as possible hes a Genius....or maybe a GOD.

PROM

Pretty weird stuff but getting me hooked

Reviewed in India on September 15, 2017

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I have heard about Sandam from a very close friend and he has urged me to read it for almost 5 years now.
But all these years i couldnt get around it till i watched Castlevania on Netflix. That stoked my interest in graphic novels and whetted my appetite for dark, surreal graphic novels.
So I kicked it off with The Watchmen and by the time i was reaching its end, i knew i was ready for Sandman.
From the very first chapter, it gave me a feeling of something myaterious unravelling in ways one will not expect. And it didnt disappoint. The 24 hours chapter was, I think, where the novel reaches its high point and does poetic justice to all the gore with a beautifully closing last chapter.
Eagerly looking forward to reading the next volume.

8 people found this helpful

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