![The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes (The Sandman, #1)](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1310181507m/6657541.jpg)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Firstly, I'd just like to say that I love Neil Gaiman's writing, and usually if he's written it I devour it like a starving person. But I just didn't like "The Sandman" very much, maybe because it had a lot of horror elements that I wouldn't usually read (at least, not since I was young and used to read horror comics with my school friend who lived around the corner. And also I have been known to read the odd Stephen King and Dean Koontz). It was quite violent and a bit graphic for me (pardon the pun) - and I thought I might actually have nightmares! It wasn't really until the last chapter (if that's the right word) that I felt that it was really a Neil Gaiman story. Having said all that, though, I had to finish it to see what happened!
So basically the story is this - some creepy, cult people perform a ceremony to try to capture Death, but instead, they capture Morpheus, the God of Dreams (and the Sandman of the title). They don't really know what to do with him, so they keep him imprisoned for decades. But once the original captors die, he escapes his prison. He is weakened by the years of captivity, and discovers that his captors also stole/sold his magic stuff - a pouch of sand, a helmet, and a ruby amulet.
The Sandman goes on a quest to reclaim his stuff. The stories follow him as he tracks them down, one by one. As they were never meant to be used by mere mortals, some pretty terrible things happen to the people who have them, and to the people who come in contact with the people who have them. There was one particular story that really creeped me out (I'm looking at you, Dr Dee). *Shudder*. The Sandman even goes to Hell (and back) in his search. And fans of the TV show, Lucifer, will be interested to know that this is where the character first appears (I think - although he's blonde in the graphic novel and not nearly as hot as Tom Ellis! But I digress...) A couple of other familiar faces turn up too, like John Constantine. I liked him, as there was a welcome bit of humour injected into that part of the novel.
Anyway, it all works out in the end. And we get to meet Death, as well, who happens to be Dream's sister. She's pretty cool. This was my favourite part of the novel, because it just felt more like the Neil Gaiman I know and love.
So, all in all, it was an interesting experience. I don't think I'll ever be a big graphic novel fan, but it was a different way to read a story, and I love reading, so there you go. The artwork was incredibly detailed, and although a lot of the time it creeped me out, I could still admire the talent behind it (particularly as I can't even draw a decent stick figure!) And I liked the Sandman himself as a character.
I believe there are about eight parts to the Sandman story, and I will probably read them. Because Neil Gaiman, and because the ending gave me hope that I would enjoy the next installment more.
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