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 Reviewed by: The Rev 14th Sep 2005 
 


Sandman: The Doll's House

Neil Gaiman
Purchase this title at B&N

The second book in the ten-book Sandman series is a dramatic improvement over the first, as promised by Gaiman's afterword to Preludes and Nocturnes. Where that one contained flashes of the brilliance Gaiman would later unveil in American Gods, this one pretty much goes whole hog in the brilliance department.

Where the first book was standard plot (right out of Malory, really) in relatively standard setting, The Doll's House is fairly standard plot (Sandman must neutralize a threat to the kingdom in the form of a human girl who functions as a dream vortex), the setting is anything but standard; we meet more of the Endless, a number of murderers who make the first book's John Dee look like a walk in the park, escaped dream-creatures, a cereal convention in the middle of nowhere, and much, much more.

The Sandman books are revered by thousands, if not millions; I'm starting to see why. This is stuff you want to read.



See also
American Gods by Neil Gaiman reviewed by The Rev
Coraline by Neil Gaiman reviewed by The Rev
Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman reviewed by The Rev
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett reviewed by The Rev
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman reviewed by The Rev
Sandman: A Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman reviewed by The Rev
Sandman: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman reviewed by The Rev
Sandman: Fables and Reflections by Neil Gaiman reviewed by The Rev
Sandman: The Dream Hunters by Neil Gaiman reviewed by The Rev
Sandman: The Wake by Neil Gaiman reviewed by The Rev
Sandman: Worlds' End by Neil Gaiman reviewed by The Rev
Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman reviewed by Ian M.