Sandman: Worlds' End

Neil Gaiman

Worlds' End, the eighth book in the Sandman series, shows the increasing fragmentation of the main characters' stories, as we get another book that only tangentially has anything to do with the Endless. That said, the possible disintegration of the overarching story arc does nothing to diminish the quality of this fantastic series.

Brent and Charlene are driving through rural Illinois when a snowstorm blows up. This would not be strange, save that it's the middle of June. The car is wrecked, and the two of them eventually come to the Worlds' End Inn, a place between the worlds where travelers caught in out-of-the-ordinary storms come to rest and exchange stories until the storm ends. That's the frame, anyway; the actual book is stories within stories within stories. And while the stories themselves are fascinating glimpses into both new worlds and those we already know, what is most interesting about this book is its construction, the way in which we go levels deep into stories without ever getting confused as to where we are and how far down we've gone; everything works surprisingly well for this sort of narrative.

This probably shouldn't surprise me, given that Sandman has a well-deserved reputation for brilliance. This book is one of those that truly showcases it.