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 Reviewed by: The Rev 10th Mar 2006 
 


Sandman: The Dream Hunters

Neil Gaiman
Purchase this title at B&N

The Sandman, one of the most influential comic series in recent history, ended; however, Morpheus and his kin survived. The Sandman had become something far greater than simply the sum of its parts, and new tales have cropped up sporadically ever since. In this case, Gaiman paired up with illustrator Yoshitaka Amano for a book that is not a graphic novel, but instead a lavishly illustrated short story/novella, a retelling of a Japanese fairytale with a quick shift into the world of the Dream King. Sandman fans will find themselves more than amused playing spot-the-reference, while those who have not yet had the pleasure of taking the trip through the canonical ten books will find a lovely retelling with absolutely gorgeous artwork.

That said, it is, perhaps, wrong of me to compare this with the rest of the Sandman oeuvre; it is a beast of its own, for obvious reasons. Yet the comparison cannot be helped, and The Dream Hunters, while a fine piece of work, is not quite at the level of some of Gaiman's true masterpieces. Still, it's quite a worthwhile book, and deserves your attention.



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 Doll's House 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.