Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Vertigo (2010), Edition: Reprint, 232 pages
Description
Comic and Graphic Books. Fiction. HTML: NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Neil Gaiman's transcendent series THE SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic 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. A being that has existed since the beginning of the universe, Morpheus rules over the realm of dreams. In THE DOLL'S HOUSE, after a decades-long imprisonment, the Sandman has returned to find that a few dreams and nightmares have escaped to reality. Looking to recapture his lost possessions, Morpheus ventures to the human plane only to learn that a woman named Rose Walker has inadvertently become a dream vortex and threatens to rip apart his world. Now as Morpheus takes on the last escaped nightmare at a serial killers convention, the Lord of Dreams must mercilessly murder Rose or risk the destruction of his entire kingdom. Collects issues #9-16..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member GingerbreadMan
It’s amazing, really, how quickly Gaiman and his team find a strong foundation in this series. After the hesitant, somewhat clunky and pretty ugly “Preludes and nocturnes”, they go straight on to create one of the stronger books in the whole Sandman saga. Gaiman goes right ahead and starts
I have a soft spot for “A doll’s house” because it introduces some of my favorite characters in the series. Gilbert, of course (making a place a character is so brilliant!). Hob, the man who decides he doesn’t want to die (and in the present is having huge moral guilt over his involvement in the slave trade in the 1600-eds.). The Corinthian, scariest of night-mares. And of course Despair, the one of the Endless that has always felt closest to my own heart – and who is in her own way just as gentle and loving as her big sister Death (if perhaps less perky).
One cool thing about re-reading something for, like the fourth time (this is also one of the volumes I’ve read the most), is how new stuff kind of rises to the top. Kind of like when you buy an album and have listened to it enough times, the hit singles aren’t the ones you like best anymore, but rather that weird mid-tempo track 11, you know? I still love the journey through time in “Men of good fortune”, or the scary humor of the Cereal convention. But with this re-read I found myself adoring Chantal and Zelda, and the gentle, simple love they seem to share behind all that goth weirdness. Or Rose’s diary at the end. It’s definitely not the last time I go exploring here.
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experimenting with more complicated narratives, where side-stories, hints and little detours form a more complicated weave than in the first volume – clear from the get-go, where we go to African oral tradition to explain one of the pleas from hell in the first book. As a re-reader, it’s truly a joy to be reminded of just how well-planned this series really is, with small hints to important upcoming events like Lyta’s child, or Barbie’s dream of Martin Tenbones and the Cuckoo (which will form the core of “A game of you”, and which I had forgotten was planted already here). And the art is improving incredibly – if not exactly great.I have a soft spot for “A doll’s house” because it introduces some of my favorite characters in the series. Gilbert, of course (making a place a character is so brilliant!). Hob, the man who decides he doesn’t want to die (and in the present is having huge moral guilt over his involvement in the slave trade in the 1600-eds.). The Corinthian, scariest of night-mares. And of course Despair, the one of the Endless that has always felt closest to my own heart – and who is in her own way just as gentle and loving as her big sister Death (if perhaps less perky).
One cool thing about re-reading something for, like the fourth time (this is also one of the volumes I’ve read the most), is how new stuff kind of rises to the top. Kind of like when you buy an album and have listened to it enough times, the hit singles aren’t the ones you like best anymore, but rather that weird mid-tempo track 11, you know? I still love the journey through time in “Men of good fortune”, or the scary humor of the Cereal convention. But with this re-read I found myself adoring Chantal and Zelda, and the gentle, simple love they seem to share behind all that goth weirdness. Or Rose’s diary at the end. It’s definitely not the last time I go exploring here.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Dark, weird, twisted and ambitious, Sandman could only have come from the mind of Neil Gaiman. In The Sandman Vol 2: The Doll’s House, the story of Morpheus continues. He is the dream master and after being imprisoned for years he is trying to set things right in his kingdom. While he was absent,
I was hooked into this story right away, even the prologue and side story in the middle were fascinating as they both reveal small bits of Morpheus’ character. I am sure I missed many of the references but still I greatly enjoyed this volume. The verbal contention between Rose and Morpheus, and then again with Morpheus and his sibling, Desire, about “who are the dolls and who are the manipulators” is something I will carry away with me to ponder at leisure. I also love how all the obscure threads in the story eventually entwine into the whole and bring the reader a few AHA moments.
Brilliant yet violent, I felt this volume ran closer to horror than the first but there is much to recommend and very little, unless you can’t handle the violence, to the negative. I would have given this 5 stars but I can’t help but think there may be better ones yet to come. I can’t wait for Volume 3!
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a few dreams and nightmares have escaped into reality and he must hunt them down. In a parallel story, we are introduced to Rose Walker, who unbeknown to herself, has become a dream vortex and threatens to rip apart Morpheus’ world and destroy mankind.I was hooked into this story right away, even the prologue and side story in the middle were fascinating as they both reveal small bits of Morpheus’ character. I am sure I missed many of the references but still I greatly enjoyed this volume. The verbal contention between Rose and Morpheus, and then again with Morpheus and his sibling, Desire, about “who are the dolls and who are the manipulators” is something I will carry away with me to ponder at leisure. I also love how all the obscure threads in the story eventually entwine into the whole and bring the reader a few AHA moments.
Brilliant yet violent, I felt this volume ran closer to horror than the first but there is much to recommend and very little, unless you can’t handle the violence, to the negative. I would have given this 5 stars but I can’t help but think there may be better ones yet to come. I can’t wait for Volume 3!
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LibraryThing member -Eva-
In which Morpheus, the Dream King, the Sandman, appears in a rite of passage story, finds a Vortex and must sort out the havoc that ensues, reduces one of his own creations to dust for being less than what it could be, and manages to make (against his conscious will) a friend(!). This installment
Considering the title's nod to the Ibsen play, it's not surprising that women's roles and making of your life what you will are issues at the forefront in this installment. It's still a fantasy/horror story, obviously, but gender roles are at the basis of almost every storyline. It's interesting that the story "Tales in the Sand" ends with a note that the women's story is told quite differently from the men's version - I would very much like to know how it differs.
One of my favorite characters in the series is introduced here: The raven, Matthew, who used to be human (he'll allude to this throughout the series), died while in the Dreamtime, and was offered and accepted resurrection by Dream. Like John Constantine, he hails from Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, where he is the rather unsavory Matthew Joseph Cable. As a Dream's raven, though, he's hilarious, irreverent, and fiercely loyal. Also, one of my favorite stories of the whole series is found in this installment: "Men of Good Fortune." I do have a special place in my heart for Dream when he shows some heart and his making a friend tugs at my heartstrings. Things do seem to work out better for everyone when Dream can make his own connections without Desire messing with him. This story also begins the Shakespeare storyline, which will come back in future installments in quite a clever way - we will find out what Dream and he talk about when they leave Hob.
Again, interspersed with the larger story are some quite hilarious moments, which are part of why this is one of my favorite series. Tell me a dark story and then throw in a bunch of jokes and I'm as happy as can be. For example, "Something Nasty in the Basement" is actually a proper name on the census Lucius is taking, The Three appear to Rose in a broom closet (brooms and witches, hmm), Hal/Dolly is lamenting in front of a poster for The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry," and the serial killers' "cereal" convention has a panel discussion on the topic "There is no sanity clause" (Santa Clause, get it?) - extra amusing when you consider that serial killers don't meet the criteria for an NGI plea (Not Guilty by reason of Insanity). That juxtapositioning of serious matter and complete irreverence makes me very happy.
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mainly follows Rose Parker on her search for her brother, and Dream makes a few cameos rather than being the main character. Considering the title's nod to the Ibsen play, it's not surprising that women's roles and making of your life what you will are issues at the forefront in this installment. It's still a fantasy/horror story, obviously, but gender roles are at the basis of almost every storyline. It's interesting that the story "Tales in the Sand" ends with a note that the women's story is told quite differently from the men's version - I would very much like to know how it differs.
One of my favorite characters in the series is introduced here: The raven, Matthew, who used to be human (he'll allude to this throughout the series), died while in the Dreamtime, and was offered and accepted resurrection by Dream. Like John Constantine, he hails from Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, where he is the rather unsavory Matthew Joseph Cable. As a Dream's raven, though, he's hilarious, irreverent, and fiercely loyal. Also, one of my favorite stories of the whole series is found in this installment: "Men of Good Fortune." I do have a special place in my heart for Dream when he shows some heart and his making a friend tugs at my heartstrings. Things do seem to work out better for everyone when Dream can make his own connections without Desire messing with him. This story also begins the Shakespeare storyline, which will come back in future installments in quite a clever way - we will find out what Dream and he talk about when they leave Hob.
Again, interspersed with the larger story are some quite hilarious moments, which are part of why this is one of my favorite series. Tell me a dark story and then throw in a bunch of jokes and I'm as happy as can be. For example, "Something Nasty in the Basement" is actually a proper name on the census Lucius is taking, The Three appear to Rose in a broom closet (brooms and witches, hmm), Hal/Dolly is lamenting in front of a poster for The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry," and the serial killers' "cereal" convention has a panel discussion on the topic "There is no sanity clause" (Santa Clause, get it?) - extra amusing when you consider that serial killers don't meet the criteria for an NGI plea (Not Guilty by reason of Insanity). That juxtapositioning of serious matter and complete irreverence makes me very happy.
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LibraryThing member StormRaven
The Doll's House is the second book in Neil Gaiman's Sandman series detailing the activities of Dream. Dream is one of the Endless, along with his siblings Death, Desire, Delerium, Destiny, and Despair, they are essentially the embodiments of perpetual elements of human life.
The story of this
The four missing dreams take different paths, one nightmarishly inspiring an army of horrific imitators, two aspiring to elevate themselves to power, but dealing with the very smallest of arenas, and third simply trying to discover what it means to be human. In between is sandwiched the story of Hob, a man who simply refuses to die, and as a result becomes Dream's friend, probably Dream's only friend.
Eventually, the interference of the runaway dreams, the unique nature of Rose Walker herself, and the plotting of Dream's own relatives creates the crisis of the story. In the end, the sotyr turns out more or less happy, although several elements, such as the way Dream leaves the human attendees at the "Cereal" convention leaves much open to interpretation.
This, like the other volumes in the Sandman series, is Gaiman at his creepy best. One can see, in graphic novel form, the ideas that spurred him to create American Gods. Gaiman mixes the etheral world of the Dream realm with the harsh reality of the real world, and adds to it a raw edge of harsh evil even beyond that to create a truly memorable story.
The story of this
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volume involves more of the fall-out from Dream's enforced absence from his realm that was detailed in Volume 1 as the sand man sets out to collect some wayward subjects of his realm. The focus character in The Doll's House is Rose Walker, a fairly ordinary seeming teenager who turns out to be more important than she realizes, and more important than even Dream realizes. The book explores what can happen when dreams are left to run amuck in the human world, essentially the flip side of Preludes and Nocturnes, which showed the dangers of humans having control of the power of dreams.The four missing dreams take different paths, one nightmarishly inspiring an army of horrific imitators, two aspiring to elevate themselves to power, but dealing with the very smallest of arenas, and third simply trying to discover what it means to be human. In between is sandwiched the story of Hob, a man who simply refuses to die, and as a result becomes Dream's friend, probably Dream's only friend.
Eventually, the interference of the runaway dreams, the unique nature of Rose Walker herself, and the plotting of Dream's own relatives creates the crisis of the story. In the end, the sotyr turns out more or less happy, although several elements, such as the way Dream leaves the human attendees at the "Cereal" convention leaves much open to interpretation.
This, like the other volumes in the Sandman series, is Gaiman at his creepy best. One can see, in graphic novel form, the ideas that spurred him to create American Gods. Gaiman mixes the etheral world of the Dream realm with the harsh reality of the real world, and adds to it a raw edge of harsh evil even beyond that to create a truly memorable story.
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LibraryThing member sturlington
The second collection of Sandman comics, THE DOLL'S HOUSE, is probably my favorite in the series. It tells the story of the aftermath of Dream's 70 years of imprisonment. Four of his dreams have escaped his realm, and he must track them down in the real world. He must also deal with a vortex in the
The stories told in this arc are as haunting as dreams. There is the story of an old love of Dream's, Nada, and what became of her, set on the site of an ancient African city. One of my favorite is a side story about a man who has decided not to die, and who meets up with Dream for a drink every 100 years. I also love the fantastically creepy Cereal Convention, which appears to be a rather mundane fan convention, except all the participants are serial killers.
I really enjoy how atmospheric these comics are, how they make our mundane world seem like a place filled with hidden horrors and wonders. The boundaries between the Dreaming and our world are so thin that it seems like we can step right through.
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Dreaming, which threatens to destroy the world and is personified in the young girl Rose Walker. Finally, this collection introduces three of Dream's siblings, Death (in the prologue, "The Sound of Her Wings"), Despair and her twin Desire, who in what appears to be an extreme case of sibling rivalry, attempts to manipulate Dream into killing his own blood kin.The stories told in this arc are as haunting as dreams. There is the story of an old love of Dream's, Nada, and what became of her, set on the site of an ancient African city. One of my favorite is a side story about a man who has decided not to die, and who meets up with Dream for a drink every 100 years. I also love the fantastically creepy Cereal Convention, which appears to be a rather mundane fan convention, except all the participants are serial killers.
I really enjoy how atmospheric these comics are, how they make our mundane world seem like a place filled with hidden horrors and wonders. The boundaries between the Dreaming and our world are so thin that it seems like we can step right through.
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LibraryThing member ltjennysbooks
Ooh, this volume is spookier than I remember. It’s a bit hard to explain the plot, which is intricately linked to other storylines, but in short, it’s about a girl called Rose, who is looking for her little brother. A number of other people are milling around: G.K. Chesterton, a woman who’s
When I first started writing this review, I was going to say that two of the issues included in this volume don’t really go well with the rest of the book, but then I realized that was nonsense. They both go very very well, “Tales in the Sand” and “Men of Good Fortune”, because they give you a really vivid sense of Dream’s mercilessness and isolation, and how both of those things can play into what’s going to happen in the rest of this volume. As well as what’s going to happen at the end of the series, which – hey – is pretty impressive.
Gilbert is such a wonderful part of The Doll’s House. I love Gilbert. I think it is so nice of Neil Gaiman to have given his fictional G.K. Chesterton the chance to really actually rescue a damsel in distress, which G.K. Chesterton seems to have greatly wanted to do. G.K. Chesterton charms me. I would say that G.K. Chesterton accounts for a higher percentage of the quotations in my commonplace book than any other author – funny how I don’t own a single thing he wrote. But he’s delightful here.
Still not the best, but Neil Gaiman is clearly finding his voice. The theme of storytelling that runs through the Sandman continues to be developed here. Neil Gaiman is always good with that theme.
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been pregnant for several years, a serial killer with teeth in his eyes, women with enormous spider collections, and that makes it interesting. Still, essentially it’s all about Rose. She has multicolored hair and numerous connections to the previous volume. She is also a vortex, which means that she can break down the walls between everybody’s dreams. In case this does not sound alarming, Neil Gaiman makes it really, really disturbing. Like, much more so than the serial killer convention. (To me – but I’m very attached to my dreams. I’d be interested to know what other people think. How disturbing do you find that scene where all of her flatmates’ dreams start melting into each other? Particularly with Barbie and Ken?)When I first started writing this review, I was going to say that two of the issues included in this volume don’t really go well with the rest of the book, but then I realized that was nonsense. They both go very very well, “Tales in the Sand” and “Men of Good Fortune”, because they give you a really vivid sense of Dream’s mercilessness and isolation, and how both of those things can play into what’s going to happen in the rest of this volume. As well as what’s going to happen at the end of the series, which – hey – is pretty impressive.
Gilbert is such a wonderful part of The Doll’s House. I love Gilbert. I think it is so nice of Neil Gaiman to have given his fictional G.K. Chesterton the chance to really actually rescue a damsel in distress, which G.K. Chesterton seems to have greatly wanted to do. G.K. Chesterton charms me. I would say that G.K. Chesterton accounts for a higher percentage of the quotations in my commonplace book than any other author – funny how I don’t own a single thing he wrote. But he’s delightful here.
Still not the best, but Neil Gaiman is clearly finding his voice. The theme of storytelling that runs through the Sandman continues to be developed here. Neil Gaiman is always good with that theme.
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LibraryThing member deslni01
Gaiman grows the universe of the Sandman in the second volume, The Doll's House. Collecting Sandman issues 9-16, Dream resumes picking up his life and kingdom, attempting to recover several of the nightmares who left his kingdom during his absence - Brute, Glob, and the Corinthian. During his
Rose is looking for her younger brother, Jed, who she hasn't seen for many years. Jed, however, falls into the hands of the Corinthian, a serial-killer nightmare. The Corinthian is on his way to a serial-killer convention, and this is part of the volume is one of the reasons The Sandman is under the horror genre, as descriptions and depictions of the serial killers and the Corinthian are quite horrific.
Part four (The 13th issue), Men of Good Fortune, is an interesting deviation from the other chapters, as Dream meets a man in a tavern in the 14th century who tells his friends he won't ever die because he thinks everyone else does it to fit in with the norm. Dream then offers the man a meeting, 100 years from that night, at the same bar. This continues for many meetings, each a century apart, and shows an interesting transition and growth in the man - and growth in the Sandman at the end.
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searching, Dream discovers another vortex in the dream-world, this one being a young girl named Rose Walker.Rose is looking for her younger brother, Jed, who she hasn't seen for many years. Jed, however, falls into the hands of the Corinthian, a serial-killer nightmare. The Corinthian is on his way to a serial-killer convention, and this is part of the volume is one of the reasons The Sandman is under the horror genre, as descriptions and depictions of the serial killers and the Corinthian are quite horrific.
Part four (The 13th issue), Men of Good Fortune, is an interesting deviation from the other chapters, as Dream meets a man in a tavern in the 14th century who tells his friends he won't ever die because he thinks everyone else does it to fit in with the norm. Dream then offers the man a meeting, 100 years from that night, at the same bar. This continues for many meetings, each a century apart, and shows an interesting transition and growth in the man - and growth in the Sandman at the end.
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LibraryThing member ninjapenguin
This is the best volume to start the series with. Except for the brilliant "The Sound of Her Wings," the first volume is rather lackluster and might fool people into thinking this series is something it's not.
The Doll's House, though, is a great, fairly self-contained introduction to many of our
The Doll's House, though, is a great, fairly self-contained introduction to many of our
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main players in Sandman. It's creepy, surreal, fantastic, romantic, and thought-provoking. While you can read this volume without the first, you shouldn't move forward until you've read this. Show Less
LibraryThing member aleahmarie
Rose has been having some strange dreams lately...
Dream's story continues in this second compilation of comics by Neil Gaiman, the master of dark tales. Dream, Morpheus, Sandman (the endless have many names) finds himself pitted against the machinations of his younger sibling, Desire. An
As dark and twisty as you'd expect from Gaiman -- this collection is sure to please.
Dream's story continues in this second compilation of comics by Neil Gaiman, the master of dark tales. Dream, Morpheus, Sandman (the endless have many names) finds himself pitted against the machinations of his younger sibling, Desire. An
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unsuspecting mortal, Rose Walker, gets caught in the fray. As dark and twisty as you'd expect from Gaiman -- this collection is sure to please.
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LibraryThing member clfisha
Second of this unique, compelling, fantastical comic series
This is the volume where you can start to see and feel the genius of Sandman. The world starts to unfurl and let you in, we meet more of the Endless; the fabulous Desire and the beautifully, ugly Despair. Iconic ideas and fantastic shorts
It starts* with a wonderful rhythmic pastiche of African aural storytelling not only heartfelt but questioning the nature of stories and their tellers before introducing us to a mystery created without you noticing in the 1st volume. The art is much better here too, take the tale of Hob Gadling as he lives through the ages, each time beautifully drawn and lovingly researched or take Desires unimaginable large fortress or the Corinthians nightmarish eyes. This is a comic brimming with ideas in both words and images. It is a joy to read and to whet one's appetite in anticipation.
Highly recommend.
*depending on printing
This is the volume where you can start to see and feel the genius of Sandman. The world starts to unfurl and let you in, we meet more of the Endless; the fabulous Desire and the beautifully, ugly Despair. Iconic ideas and fantastic shorts
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lace through the overarching tale of Rose, a young women who whilst searching for her lost brother unwittingly threatens Dreams realm. You can already see links forming, causality and future echo's. It is a multi layered feast of stories, a glut of riches.It starts* with a wonderful rhythmic pastiche of African aural storytelling not only heartfelt but questioning the nature of stories and their tellers before introducing us to a mystery created without you noticing in the 1st volume. The art is much better here too, take the tale of Hob Gadling as he lives through the ages, each time beautifully drawn and lovingly researched or take Desires unimaginable large fortress or the Corinthians nightmarish eyes. This is a comic brimming with ideas in both words and images. It is a joy to read and to whet one's appetite in anticipation.
Highly recommend.
*depending on printing
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LibraryThing member gbill
Volume two of the Sandman saga features a young woman who is a ‘dream vortex’, unknowingly capable of wreaking havoc on all of humanity while they sleep, four people (ok three people and a place) who have escaped the world of dreams and entered the real world, and a convention of serial
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killers. It also introduces two more of the “Endless”, Desire and Delirium, who try to manipulate and ensnare their older brother Dream (Morpheus). My favorite parts were actually those that were a little offline of the main plot – the Prologue, telling of an ancient legend, and “Men of Good Fortune”, telling of a man who lives for centuries and makes an appointment to meet Morpheus every 100 years. (He also meets Shakespeare and others, so he reminded me of ‘Orlando’ but I digress). As with volume one, it’s good writing, dark in places, has nice artwork, and makes me want to keep reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member elenchus
SYNOPSIS | Rose's search for brother Jed leads to a confrontation between factions of Dreamtime which went rogue in Morpheus's absence. The consequences are larger than either the Corinthian or Brute & Glob seem aware. Morpheus continues his efforts to rebalance the Dreaming, but Desire & Despair
IN THIS VOLUME
From the Endless: Dream | Death | Desire & Despair | cameo by Destiny
From Dreamtime / Supernatural: The Corinthian | Brute & Glob | Fiddler's Green (Gilbert) | Lucien | Witches (Three-In-One)
From DC: Fury & Silver Scarab (Sandman) | Matthew | cameo by Constantine
//
Gaiman smuggles a new story into his introduction to the collected edition, Destiny's dramatic monologue a précis of Volume 1.
In Volume 2, Gaiman dilates his storytelling lens in 2 vital ways:
● In loosing four members from the Dreaming, we get new glimpses into how things work. Brute & Glob attempt to re-create the Dreaming, operating within Jed's solitary unconscious (and a traumatized prepubescent's, at that). The Corinthian, deliberately or not, inspires copycat behaviour by other humans, operating entirely outside the Dreaming. The efforts of Fiddler's Green are opaque until the very end, but prove no less insightful.
● In setting up a confrontation between Morpheus and the Vortex, we begin to see that the Dreaming is grounded in an integrated world of all human dreams --Jung's collective unconscious. The Dreaming lacks a vital integrity when either isolated (like Jed's) or collapsed (like the Vortex).
And, Gaiman deepens his storytelling with layering and skeined plotlines, accomplished particularly through allusions --to myth, to DC storylines. This layering effectively adds depth and nuance not usually present in genre novels, whether the graphic or plaintext variety.
If Volume 1 concerns human attempts to wield power over Dream, Volume 2 treats of entities of Dream attempting to wield power over humans. Neither scenario is good for us humans --nor, it would seem, for supernatural beings.
Gaiman suggests Nightmares should not merely frighten: fear teaches, or is merely cruel, and dreams are nothing when only cruel. Though we have seen it thus far primarily in the sideline stories, dreams are more than Nightmare, too. I suspect that vein is to be mined in later volumes.
//
"The Story So Far"
(concerning Morpheus and his abduction)
Destiny relates the high points (with instructive commentary) of Volume 1. Endless revealed to be not Gods (who die when followers dwindle: Leiber?), but permanent anthropomorphized cosmological principles.
"The Sound of Her Wings"
(concerning Morpheus's role as one of the Endless)
In my edition, reprint of the identical story which closed Volume 1.
"Tales in the Sand"
(an interlude, concerning the force & limits of storytelling)
Sideline plot, a coming of age rite which relays a story about breaking the rules and serves as analogue for the reader.
"The Doll’s House"
(concerning Rose Walker and her family, and their place in Dreaming)
Rose is named as a Vortex, and the Three-in-One make a cameo appearance, this time as typecast witches.
"Moving In"
(concerning the inhabitants of a house, a mirror twin of the one in Unity's room)
Introduces Matthew, and four rogue denizens of Dreaming: Fiddler's Green, Brute & Glob, and the Corinthian. Fiddler's Green, a place imagined by humans, is here a character taking the persona of G.K. Chesterton: a visual pun on genius loci. The first appearance of Morpheus's tools since their recovery: here, his helm.
"Playing House"
(concerning Jed Walker)
Background: the threat & solace of Dream for the individual; Dream requisite to healthy human life. Hector (Silver Scarab) & a pregnant Lyta (Fury) are distorted by Brute & Glob to serve as the Sandman in Jed's isolated Dream. Brute & Glob use some form of Morpheus's dream sand. Morpheus reconnects Jed's Dream to the True Dreaming and punishes Brute & Glob, while laying claim to Lyta's unborn child.
"Men of Good Fortune"
(an interlude, concerning long-distance relationship)
Sideline plot, Morpheus persuades Death to grant immortality upon a roustabout, initially a joke only to be surprised at the difference empathy makes for friendship. Morpheus meets Shakespeare, leading to a story in Volume 3, and with Lady Johanna, looking back to a story in Volume 1.
"Collectors"
(concerning the Serial Killers convention)
Serial killers, despite their sociopathic behaviour and psychopathic beliefs, are recognisably human as demonstrated by their sociability, individuation, group affiliation, social affirmation, devotion to craft. Evidently theirs is a cautionary tale on the influence of guiding dreams. (Note only the Corinthian is a Nightmare; yet outwardly indistinguishable --apart from the eyes-- from human serial killers, when operating outside of Dreamtime.)
"Into the Night"
"Lost Hearts"
(concerning the Vortex and the rules of Dreamtime)
Fiddler's Green, originally a place dreamt up by humans, here is a place dreaming of what it's like to be human. Among Morpheus's Nightmares, only Gilbert attempted to do something important with his dream power, and only Gilbert goes unpunished. Morpheus confronts Desire on the trap set for him: to kill Rose would have been to kill a member of the Family, since she was sired by Despair.
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have other plans. The Doll's House plotline accounts for the majority of Volume 2, supplemented by 3 sideline stories in which Gaiman explores some facet of Dream's character. The retribution plotline from Volume 1 shifts from Morpheus's captors to his rogue henchmen. IN THIS VOLUME
From the Endless: Dream | Death | Desire & Despair | cameo by Destiny
From Dreamtime / Supernatural: The Corinthian | Brute & Glob | Fiddler's Green (Gilbert) | Lucien | Witches (Three-In-One)
From DC: Fury & Silver Scarab (Sandman) | Matthew | cameo by Constantine
//
Gaiman smuggles a new story into his introduction to the collected edition, Destiny's dramatic monologue a précis of Volume 1.
In Volume 2, Gaiman dilates his storytelling lens in 2 vital ways:
● In loosing four members from the Dreaming, we get new glimpses into how things work. Brute & Glob attempt to re-create the Dreaming, operating within Jed's solitary unconscious (and a traumatized prepubescent's, at that). The Corinthian, deliberately or not, inspires copycat behaviour by other humans, operating entirely outside the Dreaming. The efforts of Fiddler's Green are opaque until the very end, but prove no less insightful.
● In setting up a confrontation between Morpheus and the Vortex, we begin to see that the Dreaming is grounded in an integrated world of all human dreams --Jung's collective unconscious. The Dreaming lacks a vital integrity when either isolated (like Jed's) or collapsed (like the Vortex).
And, Gaiman deepens his storytelling with layering and skeined plotlines, accomplished particularly through allusions --to myth, to DC storylines. This layering effectively adds depth and nuance not usually present in genre novels, whether the graphic or plaintext variety.
If Volume 1 concerns human attempts to wield power over Dream, Volume 2 treats of entities of Dream attempting to wield power over humans. Neither scenario is good for us humans --nor, it would seem, for supernatural beings.
Gaiman suggests Nightmares should not merely frighten: fear teaches, or is merely cruel, and dreams are nothing when only cruel. Though we have seen it thus far primarily in the sideline stories, dreams are more than Nightmare, too. I suspect that vein is to be mined in later volumes.
//
"The Story So Far"
(concerning Morpheus and his abduction)
Destiny relates the high points (with instructive commentary) of Volume 1. Endless revealed to be not Gods (who die when followers dwindle: Leiber?), but permanent anthropomorphized cosmological principles.
"The Sound of Her Wings"
(concerning Morpheus's role as one of the Endless)
In my edition, reprint of the identical story which closed Volume 1.
"Tales in the Sand"
(an interlude, concerning the force & limits of storytelling)
Sideline plot, a coming of age rite which relays a story about breaking the rules and serves as analogue for the reader.
"The Doll’s House"
(concerning Rose Walker and her family, and their place in Dreaming)
Rose is named as a Vortex, and the Three-in-One make a cameo appearance, this time as typecast witches.
"Moving In"
(concerning the inhabitants of a house, a mirror twin of the one in Unity's room)
Introduces Matthew, and four rogue denizens of Dreaming: Fiddler's Green, Brute & Glob, and the Corinthian. Fiddler's Green, a place imagined by humans, is here a character taking the persona of G.K. Chesterton: a visual pun on genius loci. The first appearance of Morpheus's tools since their recovery: here, his helm.
"Playing House"
(concerning Jed Walker)
Background: the threat & solace of Dream for the individual; Dream requisite to healthy human life. Hector (Silver Scarab) & a pregnant Lyta (Fury) are distorted by Brute & Glob to serve as the Sandman in Jed's isolated Dream. Brute & Glob use some form of Morpheus's dream sand. Morpheus reconnects Jed's Dream to the True Dreaming and punishes Brute & Glob, while laying claim to Lyta's unborn child.
"Men of Good Fortune"
(an interlude, concerning long-distance relationship)
Sideline plot, Morpheus persuades Death to grant immortality upon a roustabout, initially a joke only to be surprised at the difference empathy makes for friendship. Morpheus meets Shakespeare, leading to a story in Volume 3, and with Lady Johanna, looking back to a story in Volume 1.
"Collectors"
(concerning the Serial Killers convention)
Serial killers, despite their sociopathic behaviour and psychopathic beliefs, are recognisably human as demonstrated by their sociability, individuation, group affiliation, social affirmation, devotion to craft. Evidently theirs is a cautionary tale on the influence of guiding dreams. (Note only the Corinthian is a Nightmare; yet outwardly indistinguishable --apart from the eyes-- from human serial killers, when operating outside of Dreamtime.)
"Into the Night"
"Lost Hearts"
(concerning the Vortex and the rules of Dreamtime)
Fiddler's Green, originally a place dreamt up by humans, here is a place dreaming of what it's like to be human. Among Morpheus's Nightmares, only Gilbert attempted to do something important with his dream power, and only Gilbert goes unpunished. Morpheus confronts Desire on the trap set for him: to kill Rose would have been to kill a member of the Family, since she was sired by Despair.
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LibraryThing member Smiler69
The continuations of [9347622::Preludes and Nocturnes], this collection groups together The Sandman comics #9-16. I've read many comments about the fact that the P&N leaves much to be desired and that the series kept improving over time, but I thought that the first 8 installations at least had the
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merit of being unusual and unexpected. In [6039::Doll's House] there were a few things I had a hard time to stomach, which I suppose I can't hold against Gaiman, since after all this series is meant to be horror, not exactly my favourite genre I must admit, but I can't say I'm tempted to continue on. Show Less
LibraryThing member RebeccaAnn
Still good, but it didn't quite reach the level of genius as the first volume.
The underlying story of this graphic novel is a girl name Rose is the vortex of her era. If she remains alive, the world will be destroyed. It is the only time Dream can take a human life and he intends to do it.
My favorite stories, "Tales in the Sand" and "Men of Good Fortune", were actually the two that had the least to do with the main plot of the book. Rather, they offered a glimpse into the past of Dream. They showed Dream's desire for companionship and the loneliness he must suffer. I was touched emotionally by those stories more than any other. The other stories were good but they focused more on Rose and, in comparison to Dream, Rose's life is so ordinary that I couldn't help but be more drawn to Dream's mysteriousness.
While this volume doesn't meet the standards set by the first in the series, it's still terrific and it still held me in thrall all the way through. Highly recommended.
The underlying story of this graphic novel is a girl name Rose is the vortex of her era. If she remains alive, the world will be destroyed. It is the only time Dream can take a human life and he intends to do it.
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Subsequent stories include a couple that has been pregnant for years, an abused boy locked in the cellar, and a convention for serial killers who like to "collect". My favorite stories, "Tales in the Sand" and "Men of Good Fortune", were actually the two that had the least to do with the main plot of the book. Rather, they offered a glimpse into the past of Dream. They showed Dream's desire for companionship and the loneliness he must suffer. I was touched emotionally by those stories more than any other. The other stories were good but they focused more on Rose and, in comparison to Dream, Rose's life is so ordinary that I couldn't help but be more drawn to Dream's mysteriousness.
While this volume doesn't meet the standards set by the first in the series, it's still terrific and it still held me in thrall all the way through. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member librarianbryan
I enjoyed this but it was also kind of a let down. In an attempt to interweave the story with Preludes and Nocturnes Gaiman just repeats himself. The storylines are really the same, replete with psycho killer and 90s alterna-girl stuck in a dreamworld.Gaiman has the god-character dilemma: how to
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make a god-like character interesting or face suspenseful challenges? I’m not sure that he really succeeds. Sandman just shows up and fixes things. It just takes him 24 pages to walk there in every issue. Gaiman’s storytelling gift is present but it doesn’t have the same effect on me as it did when I was a kid.Dringenberg’s limitations are apparent when he takes over as full time penciler. Too many frames seemed rushed and rough. Too many pages devolve into six squares without a draftsman’s touch you get in some indie comics. Show Less
LibraryThing member xicanti
A young woman searches for her missing younger brother, unaware that she is drawing stray dreams and nightmares to her.
Ask me to choose a favourite SANDMAN volume and you'll place me in a tricky position indeed, but I think this one might be it. As is the case with Preludes and Nocturnes, it's a
The book can be read as a stand-alone, but it nevertheless adds a great deal to the whole SANDMAN mythos. We've already met Death, and we've heard mention of Destiny; now we meet Desire and Despair, two more of Dream's siblings. We also hear mention of Delirium and the mysterious, as-of-yet-unnamed "prodigal." Some events from the first volume play a role in this one, and we begin to get a feel for the ways in which all these stories are interconnected. I'm leery of saying too much for fear of letting spoilers slip, but you'll want to pay close attention to what's going on here. Look at how Dream is characterized, and consider which characters from the first volume have made repeat appearances here. Consider the exchanges between Desire and Despair, and between Desire and Dream. There's some great stuff going on here, and it astounds me that Gaiman, over the course of SANDMAN's eight-year run, managed to weave all these little bits and pieces into such a rich, meaningful tale.
Highly recommended. You'll probably want to start with Preludes and Nocturnes, but it's not absolutely necessary.
Ask me to choose a favourite SANDMAN volume and you'll place me in a tricky position indeed, but I think this one might be it. As is the case with Preludes and Nocturnes, it's a
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fairly simple story that gains surprising depth when you consider it in light of the series as a whole. Gaiman really hits his stride here; he gives us a creepy, sometimes gory horror tale that also manages to be a personal story about a young woman and her complicated family dynamic. And man, are there ever some great graphic twists! The scene in which we slip from the waking world into Rose's dream is one of my very favourites. It draws the reader straight into the story; in order to follow along, we must physically alter the way we're reading the book. It's great stuff.The book can be read as a stand-alone, but it nevertheless adds a great deal to the whole SANDMAN mythos. We've already met Death, and we've heard mention of Destiny; now we meet Desire and Despair, two more of Dream's siblings. We also hear mention of Delirium and the mysterious, as-of-yet-unnamed "prodigal." Some events from the first volume play a role in this one, and we begin to get a feel for the ways in which all these stories are interconnected. I'm leery of saying too much for fear of letting spoilers slip, but you'll want to pay close attention to what's going on here. Look at how Dream is characterized, and consider which characters from the first volume have made repeat appearances here. Consider the exchanges between Desire and Despair, and between Desire and Dream. There's some great stuff going on here, and it astounds me that Gaiman, over the course of SANDMAN's eight-year run, managed to weave all these little bits and pieces into such a rich, meaningful tale.
Highly recommended. You'll probably want to start with Preludes and Nocturnes, but it's not absolutely necessary.
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LibraryThing member iftyzaidi
This is where the Sandman series really hits its stride. The Doll's House story line is entertaining, horrifying and amusing at the same time, and the stand-alone 'Men of good Fortune' is a wonderful interlude. The art work remains distinctive with its muted tones and shades. Excellent.
LibraryThing member MrsLee
I've limited these novels to three stars for the dark content within, but I do enjoy much of the storyline. Very imaginative images and topics, and the homage to G.K. Chesterton was sweet. I like the way Gaiman plays with ideas and his characters are compelling, at least the ones which aren't
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repulsive are compelling. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mary_Overton
Was there ever a more romantic, chilling story about a young woman discovering her animus? I find myself growing irrationally enamored of Morpheus/Sandman/King of Dreams in this second collection of his comic books. He must embody aspects of my personal animus. I am jealous of Rose Walker
Stories unfurl within stories. Characters from the past re-enter the action in ways that redefine their roles in previous episodes.
Perhaps my favorite story is what seems to be a minor interlude -- the tale of Robert Gadling, a man 'too smart' for death, whose tavern boast in 1389 is overheard by Death herself. He is granted a reprieve from both dying & aging, and becomes, perhaps, the first mortal to befriend an Endless. We will see him again.
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(wonderful name) who is allowed the privilege of facing Him, of negotiating for her life with Him, and of having her own brief moment of power in the Dream World.Stories unfurl within stories. Characters from the past re-enter the action in ways that redefine their roles in previous episodes.
Perhaps my favorite story is what seems to be a minor interlude -- the tale of Robert Gadling, a man 'too smart' for death, whose tavern boast in 1389 is overheard by Death herself. He is granted a reprieve from both dying & aging, and becomes, perhaps, the first mortal to befriend an Endless. We will see him again.
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LibraryThing member Aitken_ka
I'm not going to bother with the plot of this book, it is ultimately as surreal and as disconnected as the very best of dreams. If you like linear easy to understand plots then this is really not for you. I loved it, and I can't wait to read the next in the series. So, if you are looking for
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something a bit different that rewards a little commitment and effort then give it a go. Show Less
LibraryThing member sarah_rubyred
This lived up to my expectations as part 2 of the Sandman series. The character of the sandman is introduced further and some idea of his role in the world is given.
I will read all of these. I love the dark twistedness of it.
I will read all of these. I love the dark twistedness of it.
LibraryThing member wiremonkey
The novel Coraline intrigued me so much, gave me such shivers, that I wanted to read more of Neil Gaiman. So what do I do? As a good librarian, I consulted my library catalogue and reserved a bunch of his books. This was the first tantalising selection that was available. I am not sure if it is
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sequential, but volume two reads well as a stand alone. I am not quite sure what to say exactly, as I am not well versed in graphic novels nor the horror genre. The premise was interesting- that their is a netherworld of the "dreaming" with nightmares that can escape into reality and, taking human form, create some pretty gruesome havoc. However, the illustrations were not as spectacular as the cover page would lead you to believe and the writing felt a little bit contrived at times. In terms of sheer horror, I would have to pick Coraline over the Doll's House, but that might be just my familiarity and comfort with the novel format rearing its ugly head. Show Less
LibraryThing member LostFrog
This wasn't particularly memorable to me, so I'll have to read it again. I do remember one notable part: being introduced to Hob Gadling, who Dream granted immortality centuries ago to satisfy Hob's idea that men only die as long as they believe they will. Dream meets with him once every hundred
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years, in the same spot. I dunno, I thought that was one of the cooler things in this volume. Show Less
LibraryThing member leore_joanne
Oh, Neil Gaiman's genius at storytelling. Because this is exactly it, he doesn't really write books - he tells stories. And it has been long since I've decided that I don't really care what I read, or whether it is a book or a movie, so long as it is a good story. And Neil tells good stories.
Already the first part, which is not entirely relevant to the story, adds so much, while it shows how people from a different culture perceive the Sandman. How they find him as creature that resembles them in appearance, which shows us a thing which we have always known, and that is that humans create their gods in their image, and if cows had gods, they would have been cow shaped and so on.
The Sandman has captured me at the first book already (where John Constantine makes a guest visit, btw), there's just something sexy about him.
A particularly nice story is the one about the man he meets every hundred years.
I am definitely going to buy the rest of the books. The graphic design is genius, and I already gave my compliments for the text.
12.3.07
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Already the first part, which is not entirely relevant to the story, adds so much, while it shows how people from a different culture perceive the Sandman. How they find him as creature that resembles them in appearance, which shows us a thing which we have always known, and that is that humans create their gods in their image, and if cows had gods, they would have been cow shaped and so on.
The Sandman has captured me at the first book already (where John Constantine makes a guest visit, btw), there's just something sexy about him.
A particularly nice story is the one about the man he meets every hundred years.
I am definitely going to buy the rest of the books. The graphic design is genius, and I already gave my compliments for the text.
12.3.07
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LibraryThing member biblioconnisseur
These are interesting. I like the concepts and even the playfullness. I have to say though that I preferred Fray and the artwork in it.
Subjects
Awards
Eisner Award (Nominee — 1991)
Squiddy Award (1990)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1990-08-07
Physical description
232 p.; 6.6 inches
ISBN
1401227996 / 9781401227999