Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Vertigo
Pages
126
Description
Set in ancient Japan, this lyrical tale follows the ill-fated romance between a humble young monk and a magical, shape-changing she-fox. When the fox stumbles upon a band of demons discussing a plot to steal the monk's life through a dream trap, it will take all the fox's craftiness-and the intervention of Morpheus-to save him. Combining prose with stunning full-page paintings, The Dream Hunters also showcases Amano's art with an eight-page gatefold bringing an ethereal beauty to Morpheus and other classic Sandman characters.
Description
Sandman fans should feel lucky that master fantasy writer Neil Gaiman discovered the mythical world of Japanese fables while researching his translation of Hayao Miyazaki's film Princess Mononoke. At the same time, while preparing for the Sandman 10th anniversary, he met Yoshitaka Amano, his artist for the 11th Sandman book. Amano is the famed designer of the Final Fantasy game series. The product of Gaiman's immersion in Japanese art, culture, and history, Sandman: Dream Hunters is a classic Japanese tale (adapted from "The Fox, the Monk, and the Mikado of All Night's Dreaming") that he has subtly morphed into his Sandman universe.
Like most fables, the story begins with a wager between two jealous animals, a fox and a badger: which of them can drive a young monk from his solitary temple? The winner will make the temple into a new fox or badger home. But as the fox adopts the form of a woman to woo the monk from his hermitage, she falls in love with him. Meanwhile, in far away Kyoto, the wealthy Master of Yin-Yang, the onmyoji, is plagued by his fears and seeks tranquility in his command of sorcery. He learns of the monk and his inner peace; he dispatches demons to plague the monk in his dreams and eventually kill him to bring his peace to the onmyoji. The fox overhears the demons on their way to the monk and begins her struggle to save the man whom at first she so envied.
Dream Hunters is a beautiful package. From the ink-brush painted endpapers to the luminous page layouts--including Amano's gate-fold painting of Morpheus in a sea of reds, oranges, and violets--this book has been crafted for a sensuous reading experience. Gaiman has developed as a prose stylist in the last several years with novels and stories such as Neverwhere and Stardust, and his narrative rings with a sense of timelessness and magic that gently sustains this adult fairy tale. The only disappointment here is that the book is so brief. One could imagine this creative team being even better suited to a longer story of more epic proportions. On the final page of Dream Hunters, in fact, Amano suggest that he will collaborate further with Mr. Gaiman in the future. Readers of Dream Hunters will hope that Amano's dream comes true.
Like most fables, the story begins with a wager between two jealous animals, a fox and a badger: which of them can drive a young monk from his solitary temple? The winner will make the temple into a new fox or badger home. But as the fox adopts the form of a woman to woo the monk from his hermitage, she falls in love with him. Meanwhile, in far away Kyoto, the wealthy Master of Yin-Yang, the onmyoji, is plagued by his fears and seeks tranquility in his command of sorcery. He learns of the monk and his inner peace; he dispatches demons to plague the monk in his dreams and eventually kill him to bring his peace to the onmyoji. The fox overhears the demons on their way to the monk and begins her struggle to save the man whom at first she so envied.
Dream Hunters is a beautiful package. From the ink-brush painted endpapers to the luminous page layouts--including Amano's gate-fold painting of Morpheus in a sea of reds, oranges, and violets--this book has been crafted for a sensuous reading experience. Gaiman has developed as a prose stylist in the last several years with novels and stories such as Neverwhere and Stardust, and his narrative rings with a sense of timelessness and magic that gently sustains this adult fairy tale. The only disappointment here is that the book is so brief. One could imagine this creative team being even better suited to a longer story of more epic proportions. On the final page of Dream Hunters, in fact, Amano suggest that he will collaborate further with Mr. Gaiman in the future. Readers of Dream Hunters will hope that Amano's dream comes true.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999-10-27
Physical description
126 p.; 10.2 inches
ISBN
156389629X / 9781563896293
User reviews
LibraryThing member tootstorm
3 years after the Sandman called it quits, and just over 10 years after issue #1 hit the stands, the Dream Hunters was the best return the King of All Night's Dreaming could've asked for.
[N.B. This review includes images, and was formatted for my site, dendrobibliography -- located here.]
I was
This isn't a continuation of the original series, either, making it a safe read for new-comers. The nods are there--and satisfying--but they're unimportant to the story itself. The Dream Hunters is all Morpheus and his fatal hubris from beginning to end. He guides two potential lovers, a fox-spirit and a monk, to care for one another despite their doomed situation. Theirs is a sly, sad defense of forbidden love only Morpheus could deliver.
The illustrations decorating every other page were provided by Yoshitaka Amano, best known for his iconic Final Fantasy artwork. Amano's simple, yet complex images go hand-in-hand with Gaiman's prose. They're both detached and maybe a bit cold in the same fairy-tale way, gently carrying a story for any time and as old as time to the reader. His pencil lines are sparse, but still provide fine details to strike humanity in his characters. (& his ethereal style captures the '80s goth-punk vibe of Morpheus' (contextually-ridiculous) figure so well!)
I loved it. It was sad, tender, cute 'n' sweet, and oh-so-powerful: The best collaboration you could want from these two artists.
*The Dream Hunters has a Japanese flavor. Gaiman cites a collection (pub. 1908) of Japanese myths by Yei Theodora Ozaki as the source (with minimal alterations to fit in with the Dreaming) in the afterword. He was wrong, for whatever reason; it's source is Pu Songling (c. 1700) of the Qing Dynasty--though how similar it is, I have no idea.
[N.B. This review includes images, and was formatted for my site, dendrobibliography -- located here.]
I was
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nervous about this story: It's structure is a departure for the Dreaming, being a novella with accompanying illustrations instead of a 'comic book.' I didn't expect it could capture Dream's trademark twinkle nearly so well--and I was wrong. This is the Sandman, and it's one of Dream's most powerful stories. Gaiman spent years evoking the style of myths of all colors to tell stories about--well--stories, and this is him exercising that experience to pay homage to Japanese and Chinese folklore.*This isn't a continuation of the original series, either, making it a safe read for new-comers. The nods are there--and satisfying--but they're unimportant to the story itself. The Dream Hunters is all Morpheus and his fatal hubris from beginning to end. He guides two potential lovers, a fox-spirit and a monk, to care for one another despite their doomed situation. Theirs is a sly, sad defense of forbidden love only Morpheus could deliver.
The illustrations decorating every other page were provided by Yoshitaka Amano, best known for his iconic Final Fantasy artwork. Amano's simple, yet complex images go hand-in-hand with Gaiman's prose. They're both detached and maybe a bit cold in the same fairy-tale way, gently carrying a story for any time and as old as time to the reader. His pencil lines are sparse, but still provide fine details to strike humanity in his characters. (& his ethereal style captures the '80s goth-punk vibe of Morpheus' (contextually-ridiculous) figure so well!)
I loved it. It was sad, tender, cute 'n' sweet, and oh-so-powerful: The best collaboration you could want from these two artists.
*The Dream Hunters has a Japanese flavor. Gaiman cites a collection (pub. 1908) of Japanese myths by Yei Theodora Ozaki as the source (with minimal alterations to fit in with the Dreaming) in the afterword. He was wrong, for whatever reason; it's source is Pu Songling (c. 1700) of the Qing Dynasty--though how similar it is, I have no idea.
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LibraryThing member Jacey25
Highly Highly recommended to all readers whether aquainted with the Sandman series or not. This stand-alone is a retelling of an asian (japanese?) tale. Dream does of course lend a hand and it's nice to see him again!
The art in this book is incredibly beautiful- worth owning for the art alone but
The art in this book is incredibly beautiful- worth owning for the art alone but
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the story as well is a wonderful, sweet magical parable of a fox who falls in love with a monk and tries to save his life. Magical for all ages. Show Less
LibraryThing member TurtleKnitta
Although the concept was interesting and the illustrations were beautiful, I entered this expected the same level of depth as the main Sandman volumes and found myself disappointed.
LibraryThing member purlewe
I had heard about the Sandman books and picked this up. I will say that it isn't part of the Sandman series, but that did not bother me. In fact I think it probably was what made me like it more.
I enjoy fairy tales from other cultures, This book is inspired by the Japanese fairy tale about the monk
I enjoy fairy tales from other cultures, This book is inspired by the Japanese fairy tale about the monk
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and the fox. The illustrations were exquisite. The writing was in the style of an old Japanese myth. Exactly the kind of tastes I have. I appreciated this book and am glad I read it. Show Less
LibraryThing member akmargie
I first clicked on 4 stars and then thought, what are you thinking? You loved this. Gaiman's writing with incredible illustrations. A new folktale with all the power of a centuries old tale.
LibraryThing member BenjaminHahn
A nice little novella with great artwork. Not a graphic novel per say, but it still has the sandman feel. It reminds me of many an Asian fairy tale with the animal spirits and the monk interacting in the spirit world and also in the real world. Overall a pleasant addition to the Sandman stories.
LibraryThing member EmmMIB
Another graphic novel in the Sandman series. It's off the story arcs, but should be in any fan's collection, also works as a good intro to Sandman. Beautiful, beautiful artwork.
LibraryThing member PDExperiment626
This is a beautifully told, self-contained tale in the Sandman series. The artwork is stunning and the writing is incredible. Neil Gaiman writes characters that are beautiful, subtle and intelligent. Really, just an all-around beautiful piece of art.
LibraryThing member elmyra
This was actually my very first encounter with Neil Gaiman's Sandman universe (and with his work in general, I think). It's a retelling of a Japanese fairy tale. The first thing that strikes you about this book is the gorgeous artwork. Yoshitaka Amano is a genius. And then you read the story,
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and... you cry. I certainly couldn't stop crying for about half an hour. It's beautiful and sad, and if you're not sure about this whole graphic novel thing, a great half-way house/entry point into the medium. Show Less
LibraryThing member kainlane
This was a wonderful retelling of an old Japanese fairy tale of love and vengeance. The retelling is by Neil Gaiman, famous for his Sandman comics, and though this story has very little to do with his Sandman series, it does delve into the world of Dreams and we do come across the King of Dreams a
The story is simple in its prose, but deep in its meaning. It is all at once a fairy tale and a classical opera in its story. The illustrations, much of which is a combination of traditional Japanese watercolor and a more modern illustrative style, along with a handful of great charcoal drawings, are a wonderful accompaniment. They certainly add great enjoyment to an already delightful story. It is all the better as the reader can work his way through it in a fairly short time, but could easily find new enjoyment in another reading. This book gets high ranks from me, 4.5/5.
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couple times. The story is about a monk, a lone caretaker of a distant temple on the side of a mountain, and a neighboring fox. The fox ends up in love with the monk through his kindness. Being a Japanese fairy tale, the fox has wonderful spiritual magic and can come in the form of a beautiful young woman when she desires. The fox learns of a plot to kill the monk by another very powerful magician and she does everything she can to thwart him. The story is simple in its prose, but deep in its meaning. It is all at once a fairy tale and a classical opera in its story. The illustrations, much of which is a combination of traditional Japanese watercolor and a more modern illustrative style, along with a handful of great charcoal drawings, are a wonderful accompaniment. They certainly add great enjoyment to an already delightful story. It is all the better as the reader can work his way through it in a fairly short time, but could easily find new enjoyment in another reading. This book gets high ranks from me, 4.5/5.
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LibraryThing member nesum
An exceedingly beautiful story of a monk and a fox, told in the way only Neil Gaiman can. He truly has the gift of being able to weave even a simply fairy tale into something special, and something that will always be a part of you. Amano's art perfectly adds to the story. And honestly, I'm not
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used to seeing quite this quality in a Sandman story. Most of the time, you read Sandman for the writing, not the art, though at times the art is quite good. But here, the art and story blend perfectly together in a way that I had always wanted for the Sandman. Such a story deserves such art, and at last we have it. Show Less
LibraryThing member deslni01
While the Sandman series may be over in some sense, in many ways it lives on - and The Dream Hunters is one such continuation of the series. Taking place in Japan, Gaiman weaves a tale of a fox and a monk, and the unusual circumstances which bring them together. Naturally, a fox and a monk do not
While this volume was written by Gaiman, and is indeed part of the universe many readers are familiar with, there are very drastic differences to be had. First and foremost is the style of the book - while all the previous volumes were the standard comic format, this volume is a book complete with illustrations on roughly every other page. The dialogue is not shown in speech bubbles above characters heads, rather it takes place with the rest of the narrative in traditional story style. However different the style may be, Gaiman spins one of the best tales that has taken place in the Sandman universe - a dramatic tale of love and East Asian religion. This is only complete with Yoshitaka Amano's amazing artwork, which does not merely add to the story, as many illustrators have, but literally creates a richness so deep the story would be lost without his wonderful work.
Perhaps this particular volume may not be included in the canon of the Sandman series, but it does take place in the universe, and through Gaiman's exceptional writing and Amano's stellar art the reader is treated to one of the greatest stories in the Sandman universe.
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make the best pair, so perhaps a certain King of Dreams is required - and indeed he plays a large part in only a small portion of the story, as he has in the previous volumes of the series, complete with many familiar faces (albeit slightly disguised and adapted to East Asian folklore).While this volume was written by Gaiman, and is indeed part of the universe many readers are familiar with, there are very drastic differences to be had. First and foremost is the style of the book - while all the previous volumes were the standard comic format, this volume is a book complete with illustrations on roughly every other page. The dialogue is not shown in speech bubbles above characters heads, rather it takes place with the rest of the narrative in traditional story style. However different the style may be, Gaiman spins one of the best tales that has taken place in the Sandman universe - a dramatic tale of love and East Asian religion. This is only complete with Yoshitaka Amano's amazing artwork, which does not merely add to the story, as many illustrators have, but literally creates a richness so deep the story would be lost without his wonderful work.
Perhaps this particular volume may not be included in the canon of the Sandman series, but it does take place in the universe, and through Gaiman's exceptional writing and Amano's stellar art the reader is treated to one of the greatest stories in the Sandman universe.
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LibraryThing member hemlokgang
This was my first graphic novel, and if others are this magnificent, I am all in! The illustrations, by Yoshitaka Amano, are exquisite. The story is a fable of a monk, a fox, and their connection in the real and dream worlds. It is a lovely fable about life, love, and death. Just a fabulous reading
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experience, both in terms of Gaiman's prose and Amano's visual feast! Show Less
LibraryThing member stipe168
even though there are words, the pictures tell the story. Abolutely gorgeous drawings, water-color, huge, epic. A lot of them are just charcoal or pencil sketches, they look so majestic still. Of course, written by neil gaiman, so you know it'll be good.
LibraryThing member VioletDroll
A beautiful, delicately heartbreaking romantic fable by Gaiman complimented perfectly by Amano's accompanying soft, dreamy illustrations. My favorite Sandman book. I'm also one of those people who cries whenever they read this book.
LibraryThing member RealLifeReading
Quite gorgeous although Dream doesn't feature as much as I'd like
LibraryThing member DarthDeverell
In The Sandman: The Dream Hunters, Neil Gaiman returns to the Dreaming and Morpheus, its lord, in a story based on Rev. B.W. Ashton's story "The Fox, the Monk, and the Mikado of All Night's Dreaming", originally published in his Fairy Tales of Old Japan. The story fits perfectly with the mythology
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that Gaiman had previously crafted in his regular Sandman series and reads like one of the many interludes that Gaiman set during Morpheus' life prior to his captivity. Yoshitaka Amano's artwork is gorgeous and works perfectly to reflect and forward the tone of Gaiman's writing. As Gaiman's first return to The Sandman following completion of the regular series, this set the bar high and continued to show how Gaiman drives the medium of comics into new territory. The end result is something both gorgeous and haunting. Show Less
LibraryThing member ForeverMasterless
I enjoyed this story as I enjoy almost all of Neil Gaiman's stories. Unfortunately, this is a Sandman story, albeit a side one, and I was expecting to enjoy it as I enjoyed the previous Sandman stories. Sandman stories aren't just Neil Gaiman stories. They are, somehow, more than that. This is not
As good of a storyteller as Gaiman is, he has never reached the heights he achieved with The Sandman, and this, I believe, is because he is an even better collaborator than he is a storyteller. One of the best stories in Sandman history never would have happened if Gaiman didn't ask his newest artist, "So, what do you like to draw the most?" and been told, "Cats."
Having to collaborate with a rotating cast of artists, and working with someone else's property pushed Gaiman to the limits of his skill. What we got was a magnum opus from a great artist before he had even had a chance to do anything else.
This, unfortunately, is not a collaboration. This is a short prose narrative by Gaiman with accompanying full-page and, occasionally, full-spread illustrations. I don't care for the art style. It has an abstract, unfinished feel to it that I find hard to grasp onto. That's a matter of taste, I admit, and isn't relevant to my rating.
What is relevant is that the illustrations add nothing to the story. Not like they did to the original series, or any other graphic novel for that matter. I realized after just a few pages that this could've been posted online as a short story with no illustrations and lost nothing in the process.
The story itself is middle-of-the-road as far as sandman stories go. Gaiman invents an Asian myth out of whole cloth, and it feels similar in theme to a lot of The Sandman, though it doesn't have much about it that's unique to set it apart. This is not a new phenomenon. Many of the short, one-issue stories from the Sandman novels were not particularly stand-out (although none were bad). The saving grace then was that there were several per volume, so if you weren't blown away by one, you were likely to be by the next.
In short, a decent Neil Gaiman short story with minor tie-ins to The Sandman world, but a "true" Sandman story in name alone.
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a Sandman story. As good of a storyteller as Gaiman is, he has never reached the heights he achieved with The Sandman, and this, I believe, is because he is an even better collaborator than he is a storyteller. One of the best stories in Sandman history never would have happened if Gaiman didn't ask his newest artist, "So, what do you like to draw the most?" and been told, "Cats."
Having to collaborate with a rotating cast of artists, and working with someone else's property pushed Gaiman to the limits of his skill. What we got was a magnum opus from a great artist before he had even had a chance to do anything else.
This, unfortunately, is not a collaboration. This is a short prose narrative by Gaiman with accompanying full-page and, occasionally, full-spread illustrations. I don't care for the art style. It has an abstract, unfinished feel to it that I find hard to grasp onto. That's a matter of taste, I admit, and isn't relevant to my rating.
What is relevant is that the illustrations add nothing to the story. Not like they did to the original series, or any other graphic novel for that matter. I realized after just a few pages that this could've been posted online as a short story with no illustrations and lost nothing in the process.
The story itself is middle-of-the-road as far as sandman stories go. Gaiman invents an Asian myth out of whole cloth, and it feels similar in theme to a lot of The Sandman, though it doesn't have much about it that's unique to set it apart. This is not a new phenomenon. Many of the short, one-issue stories from the Sandman novels were not particularly stand-out (although none were bad). The saving grace then was that there were several per volume, so if you weren't blown away by one, you were likely to be by the next.
In short, a decent Neil Gaiman short story with minor tie-ins to The Sandman world, but a "true" Sandman story in name alone.
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LibraryThing member TobinElliott
Initially I felt this was a real left turn for the series, but it truly wasn't. I know it was based on a Japanese fable, but it really fit in nicely with the rest of the series.
I also enjoyed that this was more of an illustrated narrative instead of the standard panels with dialogue. The writing
I think a work of this type--being an adaptation of an old fable, breaking with the standard graphic novel formula, and still fitting perfectly with the rest of the Sandman mythos--speaks to the brilliance of Gaiman.
The Sandman is often a bit player in his own title. Gaiman is never scared to let other characters command the stage, letting the titular character show only when he actually has a part to play. It allows for a massive world and much richer and deeper stories.
Well done.
I also enjoyed that this was more of an illustrated narrative instead of the standard panels with dialogue. The writing
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was, of course, beautiful (can Gaiman do any less?) and the art, was gorgeous.I think a work of this type--being an adaptation of an old fable, breaking with the standard graphic novel formula, and still fitting perfectly with the rest of the Sandman mythos--speaks to the brilliance of Gaiman.
The Sandman is often a bit player in his own title. Gaiman is never scared to let other characters command the stage, letting the titular character show only when he actually has a part to play. It allows for a massive world and much richer and deeper stories.
Well done.
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LibraryThing member m.belljackson
Five Stars for the ILLUSTRATIONS!!!!! FIVE STARS for the LOVE between the Fox and his Monk!!!!
(1/2 star off for the low key needless violence.)
(1/2 star off for the low key needless violence.)
LibraryThing member ladymink
Classic Gaiman hiding in a book that reads like a classic Chinese folktale.
LibraryThing member Zoes_Human
This gorgeous retelling of the Japanese tale "The Fox, The Monk, and the Mikado of All Night's Dreaming" is quite different than the rest of the Sandman series. For starters, it is an illustrated novella not a graphic novel. Second, it may also be read easily as a stand-alone. In fact, I would
The illustrations are breathtaking.
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strongly recommend it to lovers of fairy tales and retellings regardless of their feelings about the rest of the series.The illustrations are breathtaking.
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Awards
Call number
IBF