The Sandman Vol. 6: Fables and Reflections

5 Responses to “The Sandman Vol. 6: Fables and Reflections”

1. A. Gyurisin says:

   July 25, 2010 at 9:19 pm

   ARG. I despise starting reviews with this word, but I am beginning to question the value of this series as it continually jumps from conscious storytelling to fleeting, uneventful tales that do not occupy the infamous Sandman at all. I just finished reading the sixth volume in this series, and my mind is still traveling the ups and downs of the rollercoaster. Not to dissect the rest of the books again, I just want perfect storytelling. I want to Gaiman (whom I adore) to renovate further the world of Sandman lacking intermingling these fleeting tales throughout the work. I realize that these tales were written many years ago, but they are still as captivating today as they were in the early 90s, but I just despise the thought of going from a tale where the entire structure is built around the Sandman or about a singular group of characters, to this drivel where one tale is based off history and the complex tales that we once were familiar with get a new face. “Fables & Reflections” felt like it was trying to be smarter than the reader, and why I reflect the fleeting tales that Gaiman likes to intermingle between the more developed storyline are his weakest element yet.

   The tales themselves could not stand alone, but coupled with the name “Sandman”, they seem to garnish some fantastic remarks. Personally, I had distress with the opening tales, but did start to find some value in persons that concluded the collection. The beginning tale about the Emperor of the United States ongoing strong, but by the center and final conflict, I was diminishing. I didn’t care about this character and his brief run-ins with legendary past facts. This is exactly why I feel that the collection was trying to be smarter than the reader. Here you have this possibly “mad” character that is telling Mark Twain what he should be doing next … to me this wasn’t arresting me as original! Next on the list was the tale of the werewolf learning his right like – again, another ramshackled tale that started with some inventiveness, but lost speed as the tale progressed. The interruptions by the granddaughter learning about her heritage were annoying and all together not clever at all. Then, we are led, nearly by hand, into my least favorite tales of the series thus far – the destiny of Orpheus. Finally we have the opportunity to see what we all came to see, Sandman’s family tree, but the tale is nearly a derivative of modern day Soap Operas in that you have this hidden affair, the son that wants nothing to do with his father, and a head that seems to stay alive throughout the ages. I reflect we can all see this on Tuesday afternoon “tale” time, can’t we? Thankfully, Gaiman proves to us that he is worth the pages that I bought with two of my favorite tales in this series, the first was “Parliament of Rooks” and the additional was the finale entitled, “Ramadan”. “Ramadan” seemed to give me goose bumps with the current situation of the world in Baghdad, but really was a powerful tale of memories and truthfulness. “Parliament of Rooks” was zany and added yet another nook on the “smarter than the reader” element, but this time it was devious. I liked the tale because it answered a question, its manner of language was crisp, and the characters were flamboyant enough to delight in! Alas, these final two tales could not compete with the disastrous opening.

   Overall, I must admit that this is my least favorite collection of the series. It ranks right behind “Dream Country” because I am not a fan of the sub-tales that Gaiman likes to engulf his avid readers with. I want to clarify, because I wouldn’t mind sub-tales involving further the Sandman or his immediate family tree, but these random ones likes “August” just seem to cut the pace of the book and make heaviness in the eyes. This was not the type of storytelling that I initially started with this series, and I do not want it to be transformed into it. I establish myself on a plane reading this book slowly chanting to myself, “I want Sandman. I want Sandman”, but alas, could not find him at all. Gaiman needs to rediscover his roots and bring us back to the character that we all fell in like with in “Preludes & Nocturnes” and perhaps even bring back some ancient DC villains to make his point even clearer. I like this series, don’t get me incorrect, but Gaiman knows how to get under my skin with these fleeting tales. While I want to like each one of them, I just find them slow, distracting, and unappealing to the reader that was first involved with Sandman from the beginning. I want to be a part of his world, and while I know these tales represent his world, I just don’t need it. It is like eating a huge meal hours before Prayer. You have been looking forwards to that turkey for weeks, why spoil your meal now?

   All I can say is this, and I question additional readers of this series to do the same. I am not perfect, and I am about to jump into “Brief Lives”, but have cracked the graphic novel with these words on my lips:

   “I WANT SANDMAN”

   “I WANT SANDMAN”

   Grade: *** out of *****
   Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
2. Gamze Gulez says:

   July 25, 2010 at 11:16 pm

   So far I have read 1 to 6 in this series.And each time I have establish a tie with my life.Each time I read ,I forget my being in this world, find myself one of the dreams.Each time I learn something,I remember something,I dream something…
   
   Neil is really excellent,he combines his knowledge of history,myths,art,language with his imagination so well.I like most of the comics,but this is special ,you can delight in X-men or Spiderman,but you can never ever compare it with sandman.Let the lord of dreams welcome you.Let him come in to your dreams

   Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
3. Kate says:

   July 26, 2010 at 2:09 am

   Clearly, I expected a small too much from this particular Sandman graphic novel. Flicking through and considering the wildly gorgeous artwork for tales like ‘Ramadan’, I imagined ‘Fables and Reflections’ to be the serie’s finest point.

   The notion of the work is an brilliant one. Nine tales, each concluded by different artists and each portraying a past event with a small Sandman twist.

   But, the execution of the work leaves a small to be desired. For the most part, the tales are anti-climatic, slow and irrelevent. Perhaps the only pieces that can stand alone are the whimisical ‘The Hunt’ and the tale of lost like, ‘Orpheus’. Elsewhere, there is small of Gaiman’s usual inventiveness to be establish.

   ‘Fables and Reflections’ is clearly not a fantastic starting point for delving into The Sandman. I would, but, recommend ‘Seasons of Mist’, ‘Brief lives’ and ‘The Kindly ones.’
   Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
4. Sam Duncan says:

   July 26, 2010 at 2:52 am

   The tale about Emperor Norton is a real gem, and possibly worth the fee of the book in itself. None of the others are nearly as excellent. They range from the very enjoyable tales about falling and flying (which perhaps limits on trite but just manages to avoid it) and the additional about the Caliph’s deal with the dream king to the dull slog about werewolves and the overly long and didactic bit that takes place in the French revolution, which is so far the worst thing I’ve read that Gaiman has written. Gaiman’s take on Orpheus and Eurydice falls somewhere in the middle; I’d call it workmanlike. If it wasn’t so vital for what comes later in the series it’d be pretty simple to forget. The problem with this book is that it’s much weaker than the additional collection of tales in the Sandman series that I’ve read, “Dream Country,” but more vital to the tale as a whole. My recommendation would be borrow this one from a friend or read it in a book store if you don’t have the whole set. Your money would be better spent on nearly any additional book in the series. It isn’t terrible, it’s probably as excellent or better than anything Garth Ennis, to take a random example, ever wrote, but it is lacking a doubt the weakest of the Sandman series that I’ve read so far (I haven’t gotten around to “A Game of You” or Worlds End).
   Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
5. Elise Zeigler says:

   July 26, 2010 at 3:33 am

   Anytime I order a comic book, I get a pre-read, bent up copy. Not the case from this user.
   
   Thanks a mill for carefully wrapping the book. I momentously appreciate the thought.
   Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5