The Sandman

Neil Gaiman is Neil Gaiman. Picking which of his books should be on these lists is kind of like picking the best Queen song. They're (mostly) brilliant, so it comes down to taste. But The Sandman is one of those compulsory fantasy reads â€“ even if it is a graphic novel.Why it's on this listThe artwork is unlike anything else you'll find in a comic book. Sometimes it's difficult to make out, but every page enhances the story in a way that text-only titles can't. If you're not able to appreciate the skill behind the art, you're as wrong as Donald Trump's toupee.The Sandman isn't for everyone, but any true fan of the genre (and how far it can stretch the imagination) should at least give it a try. Fantasy fans are dreamers. Whatever we're reading has the potential to overwhelm the real world and pull us into an imagined one. And this is the theme at the center of The Sandman. It's a story about stories and about our relationship to the tales we experience â€“ real or imagined.If none of that gives you the burning desire to own a copy, then Gaiman's masterful blend of horror and fantasy should do it. It's not gory horror, but it's thrilling. And books that can inspire any kind of thrill â€“ whether it's spine chilling or something else â€“ are why we read anything to begin with.

Booklists having this book

Top 25 Best Fantasy Books of the 90's

Ah the 90's. Bad fashion, bad hair and Nickelback.If fashion and hairstyles (and arguably music) took a hit, fantasy certainly did not. The 90's saw the emergence of some of... Read more

Other books by Gaiman, Neil

American Gods

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American Gods (2003)

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Anansi Boys

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Stardust

The Sandman

Neil Gaiman is Neil Gaiman. Picking which of his books should be on these lists is kind of like picking the best Queen song. They're (mostly) brilliant, so it comes... Read more

American Gods

In his novel, American Gods, Neil Gaiman ventures into the heart of contemporary America, juxtaposing the decline of America's 'Old Gods' with the rise of new 'deities' (e.g. technology, mass... Read more

Anansi Boys

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Neverwhere

Gaiman's work is perfect for anyone who's after stories with 'mundane' protagonists from the real world who are pulled into worlds of unsettling dark fantasy. His stories have worth not... Read more

Norse Mythology

“Remarkable.… Gaiman has provided an enchanting contemporary interpretation of the Viking ethos.”―Lisa L. Hannett, AtlanticNeil Gaiman, long inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction, presents... Read more