Caitlin Kiernan (who wrote two story arcs in this collection made up of 3 issues each) is a worthy successor to the Sandman universe--which is not an easy thing to be--and Peter Hogan (who wrote two short stories) is close.

The Dreaming: 'Day's Work, Night's Rest' Issue #15 >>
Mervyn Pumpkinhead takes center stage in this story (which doesn't happen very often) as he shows a "lost" dreamer what his duties consist of in The Dreaming.

The "lost" dreamer is Robert, a unique kind of self-made businessman--he finds himself unable to stand the paper empire that he's made--instead he longs to be one of the blue collar workers who, according to his subordinates are stuck in their "slave-like station in life." He longs so much for it that he found himself suddenly being recruited by Merv to join the latter in the constant construction of The Dreaming.

Who knew that most dreamers end up in Young's Playground, The Sex Gardens, Vengeance Square, etc.? It's fascinating to imagine the vastness that makes up Morpheus' realm.

The Dreaming: "Ice" Issue #16 >>
We get to meet Farrell, the God of Transport, as he continues with his duties in modern-day Dublin. This is the only time he reappeared ever since Morpheus asked for his help in providing transport for him & Delirium. I wished that there was some depth as to his characterization within this one shot issue.

Much more interesting and significant is the focus on the important characters of Faerie: Nuala and her brother The Cluracan. Watch out for the sudden appearance of his "brother" whose main goal in life is to destroy him. I giggled when Cluracan referred to him as a "talking venison"!

The Cluracan, being an amoral, gay (in both the literal and modern sense of the word) rogue, is strongly reminiscent of the "trickster" archetype also associated with Loki. Being fond of men, he then refuses to follow Queen Titania and ends up owning his "brother" a favor: "...drink to...my brother's stag night."

Meanwhile, Lucien visits Earth to check up on Nuala whom he believed to be grief-wracked and guilt-stricken but instead is surprised by what she has become, "For my love for my Lord has indeed...shaped me. And in that shape, I am now...learning how to grow."

The Dreaming: "Souvenirs" Issues #17-19 >>
Dave McKean's covers really crept me out on this issue, more so than that of the drawing of the Corinthian's victims. The Corinthian is of course created by Morpheus--nightmare made flesh. "A nightmare created to be the darkness, and the fear of darkness in every human heart. A black mirror, made to reflect everything about itself that humanity will not confront."

His most notable physical feature is his lack of eyes: in their place, two rows of small jagged teeth line each eye socket. The Corinthian often wears sunglasses to cover this up. This is first appearance in The Dreaming series; please note though that this is the "second Corinthian" since Morpheus uncreated the first one.

What's ironic is that the nightmare personified is himself having nightmares due to someone in our waking world who couldn't stop thinking about him. "I've been right here, doing my job, my prescribed duty, playing looking glass for every cringing mortal too afraid of who or what they really are to face it while they're awake."

We are also introduced to Echo, who as a character, will appear prominently in the series. I'm watching out for further developments...After all, old habits die hard.

The Dreaming: "The Unkindness of One" Issues #22-24 >>
Featured center stage is Matthew, the latest of the ravens who lives with Eve in Dream's domain. Echo is still seeking revenge (with the help of the demon Anton Arcane) from what The Corinthian has done to him and to his lover, Gabriel Ashe. I was saddened by the panel when Matthew found out he's alive yet again as the human Matthew Cable (a long-time supporting character in the Swamp Thing series; of which sadly, I'm not familiar with) and complications are mounting, he then yearns to become Morpheus' raven once more. "The world is heavy. And he can't remember to fly away."

I liked Matthew's word balloons and font style which are scratchy and uneven, probably to represent a hoarse, cawing voice, and perhaps as an indicator of his crude, smart-aleck personality.

I personally loved the gallant gesture done by Lucien for Eve, of offering to be her raven once more since Matthew was taken away from her. Seriously, if I die in my dreams and I get a chance to be the Librarian of dreams, I'd gladly say yes to Morpheus. Ahhh..to be the "sole curator of unfulfilled phantasms, shepherd of misplaced and miscreant shadows and romance."

The Dreaming: "My Year As A Man" Issue #25 >>
This issue recounts the story of one of Morpheus' ravens, Aristeas of Marmora. After serving the Lord of Dreams for 240 years, he starts feeling a "restlessness of spirit," Morpheus guessed its source and offered him a compact. The compact between them grants Aristeas to become a man once more and if he should desire to become the Dream's raven once more, he must return after a year.

Thus Aristeas returned to his birthplace in ancient Greece and encountered some difficulties in using his human limbs once more. He travels and readers are treated to great illustrations of ancient Greek cities and countryside while Aristeas encounters the centaur Chiron (tutor to Achilles, Jason and Solon) and was pressed into servitude with the Erinyes.

In the end, even Pandora can't deny him his wish to be immortalized when Aristeas appeared in Metapontum in Southern Italy to command that a statue of himself be set up and a new altar dedicated to Apollo, saying that since his death he had been traveling with Apollo in the form of a sacred raven.

Book Details:

Title The Dreaming: Through the Gates of Horn & Ivory
Author Caitlin Kiernan;Neil Gaiman (Consultant)
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )