This is an absolutely thrilling companion reader to the Sandman series. Most of the book is composed of interviews with Neil Gaiman, and the depth and wonder that he evokes when speaking about his writing is absolutely astonishing. Minute details from the series suddenly receive great importance, and the reader will begin to draw connections between characters and events that she may not have seen before. This is truly fantastic, and a must-read for any fan of the Sandman series. ( )

http://nhw.livejournal.com/61371.html...

Great stuff, this, very much helping one understand the series much better. Structured very nicely as well so as to avoid spoilers - one could easily read the series a book at a time and cross-refer to the relevant chapters here. Obviously there's much more to say about Sandman, and plenty of room for debate - for instance, I really rather liked the Cluracan's story about the city of Aurelian from World's End, though Gaiman reckons it one of the weakest of the series; and I wasn't particularly gripped by Ramadan which seems to be a general favourite. Basing the book around interviews with Gaiman about what he thought he was doing is a risky tactic - Theodore Krulik's book about Roger Zelazny is a yawn a minute as a result of doing the same - but Bender is not afraid to debate Gaiman's own writing with the author. It really does enhance one's enjoyment of the books. (But is Gaiman claiming too much when he seems to imply that with Death he invented the Goth look?) ( )

Got this on a whim.

This was perfect for reading while I ate dinner over the course of a month or so. Short, self-contained interviews with Neil Gaiman about the Sandman series. Interesting insights. Bender asks good questions, and seems to have a good dynamic with Gaiman. It prompted me to go back and re-read some of the graphic novels, looking more closely at some of the themes. It was particularly interesting to read about the reception of the series as it was being written. I hadn't realized the extent to which The Sandman affected the Goth scene. ( )

an endless amount of information about the Endless and more. held as an immensley long interview with neil gaiman, who spews out his brain onto the paper. it's filled with so much gunk, you'd wonder how he walks around without it falling over on one side. ( )

Very good companion to the Sandman series. It is especially helpful for a newcomer to graphic novels as I was when I started it. And still I have it next to me every time I re-read the books. ( )