http://books.moonsoar.com/archives/20... ( )

Two of the greatest strengths of the Sandman books are on display here. Firstly the way that Neil Gaiman takes an archtypal story arc (the quest to save a princess from an evil ussurper) and makes it so completely new, fresh and uncanny. One really doesn't know what to expect and is constantly surprised by the way the story unfolds. Secondly, the vividness of the characters, particularly the secondary characters. They immediately take on a life of their own and stick in ones mind. Overall, this isn't the best of the Sandman books, but its still a great read and yet more proof of why the Sandman is such an outstanding series. ( )

A Game of You brings back many characters we've seen before which I always find pleasant and familiar. Like you're on solid ground because you've seen these people before and you know a little bit about them. Unlike all the books leading up to GY, there is absolutely no deviation from the main story line and the effect is amazing and absolutely perfect for these particular stories.

GY is well written, and humorous, however at the same time, GY is dark and ends with the death of the only character who I really wanted to live. Putting that aside, however, many of the other Sandman stories are much darker and GY is able to intertwine respect and humor.

One aspect of Neil Gaiman's writing that I'd forgotten up to this point is that he does include minority groups. Particularly, he includes queers and those of racial and ethnic diversity. This is especially satisfying because Gaiman is (to the best of my knowledge) a straight, white, male of mainstream society, and normally the only times when minorities will be featured in books/movies, etc, is when a minority themselves is doing the writing. Hence, it feels good to get a sense of acknowledgement from such major adolescent literature.

Four and a half stars. ( )

Not one of my favourite volumes, if only because it's a little uneven. I really adore certain aspects, but in places this volume seemed to wander. Still worth the read, though -- it sets up some characters for later importance. ( )

A Game of You, the fifth volume in Neil Gaiman's Sandman universe is an arc about a girl named Barbie - who made a brief cameo with her husband Ken in A Doll's House - and her current state of dreaming.

Unlike most of the other volumes, Morpheus does not play much of a role in this work. He shows up at the very beginning and the end, to take care of business in Barbie's dreamworld. The story also touches dramatically on identity, as many of the characters are struggling with it in their lives.

A Game of You is a thought provoking addition to the Sandman series and remains dark - and sad - even though it deviates from the horror that is characteristic of some of the earlier volumes. ( )