The Sandman: Worlds' End (1994)

This one may well be my favorite of the entire series. I love the story-within-a-story trope. The more deeply layered, the greater my adoration. It doesn't hurt that the stories in this are right up my ally as well - with hints of madness and brief glimpses of alternate worlds. One of the stories, "A Tale of Two Cities" is one of my favorite pieces of short fiction. ( )

It would be difficult to say anything about World's End that isn't already mentioned in Stephen King's introduction. This collection is a Chaucerian tale, stories within stories, told by traveler's stranded at an inn during a reality storm.

The stories are fascinating, and at times they turn into stories within stories within stories. The artwork is lovely, and each fits the story being told. While this isn't quite as engaging as the other volumes were (i.e. this is less of a Sandman story as a story within the Sandman universe.) It's beautiful, though, and engaging, and it serves as a nice segue. Can't wait for more. ( )

3.5 stars.

It didn't add much to the overall plot, still I really liked the strangeness of the stories. ( )

An interesting collection of stories vaguely tied into the Dream/Sandman universe. Dream appears sporadically in it (two obvious instances, a few subtle instances). Death and Destiny appear once as well (as well as Delirum and Despair by appearance).

In a form of Canterbury Tales, a group of travelers are stuck at an inn and most tell stories to pass the time of a 'reality' storm. Most of the stories are entertaining/interesting and reveal different facets, and also in a few of them (the ship tale and the Necropolis one, as well as actually the sleeping city one vaguely) there is a story inside a story (the Necropolis one actually has two or three stories inside of a story). Layers upon layers upon layers of storytelling. Which is ultimately what dreams really. Stories. Stories ontop of stories. Stories within stories.

Stories. And that's what Neil Gaiman does best. Writes stories, and writes them so we find them entertaining, and deep, and enriching, no matter what. ( )

Without purpose. Unless you add it yourself. ( )