The Sandman: The Kindly Ones (The Sandman, #9) by Neil Gaiman

Jul 17, 2012 Brooke rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've rated both this and The Sandman Vol. 7 Brief Lives 5 stars, but I think I liked Brief Lives better, for the sole reason that it contained more scenes with Delerium. Here, Delerium is searching for someone again, this time her talking dog Barnabas, and the scene where they're reunited was charming as all get out.

Practically every other character we've met along the way shows up in the Kindly Ones, and it was just more proof that Gaiman is the master of making everything he writes have a purp...more

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May 18, 2012 Ronyell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 6-star-reads, action-adventure, alternative-worlds, best-books-of-2012, book-series, books-i-want-to-own, drama, fantasy, favorites, graphic-novels-comics, horror, monster-books, my-blog-reviews, mystery, neil-gaiman, read-in-2012, reviewed-books, strong-hero, surreal, vertigo-comics, young-adult-teen-books

6 stars!!!

Now, you are probably looking at the title of the ninth volume of Neil Gaiman’s fantastic “Sandman” series, which is called “The Kindly Ones” and you are probably thinking to yourself about how this volume will be all sunshine and roses. Definitely not! Do not let the innocent title of this volume fool you! The ninth volume “The Kindly Ones” is probably the darkest volume out of all the “Sandman” series since “A Game of You” and yet this is probably the best volume out of the entire “...more 6 stars!!!

Now, you are probably looking at the title of the ninth volume of Neil Gaiman’s fantastic “Sandman” series, which is called “The Kindly Ones” and you are probably thinking to yourself about how this volume will be all sunshine and roses. Definitely not! Do not let the innocent title of this volume fool you! The ninth volume “The Kindly Ones” is probably the darkest volume out of all the “Sandman” series since “A Game of You” and yet this is probably the best volume out of the entire “Sandman” series ever created!

Lyta Hall (also known as Hippolyta Hall) was always on edge when it came to taking care of her baby son Daniel, who was born after her husband Hector had died. One night however, when Lyta Hall decided to leave her baby son Daniel in the care of a babysitter while she went for a job application, she finds out that her baby son had been kidnapped as soon as she got home and she desperately wanted to find him. Unfortunately, when Lyta believes that the worse has happened to Daniel after there were no clues tracing to him, Lyta goes into an emotional shock and a deep rage where she confronts the “Kindly Ones” in the dream world and wants them to help her seek vengeance on Dream, the Sandman for she believed that Dream was the one who harmed her baby. Can Dream protect his dream realm from the forces of darkness?

Now I just have to say that this was the LONGEST volume I have ever read from the “Sandman” series as it was well over two hundred pages worth of disturbing scenes and plot development, but it was worth the read! Neil Gaiman’s writing is just as brilliant as ever in this volume as the story is exciting and creepy at the same time and it is like once you started reading this volume, you really cannot put this graphic novel down since there is so much excitement building up on each page regarding the mystery surrounding the “Kindly Ones.” I also loved the fact that all of the characters that we were introduced to in the “Sandman” series all make an appearance in this volume, sort of giving this volume a finale feel as everything is set in place for the huge battle that awaits the Sandman. I really loved the way that Neil Gaiman focused so much of the story on the characters as I was really interested in hearing about Matthew the Raven’s obsession about finding out what happened to the other ravens before him since I wanted to also find out about Matthew’s origins and his connections with the ravens. But probably the part about the graphic novel I was most impressed with was how Neil Gaiman developed the character Lyta Hall and it was apparent from the previous “Sandman” books that Lyta harbored a deep hatred for Dream because she believes that he killed her husband Hector in the Dream world. It was definitely a frightening and intense experience seeing how Lyta’s hatred for Dream could cause so much turmoil for everyone involved, even though it was based on her worst assumptions about what happened to her son Daniel. Marc Hempel, Richard Case, D’ Israeli, Teddy Kristiansen, Glyn Dillon, Charles Vess, Dean Ormston, and Kevin Nowlan’s artwork were brilliant creative in this novel and they all contributed well to the story at hand. I will admit that some of the artwork is a bit blocky and I would have expected epic illustrations to accompany this epic volume, but these illustrations do bring a sort of uniqueness to the story and I still really enjoyed the artwork being done in this volume.

Some of the problems I did had with this graphic novel is that some of the artwork looks a bit cartoony to me since some of the artwork made some of the characters have blocky heads, which made it hard for me to take the story seriously at times. Although, I will admit that the artwork did provide some creativity to the story. Also, there is so much disturbing content in this volume which involves a mother losing her son, which would be upsetting for any parent who has fears of losing their own children. There are also some gory images in this volume which involves birds pecking out people’s eyes out, which would be extremely disturbing to anyone who is not a fan of gory imagery.

Overall, “The Sandman: The Kindly Ones” is easily one of the best volumes in the “Sandman” series as it clearly seems like the true finale for the “Sandman” series and is full of disturbing and intense moments that will go down in history as the greatest moments in comic book history! Now that I am interested in seeing what will become of Dream and his crew, I will now start reading the tenth volume, The Sandman, Vol. 10: The Wake to find out!

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Jul 30, 2011 Airiz C rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gaimanic-disorder, graphic-novel, mythology, my-favorites, paranormal, romance, reread, science-fiction, surreal, the-sandman-catalog

After the eeriest and perhaps the biggest portent of a character’s demise in World’s End, Gaiman pulls all the finished literary embroideries that were the previous story arcs and knits them together into this penultimate volume and apex of The Sandman series, The Kindly Ones.

ABUNDANT SPOILER-ISHNESS! The volume is pretty rich with subplots, but the main premise is this: Lyta Hall’s three-year-old baby, Daniel, is missing. With all the peculiar appearances and statements of the Dream King about...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Nicolo Yu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: collected-comics

This is the penultimate arc in Neil Gaiman’s original Sandman run. The seeds for Dream’s ultimate fate has been foreshadowed in previous storylines, with its seeds reaching fruition here. The actual machinations for his demise are contained in this story as we see characters with a vendetta against Morpheus working towards his downfall. This is the longest arc in the title, with the appropriately thickest trade paperback, taking over a year to complete it. I thought that this was a bargain when...more This is the penultimate arc in Neil Gaiman’s original Sandman run. The seeds for Dream’s ultimate fate has been foreshadowed in previous storylines, with its seeds reaching fruition here. The actual machinations for his demise are contained in this story as we see characters with a vendetta against Morpheus working towards his downfall. This is the longest arc in the title, with the appropriately thickest trade paperback, taking over a year to complete it. I thought that this was a bargain when I bought it, having a larger page count than say, World’s End, the eighth Sandman trade paperback.

I need not say more about Gaiman’s writing on Sandman. His work, to craft stories about stories for a mature readership was an impetus to the launch of Vertigo as a line to house Sandman and other titles from his peers with the same adult themes. His achievements in other literary forms notwithstanding, it would his work in this title that would define his career and be the his work that would be most fondly remembered.

Much furor was raised regarding the choice of Marc Hempel to provide the art for this critical chapter. His geometric and expressive style is a departure from the lush and realistic art of earlier stories. It was revealed that Hempel wasn’t the first choice of Gaiman for this story, but nevertheless the choice was inspired. How can one depict the death of an idea and the personification of stories? One could only hope to capture a rude impression of the titanic between blood vengeance and an abstract concept. The end came when Morpheus realized that even though he was set in his ways, change is inevitable. It will come even for him. He couldn’t abandon his duties as Dream Lord as his brother abandoned his own realm, so he welcomes the touch of his sister Death so that another aspect of him would rule his kingdom in his stead. Like stories, his end was only the beginning of another.

Postscript.

Gaiman revealed that Mike Mignola would have his first choice and it would’ve happened had his schedule allowed it. I for one would like to see Gaiman collaborate with Mignola. A pity it wouldn’t be on Sandman. But there are other stories and I’m pretty sure it is already in Lucien’s Library of Dreams.
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Nov 01, 2012 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, reviewed

Ah, Sandman, how do I love thee, let me count the ways...

1. I bought the original graphic novels as they came out, such brilliant artwork, The Dreaming such a nice setting for a set of stories.
2. I bought the hardcovers, what lovely books, to add to my shelves, worthy of a display in my living room... but the nephews and nieces better not touch! ;-)
3. I bought the Absolute version... OK, now I'm just going overboard!

This is not the first book I've ever bought multiple versions of, I can think of...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Alyssa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't know how many more additional accolades I can give this series beyond what I've already said in my previous reviews. Simply put, The Kindly Ones was in every way as brilliant as I've come to expect from this series.

I won't give any spoilers for the plot other than to say that all of the tensions that have been building in the previous volumes build to their final climax in this volume. Although there are more volumes to come, this volume is arguably the end of the central plot. (I can't...more I don't know how many more additional accolades I can give this series beyond what I've already said in my previous reviews. Simply put, The Kindly Ones was in every way as brilliant as I've come to expect from this series.

I won't give any spoilers for the plot other than to say that all of the tensions that have been building in the previous volumes build to their final climax in this volume. Although there are more volumes to come, this volume is arguably the end of the central plot. (I can't say that with full confidence since I haven't read the next three volumes yet, but my understanding is that this one essentially resolves/concludes the main storyline.)

In that same vein, this volume also ingeniously provides continued variations on some of the key themes and ideas explored in the previous volumes. The introductory essay written by Frank McConnell (which was a really good essay, by the way) points out a few of the themes: Gaiman's self-reflexive explorations of the nature of storytelling, Dream as an anthropomorphic projection of human consciousness, and issues related to pantheism, mortality, the classical tropes of tragedy, etc.

I'd like to discuss another theme here: Gaiman's exploration of fatalism. I loved the brilliant scene two thirds of the way through the book in which Dream's brother Destiny suddenly splits into several different versions of himself. One by one, the different iterations of Destiny begin to populate his realm, only to gradually fade away as different choices are made by the key players in the plot. Morpheus is presented with several opportunities to change his fate, to abandon his responsibilities like his brother Destruction (who is most certainly Dream's foil). But we know enough about Morpheus's character by now to know that he will see things through to the bitter end---perhaps even intentionally driving things to that end by his kamikaze-esque sense of pride, honor, and duty.

I also really enjoyed the further exploration of the literary device of setting as an extension of character. Gaiman is certainly not the first to use this device, but he is somewhat unique in that he is able to pull off making it so overt and in-your-face-obvious without having it ever feel obtrusive. It's interesting to consider the possibility that many of the inhabitants are possibly mere extensions of Dream's will (or different facets of the collective human consciousness, to put it another way). Interesting stuff. I'll have to keep thinking about it.

One last theme: I'm really intrigued by the feminist motifs that Gaiman is exploring here, but I'm not sure what sense to make of it yet. There are interesting appearances of triple goddesses here: the Furies (Kindly Ones) in their dual role as the Three Fates and the allusions to Medusa and her two Gorgon sisters. At one point, the Furies reject being assigned that appellation: "Not the Furies, my Lobelia. That's such a nasty name. It's one of the things they call women, to put us in our place. Termagant. Shrew. Vixen. Virago. Witch. Bitch. Do we look furious to you?" Arguably, the Furies have even more power than the Endless in this narrative, under certain conditions. And let us not forget that the Furies are aided by a misdirected woman seeking vengeance for the supposed death of her son and that she is being aided by Dream's former lover. I'm not sure what Gaiman is trying to say there, but it's intriguing for sure. I'll have to keep stewing on it.

Admittedly, I found Marc Hempel's drawing style to be a bit of a jarring change stylistically from previous volumes, but it started to grow on me over time. I enjoyed its minimalism and expressionistic quality after a while.

All in all, another fabulous installment in the series and I can't wait to keep reading. I just wish I had someone who I could read this with and talk through in order to parse out some of its deeper themes and meanings.(less)

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Aug 19, 2012 Jamie Monahan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Kindly Ones. The second last installment of the Sandman series. And I have to admit, I've mixed feelings about this one.

It all starts when Lyta, a minor character from earlier in the books, finds her son has been abducted and blames Morpheus. She goes nuts and invokes the titular Kindly Ones, or the Furies of Greek legend. Bad news, right? It all goes to hell for Morpheus and the Dreaming as the Furies, in their aim to destroy the King of Dreams, are going after as many minor dream character...more The Kindly Ones. The second last installment of the Sandman series. And I have to admit, I've mixed feelings about this one.

It all starts when Lyta, a minor character from earlier in the books, finds her son has been abducted and blames Morpheus. She goes nuts and invokes the titular Kindly Ones, or the Furies of Greek legend. Bad news, right? It all goes to hell for Morpheus and the Dreaming as the Furies, in their aim to destroy the King of Dreams, are going after as many minor dream characters as they can, taking them down left right and centre without mercy or remorse. And this is all to get at the big cheese himself.

It seems both men and women are at their worst in this book. The women here are portrayed as needlessly emotional, bitter, spiteful and suffering from moral myopia. The men on the otherhand are weak, impotent and spineless, a number of whom stand around the place doing nothing even as death comes for them and their friends. And it does make for a good taste as it sets the tone nicely for the book. And is also a reflection of Dream's passive suicidal tendencies. When the Furies come for him and those around him, he doesn't seem too bothered about it.

But the old Gaiman/comic problems rear their heads again. He takes us on the scenic route in the journey to the end with lots of overstreched plot points and side-stories. It seems to take Lyta forever to find and invoke the Furies, Rose Walker's story of finding her heart feels out of place among all the hustle and bustle that's already going on and Nuala's tale seems like overly elaborate set-dressing. However, or old friend The Corinthian makes a return and this time is better and more able then ever, thanks to a new loyalty to Dream and a sense of creativity.

It feels anti-climatic overall. This isn't a an epic fight of good verses evil. It's more of the tale of an old dog looking to die with too much busywork going on around it.

And if there's one thing that bugs me, it's the Furies/Three Ladies and their attitude to taking down Morpheus. It seems to me like they sort of lead Lyta on to invoking them so that they could get revenge on her behalf, but they let her know that they aren't concerned with her son and instead claiming to do their function, which they carry out in the worst way possible and involving many innocent bystanders as possible. And it's not so much that Dream spilt family blood as some of that family made the Furies cry through their art and now they want payback for appearing so weak. It comes to the point where they try and hide behind the Nuremburg defense because they're afraid of saying "because we can" and use some logic gymnastics to avoid admitting what they are doing is wrong and unecessary. Like taking down the manifestation of dreams isn't something that should not go unpunished.(less)

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Feb 10, 2011 Tancredi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novel

"La nostra esistenza deforma l'universo. Questa è responsabilità."

Sul volume in particolare:
E' il volume della resa dei conti. "The Sandman", ho già detto, è una trama complessa di fili invisibili. Qui si rivelano tutti: tutti i collegamenti tra i personaggi ora sono svelati, ma soprattutto, viene finalmente svelato lo scopo, la meta del "viaggio" intrapreso silenziosamente da Sogno: la morte, per mano delle Erinni. Dalla morte la salvezza dell'universo, nella morte la salvezza di Sogno.

--------...more "La nostra esistenza deforma l'universo. Questa è responsabilità."

Sul volume in particolare:
E' il volume della resa dei conti. "The Sandman", ho già detto, è una trama complessa di fili invisibili. Qui si rivelano tutti: tutti i collegamenti tra i personaggi ora sono svelati, ma soprattutto, viene finalmente svelato lo scopo, la meta del "viaggio" intrapreso silenziosamente da Sogno: la morte, per mano delle Erinni. Dalla morte la salvezza dell'universo, nella morte la salvezza di Sogno.

---------

Sulla serie in generale:
Parlare di "The Sandman" mi mette imbarazzo e non solo, perché di fronte ad un'opera mastodontica e superiore come questa non posso che sentirmi un mero ammasso di carne pensante per sbaglio, per una malata frizione casuale tra i miei neuroni.

La verità è che "The Sandman" è l'opera di un genio fuori dal comune, che non si può comprendere mai del tutto, nemmeno leggendolo mille volte. Per la profondità della sua scrittura, per la finezza dellle sue citazioni letterarie, per la cura paziente e poetica con cui ogni singola parola pausa e virgola viene scelta, per il modo oserei dire "chirurgico" con cui si intrufola nell'animo umano, mettendolo a nudo.
"The Sandman" è un'opera che sostanzialmente è una rappresentazione di ciò che siamo, una rappresentazione dell'essere umano, con tutte le sue pieghe, le sue contraddizioni e le zone nascoste, in ombra.
La finezza della sua analisi dell'uomo la si può vedere ad esempio nella creazione dei sette Eterni: Sogno, Morte, Destino, Distruzione, Disperazione, Desiderio, Delirio. Sette personificazioni di sette elementi che scuotono gli uomini, che ne plasmano la crescita.
Parlando della trama, che qui è veramente l'intreccio invisibile e complesso di mille fili narrativi, "The Sandman" è fondamentalmente la storia di una crescita morale, quella di Sogno, il protagonista, che sceglie un percorso forzato con lo scopo di redimersi completamente, viaggiando tra dimensioni più o meno allegoriche, contattando e interagendo con una miriade di personaggi (ed è STRAORDINARIA la caleidoscopia varietà di personalità secondarie che Gaiman crea, arricchendo la storia).
"The Sandman" è soprattutto la prova che il fumetto, o meglio, la "graphic novel" è un'opera d'arte degna della qualità di letteratura. Non a caso un episodio di questa serie di fumetti è riuscito a vincere un premio riservato alle opere letterarie. (less)

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Dec 14, 2010 Ryan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While reading Songs of Love and Death, a fantasy and science fiction anthology compiled by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, I was surprised to find that Neil Gaiman's "The Thing About Cassandra" was my "stand out" story. I was surprised because after reading American Gods, I became convinced that Gaiman's best work was behind him. After all, he wrote the Sandman comics.

For those not in the know (shame on you!), Sandman is the Dream Lord. Among other things, he is also the patron of stories...more While reading Songs of Love and Death, a fantasy and science fiction anthology compiled by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, I was surprised to find that Neil Gaiman's "The Thing About Cassandra" was my "stand out" story. I was surprised because after reading American Gods, I became convinced that Gaiman's best work was behind him. After all, he wrote the Sandman comics.

For those not in the know (shame on you!), Sandman is the Dream Lord. Among other things, he is also the patron of stories. His siblings include Death, Destruction, Destiny, and several other Endless beings. They are endless because they will always exist. It's a fine concept for a series, and it gives Gaiman more than enough room to flex his imagination.

However, in spite of all that room, Gaiman spends quite a bit of time on planet earth, relating the events of -- get this -- ordinary human beings. I forgot about this, which is why after I convinced my wonderful wife to read the Sandman comics, I was shocked by her summary: most of these stories aren't that great. I started reading them and that's when I realized that my wife was about to say, "I told you so." I really struggled to care about any character that wasn't Dream -- and many of these stories feature nobodys that -- only in the final scenes -- encounter the Lord of Dreams. What a scam!

How did I forget this?

I think it's because The Kindly Ones, Sandman's penultimate story arc, is absolutely fantastic. Dream, for all his power and wisdom, has backed himself into a corner. The Furies, or kindly ones, are on his trail. He may be one of the Endless, but they're keen to cut his life's string. And they never fail.

If Gaiman has been indulgent or unfocused in this series, you'd never know it reading The Kindly Ones. Gaiman masterfully reveals that there was a method behind the occasionally uneven madness all along. And it's a method that builds into a fantastic tragedy, making for one of the most moving comics that I have ever read.

The Kindly Ones illustrates why, I think, most people read long, drawn out fantasy series. We'll claim it's all about monsters and laser swords -- and those things are definitely great -- but really, we're like those children that can resist eating a cupcake so long as we'll get two at the end of the experiment. We understand the concept of delayed gratification.

So yes, Robert Jordan, George RR Martin, and Neil Gaiman all have their weak moments. But. Ultimately, they've convinced us there's a hell of a cupcake waiting at the end of the road.

And a hell of a cupcake is exactly what The Kindly Ones delivers. We have to read every other issue to get it, but fortunately, that's exactly the kind of thing we excel at.(less)

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Jun 12, 2010 Joshum Harpy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels

This volume was really the climax of the whole series. It's the largest collection in the series, representing the largest and most ambitious story arc of the series as well. The pace is furious and the sheer amount of characters being juggled is truly impressive considering how well the chaotic story holds together. A lot of minor characters are dug up for this one, creating a kind of three ring circus sentiment, which really helps match and temper the intensity of the main narrative thread. Wh...more This volume was really the climax of the whole series. It's the largest collection in the series, representing the largest and most ambitious story arc of the series as well. The pace is furious and the sheer amount of characters being juggled is truly impressive considering how well the chaotic story holds together. A lot of minor characters are dug up for this one, creating a kind of three ring circus sentiment, which really helps match and temper the intensity of the main narrative thread. While Gaiman impressively navigates the rough waters of writing his beloved series to a solid and fitting conclusion, I'm not decided yet if I think all of the subplot was necessary or graceful.

In this volume and the next there are a lot of really great minor characters trotted out either for a bit part or to tie up their particular little story from earlier in the series. Some moments are so tidy in their placement and effect that I truly felt awe at the creative genius at work. Some moments, however felt more forced as though the only reason they made it into the story was because Gaiman was morbidly assessing his series and obsessively checking off a list of loose ends to tie up.

Visually, like most of the series, this volume is a bit hit or miss, but there were some excellent contributions. The volume starts with a gorgeous little moody short illustrated by someone named D'Israeli, whose work I am definitely going to look into. Also I am especially a big fan of Teddy Kristiansen's output in general so it was a real treat to find his work in this volume. He has a wonderful scratchy kind of Egon Schiele thing going on, for which I'm just a sucker. On a tangent, he did a short lived series for Vertigo in the 90's called House of Secrets, which is one of my all time favorite comic series, but which unfortunately never really had enough commercial success to even be collected in trades. If you can get your hands on that I highly recommend you snatch it up. Anyway, I was amazed that in the sea of illustrators working on this volume, Kristiansen's work cut through like some sort of sea cutting laser beam and worked so impressively well with the tone of the book I can't help but wish he had handled more of the series.

Regardless, this volume was an excellent read despite being maybe a hair over ambitious. It reinforces and exemplifies the truly impressive scale and crafty attention to detail which made this series the phenomenon that it is.(less)

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Mar 22, 2010 January rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: z_2010, fantasy, graphic-novel, horror

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Dec 16, 2009 Rob rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, fantasy

Before I read it I was vaguely aware of "The Kindly Ones"'s status as the peak of The Sandman, in terms of both quality and narrative. It lived up to the hype.

The plot of this volume centres around (Hippo)Lyta Hall's search for revenge on Morpheus, who she believes has taken her child. But this description feels incredibly inadequate. The actual revenge plot could probably be condensed into at most a regular-sized Sandman volume. What makes this into a huge comic is the epic scope of the story,...more Before I read it I was vaguely aware of "The Kindly Ones"'s status as the peak of The Sandman, in terms of both quality and narrative. It lived up to the hype.

The plot of this volume centres around (Hippo)Lyta Hall's search for revenge on Morpheus, who she believes has taken her child. But this description feels incredibly inadequate. The actual revenge plot could probably be condensed into at most a regular-sized Sandman volume. What makes this into a huge comic is the epic scope of the story, which encompasses parts of all of the previous storylines and many different mythologies. The plot is simply a skeleton for the story, and although it is well-crafted enough in its own right, often seems rather distant.

If that sounds like a weakness, it's not. With the possible exception of "Brief Lives", The Sandman has always been less about Morpheus than those on the margins of his life. Given that, perhaps "The Kindly Ones" is able to capture his character in the most complete way possible by showing the web of connections developed throughout the series. To put on my lit-crit hat for a moment, the narrative distance and digressions -- checking in on an old character or telling a fable while the world is at stake in the background -- may reflect Morpheus's own ambivalence over his fate.

As great as the writing is, let's not neglect the graphic half of the graphic novel. Marc Hempel's art is a break from the style of previous Sandman volumes, and is much more stylized and abstract. It casts the whole story in a light which is both mythical and psychological -- most of all, unreal. This style takes some getting used to, but I think it's held up a lot better than the drab art you see on a lot of Vertigo titles from this era.

Beyond all the talk of narrative structures, Gaiman's writing is simply very enjoyable, showing both wit and great originality. No matter how many tangents the story goes on, you always want to see them through to the end, and even after 350 pages the book feels too short. This volume cements The Sandman as a must-read series.

*I have no idea how to properly write the title of a volume in a graphic novel series, so I went with quotation marks.(less)

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Oct 31, 2009 Greenland rated it 1 of 5 stars

This volume is where Morpheus' story itself ends, and it is a poorly constructed mess. I can't help but think that the blame for that begins with Gaiman's decision to hew rigidly to genre tropes and constructs. Gaiman mentions in the afterword of this edition that Morpheus' final story is constructed in the manner of a Greek tragedy, and there's a unhealthy dose of Fantasy climax (everyone and everything must play a part!) stirred in, as well.

Unfortunately, what results from this plot construct...more This volume is where Morpheus' story itself ends, and it is a poorly constructed mess. I can't help but think that the blame for that begins with Gaiman's decision to hew rigidly to genre tropes and constructs. Gaiman mentions in the afterword of this edition that Morpheus' final story is constructed in the manner of a Greek tragedy, and there's a unhealthy dose of Fantasy climax (everyone and everything must play a part!) stirred in, as well.

Unfortunately, what results from this plot construct is an absolutely interminable story where the intent of every character involved takes forever to play out, but only barely sketched in. (Even when said character's mission is relentless and heavily featured.) Gaiman again admits in the afterword that this was more or less intentional, perhaps in an effort to introduce as many red herrings as possible so...thanks for that, Neil?

You eventually get just enough information from the story to piece together the mastermind and the why of the forces that converge on Morpheus, but there's a supreme annoyance in that this "why" is, I thought, is beautiful and apt and motivating. I wish we could have explored that openly instead of it having to come as a late reveal.

All things considered, I might have forgiven the lack of coherence from the story's structure were it not for the art in this volume. "Sandman" as a series is particularly notable for featuring various visual aesthetics through its illustrators. Many, if not all, of these artists have a style that strays far from their commercially successful counterparts in the comic industry, so I find it extremely admirable that Neil Gaiman writes "Sandman" with an eye towards employing these artists and giving their work a wide platform.

Still, I don't understand why he chose an artist who's style is wildly cartoonish and frequently hasty. For the epic closing story of one's series, one that spans many worlds, one expects visuals that are similarly grand. The art fails spectacularly in this regard, and took me completely out of the story many, many times.

I can't imagine what readers must have gone through as this series was being released. This grand finale plays out through 13 issues, and considering that "Sandman" put out, on average, 9 issues a year, that means this one story took a hell of a long time to reach its pay-off.

This volume was completely underwhelming. Thankfully, the next one is better...(less)

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May 24, 2009 Mary Overton added it

'The Kindly Ones' is the longest, most complicated volume of Sandman's saga, as well as the story's climax. Gaiman knits together his characters and 'yarns' to create an inevitable destiny for Morpheus. He who is Endless must incorporate ending into his story. He who is changeless must integrate change into his being. He who is shadow must face the shadow's shadow. He who is Dream must awaken. Early on, he explains why he creates nightmares: 'Imagine that you woke in the night and rose, and seem...more 'The Kindly Ones' is the longest, most complicated volume of Sandman's saga, as well as the story's climax. Gaiman knits together his characters and 'yarns' to create an inevitable destiny for Morpheus. He who is Endless must incorporate ending into his story. He who is changeless must integrate change into his being. He who is shadow must face the shadow's shadow. He who is Dream must awaken. Early on, he explains why he creates nightmares: 'Imagine that you woke in the night and rose, and seemed to see before you another person whom slowly you perceived to be yourself. Someone had entered in the night and placed a mirror in your sleeping place, made from a black metal. You had been frightened only of your reflection. But then the reflection slowly raised one hand, while your own hand stayed still...' (Part I, 14)

It is appropriate that the Maiden/Mother/Crone trio of witches plays a significant role. They first appeared in volume 1 as sybils granting oracular clues to Dream's 3 questions about identity. Here they take on shifting, bloodthirsty aspects of the many triple goddesses. Did brother Destruction abandon his realm because he did not want to be responsible for the heartlessness of these dark ladies who create and destroy? Or do the ladies act so terribly because Destruction gave up any effort at control?

So many names for triads of immortal females: the Roman Furies were originally the Greek the Erinyes (the angry ones, born from the blood of a castrated Titan) and their flip side the Eumenides (the gracious ones). There were the gorgons of which Medusa is the best remembered. The three Fates were Moirae to the Greeks, Parcae to the Romans, and Norns to the Norse. The Greek Charites and the Roman Gratiae were the three Graces. Even Allah, in his pre-Mohammad pagan days, had three goddess daughters.

Gaiman calls his Maiden/Mother/Crone triptych 'The Kindly Ones,' and it is meant ironically, euphemistically, as perhaps the name Eumenides was intended in Greek legends. In this story, a deluded and demented mortal asks the three witches, 'Are you going to hurt me?' 'Hurt you?' responds the crone as if it is the most stupid question possible. 'Of course we're going to hurt you. Everybody gets hurt.' Then she tells gleeful riddles about destiny. 'Those who ask don't get. And those who don't ask don't want.' (Part II, 15-16)

Of course the Ladies have their own side to the story. In the marvelous opening to Part I, they are served a cozy English tea while they speculate on the Mother's new 'knitting project' made from yarn spun by the sexy Maiden. 'He could be a poet in a lovely scarf, perhaps. Or a fisherman in his special woolly sweater. Or a hunter in his nice thick socks.' (Part I, 1) The crone gripes, 'It's not like anyone notices what we do. Not like anyone cares. And they're always complaining: they don't like the fit of it; too loose - too tight - too different - too much like everyone else's.... It's never what they want, and if we give them what they think they want they like it less than ever. 'I never thought it would be like this.' 'Why can't it be like the one I had before?' I don't know why we bother.' (2)(less)

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Sep 20, 2012 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, fantasy, npr-sci-fi-fantasy

I'm not much of a Neil Gaiman fan; I struggled through "American Gods" and was appreciative of "Stardust," but I don't actively seek out his works like some do. I'd had a few quotes from this volume of the Sandman floating around my computer for a couple of years, so when I was browsing the graphic novel collection at the library, I decided I should really give it a try. I was a little unsure about picking up #9 without having read any of the others, but a glance at the back cover indicated "the...more

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Jul 11, 2009 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read09, sci-fi-fantasy, graphic-novels-or-comics

This is the account of what happens when the Kindly Ones enter the Dreaming. There is some great stuff in here, and some surprises. I loved learning more about the characters living in the dreaming, particularly Matthew the Raven. I always love Delirium, but she really made me laugh in this particular volume. The randomness is a welcome respite sometimes from what is going on otherwise.

"Most people don't realize how important librarians are. I ran across a book recently which suggested that the...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Been rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels

This book felt me reeling. I had done a bit of research on the series before start, as I had never been convinced by graphic novels, and I accidently spoilerized myself. I knew that Dream was going to die somehow.

However, the events leading up to his death and how his death happened where unexpected. Once i had finished the book, I was quite overwhelmed, astounded and I could do nothing except contemplate, in a daze, the wonderful character that was the Sandman. I had always found him very intr...more

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Feb 23, 2012 John Kirk rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the thickest book in the series, so you definitely get your money's worth. It's a significant part of the overall series, but I found it slightly unsatisfying. The artwork is quite stylised (presumably on purpose); I'm no expert, but it almost looks cubist in places, which doesn't really appeal to me.

I've hidden some of this review behind a spoiler tag. Unfortunately, the person doing the introduction didn't show the same courtesy, and seemed quite cheerful about the fact that he was giv...more This is the thickest book in the series, so you definitely get your money's worth. It's a significant part of the overall series, but I found it slightly unsatisfying. The artwork is quite stylised (presumably on purpose); I'm no expert, but it almost looks cubist in places, which doesn't really appeal to me.

I've hidden some of this review behind a spoiler tag. Unfortunately, the person doing the introduction didn't show the same courtesy, and seemed quite cheerful about the fact that he was giving the ending away. It would have made more sense to put that essay as an afterword, although I don't think it's really worth reading at all.

(view spoiler)(less)

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Nov 08, 2011 Manrix rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The climax of the series.

I have to be honest; graphically, this was the least attractive volume in the series. Some of the arcs were simply too thick-lined and childish to really get me excited about the artwork.
The story, well.. that's something else entirely.

The climax of the story is so good, it got me emotional, and that doesn't happen too often. It happened twice in this volume alone; imagine that. The graveyard scene and near the very ending, where Death shows up. She's easily one of my f...more

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Jun 13, 2011 cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, books-in-1-and-0, gn-sandman

Definetly my fav books!!

I thought Sandman was a collection of short stories about human and other cratures that being told here and there, inconsequential and delirious, but after reading these, I realized that there were a red thread among all stories. It began with Preludes and Nocturnes when The Dream King aka Morpheus was kidnapped, built its foundation in Doll's House and Dream Country, choosen a path in Season of Mist, got kick in a Game of You, filled so more details in Fables and Reflec...more

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Feb 17, 2011 Felipe Freitas rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the best book I ever read! About the story of the Holocaust and Nazism through the eyes of one SS officer, Max Aue, who's inserted into a landscape of impressive historical exactitude and the pages describing Stalingrad are especially rich in pace and clarity. But this is also a gripping military adventure story, a study in collective pathology and, above all, a sophisticated exploration of issues of morality, evil and luck. The character of Aue allow us to examine what ourselves might ha...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Krystl Louwagie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I struggled with this volume in multiple ways. It's been so long since I read the other Sandman's I had actually pretty much forgotten everything and was a tad confused. Add to that that the Sandman sort of always confuses me, anyway.
Also, this is the longest volume and it felt extremely slow moving for a good portion of it. I got really invested near the end and saw what a thing of beauty it was, but I took a pretty long time to get to that point. Still, I did, and Neil Gaiman proved himself by...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Tahmeed rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is my lowest rating of the entire Sandman series thus far, and the main and only reason for this is that I absolutely hated the artwork in this volume. It was childish and very cartoon-ish and it prevented me from enjoying the story.

The story itself was quite good, well great in fact, although I feel that its length could have been curtailed somewhat. Rose Walker's story-line in particular felt forced, especially since it distracted from the main arc of the Kindly Ones hunting down dream....more

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Jul 31, 2012 Mina Jesuitas rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you,...more

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Jun 20, 2009 H. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dont-own, comic

While this Sandman volume contained an arching storyline, which in Gaiman's hands is far more compelling as he builds suspense and weaves various subplots together, there were two elements that condemned it to pleasantness and no more. The first thing that assaults the eyes upon the first turn of page is not the Corinthian (ha ha) but art that has taken a sharp southerly turn to shitty. The characters, many of whom have popped up before, become glorified stick figures. One is hard pressed to tel...more

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May 12, 2013 Esraa Ashry rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you,...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Charkna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novel, fantasy, horror

After carefully reading each volume of The Sandman I have finally finished what I imagine to be the climax of Gaiman's epic series, #9: The Kindly Ones, and man was it worth the build up.
The Kindly Ones has got to be the best the series has to offer. It's a bit thicker than its predecessors, but that doesn't weigh down the pace or stagger its depth. This volume not only stands alone on its own two feet as one of the best books I've ever read but also clearly serves tribute to Gaiman's genius vis...more

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Mar 01, 2011 D.M. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is, for most purposes, the end of the Sandman story. What follow are the denouement of The Wake, and the reprise book The Dream Hunters, so the tale pretty much reaches its climax and completion in The Kindly Ones.
It's no mystery that Dream gets his fatal (and largely self-constructed) comeuppance here at the hands of The Kindly Ones (the series' latest incarnation of the triple-goddess). We are revisited by quite a few characters whose contributions to this end have been sprinkled througho...more This is, for most purposes, the end of the Sandman story. What follow are the denouement of The Wake, and the reprise book The Dream Hunters, so the tale pretty much reaches its climax and completion in The Kindly Ones.
It's no mystery that Dream gets his fatal (and largely self-constructed) comeuppance here at the hands of The Kindly Ones (the series' latest incarnation of the triple-goddess). We are revisited by quite a few characters whose contributions to this end have been sprinkled throughout the story, with very few new ones introduced.
Two major things jump right out at me about this book: the art and the size. This is the longest part of the series (13 issues) and it's immediately apparent in the girth of this volume. But then, a great deal needs to be accomplished in it. The art is by the underused Marc Hempel (for the most part, although Richard Case -- I think, since there are no detailed credits this time around -- makes the sexiest Rose Walker ever in a brief appearance). He's best known for his funny-ha-ha and funny-peculiar Gregory series, but has turned in a masterful pile of work here. The look of his art probably jars quite a few Sandman fans, but I see his highly stylised, cartoony technique as a way to move the characters closer to the abstraction of myth for the truly mythically-proportioned end. So, for me, it works.
What does not work here is the actual climax of the story. For a character we've loved and hated for years/volumes/issues, his end should have more emotional impact. It had none for me, though (for that, I have to wait for The Wake). The buildup over so many issues just sort of deflates rather than exploding, as I felt it should...but then I'm not master storyteller Neil Gaiman, so what do I know.
Also included in this volume is 'The Castle' with Kevin Nowlan (I think), a prologue/introduction to new readers culled from Vertigo Jam 1. Cute, but clearly here just for completion's sake.
The introduction from Frank McConnell is so forgettable, I actually had to look in the book again to find out what it was about...and who wrote it!
This is an engrossing story with a slightly disappointing end, and that's the only bit that made me hold back a star. For others, I'm sure it's a five-star effort, and that's as it should be.(less)

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Sep 14, 2012 Charlie rated it 4 of 5 stars

One should never refer to The Fates by their name, or by their actions. They think it gives them a bad press. They prefer to be known as The Kindly Ones.

Hippolyta had been pregnant for several years whilst in a dreamland. She then gave birth to little Daniel. Now Daniel has been stolen and she must find him. This tale is convoluted and deep, pulling in most, if not all, of the characters we have met in earlier volumes as well as some new ones.

The story in this book is once again sparkling in i...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Craig Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars

It has been awhile since I read the last Sandman trade paperback, so imagine my surprise when I realized this was the penultimate volume before the series' end! It didn't even dawn on me until the story began to get intense that this is Morpheus' swan song issue. His final moments with his sister Death were wonderful and his fate after he takes her hand leaves little to the imagination. As always, it was a pleasure to see my favorite characters, such as Death and Delirium in the mix, even if Del...more

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The Sandman: The Kindly Ones (The Sandman #9)

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