The Sandman: Act II

Sandman Audible Original #2

by Dirk Maggs, Neil Gaiman (Story), James McAvoy (Reading)

Enter the Dreaming once again as the blockbuster audio adaptation of "the greatest epic in the history of comic books" continues in The Sandman: Act II. James McAvoy returns to voice Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, in this sequel to the #1 New York Times audio best-seller. Journey into a world of myths, imagination, and terror based on the best-selling DC comic books and graphic novels written by Neil Gaiman (returning as the Narrator), and lose yourself in another groundbreaking, immersive drama adapted and directed by the award-winning audio master Dirk Maggs.

In the absolutely packed Act II, the dark fantasy resumes and the Sandman expands into the French Revolution, Ancient Rome, 19th-Century San Francisco, 8th-century Baghdad, and beyond. New and familiar characters abound, voiced by a bright mix of performers, including Kat Dennings, Regé-Jean Page, Emma Corrin, Michael Sheen, Kristen Schaal, Brian Cox, John Lithgow, Jeffrey Wright, and so many more, including fan-favorite narrators Simon Vance and Ray Porter.

Just close your eyes and listen again as the greatest epic continues.

Act II of the audio series The Sandman adapts collected volumes 4 (Season of Mists) and 5 (A Game of You) of the comics in their entirety, and most of volume 6 (Fables & Reflections).

Please note: This content is not for kids. It is for mature audiences only. Just like the original graphic novels, this audio adaptation contains explicit language and graphic violence, as well as strong sexual content and themes. Discretion is advised.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Fiction, Horror, Graphic Novels, Comics, Mythology

14 pages, Audio CD

First published September 22, 2021

About the author

Dirk Maggs, a freelance writer and director working across all media, is principally known for his work in radio, where he evolved radio drama into "Audio Movies," a near-visual approach combining scripts, layered sound effects, cinematic music and cutting edge technology. He pioneered the use of Dolby Surround in BBC Radio. He was among the first nominees for the Directors Guild of Great Britain Outstanding Achievement in Radio Award, and in 2005 he was invited to become one of the first Honorary Fellows of the University of Winchester for his work in the dramatic arts.

From 2003 to 2005, Maggs produced new episodes of Douglas Adams' science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, adapted from the novels based on the original radio series that Adams wrote. The books that Maggs adapted were written after the radio series ended its original run.

He co-founded Perfectly Normal Productions Ltd (PNP) with Paul Weir and Richard Adams to create compelling high quality popular audio drama in serialized form for delivery to personal digital players and cell phones.

Early in his career Dirk became known for directing adaptations of comic book storylines. He started in 1988 with the 50th Anniversary Man Of Steel docudrama Superman on Trial, carried on with a 50th birthday tribute to the Dark Knight: Batman: The Lazarus Syndrome. This was followed by The Adventures Of Superman, Batman: Knightfall, The Amazing Spider-Man and his final BBC Radio superhero series, Judge Dredd in 1995. Along the way his production of Superman: Doomsday and Beyond ("Superman Lives" in the USA) won the 1994 Audie Award for Best Dramatisation from the American Booksellers Association and Spoken Word Audio of The Year from Publishers Weekly.

Reviews

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as enjoyable as the first one.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, the performance! Just love it!

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Act II of the audiobook adaptation of The Sandman is just as wonderful as the previous act.
Here, we get the family meeting of the Endless after Destiny gets visit by the Fates. During the meeting, Morpheus gets an important lesson from his sister, Death, resulting in him finally deciding to setting free Nada. However, that means he needs to go to Hell and kinda have a dance-off with Lucifer. Actually, it's less about God's wayward son and more about what Hell means to people, its raison d'être.
But this book is also about the power and importance of dreams and stories. Figuratively and literally.
Fittingly, we then also get a number of fables about, amongst other things, the French Revolution, ancient Rome, a guy called the Last Emperor of America, and more.

Why is this all important and how does it go together? Well, they are all tales of magic and wonder and the source of both: dreams.

So all in all, this audiobook covers volumes 4 and 5 of the comics as well as most of volume 6.

I gotta say that this only made me look forward to the Netflix adaptation even more, despite the fact that the cast is entirely different.
The production of this one is of immaculate quality, the actors really impersonate the characters and the audio production has the perfect combination of gravitas, humour and colourfulness.
I was actually surprised just how well the stories translated to this medium (the original stories are highly visual adventures).

Really fantastic production value and an immensely fun reading listening experience.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top-notch audio production of the Sandman comics, preserving all of the spirit, the many stories, and the mystery of the originals. It's only Act II, so expect more.

It's a full cast play, too, to get us right on target for the upcoming tv series.

If you don't know Sandman and want to get a leg up, I can't recommend this more. If you already ARE a fan, I can't see a reason why you wouldn't love this, either.

For everyone else out there... well... if you have never been turned on to the stuff that made Gaiman famous, then SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on you!

Totally recommend.

[exploraDora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars for this one.
Four because it's not quite as good as the first one, but definitely 4.5 because it's still pretty damn good 🤔😂😂

RTC soon.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as compelling as Sandman #1. 3 of 10 stars

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely delightful!

There are so many narrators I can't list them all, but among my favorites were John Lithgow as the Emperor of the United States and Ray Porter as the King of Pain.

If you liked the graphic novels, you will most surely like these audios.

My highest recommendation!

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so pleased to be listening to the second act of Neil Gaiman's epic Sandman series, expertly reimagined as audio drama.

Adapting the medium of comics to radio plays/podcasts is a surprisingly good fit, and I hope there are more of these in the future. Unlike the constraints of film, the pure imagination of visual comics can be explored without limit and oh so faithfully by acting out these amazing stories. Dirk Maggs is an experienced director who knows what he's doing, and the all-star acting cast is legendary.

Of course, I'm listening as someone who read Sandman as a teen (and reread many times before). The voices may not always conform to what I imagined, but it's always good to give another interpretation a chance.

Compared to Act I, it just keeps getting better. The Sandman series in fact always had a slow start, and definitely found itself in these volumes which just makes the audio series even more perfect and literary. Basically, less DC Universe and more Gaiman's own personal Vertigo world to explore at this point.

This one begins by adapting Season of Miss, which is very high-concept fantasy about the lord of dreams visiting Hell. It's not a horror story. In fact, the take on various different gods in modern times is a good prelude to Gaiman's later novels. Then there's A Game of You, which is the author's take on a more traditional fairy tale style, while still being a meta-commentary on storytelling itself--not to mention very ahead of its time with the trans character.

There are also many one-off short stories previously published as Fables and Reflections, taking place throughout history from ancient Rome to the French Revolution. It's wonderful how Gaiman is able to jump from cultural contexts, including for example an Arabic fable. Such impressive and enviable writing.

If there was another way to market this, sample podcasts of just these one shots would be an excellent way to introduce it to skeptical readers (that is, listeners)... But alas, the Audible business model is to release these big portions thirteen hours at a time every so often.

Can't wait until Act III, and by my count, the eventual melancholic conclusion with Act IV.

[NAT.orious reads ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for you if… yiu can deal with being confused by the relevance of some parts of the plot and still enjoy an impeccable adaptation.

⤐ Additionally.
The majority of my rating is based on the extreme work and attention to detail that was put into this adaptation and the quality that came out of this. Listening to The Sandman: Act II is a uniqure experience. I seldomnly am calm enough to just sit back and listen to an audiobook, but The Sandman is so exciting and also demanding in regard to its' listener's attention that I dare to say it compares to watching a movie in the cinema.

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Of course I brought criticism to the table. I was already irritated by parts of the story in the first Act but in this installment, I really had problems seing a decent plot come together. I'm aware that's not how comics - what the adaptation is based on - work seeing as they are individual works mostly and are oftentimes connected indirectly at best. It is still something that took away a significant amount of joy for me. If you love comics or are willing to overlook this in light of the magnificant listening experience, The Sandman: Act II is definitely something you need to give a try. Otherwise:


_____________________
4 STARS. Would stay up beyond my typical hours to finish it. I found some minor details I didn't like, agree with or lacked in some kind but overall, this was enjoyable and extraordinary.

[Auntie Raye-Raye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dirk Maggs makes excellent audio full cast adaptations.

I do have some opinions.

James McAvoy is perfect as Morpheus. He could be a bit over the top at times.

I finally get to hear Delurium! Kristin Schaal is good pick. BUT, her voice is similar to Kat Dennings. So, in scenes with her, it could get confusing.

David Tennant was not a good choice for Loki. I know gods can speak with whatever accents they want. BUT, Scottish sounding Norse gods took me out of it.

I like that A GAME OF YOU was updated for the times. I was worried about a line that would now be considered transphobic.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just fantastic!! 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In my opinion, I think you should read the graphic novels before tackling the audible books for The Sandman series.
It’s just easier to follow with the fantastic narrators and brilliant mind of Neil Gaiman.

Act II is Volume 4 - Season of Mists, Volume 5 - A Game of You, and most of Volume 6 - Fables & Reflections.

Looking forward to the Act III!

[TS Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Fantastic performances all-round again, with the first big story, Season of Mists, being the best of the entire collection.

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The epic journey continues! While I liked Act I better, I still immensely enjoyed act II as we get to see more of the endless siblings. Also a lot of the side stories are some of my favorites!
The main story of Barbie falls flat for me a tad. Still well done just not as good as the rest of the series.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first volume of Audible's adaptation of The Sandman came out last year, and it quickly became the best-selling and most pre-ordered Audible Original. Not only was it wildly successful, though, but it was an excellent adaptation. It perfectly captured the spirit of the comics while tweaking the story into something new. So, the second volume, The Sandman: Act II, has quite a lot riding on its shoulders. And luckily, it delivers on all fronts. Much like the first volume, The Sandman: Act II is an extremely faithful and deeply enjoyable adaptation of Neil Gaiman's beloved comics. Adapted by Dirk Maggs, and carried by an extraordinary cast, some excellent sound design, and some of the best storylines in the entire series, The Sandman: Act II is a fantastic listen for both old and new fans alike.

The Sandman: Act II covers issues 21-40, and issue 50, of the comic, comprising the Season of Mists, A Game of You, Convergence, and Distant Mirrors arcs. So, this time around, Morpheus (James McAvoy) has to find a new ruler for Hell after Lucifer (Michael Sheen) abandons the realm. And Barbie (Laurence Bouvard) returns (last seen in A Doll's House), entering the Dreaming to fight off a mysterious threat that's breaking the boundaries between dream and reality. Scattered in between those storylines are standalone tales expanding the world of the Sandman and incorporating various historical and mythological figures. I've always felt that these arcs were where the series properly found its footing. So, it's nice to finally hear these stories come to life in such a magnificent way.

There are two episodes, in particular, which just made my Sandman-loving heart incredibly happy. The first is the very first episode, adapting issue 21 (the prologue of the Season of Mists storyline). It's the first time we get to see (or hear, I guess) all of the Endless in one room. It's a dynamic, dramatic moment in the comics and it's brought to life perfectly here. The other one is episode 9, "Thermidor," which adapts issue 29 of the comics. It's the first time we meet Orpheus (Regé-Jean Page). And it might be one of the few instances where the audio version actually works better than the original comic. In this story, Orpheus sings a song - as he is wont to do. And the way Maggs, Page, and composer James Hannigan bring this moment to life is absolutely gorgeous. It's something you have to experience for yourself.

Like the first volume, The Sandman: Act II is an almost verbatim adaptation of these storylines. Maggs lifts the vast majority of the dialogue directly from the comics. He cuts little and adds even less. A Game of You sees the most noticeable changes, though nothing is changed that actually impacts the greater storyline. Mostly, Maggs changes some of the elements of that arc haven't aged as well as others - most notably some of Wanda's (Reece Lyons) dialogue, and the way others speak about her. And he also reworks a lot of the narration attributed to Barbie in this arc into narration for Gaiman, who narrates the series overall.

But overall, it's an impressively faithful adaptation. Perhaps among the most faithful adaptations ever made. And, as a fan of the comics, that's such a gift. Getting to hear these characters and stories come to life exactly the way they're written on the page is such a delight. It's the kind of experience most book-lovers always long for. And it's genuinely impressive how well these stories work in an audio-only medium, exactly as written.

With that faithfulness, though, comes a double-edged sword. In the quest to change as little as possible, there remains a tendency to over-rely on the narration to bridge the gap between comics and audio. And I get it. Maggs and Gaiman are clearly aiming for these Sandman audios to hew closer to audiobooks than you might expect. I mean, the whole thing genuinely plays like any other audiobook might - so much so that I was able to read the comics while listening to each episode, and the two experiences ended up complementing each other. And there's nothing inherently wrong with this approach. Gaiman is a great narrator, and while having so many visual cues described initially annoyed me in the first volume, I found it a lot more welcome here.

However, a lot of the narration continues to feel unneeded. There are moments where the narration will say something, only for the dialogue to repeat it (or vice versa). And that feels kind of clunky. The narration also occasionally breaks up the flow of the scenes, interjecting in moments that don't really need it. And while I understand the desire to describe so much of the comics' visuals, I remain unconvinced it's needed as often as it's used. Sound effects can do a lot of that work if given the chance. And, to be fair, Maggs and Gaiman do let the sound effects speak for themselves a bit more here. I just wish they'd go even further. But at the end of the day, the narration works far more than it doesn't. And hopefully, they'll continue to find the best balance between narration and sound effects in future installments.

That being said, The Sandman: Act II is still a deeply enjoyable listen. This is, in part, due to how perfectly cast everyone is. Several cast members from the first volume return for Act II, including McAvoy, Sheen, Bouvard, Kat Dennings, Joanna Lumley, Miriam Margoyles, Bebe Neuwirth, Andy Serkis, and more. And all of them are as good as here as they were there. Sheen is deliciously sinister as Lucifer, especially in his scenes opposite McAvoy's Morpheus. And McAvoy continues to channel Morpheus perfectly, capturing Morpheus's sense of grandeur, mystery, pettiness, and vulnerability. And while Dennings' Death didn't quite click for me in the first volume, I found myself really enjoying her scenes in Act II - especially the ones she shared with Morpheus.

Equally great are the new recruits. John Lithgow and Brian Cox are predictably great as Emperor Norton and Augustus. Bill Nighy and David Tennant are a dynamic duo as Odin and Loki. They both play their characters in their native accents. And they're both so much fun. Kristen Schaal and Jeffrey Wright round out the rest of the (currently active) Endless as Delerium and Destiny. Both of them are perfect fits for their characters, and I'm eager to hear more from them in future installments. And Regé-Jean Page's Orpheus steals his entire episode. His singing voice is exactly as majestic as Orpheus's should be, and his performance turns that episode into one of the volume's standouts. All of the new additions do a wonderful job, though, slotting in perfectly alongside the returning cast members.

The sound design from Maggs and his team of sound designers, Wilfredo Acosta, Kirsty Gillmore, Richard House, Tom Maggs, and John Scott is simply genius. There’s honestly no other way to put it. The Sandman comics are known for their visual splendor, but, of course, audiobooks are devoid of visuals. So, Maggs and his team lean on their experience in audio dramas to evoke those same feelings of splendor through sound. And it’s remarkable what they’re able to achieve. They brilliantly bring the world of The Sandman to life, from the unpleasantness and horror of Hell, to the majesty and fantasy of the Dreaming (and its connected lands), to the constant noise of New York City. Everything sounds so fully realized and explored, and there’s so much to hear with every listen. The team packs layer upon layer of detail into the soundscape of The Sandman: Act II. And it’s an absolute feast for the ears.

Equally impressive is James Hannigan's score. Hannigan continues to bring that perfect balance of emotional sincerity and operatic grandness to his music. Like any good score, Hannigan's music helps heighten the emotional center while underscoring the heft of the material. It just has this cinematic quality that makes it feel like something you might hear in any Hollywood movie. And combined with the sound design, it's something truly beautiful to behold. As cheesy as it sounds, the score and sound design really are the things of dreams.

Overall, The Sandman: Act II is as good as, if not better than, Audible’s first volume. It may be a bit too faithful to the source material, missing some opportunities to better tweak the story as an audio-only experience. But I can’t say I didn’t enjoy every second I spent listening to it. The soundscape is something truly impressive to behold, as are the excellent performances from this enormous cast. And now that I know what this adaptation is trying to be, it’s easier to just go along with what Maggs and Gaiman are doing. If you liked the first volume of Audible’s Sandman adaptation, you’ll love The Sandman: Act II. And if you’re anything like me, you might even like it more than the first installment. It’s a must-listen for Sandman fans old and new.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saved this for a two-week roadtrip in Iceland, and we finished it just as we reached Myvatn, an area known for its evil-smelling, belching, bubbling mud pools and streaming, sulfuric fumaroles, which in Icelandic folklore is said to connect earth with the infernal regions, and in Christian lore, is believed to be the place where Lucifer fell when he was cast from Heaven... how fitting, since this second Act adapts Season of Mists , in which we get to meet Lucifer, my favorite secondary character. This installment also covers A Game of You and Fables and Reflections —I've reviewed each volume separately, so my rating here pertains only to the Audible adaptation.

This may have been even better than Act I, and I continue to be in awe of how well they managed to translate a visual medium into a purely aural one, while remaining extremely and impressively faithful to the source material—I can only hope the Netflix adaptation is even half this good. If that crashes and burns like another more recent adaptation of Neil's work, we will still have this, a true gift to the fans.

Neil's narration and James McAvoy's Morpheus continue to be stellar, but some new cast additions need to be highlighted: Michael Sheen plays Lucifer, quite the drastic change from the angel Aziraphale in Good Omens, but he nails it, and I bought him as the Prince of Darkness hook, line, and sinker. Kristen Schaal has one of the most recognizable voices in the biz, and was the perfect choice for Delirium... it's unfortunate that Kat Denning's Death sounds similar, but I've complained about her casting in my review for Act I already, so I won't rehash it. Regé-Jean Page's Orpheus elevated Thermidor in a way that made me like an issue I never much cared for in its original form, John Lithgow's Emperor Norton pulled on my heartstrings, but the absolute stand-out for me was Reece Lyon's Wanda, who perfectly brought the sass to life. David Tennant and Bill Nighy as Loki and Odin were great; if I hadn't been in Iceland at the time I listened to this, I probably would've listed their Scottish accents as a baffling choice for Norse Gods, but it turns out that Icelanders actually do tend to have a Scottish/Welsh/Irish sounding accent when they speak English, so I'm thinking this was a deliberate choice.

Season of Mists is one of the best arcs in all of Sandman, and unsurprisingly remains the stand-out in this adaptation as well. I thought A Game of You worked better here than in the comic: A lot of Barbie's narration is given to Neil, and while the intentions behind that arc were always pure, times change, and some things in it could potentially be considered transphobic today, so I'm glad there were subtle changes to accommodate for 2021 sensibilities.

Fables and Reflections, which is a collection of one-issue stories, was picked apart, reordered, and incomplete: Thermidor, August, and Three Septembers and a January, which are part of the Distant Mirrors arc about emperors and power, were inserted before A Game of You, while the three stories about stories from the Convergence arc (The Hunt, Soft Places, and The Parliament of Rooks) follow it. The excellent story Ramadan is still the final one (although I didn't find it as impactful without the stunning visuals, some of my favorite art in all of Sandman), but The Song of Orpheus was conspicuously missing: It's arguably the one issue from the collection of shorts that is vitally important to the main narrative arc, and I'm curious to see where they'll incorporate it going forward.

I may be more excited about Act III of this than the Netflix adaptation.

—————

My other Sandman reviews:

01: Preludes & Nocturnes · ★★★½
02: The Doll's House · ★★★★
03: Dream Country · ★★★
04: Season of Mists · ★★★★½
05: A Game of You · ★★★½
06: Fables and Reflections · ★★★½
07: Brief Lives · ★★★★½
08: Worlds' End · ★★★
09: The Kindly Ones · ★★★★★
10: The Wake · ★★★

Overture · ★★
Endless Nights · ★★★★
The Dream Hunters · ★★★★
Death: The Deluxe Edition · ★★★★

Audible Original Act I · ★★★★★
Audible Original Act II · ★★★★★
Audible Original Act III · ★★★★★

[Alex Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous audio production of The Sandman! I can only hope the Netflix series is half as well done. This second production includes the graphic novel volumes, “Season of Mists,” “A Game of You,” and “Fables and Reflections.”

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing audio experience—truly a masterful production. Kudos, Dirk!! As always, I'd listen to Neil Gaiman read just about anything. (And James McAvoy's Morpheus voice is very, very sexy.)

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great production! But man, Morpheus has to stop getting trapped into things. And Cain and Abel are in serious need of therapy. And separate living quarters. 😂🙈 Poor Abel. ☹️

[Via · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sandman is a comic book series written by Neil Gaiman, adapted and published by DC Comics. Now I don’t consider myself by any stretch a comic book fan; funnily enough, when I listened to the first installment of The Sandman on Audible, I actually had no idea that it was based on comic book stories and merely thought that it was just like any other fantasy tale. What followed during the several days that I spent listening to Act I was such a unique and entertaining experience that I ended up rating it 5 well deserved stars for its creativity, production quality, and cast of narrators.

If you are familiar with any of Neil Gaiman’s works, you know that the man is a wonderful storyteller who utilizes creative and fantastical universes to explore wonderfully intricate plotlines in his tales. I’m happy to report that The Sandman: Act II follows much of the same vein; we follow a large cast of characters who travel between a number of worlds (e.g., Earth, the dream world, hell, etc.) in order to overcome a list of challenges. In Part I we primarily follow Dream, the lord of the dream world who is captured by humans and loses his powers and then goes on a journey to recover all the assets he lost in order to regain his full powers. In Part II, the story diverges into more complex ways that pull new as well as previously existing characters into its realms.

Without giving much away, Part II is ideal for readers who enjoy following a huge and extended cast of characters on varying journeys. I personally enjoyed Part I more because we primarily follow just a few individuals on specific and fleshed-out journeys that delve into character studies of sorts for these entities. Part II dedicates a lot more time putting the spotlight on Part I’s supporting characters and seems to stay quite faithful to the comic book source materials. In terms of the production quality of the audio, there are plenty of awesome and cool sound effects to keep the reader entertained throughout these stories. I enjoyed the diverse cast of narrators that the organizers were able to arrange into the folds of this project, some of which include James McAvoy (who voices Dream) and Kat Dennings (who voices one of Dream’s siblings, Death).

The mature content may throw off some readers, but I enjoyed the visceral descriptions not only of the written prose, but also the sound effects that served to ramp up the creepy and suspenseful moods of the plot. Although I’m sure the comics provide a lot more details than these audiobook versions of the stories, I don’t think it would be a hardship to follow the story for those who have never read the comics. There is plenty of mystery, suspense, and thrills to be found, and this series is sure to be an entertaining listen to many audiences.

[Fei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandman est probablement ma meilleur expérience en therme de livre audio. La narration est vraiment de qualité et l'imagination de Neil Gaiman, comme toujours, géniale ! *chef kiss*

[Garima · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4.
It's a beautiful escape, undoubtedly Gaiman and Maggs have done a wonderful job with the stories. Neil Gaiman is a master in creating fictional stories so beautifully weaved and crafted and this is another example of his genius.
Season of mists was the best part of this act. James McAvoy as Morpheus is perfect, his voice is so soothing amplified by his amazing acting skills.
The myths and stories touched are amazing, and the most mesmerising bit was Orpheus' lament, that song is so beautiful which amazingly captures the pain of Orpheus.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was an interesting experience, it’s not really my cup of tea. Act 2 of the Sandman Audible adaptation continues with more short stories from the early 1990s graphic novels, with an impressive cast including some very well known voices. We had listened to Act 1 late last year, and I had remembered the major stories but not who many of the minor characters were, which became a problem at times as there’s next to no recap. With no cohesive story arc this time, I found this harder to follow and felt that many of the chapters served no real purpose. I can’t even summarise what the three different sections were about. I think this would be a fantastic listen for people who love the source material, but for those of us new to this world it was all too disjointed.

I did enjoy the Joanna Constantine/Orpheus story, Barbie & Wanda’s adventure, Morpheus’ trip to hell, and David Tennant as Loki. I liked “Fables & Reflections” the least and was quite happy to get to the end as we were both getting bored. As a whole this instalment was less gory/violent, and shorter than the first, which felt like a blessing. I don’t see us bothering with Act 3 but am still looking forward to checking out the Netflix version later this year.

[Jonathon Von · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another high quality radio production. This one is a little scattershot as some of the smaller stories are expanded on a little too much and the general feel is of something overlong. But this represents a very strong era for the series and makes the wise decision to make the A Game of You adaption a full third of the experience. I won’t hesitate to call that section a 5, it was a graphic novel that I obsessed over between the ages of 13-15 and hearing it done at nearly a novel’s length itself was a joy. There are even some decisions to reframe some of gender politics to more modern thinking that feels both timely and faithful to the original spirit. The King of America story is also very good with an excellent performance from John Lithgow. Kat Dennings makes an excellent Death and I was delighted by Kristen Schaal’s portrayal of Delirium. Some great other performers include: Bill Nighy, Micheal Sheen, Andy Serkis, and David Tennant. Some of the hell stuff loses a little in translation and a couple of the later stories are a little too ponderous for their own good but overall an excellent series.

[Mahdieh Ebrahimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really loved the Marco Polo story and the last story. this is a jewel. highly recommend it to everyone.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

More a collection of loosely connected short stories than a cohesive whole. Still, a wonderfully acted and produced audio drama. Very atmospheric.

[Kacy❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book was amazing! I was loving everything about it, and then we veered off on a tangent about other short stories that had nothing to do with the main story. They were irrelevant, boring and drawn out. 98% of the second half had nothing to do with Morpheus and because of that I am very disappointed and unsatisfied. Where was our Sandman? While the voice narration and full audio production were incredible just like the first book, the stories in the second half really made this a disappointing flop.

[Mery · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars but I'll round it up to 4 cos James McAvoy's voice could bring me back from the dead. More Morpheus next time please and thank you.

[Shashank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright folks right now I am living in a dream and I don't want to wake up ever. 😴

[Soo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes:

It's been a long time since I've read the Sandman comics. Act II stays true to the comic, but it feels a bit slower in pacing due to many elements being highlighted upon as the stage is built for the series.

[Exitgirl05 · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a way to start a new year! Magnificent work of Audible and DC crew! Can’t wait the next chapters.