Customer Reviews
Best Story Arc So Far 
2008-09-05
Up until this point, I was unimpressed by Neil Gaiman's The Sandman story arcs. The larger stories that made up both Preludes and Nocturnes and The Doll's House were lacking, which really surprised me, seeing how much praise Gaiman gets for his work in this series. His one-shots were good, however, bordering on brilliant, which made the third volume in the series, Dream Country (a collection of one-shots), his best effort yet. Upon picking up this book, "Seasons of Mist," I was worried that I was in for yet another mediocre story arc, but in this one, Gaiman really came through.
The plot is quite inventive, featuring Lucifer giving up Hell and giving the key over to Morpheus. This causes a lot of trouble for the Dream King, because creatures and deities from all sorts of mythologies come to him in hopes to take Hell off of his hands. This is certainly the most well-written story arc in "The Sandman," and it's also the most intricate as far as characters featured in it, the way they speak, and the character development of Morpheus. While it is certainly epic in scale, it's the most personal we've seen the Dream King get. There was even a scene in the epilogue that made me tear up a little. Looks like I'm on for the long-run!
8/10
A splendid story about Hell 2008-08-27
The fourth Sandman collection finally follows up on the promise that Lucifer made to destroy Morpheus back in the opening collection. Destiny summons the Endless to a meeting, where we meet Delirium (who used to be Delight) for the first time and get some more information about the missing brother of the Endless. During the meeting Desire baits Dream about the treatment of his lover Nada, whom he banished to Hell for spurning him. Dream realises he/she is right, and resolves to travel to Hell and rescue his former lover, despite Lucifer's vow.
Season of Mists takes Dream on a journey into Hell and a confrontation with the Morningstar...but not the type of confrontation he was expecting. Dream ends up, slightly bemused, as the keeper of the key to Hell, and is soon being petitioned by gods and representatives from many pantheons (including the gods of Chaos and Order, and deities from the Egyptian, Norse and Japanese pantheons) anxious to get their hands on the finest plot of real estate in the multiverse, at the same time as he is also trying to find his missing love, and Death is attempting to repair the damage caused by countless legions of the dead suddenly being released back into the mortal world.
After the short story interlude of Dream Country, it's good to be back to a solid, long story arc. Although it's a reasonably long tale it's not the most dynamic story in the Sandman canon, and unusually most of it takes place in the Dreaming with only a few scenes set in the real world, and a longer chunk set in Hell. This allows us to see a bit more of the Dreaming and its inhabitants, but the meat of the story is seeing how the different pantheons interact together and who actually has the best claim on Hell.
As usual, Gaiman fills the story with neat little details and touches. The notion of there being a library in the Dreaming where all the books writers dreamed of writing but never got round to it is a fascinating one, and it's amusing to see books there such as Tolkien's The Lost Road (which was supposed to be a big story about his island kingdom of Numenor, but he abandoned it after a few pages). Elsewhere there are nods back to earlier stories: when Dream fears he may be destroyed in Hell, he decides to make time for a brief drink with his friend Hob Gadling, although they are not due to meet for another ninety-nine years. He also looks in on the newly-born son of Hector and Lyta Hall and gives him a name, Daniel, to Lyta's rage and horror. Elsewhere there's nice touches about the various gods, such as Chaos being personified as a young girl and Order as a carboard box, and Thor trying to impress some of the female deities present with his hammer, which gets bigger if you rub it (which is mythologically accurate)! Finally, we get a glimpse into the Sandman's collection of artefacts he has accumulated over the years, and see the skull of the Corinthian, a city trapped in a bottle and an old pocket watch, all of which are explored in future stories, in some cases years down the line.
As with previous collections, Gaiman interrupts the linear narrative of the story to give us a self-contained story in the middle of the collection which nevertheless comments on the action around it. A young boy left alone at boarding school for the holidays (after his father is among the hostages taken by Saddam Hussein in the build-up to the Gulf War) is suddenly joined by all those who died in the school over the previous century or so. It's a rather grim story, but ends on an interesting, optimistic note.
Season of Mists (****) isn't quite up there with the best of the Sandman collections. It is a tad overlong given its relative lack of actual incident, but for expanding our knowledge and understanding about Hell and the Dreaming, for introducing important new characters (particularly Daniel, Cluracan and Nuala) and for resolving the Nada storyline, it does a great job. The graphic novel is available from Titan in the UK and Vertigo in the USA, and forms the opening part of The Absolute Sandman, Volume II, available from Vertigo in the UK and USA.
THIS IS THE REAL DEAL 
2008-04-05
This is my favorite comic book story. I was already a Gaiman fan, having read "Good Omens". But the intense intelligence and respect for the form of mythology in particular and story-telling in general, not to mention one of the all time great jumping off points (Lucifer's abdication of Hell), create a story that is breathtaking in it's scope and imagination.
AMAZING!
And I haven't even mentioned the stunning artwork, just beautiful, iconic and evocative.
All the "old gods" are represented and much intrigue and deal-brokering ensue.
These themes (the meaning and relevance of mythology) are further explored in at least 2 of his subsequent novels and many of his short stories.
This is still the definitive statement. Check it out, you will not be disappointed!
Season of Mists Is The First To Astound Me 2007-12-28
I've heard much about The Sandman series for many years, and so last summer I finally decided to experience it for myself. The first volume was adequate, but it didn't "wow" me as much as I expected. Probably because, by this point in time, Gaiman's concepts had been copied and recopied so many times by so many other writers that the original held little distinction.
I took solace in the fact that Volume III of the series was to be the one that set The Sandman beyond anything else in the comic book medium that came before or after. Sadly--for me--it didn't electrify. Good? Certainly. Great? No.
So, believing the opinions of several friends can't be wrong, I still pressed on. Volume IV, Season of Mists, proved to be the one. This is the volume that completely and utterly "wowed" me. From the beginning to the end, this was a tightly woven story packing emotional, philosophical, intellectual, and conceptual punches that did not fail to capture both my imagination and respect. The character of Morpheus is visually interesting, but it was not until this volume that he began to fascinate me as a well-rounded character.
The premise is simple in Season of Mists. Morpheus realizes he long ago made a mistake for which he must atone. It is how he deals with coming to this decision and the ramifications of going about executing it that astonished me. Gaiman's imagination is limitless in Season of Mists, pulling from established myths and legends as well as creating his own.
The art, like all of the volumes, is rather hit or miss. Luckily, the image of Morpheus is so striking and the stories so good that the art is easy to overlook.
Finally, I wouldn't consider myself a fan of Harlan Ellison by any stretch of the imagination, but his introduction to this volume is delightful and is alone worth the price of the entire book.
~Scott William Foley, author of Dr. Nekros: The Tragedian (Volume I, Episode I)
Graphic SF Reader 2007-09-03
Spurred by the three Fates, Destiny calls a meeting of the Endless. This ends in Dream taking crud for getting pissed at an ex-girlfriend and sending her to Hell.
Spurred by the three Fates, Destiny calls a meeting of the Endless. This ends in Dream taking crap for getting pissed at an ex-girlfriend and sending her to Hell.
His older sister tells him off, so he goes to rescue her, knowing that Lucifer is likely to slay him. A bit nastier than that though, Lucifer abandons Hell and gives it to him, instead, without the old girlfriend.
Dream has to deal with all the mythologies that want this funky piece of supernatural real estate, while Lucifer gets to go and be a beach slacker.
I always suspected Thor had no manners . . . 2007-07-19
In many ways, Season of Mists is the pinnacle of the Sandmanexperience. After a brief intermission of four short stories (collected as Dream Country) Gaiman continued the story of the Dream King that he began in the first two volumes. Here in volume 4, we find out about the rest of Dream's Endless family (Desire, Despair, Destiny, Delirium, Death, and a seventh missing sibling). We find out the story behind Nada, Dream's first love, whom we met only in passing during Dream's visit to hell in the first book. When Dream goes back to hell to resolve unfinished business with Nada, he finds her missing along with all of the other dead souls. The answer to this mystery lies in Lucifer's most uncharacteristic decision--a delicious surprise.There is something grandiose about this story, in which each chapter ends withsuch suspense and drive to read the next. This book is best summed up by a toasttaken from the second chapter: "To absent friends, lost loves, old gods, and theseason of mists; and may each and every one of us always give the devil hisdue." --Jim Pascoe
Gaiman at his best 2007-04-02
For a short read, each episode is superbly written. Gaiman is the best of his genre.
A turning point in the Sandman saga. 2007-01-16
After reading all of the Sandman collections, "Season of Mists" is with out a doubt my favorite.(it's also the first one I read) "Season of Mists" begins with a family meeting between Sandman's family "The Endless". During this meeting Sandman's older brother, Destiny announces that he has recently been visited by the fates. He says that the fates told him that "Something IMPORTANT will happen. Something that sparks a chain of events, causing much change and upheaval" Sandman's sister death then asks "And what is that occasion?" Destiny simply answers "THIS meeting that is all. The rest is up to you" After these statements Destiny's prophecy quickly unfolds when the family sits down to dinner. Sandman's sister, Desire attacks Sandman by opening an old personal wound, his past love life. If you read the books prior to "Season" you'll discover that Sandman sentenced is old flame, Nada (a formed African queen) to the tourments of hell because she refused to give up her mortal life to be his queen. Insulted by Destiny, Sandman storms off to sulk outside on the balcony. Death later comes out to give Sandman a royal tongue lashing (one of her shinning moments in the seires)and tells him that what he did to Nada was selfish and wrong. Sandman soon realizes that is big sister is right and he sets off to free his former love. Sandman and Lucifer(the lord of hell) have some bad blood(established in prior chapters) and when Lucifer is informed that Sandman is comming to his realm, he says that it is a day that they will both remember. When Sandman arrives in hell he is surpized to find the place empty. Lucifer soon greets Sandman to tell him that he has quit his job, let every soul free, and has decided to give the key for the gates to Sandman. This is where the true conflict of 'Seaons" starts. What is Sandman to do with this new realm? and with all of hell's souls now free, Where is Nada? Sandman soon finds that his troubles have only begun when gods and godesses of new and old flood his realm to lobby for posession of the key to hell. Who will Sandman choose and how will he save Nada when a powerful demon holds her for ransom? "Seasons of Mists" is the best written and most exciting chapter in the Sandman collection and one of the best graphic novels I've ever read. If you're a Sandman fan you MUST read this book. read it!
I walked in Destiny's Garden... 2006-11-05
Highly disappointed with "Dream Country", I found myself a bit hesitant about opening the pages to this next chapter in possibly the most imaginative fictional character ever created. "Preludes & Nocturnes" made me salivate for more of Gaiman's creation, while "The Doll's House" set the foundation for future stories and possible interludes, but when it came to "Dream Country" I found myself taking several huge steps back. It followed a different beat, the characters were nowhere to be seen, and it felt like a colorful collection of short, un-compelling stories. I was hurt, and it took me quite a bit of time to open Gaiman's next chapter, but not to worry, my fears ended as I started to read the first few frames ... Gaiman was back, and no door was going to be closed for this next collection entitled, "Season of Mists"!
Gaiman has this unique ability to bring worlds of near non-parallel existence together in a way that we could never imagine. His darkness is back from the opening page when we meet one of his brothers - Destiny. What is great about this opening is that fans of Gaiman's previous chapters will instantly have satisfaction in knowing that the cold spell known as "Dream Country" is over, and we are pulled back into Dream's world. Gaiman re-introduces us to our heroine through his family, by introducing us to his sisters and brothers. While we do not know the purpose of the meeting, we see how the family (perhaps not unlike your own family) interact and co-exist. Like a glass of aged wine, the story progresses with comfort and ease, with Gaiman never quite giving us answers only leading us further down his darkened road. We see humility with our Master of Sleep, Sandman, when he is reminded of a past love that he sentenced to Hell ten thousand years ago. He wants her back, and due to the meeting (thanks to Destiny), he decides to get her back. Nearly reminiscent of "Preludes & Nocturnes", we head back to Hell, but this time, Lucifer himself has a trick up his sleeve.
Lucifer presents Sandman with the ultimate gift, the Keys of Hell, and it will be his decision on what to do with the "gift". What creates the meaty center of this epic tale are what choices the Sandman is presented with by each one of the possible suitors looking to inherit the keys to the almighty Kingdom. Gaiman intricately weaves different Gods from different myths and stories to give us such a vast universe of truths and legend. Gaiman grows the small world we began with into something extraordinary, a world with more open doors than one could ever imagine. We, the readers, are given hints towards the future, as to the strange occurrence of Dream's missing brother, the troubled love between him and Nada, as well as the angels that are determined to change Hell. Loki is even traded for a favor that I am sure Gaiman will explore later.
"Season of Mists" rebirths the excitement that was originally developed in the first two collections that introduced us to Dream. These stories are dark, disturbing, challenging, and utterly fantastical. There is an amazing blend (of which only Gaiman could create) of imagination, creativity, fantasy, and honesty within these stories that immediately pulled this skeptical reader back from the "Dream Country" void. The images are crisp, vibrant, and completely within the realm of this series - for those that couldn't enjoy "Dream Country", "Season of Mists" will bring you back to the world that you loved. Gaiman and his collection of illustrators bring us back to the world that we loved and missed with the last collection. The disturbing truth of Hell, the infinite life of Dream's family, as well as the colliding worlds around that all pine for a track of land to call their own. This collection opened a whole new world to the series, demonstrating that there is a world outside of our own that may have magic, but the undertones are very similar to ours. Sibling rivalry coupled with competitive land developers are just a few of the channels that Gaiman bring to us in "Season of Mists".
I haven't mentioned this in my other reviews yet, but I have to with this collection because it became more obvious to me as I read and saw Dream in each of the stories. I am an enormous fan of what Gaiman has chosen to do with this character - he has given Dream a constantly changing face. What I mean is that Gaiman always has new artists creating his work, thus providing us this true feeling of being in a dream where nothing remains the same. I love to see other's thoughts on what Dream may look like, and while we revert back to the "original" form to demonstrate consistency, it is these subtle changes that make these stories more enjoyable each time you turn the page. The Sandman may be only one person, but he wears many eccentric faces.
Overall, for those that felt that Gaiman fell off his stride in "Dream Country", you will not be disappointed with this outing. We go further into the mind of Gaiman to see his demons, his Gods, and his darkly religious undertones. What I loved about this collection is that while there is this idea of religion, Gaiman seems to bring it to us in all different shapes and sizes. There are Gods, but he skittles around the idea of one larger entity. I loved the idea of "Chaos" and "Order", and the shapes that they chose to take. I deeply enjoyed the poetic ending that seemed to bring purpose to it all - it seemed that Destiny did make an impact, even with just one small event. "Season of Mists" easily ranks as my second favorite in this series. While I do believe that there isn't one that could quite match the veracity of "Preludes and Nocturnes", this one comes very close. For anyone that wants to explore the world of Dream, I would use this as a reference due to the humanity of his character in these stories. He has a conflict, and it is how he chooses to deal with the issues that make him purely Gaiman. I was impressed from page one!
Grade: ***** out of *****
Angels, Demons, and School Bullies 2006-01-30
Guard your nipples against the corpse-ified bullies of yore: that's what I learned! No, seriously this is an AMAZING book. As if one twist in the middle of the book(after some well-built suspense) wasn't enough to make the story seem grandiose, another twist near the end comes along and makes it epic.
We return to an old character in this volume(which is genius, of course; cliffhangers SUCK!!) and meet a new one. The best thing is, you sympathize with ALL gaiman's characters(even the mischevious ones). And more references to mythology and even art are thrown in, as expected (watch Susano-o-makoto's expressions and poses).
Excellent volume, Mr. Gaiman! I'll get 5 on my next paycheck, but for now I'm working on American Gods!! :)
