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Reviews

Gaiman's enormously successful Sandman monthly comic book (1989-96), which won eight Eisner awards in a row for comic book excellence, has been collected in a series of equally successful graphic novels. This book, representing Gaiman's first Sandman story in three years, retells Japanese folk tale "The Fox, the Monk, and the Mikado of All Night's Dreaming." The central characters are the Fox and the Monk, and the Sandman only plays a peripheral role. The book isn't really a graphic novel, as there are roughly 60 pages of typed prose and 60 pages of illustrations. It is an illustrated novel that remains true to both the Japanese tale and the motifs that made the Sandman series so popular. The illustrations are reminiscent of Japanese brush work and gently push the text along. Not the best first Sandman purchase for any library, this book is a necessary purchase if your patrons are Sandman readers, or if your world folk tales collection needs strengthening--Stephen Weiner, Maynard P.L., MA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

YA-Gaiman's "Sandman" series (Vertigo) was complete when he became interested in giving new voice to the Japanese tale of "The Fox, the Monk, and the Mikado of All Night's Dreaming." Working with a Japanese painter, he has produced a book that breathes an ethereal but entrancing air of could-have-been. The wise monk of the story is able to repel tricksters and dole out sage advice, but he is not above falling in love and having to face his own fate. The narrative unfolds in full and half pages, with the accompanying watercolor illustrations filling whole pages and two-page spreads. Amano's brush provides both impressionistic imagery and more realistic sketches of the characters, events, and emotions of the fairy tale. Not only will this book appeal to fans of Gaiman's graphic novels, but total newcomers will also delight in discovering a compelling folklorist. Amano's illustrations are sophisticated, and teens will enjoy their elaboration of this retelling.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.