American Gods-A Guide to the Gods Episodes 1& 2

Book cover art by: Robert E. McGinnis

*Before reading, know that spoilers will be forthcoming so read at your own risk if you have not yet watched the first two episodes of the show*

American Gods, the new series on Starz based on Neil Gaiman's book of the same name, is the best thing on TV. A bold statement but it is 100% true. Reading the book, there were times that my visual perception of the beautiful open roads of the Midwest made me feel sad and empty, yet cozy and engulfed in the fantastical mysteries that were unfolding before me. The show maintains that integrity with neon signs, roadside bars, strange shops, and dirty hotel rooms but they added a bit more blood and gore for the gratuitous among us. I absolutely love it.  Go watch it and if you don't love it, you already think I'm a freak for enjoying it, and I can live with that.

The gist of the plot: A man named Shadow Moon is released after serving 3 years in prison. Upon his return to the free world, he learns that life as he once knew it and the best-laid plans lined up when he got out, had been irrevocably changed when he learns his wife, Laura, had died in a car accident prior to his release. Shadow had a job lined up with his best friend Robbie, but learns he died in the same accident with Laura. He now had a sudden need for a job and a new start...again.

He meets an enigmatic man named Mr. Wednesday who provides a solution to these new holes in Shadow's life by offering him a job. Shadow accepts, drinks Wednesday's mead and thus begins the spiral into a new and surreal world...a world on the brink of an existential war between the old gods and the new gods. The old gods powers are waning as less people remember, worship, and fear them. The new gods of technology are gaining traction and are looking to eradicate the old gods from memory by making society more dependent on the technical age. A bit prophetic on the part of Gaiman since the novel was written in 1991 and presently almost everyone has a phone/computer glued to their person at all times. 

The show follows a three part format similar to the book:

Coming to America-The gods of the world came to America on Viking ships and slave boats. They came with the stories and the cultures of people from hundreds of places, over thousands of years. The gods were powerful then because they were worshiped and their people still prayed and sacrificed to them. In short, the gods were not only remembered and revered, they were feared and spoke of often.

Somewhere in America-Depicts the fate of the gods in modern times when they lose their relevance as a result of society finding more solace in technology than in dogma. Instead of being offered worship, gifts, and sacrifice, the forgotten gods are now found in seedy motel rooms, drunken brawls, and dead in ditches.

Present Day-A war is brewing between the old gods and the new gods. It follows Shadow's perception of the unbelievable turn his life has taken since getting our of prison and meeting Mr. Wednesday. Shadow, ever likable and mostly trustworthy, is important to the recruitment of old gods as he and Wednesday make their way through America pleading the case for war, the struggle to remain relevant, and the right for the gods to exist.


So who are these old gods we have seen so far in episodes 1 & 2? 

Odin: Mr. Wednesday didn't just choose this name because that was the day of week it happened to be when Shadow asked him. Wednesday comes from Wodensday, which was so named in Odin's honor. He is the All-father of the gods in Nordic mythology (like Zeus in Greek myth) and famously gave one of his eyes to drink the water of all wisdom. He is of the Aesir of Asgard which is located in the Tree of Life or Yggdrasil.He is a god of war first but also of magic, wisdom, and poetry. He has been known to be fickle in deciding outcomes for battles and often requires great human sacrifices in order to win his favor. He has two ravens, Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory) that scout the world over to bring information to Odin. He is the father of famous Nordic gods such as Thor, Baldur, and Hod. He is said to have sacrificed himself to himself in the Tree of Life or Yggdrasil, the ultimate sacrifice of a god to a god which only made him more gifted as a result.


Bilquis: aka Queen of Sheba (of Ethiopia), Makeda was a  biblical figure and rumored to be half human and half demon. It is the demon inside of her that was said to have a ravenous vagina. There are a lot of conflicting stories about her origins and life that vary from culture to culture. All agree, she was considered a powerful woman equal to any man. She was wise, entrancing, and magnetic. She may or may not have been a consort to  King Solomon, which resulted in a son. Bilquis in the book found her *worshippers* via prostitution. Bilquis on the show was empowered, sexual, and beautiful. A Goddess worthy of worship...men and women both were only too happy to be eaten by her vagina.

Loki: A Norse trickster who is both a friend and thorn to the Nordic gods. It is debated whether he is of the Aesir (like Odin, Thor, etc) or the Giants but I don't subscribe to the notion he is a god. God-like, perhaps but definitively a trickster in my humble opinion. Many of his tricks backfired and it always seemed one god or another was looking to blame or kill him for something. He seems to *right* his wrongs by causing more conflict and bargaining his life. He always narrowly escapes death with trickery or shape-shifting skills but eventually his deeds seal his terrible fate and start the beginning of the end of days known as  Ragnarok. The book and the show refer to Loki as Low-Key Lyesmith. He was a friend of Shadow's while they were both in prison.


Anansi: A west African trickster. He is a spider and like many mythical tricksters, he is also a shape-shifter.  He isn't a god but is a liaison to the sky god. He can be deceptive and tricky but is also wise, quick tempered, and a smooth talker similar to Loki of Nordic myth. According to my 8 year old son, Anansi doesn't like to share and likes to eat be invited to feasts so he can eat lots of food. He is invited to a feast by a turtle who tricks Anansi by bringing all the tasty food beneath the water where Anansi the spider can't get it. The book and the show will refer to Anansi as Mr. Nancy.


Mad Sweeney: Depending on the source, Mad Sweeney was a leprechaun that guarded an ancient rock in Ireland for thousands of years and his madness gave him power. In other stories, he is based on the legend of Buile Suibhne, or the Frenzy of Suibhne/Sweeney. Suibhne, is the son of the king of Dal Riada (a kingdom in northern Ireland) and is driven mad by a curse. In the book and show, despite the usual depiction of leprechauns as small creatures, Mad Sweeney is very tall. He is a drunk with a bad temper and is tethered to a gold coin that he accidentally gave Shadow after a bar fight. Shadow tosses it in his wife Laura's grave and the plot thickens as Mad Sweeney realizes getting the coin back will be no easy feat.


Zorya Sisters: The 3 Slavic goddesses charged with watching the chained dog in the stars that is always trying to escape and devour the constellation, Ursa Minor (the Bear). If this should happen, it will be the end of the world and the universe itself. The Zorya sisters are Utrennyaya, the morning star, Vechernyaya, the evening star, and Polunochnaya, the midnight star. In the book/show the sisters live with Czernobog in Chicago and in between their shifts, they earn money telling fortunes.

Czernobog: A Slavic god of death and darkness. Violence and chaos surround him. His name is Russian for *black god*. He is related to Bielebog the god of light and life who is opposite to Czernobog in every way. Sometimes they are considered two aspects of one person but this varies from story to story. In the book and show he lives in Chicago with the Zorya sisters and kills cattle with a sledge hammer for a living.
 

Spoilers-I want to revisit this in more detail at a later time but wanted to touch on it on a surface level but it may lead to some connections (i.e. parentage, etc.) that you might not want to make yet.

Shadow: I didn't actually know that Gaiman confirmed he had based Shadow on the Norse god, Baldur. A friend of mine read the novella, 'Monarch of the Glen,  a short sequel to 'American Gods' and she said it was confirmed in that story (which was published in a short story anthology by Neil Gaiman called 'Fragile Things'. While I have read several of the stories published in the anthology, that one surprisingly escaped me. So I was actually a little proud of myself that I made the *Shadow=Baldur* deduction on my own even if it wasn't generally a new idea. Granted, the idea came to me while reading Neil's version of 'Norse Mythology' and not from the more classic Nordic tales I have read, but I digress. While I was reading 'Norse Mythology'  I thought of Shadow whenever I read a Baldur tale, though I wasn't sure why. When I started to think about it, it made perfect sense. But I will revisit those ideas in a future post since this one is long enough already.

More guides to the gods and thoughts on the show/book to come as season one progresses (and I have the time to post about them). Feel free to expand past my brief descriptions too...there are so many wonderful stories, myths, and legends to explore.

Also, if you haven't already read Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods', you should.

Podcast #41: Neil Gaiman Reads 'A Christmas Carol' | The New York Public Library

Everyone know that I love Neil Gaiman. I also love Dickens "A Christmas Carol" and listening to Neil read my favorite Christmas story is as good as it gets. I always make the joke that I could listen to Neil read an insurance policy and love it and I am only half kidding. In addition to being one of my favorite authors, he also has a fantastic voice for telling stories. Neil's reading of  this classic Christmas story of redemption is no exception.

Neil Gaiman reading as Charles Dickens

 Podcast #41: Neil Gaiman Reads 'A Christmas Carol' | The New York Public Library: Neil Gaiman reads from the only surviving 'prompt' copy of the book, that is, Dickens's own annotated version used for live readings.

Do yourself a favor, get into the holiday spirit, and let Neil tell you a story.

Sandman Volume 2: The Doll's House Part 2

The Doll's House Continued...

Collectors
Any issue of Sandman which stars The Corinthian is sure to disturb. Collectors delivers on this front as we attend the 1st Annual Serial Killer Convention (disguised as a Cereal Convention as not to bring unwanted attention). Though this issue isn't quite as disturbing as 24 Hours from Preludes and Nocturnes, it still leaves that grimy feeling on your skin. In summary, the convention is organized by Mr. Nimrod, a self-righteous killer who collects the torsos of his victims. The guest of honor, The Family Man (also appears in Constantine series), is supposed to give a speech  and doesn't show up. The Corinthian who is in attendance (and also happens to have Rose Walker's brother Jed in his trunk), does the honor of giving the speech instead.  In the midst of the convention an undercover journalist posing as the Bogey Man is exposed by The Corinthian. As a result he, Mr. Nimrod, and someone known as The Doctor confront him, bring him to the woods and take turns torturing the man until he dies. Meanwhile Rose Walker and Gilbert (that we know is the rouge Fiddler's Green from the  Dreaming) happen to be staying at the same hotel that the serial killers are having their convention. She is told to stay in her room but gets restless and goes wandering. This causes her to get stalked by a pedophile serial killer known as Fun Land. When she goes to find Gilbert she finds a paper with the name Morpheus on it. When she returns to her room Fun Land tries to attack her but she calls Morpheus and he comes and saves her. Dream un-creates The Corinthian and Rose is reunited with Jed. Gilbert knows Rose calling Dream will have consequences but in the meantime, Dream leaves the serial killers with the final dream of seeing themselves for the monsters they really are.


Into the Night
 This is one of those very surreal issues that I always love best in The Sandman series.  It takes you through the lives of all of the strange tenants who live in the same building as Rose. Each subconscious desire is exposed through the secret life of dreams and sometimes it is just so sad. Rose is the dream vortex and she is a part of all of their dreams. She is essentially drawing everyone to her. All the tenants share common traits evident through their dreams. They are discontented and  they all wish to be (what they perceive) better and more fulfilled versions of themselves. Hal, the owner of the house, wants love, affection, and a strong identity. Couples lay side by side, and the differences between them is revealed in the surreal truth of their dreams. Ken might want power and wealth but Barbie wants a full and meaningful life. Chantel is self-obsessed and dreams of forgetting. She falls in love with a sentence while her girlfriend, Zelda, is insecure and dreams of her own fear of her mother's disapproval of her relationship. As the vortex, Rose, is potentially destroying the waking lives of her neighbors by revealing the superficial connections between them and the discontent within them. She stands over the welded dreams, lucid and aware. Dream sends Matthew Cable the Raven (a Dream resurrection from old issues of The Swamp Thing) to go to Gilbert at the hospital (he is with Rose's brother Jed) and explain to him that Rose is a Vortex and Dream must destroy her. Meanwhile, Unity Kincaid is dying (she was meant to be the Dream Vortex when she was raped in her comatose state by Desire during Dream's imprisonment so it passed down to her granddaughter Rose instead), as Rose's mother grieves and offers Rose Unity's doll house.  Dream finds Rose with dreams swirling all around her and stops her telling her they have to talk.


Lost Hearts

Dream takes Rose to a barren part of the Dreaming so the nature of her vortex can't overpower the environment. He explains to her what she is and that she must be destroyed to prevent madness and chaos from tearing the Dreaming apart and with it the minds and the waking lives of the people whose dreams have been siphoned together by the hungry vortex. Gilbert and Matthew return to the Dreaming and find Dream. Rose learns Gilbert was part of a dream known as Fiddler's Green until he went rogue during Dream's imprisonment and joined the mortal world. Though he understands how Morpheus must deal with a Dream Vortex, he pleads with Dream not to kill Rose and offers his life for hers since he will have to accept punishment for going rogue. Dream says it is necessary to kill Rose and opts not to punish Gilbert. Dream explains further that the Dreaming was once destroyed when he didn't kill the previous vortex and the results were catastrophic. He couldn't let that happen again (Sandman Overture tells this tale). Dream offers Rose a place in the Dreaming after he kills her but she understandably does not want to die. Elsewhere, Unity Kincaid passes away with her daughter Miranda at her side. Unity comes to the Dreaming to take Rose's place. She tells Rose she must reach inside herself to give up the part of herself that is the vortex. Rose pulls a red glass heart from her chest and gives it to Unity who declares she is now the Dream Vortex and it will die along with her. Dream confirms the dream vortex is gone and tells Rose he will help her brother Jed recover from his dream trauma. Rose says goodbye to Fiddler's Green and goes back to the real world. Rose lives a reclusive life when she returns but keeps in touch with Hal and he updates her on the other tenant's from the house they once shared. Eventually Rose changes her look and returns to her family. Meanwhile, Dream is furious with Desire and despite being forbidden to spill family blood (a guaranteed way to evoke the Furies) he confronts his sister/brother and warns that if he meddles in Morpheus' business again, Dream will take his chances and take his revenge. Desire, ever fickle, lets Dream's warning go in one ear and out the other.

The Doll's House, begins with sacrifice (Nada) and ends in sacrifice (Unity Kincaid). Life is as precious as it is disposable. Our anthropomorphic, anti-hero, Dream/Morpheus, exposes us as servants and masters of our astral landscapes. Our latent hopes & desires have the power to drive and/or destroy us. A balance is necessary so that we, like Neil Gaiman's rich and wonderful characters, can't be consumed by the vortex of wanting or taking too much. We are reminded that dreams without the grounding effects of reality can be the death of our potential.  As always, Neil Gaiman digs into our shadows and shows us the hard, untouchable truth of dreams and nightmares...even the waking ones. The Dreaming is very real.

As for me, I'm eternally thankful to Neil for constantly disturbing me and enlightening me.

The Sandman Volume 2: The Doll's House Part 1

'The Doll’s House (Volume 2)' was so rewarding when I went back for seconds! We see so many characters from ‘Preludes and Nocturnes’ that are more developed in The Doll's House. We get a sense of closure for Unity Kincaid. We learn more about Lyta Hall and the fate of her son. We understand why Nada was condemned to Hell (remember Dream’s conversation with her in ‘A Hope in Hell’?). We also see more of Morpheus’ rogue creations, Corinthian, Brute & Glob, and Fiddler’s Green. We are formally introduced to more of The Endless, Desire and his/her twin sister, Despair.  In the layers of this surreal reality and dream vortexes things are ancient, things are modern, things are mystical, and things are mythological. Most of the time, all at once.

Clive Barker wrote an incredible intro to ‘The Doll’s House’ that sums up my feelings after reading it far better than I ever could.  He writes: “Mr. Gaiman is one of those adventurous creators who sees no reason why his tales shouldn’t embrace slapstick comedy, mystical musings, and the grimmest collection of serial killers on this side of Death Row. He makes this combination work because he has a comprehensive knowledge of the medium and knows where its strengths lie. He also—and this is infinitely more important than being a Comic Brat—a point of view about the world which he uses the anarchic possibilities of the medium to express. After all, where can the glorious, the goofy, and the godlike stand shoulder to shoulder? If the sheer profusion of these inventions and the apt absurdity of the juxtapositions puts you in the minds of your more heated dreams, then surely that’s what Mr. Gaiman intends. Forget what’s written on the title page. Hero and author are here synonomys. For the time you spend in these pages, Mr. Gaiman is the Sandman. And look, he just brought you a Dream.”


Tales in the Sand
A boy goes into the desert with an elder for a rite of passage ritual. The boy finds a piece of glass that was once a part of an ancient empire. The elder tells the story of Queen Nada and her doomed relationship with Kai’ckul, an African manifestation of Morpheus. She seeks him out through a Weaverbird who brings her a berry from a Sun-tree which is rumored to bring one to the side of their true love if ingested. This brings her to the Dreamworld. She confessed her love and learns he loves her too but also understands to be with him is the destruction of her kingdom, its people. She tries to stop him from wanting her by destroying her maidenhead with a rock. He is not deterred by this saying he isn’t a mortal and her virtue means nothing. He heals her and they give in to each other in a lovely,  yet melancholy way, Gaiman writes: ‘Then he took her hand and drew her into the darkness of his robe, and there, in the flames and the darkness, they made Love. All that night they stayed together, and every living thing that dreamed, dreamed that night of her face, and of her body, and of the warm, salt taste of her sweat and her skin...and every living thing that could dream dreamed of Love.’ Nada knows that this union was not meant to be so when the Sun sent a flare that destroyed her glass city, she takes this as punishment for their union and rejects the Dream-Lord’s offer of love and marriage by throwing herself off a cliff. Morpheus condemns her to Hell for this rebuke and this sheds light on their history when he sees her again in ‘A Hope in Hell’ and tells her he still loves her but does not forgive her.

The Doll's House
We open with the introduction to Dream's younger brother/sister Desire and his twin sister Despair. We learn that Desire tried to bring Morpheus down using Nada which backfired. Now Desire learns that a dream vortex has been discovered and that it is a woman. A dream vortex is when a mortal has the ability to bring dreams together which breaks down minds of dreamers and threatens the entire Dreaming and the universe. Killing a vortex is a necessary evil and it is the only time Morpheus is permitted to spill human blood.  Remember Unity Kincaid? She was supposed to be the next dream vortex but never got the chance because she was effected by the 'Sleepy Sickness' that swept the world during Dream's imprisonment. She essentially slept her life away and while she was sleeping Desire raped her and impregnated her. Since she didn't become the vortex the gene was passed to her lost daughter Miranda. Miranda's daughter and Unity's granddaughter, Rose Walker, became the dream vortex. This was an attempt by Desire to provoke Morpheus into spilling family blood which would cause the Furies to kill him. It is unclear why Desire has such a vendetta against Dream but it could be related to the fickle foundation of desire itself.

Moving In
Miranda stays with her mother Unity while Rose goes home to find her brother Jed who she has not seen since he was five years old. When their parent's split up their father took Jed and they became estranged. When their father died Jed was sent to live with his grandfather and when he died, he was sent to live with his abusive and cruel aunt and uncle, where he is locked in a basement like an animal. Rose Walker moves into an apartment complex and lives with a variety of colorful tenants that include a 'too normal' couple called  who seem strange to her at first. This is where she meets Gilbert, a kindly overweight man who takes a liking to Rose and becomes protective over her. We later learn this is Fiddlers Green, one of the 4 rogue creations that left the Dreaming during Dream's imprisonment. Meanwhile, we learn Jed loses his mind in the horror of his situation and his mind is vulnerable and becomes occupied by two other of Dream's rogue creations, Brute and Glob.

Playing House
Jed's mind is occupied by two of Dream's rogue creations, Brute and Glob. Jed prefers this fantasy dream world since he can fly and is part of a better family with Hector and Lyta Hall. Brute and Glob are the "assistants" to Hector Hall who they have created into their version of the 'Sandman'.  Lyta Hall who is pregnant, is not exactly aware that she is trapped in a dream walled inside Jed's mind. She is the wife of the 'Sandman' and while he is out fighting nightmares, she lives her life unable to explain how strange her current situation is or why she hasn't had her baby yet. She feels as though she has been 6 months pregnant for so long. Dream arrives to confront Hector and Brute and Glob.  He admires B&G's efforts to cut Jed from the dream world in an effort to create a powerful dream capable of destroying the Dreaming. B&G are condemned to an unlimited sentence that promises to punish them for centuries. While Dream finds the other 'Sandman' amusing he destroys him. This battle with Hector causes the death of Jed's cruel Aunt and Uncle, frees Jed from the occupants of his mind, and frees Lyta Hall who is then able to have her baby. Dream announces that the child is of the Dreaming and someday he will be back to claim it. This naturally infuriates Lyta, who vows it will never happen.

Men of Good Fortune
I imagine that when this came out as a single issue, readers may have been like WTF!?!?, especially after the strong finish and potential continuum of Playing House. Reading it as part of a volume though was fantastic and quite possibly, one of my favorite issues overall. Hob Galding, is at a tavern called Inn at the White Horse. It is the late 14th century England; Hob has recently fought in the 100 Years War and has seen many of his people die of the Plague yet he doesn't believe in death. He says it is a habit that people do because they have always done it. Death herself is amused by this and brings Dream to hear Hob talk about it his views about death. They agree to give Hob eternal life with the condition they meet at that tavern every 100 years to check in. Over the centuries, Hob has suffered horrible losses and has made choices that were morally questionable but every time Dream asks him if he wants to die, Hob exclaims jovially, "No, there is too much to live for!"

Cool things I listen to (and so should you) Part 2

I love to read books. I also realize that for many of us, we find ourselves in the consuming vortex of our busy lives. There is enough to do with work, family, friends, and all the joys and obligations that come with them; we may have even stopped trying to make time to read.

Though I still make time to read actual books, audiobooks allow me to "read" more. I have an iPhone and love the Audiobooks app (there are others but this one is my preference). For $14.99 a month I get a credit for a book of my choice. Once I use the credit for my book with my paid subscription, I get to keep it even if I cancel my subscription. There is also a bunch of free books that you can listen to without a paid subscription. You can get free audiobooks from the local library too, of course. Books on CD/tape may not be as portable these days but are still a viable option and perfect for long car rides. 

I am into the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre of books. More Fantasy than Sci/Fi as you may notice from the list below. If you are interested in Fantasy here is a list of my personal recommendations:

'Game of Thrones' by George R.R. Martin read by Roy Dotrice. The first of 7 planned books in a epic series called 'A Song for Ice and Fire'. I recommend reading these books too but if you find that Martin's tomes seem too voluminous, let Roy Dotrice tell you a story.  He will take you through the war-torn world of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and to the  faraway lands still trying to get there. There will be honor, intrigue, & death but there is hope sometimes too. I'm not going  to say the 'ASOIAF' series is always easy but it is definitely worth it. Follow this up with next four published books in the series,  'Clash of Kings', 'A Storm of Swords', 'A Feast for Crows', and 'A Dance with Dragons'. All are read by Dotrice who epitomizes how an epic story should be narrated. I've given up on many audiobooks due to lackluster narrators.  Roy Dotrice won't disappoint!

'The Lies of Locke Lamora' by Scott Lynch read by Michael Page. The first of several planned books called The Gentleman Bastards series (3 of which are currently published). This is a great listen, fast paced and exciting in the vein of Ocean's 11 but in a post-medieval fictional landscape. Our protagonists, The Gentleman Bastards, are a society of educated thieves that work together in a long, dangerous cons. The story will keep you on edge. Michael Page brings the world of Camorr to life with his dramatic and humorous narration. Follow this up with 'Red Seas Under Red Skies' and 'A Republic of Thieves'.

 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss read by Nick Podehl.The first of a trilogy called The Kingkiller Chronicles (2 of which are currently published). I read this book right before listening to it which I don't usually do. At first, I couldn't get into the narrator Nick Podehl. His voice was, I don't know...Bland?  Eventually the story consumed me and I soon found his narration acceptable though it took some getting used to. That said, I still highly recommend it. This is a story about secret names. It is a story about Kvothe, a legend by way of perception, as he tells his life story to a Chronicler. Follow this up with a 'A Wise Man's Fear'.

'American Gods' (the tenth anniversary edition) by Neil Gaiman read by Dennis Boutsikaris, Neil Gaiman, and a Full Cast  I don't think there is enough great things I can say about this audiobook. 'American Gods' is in my top 10 books of all time right up there with 'ASOIAF'. Do yourself a favor and make sure you listen to the full cast version. It really is a treasure and Neil Himself reads the 'Coming to America' parts. I love this production so much. It is a story about the Old Gods (the mythological ones that are weakened due to lack of worship) versus the New Gods (the technology age that wants you to be consumed by things like television and phones). 

The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes-Volume 1

*SPOILERS* 
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After being dazzled by the artwork in 'The Sandman Overture', I was initially a bit put off by the artwork in Preludes & Nocturnes. To be fair, before reading Overture, it had been more than 10 years since I had last opened a Sandman comic. Since P&N picked up where the polished masterpiece Overture left off, it was not hard to notice the choppy rhythm of the storytelling at the comic's  inception. Neil Gaiman Himself admits to that. The momentum builds of course, and my eyes even adjust to the early art work style again as I begin to enjoy the descent into the astral playground. Though each issue has its gems, my favorites are (in no particular order): A Hope in Hell, The Sound of Her Wings, and 24 Hours. My overall grade (1-10): 8

Sleep of the Just-Roderick Burgess, a loosely based version of the occultist Aleister Crowley, traps Dream during a summoning ritual and strips him of his dream talismans (A pouch of dream sand, a helm, and a ruby) before locking him in a special glass cell. The world is in chaos, plagued by a "sleepy sickness" that makes people sleep their lives away. Burgess, obsessed with conquering Death, dies of old age and his prisoner is passed to his son, Alex. Alex doesn't really want the burden but doesn't know what else to do with Dream. Dream escapes after many decades but is weakened by his imprisonment and in need of his tools which were all lost over the years in a variety of destructive ways. Perhaps it is Dream's resemblance to Gaiman that enhances this but there is something very sexy about a naked Dream breaking free of his captivity and releasing his wroth in all it's splendor. He makes sure to curse his captor (Alex Burgess) to a horrible fate of constantly waking from a nightmare before beginning his search for his lost dream tools.

Imperfect Hosts-Dream now also referred to Morpheus,  goes back to find his realm, The Dreaming, in ruin because of his absence. Dream consults with the Kindly Ones (or insert synonymous name), the mythological equivalent to the goddesses of vengeance, in order to learn more on the whereabouts of his talismans. He is granted one question from each of them and this leads him to seek John Constantine, the last known possessor of the dream sand pouch. I didn't particularly love this issue as a whole but did enjoy the banter with the goddesses, because who doesn't? Truthfully, I could have done without the Batman/Justice League cameo. Not because I don't like Batman or the JLA, but because I just don't see them as making sense in Dream's particular universe.

Dream a Little Dream of Me- This issue parallels the effects of addiction, and though it was gruesome, it was also quite sad.  Dream searches for the pouch of Dream Sand with help from John Constantine, who is expecting him after being made aware of his return by Mad Hettie. They find it with Rachel, John's ex-girlfriend who has been consumed by the "joys" of dream dust. She is wasting away and has completely stopped eating and drinking. Dream, at John's plea, gives Rachel death and an beautiful endless dream. John also asks to be free of his own perpetual nightmare.  The issue ends with John walking away singing, "Mr. Sandman, bring me at dream..." It has an eerie effect. The dream/nightmare sequences in this issue are surreal, confusing, sad, and exactly what you would expect if you were looking through a window of someone Else's darkness.

The very sad effects of becoming addicted to dreams.

A Hope in Hell-This issue was my absolute favorite. Dream has to defeat the demon Choronson to get his helm back and they have some of the best battle banter EVER! Since Choronson came to possess the helm in a fair exchange, the battle style would be his to choose and he chooses Reality, thinking this is not Dream's strong suit, especially in his weakened state. A battle of wits ensues as they both try to be the bigger idea that devours the other. In the final "battle" Choronson, thinks he has Dream beat as he declares himself the "anti-life, the end of everything..." When Dream makes his move, he declares "he is hope" and knows that he has won. Hope can conquer anything as long as it isn't lost.

Dream's victory puts him on Lucifer's crap list and he promises one day he will destroy him. Dream, always one for a dramatic farewell, puts a little perspective on things as he exits Hell and leaves some harsh parting words to the sea of damned souls. 

Passengers-John Dee (Doctor Destiny) escapes Arkham Asylum after his mother Ethel Cripps (the once mistress of Rod Burgess who ran away with his bestie/partner), gave him a certain gift of protection. He then carjacks a woman named Rosemary at gunpoint forcing her to drive him to claim the ruby that had once belonged to Morpheus. Meanwhile, Dream is also on his way to get his ruby back. When he finds it, he has a bad reaction to it since Doctor Dee had altered the ruby during his previous possession making it so he was the only one who could use it. Dee calls the ruby a Metriopticon and he uses it to control dreams and the minds and actions of other people. Doctor Dee thanks the kindly Rosemary for the ride with a bullet in her head, and thus begins his psychotic rampage.  There is a brief cameo by Scarecrow (an inmate at Arkham with Dee) in this issue. It didn't bother me nearly as much as the appearance of Batman and the Justice League in 'Imperfect Hosts'. That being said, I am still not a huge fan of merging that aspect of DC Universe in this story.

24 Hours-This issue should have come with a warning. It is the most terrifying story in Preludes & Nocturnes. This is the stuff nightmares are made of. I read this one through a couple of times and was more unsettled each time. I loved it.

It takes place in a diner where a waitress, a secret writer who creates alternate stories for all her regular patrons, notes a stranger sitting quietly at one of the tables. This is of course, Doctor Dee. Using the ruby, or Metriopticon as Dee calls it, he begins to bend the patrons minds to his "amusement" and the entropy begins. The next 24 hours are documented in a journalistic style with each hour more horrific than the last. Dee is a malignant narcissist and takes great pleasure in controlling the patrons into complete devotion for him.  He is bringing the madness out of everyone and they are killing, raping, and confessing. They are the darkest parts of themselves. A lot can happen in 24 hours. Dream arrives at the end of the macabre and walks through the gruesome scene of decapitated heads, entrails, and mutilation and confronts Dee.

They worship him and carry him around like he just scored the winning point in a game.

In a ridiculous display of consideration, Dee licks a finger cut off in sacrifice, as not to seem an ungracious god.

Sound and Fury-We open with the world gone mad, an Armageddon that most people don't anticipate in their doomsday prepping. Doctor Dee and the ruby are wreaking real havoc in the world. Dee seems surprised to learn that the fire in the heart of the ruby is Dream's soul and realizes how weak Morpheus must be without it.  Still, Dream challenges Dee, declaring that since Dee has stolen a thing of Dreams that he will have to battle him in the Dreaming. Once in the Dreamworld Dee is a bit disoriented by the surreal landscape and distracting visions. He eventually gets his wits about him and remembers he is there to kill Morpheus. A brief appearance of Dream's brother Destiny "afraid to turn the page" is exceptionally placed. In Dee's arrogance he taunts Morpheus with the ruby's power and in his effort to kill Dream breaks the ruby in his hand.  He thinks he has succeeded but finds himself small and defeated in the hand of Morpheus. Neither Dee or Dream anticipated that when the ruby broke, Dream's full power would be unleashed and returned to him. Morpheus takes pity on Dee understanding the power the ruby had on his mind and also because if it weren't for Dee shattering the ruby, he may have never came into his full potential again. Instead of killing Dee, he returns him to Arkham Asylum.

The Sound of Her Wings-After Morpheus regains his power, he falls into a depression. His sister Death comes to visit him in a park where he is feeding pigeons and brooding. Dream laments about how empty he feels now that he has succeeded in getting his tools back. Death listens patiently while he speaks and when he is finished she gives him a crack over the head and tells him to snap out of it. As 1 of 5 siblings, I have experienced similar conversations with my siblings and I just loved how normal this conversation was all things anthropomorphic considered. Dream also explains that when he was captured by Burgess, that it was her he was really after. She knows this and they both know that things would have gone far worse if Burgess had succeeded in her capture. Dream accompanies his sister as she tends to her "responsibilities" and is grateful for the perspective Death has given him. The introduction to Death in this issue is a bubbly and friendly treat (and a perfect way to end P&N.)

Cool things I listen to (and so should you) Part 1

In my long spans of transport to my workplace destination it is essential that I find meaningful ways to pass my time. Audiobooks and podcasts are my roadway companions and help me squeeze in so many awesome stories I might not have time to read otherwise. If you are looking for a great way to pass your time on the road here are my recommendations:

 

Beneath Ceaseless Skies is not only a great podcast, it is also a great literary online magazine that has been nominated for a Hugo award several times.  What I like best about this podcast is that the featured short story is usually told in less than an hour. Great for my commute as my ride is one hour to work and one hour home. Sometimes I can squeeze 3 stories into one day. Obviously, some stories are much better than others but recently I have listened to the following gems: "A Salvaging of Ghosts" by Aliette de Bodard (I also recommend listening to "The Breath of War" by the same author), "Whale Oil" by Sylvia Victor Linsteadt, and "The Sweetest Skill" by Tony Pi.

The Loaded Couch is a fun variety show that talks about a lot of the things I love: beer, movies, TV shows, video games, and general nonsense. You can always count on these guys to talk intelligently without taking themselves to seriously. They keep me on top of what's new in the video game/console world while making me laugh at the same time.  There are 5 guys on the cast and they have a great dynamic. I especially enjoy the host-with-the-most, ScotchHound. He is so articulate in his opinions and provides meaningful insight, not to mention he is a total babe. He is also my husband but I would think that even if he wasn't.

Tales to Terrify is nothing short of a treasure trove of fantastic stories. You can reach in again and again over a span of years, and you just never know what kind jewel you will get. Over the last few weeks, they have been posting the short stories currently nominated for a 2016 Bram Stoker Award. So far the featured nominees include: "Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers" by Alyssa Wong, "The Algernon Effect" by Gene O'Neill, and my personal favorite, "Sing Me Your Scars" by Damien Angelica Walters.  Not to say the others weren't worthy nominees, I really loved Alyssa Wong's story as well but "Sing Me Your Scars" just captured the essence of what I love in a good horror tale at it's most classic.

History of Westeros is basically a podcast hosted by a couple of superfans obsessed with George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series.  Naturally I love it.  Some of the shows can be a little long winded (2 hours or more) but they also have a great cache of shorter episodes. The hosts clearly do their research and love getting carried away talking about the series. Another thing we have in common. I am always up for a good theorycrafting and predictive analysis and there is plenty of that to go around in this podcast for the ASOIAF obsessed.

The Wicked Library is another treasure chest full of scary/strange little stories.  As a huge fan of The Twilight Zone, this podcast played on all the things I find pleasing.  Listening to TWL gives me a sense of nostalgia, like tuning into an old radio show. There are so many more stories worth listening to but I definitely recommend listening to: "The Screenplay" by Chuck Rakiecz, Et al, "Christmassacre" by Various Authors (there are a few of these), and "Wicked Things" featuring Neil Gaiman's, "The Price" (as well as stories by Daniel Foytik and Nelson W. Pyles). 

Just because it's awesome, here is some great cover art

I will follow this post up with a recommended audio book listening list. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and go subscribe to these awesome podcasts. You may even thank me for one or two of them. :)

My Dreamy Review of The Sandman: Overture

In the 90’s I was introduced to the music of Tori Amos and awakened a part of myself I never realized was sleeping. Her “Little Earthquakes” album is a confessional masterpiece as relevant to me now as it ever has been.  I remember listening to Tori’s lyrics and obsessively trying to decipher references that made absolutely no sense to me. These were the early days before the full potential of the internet was realized; there was no Google search bar for me to enter, “If you need me, me and Neil’ll be hangin’ out with DreamKing.”

Who was Neil? Who was the DreamKing? I would have to know that. 

Through interviews, CD inserts, and any other media I could get my hands on, I discovered Tori’s friend Neil Gaiman. He wrote a comic book series released by Vertigo (a DC subsidiary) called 'The Sandman'. I would, at Tori’s reverence, follow Neil down a rabbit hole that I have not yet found my way out of almost 20 years later.  

I started, apprehensively, with The Sandman. I wanted to love it because a comic book about a DreamKing and his anthropomorphic siblings known as the Endless (Destiny, Death, Dream Desire, Despair, Destruction, and Delight/Delirium) was an intriguing concept to me. I didn’t have high hopes of becoming a superfan since my respect for the graphic novel far surpasses my interest in the genre as a whole. Then it happened, I was fiercely entrenched. I had finally found my piece of the comic genre and it was wonderful.

Fast forward to present day and Gaiman is still telling me stories. Over the years, 'Neverwhere', 'American Gods', 'Ocean at the End of the Lane' (to name a few) have seasoned my literary palate for supernatural realism. Neil’s prose is unpretentious, yet fantastical. Harvesting a kitten from the earth in Neil’s world seems as possible as harvesting a ripe tomato from your  backyard garden. I love that I can share some of his stories with my 7 year old too. 'Fortunately, the Milk' and 'Coraline' are treasures to children’s literature and my son Jonas and I are both looking forward to our next Gaiman installment, 'The Graveyard Book'.

Recently, my superfriend/neighbor, lent me his copy of 'The Sandman: Overture', a prequel story (of sorts) that leads up to Dream’s capture by mortals and his imprisonment at the beginning of the original series. 

I began and devoured this masterpiece on a night that seemed made for a read like this...I even Tweeted about it and this awesome thing happened:   

In dreams and nightmares, there is hope and hope lost, there is confusion and clarity, there is happy endings and tragedy.  I had forgotten how terrifying and beautiful The Dreaming could be. Overture brought this to life in a unprecedented way with the illustrations by J. H. Williams III (artist) & Dave Stewart (color). I won’t pretend that I am an expert on comic art styles but I can say with humble certainty, that 'The Sandman: Overture' is more fine art than it is comic, though it is definitely that too. Neil’s gifted story tendrils weave themselves through the illustrations and together they create a dazzling transport into the astral plane. 

I have decided to keep going from Overture and follow 'The Sandman' through again.  After all, it was nice to see the Corinthian, Merv Pumpkinhead, and The Endless again. Things always get interesting when the mad stars are out.