Sandman fans should feel lucky that master fantasy writer NeilGaiman discovered the mythical world of Japanese fables while researching his translation of Hayao Miyazaki's film Princess Mononoke. At the same time, while preparing for the Sandman 10th anniversary, he met Yoshitaka Amano, his artist for the 11thSandman book. Amano is thefamed designer of the Final Fantasy game series. The product of Gaiman's immersion in Japanese art, culture, and history, Sandman: Dream Hunters is a classic Japanese tale (adapted from "The Fox, the Monk, and the Mikado of All Night's Dreaming") that he has subtly morphed into his Sandman universe. Like most fables, the story begins with a wager between two jealous animals, a fox and a badger: which of them can drive a young monk from his solitary temple? The winner will make the temple into a new fox or badger home. But as the fox adopts the form of a woman to woo the monk from his hermitage, she falls in love with him. Meanwhile, in far away Kyoto, the wealthy Master of Yin-Yang, the onmyoji, is plagued by his fears and seeks tranquility in his command of sorcery. He learns of the monk and his inner peace; he dispatches demons to plague the monk in his dreams and eventually kill him to bring his peace to the onmyoji. The fox overhears the demons on their way to the monk and begins her struggle to save the man whomat first she so envied.Dream Hunters is a beautiful package. From the ink-brush painted endpapers to the luminous page layouts--including Amano's gate-fold painting of Morpheus in a sea of reds, oranges, and violets--this book has been crafted for a sensuous reading experience. Gaiman has developed as a prose stylist in the last several years with novels and stories such as Neverwhere and Stardust, and his narrative rings with a sense of timelessness and magic that gently sustains this adult fairy tale. The only disappointment here is that the book is so brief. One could imagine this creative team being even better suited to a longer story of more epic proportions. On the final page of Dream Hunters, in fact, Amano suggest that he will collaborate further with Mr. Gaiman in the future. Readers of Dream Hunters will hope that Amano's dream comes true. --Patrick O'Kelley
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Sandman fans should feel lucky that master fantasy writer Neil Gaiman discovered the mythical world of Japanese fables while researching his translation of Hayao Miyazaki's film Princess Mononoke. At the same time, while preparing for the Sandman 10th anniversary, he met Yoshitaka Amano, his artist for the 11th Sandman book. Amano is the famed designer of the Final Fantasy game series. The product of Gaiman's immersion in Japanese art, culture, and history, Sandman: Dream Hunters is a classic Japanese tale (adapted from "The Fox, the Monk, and the Mikado of All Night's Dreaming") that he has subtly morphed into his Sandman universe.
Like most fables, the story begins with a wager between two jealous animals, a fox and a badger: which of them can drive a young monk from his solitary temple? The winner will make the temple into a new fox or badger home. But as the fox adopts the form of a woman to woo the monk from his hermitage, she falls in love with him. Meanwhile, in far away Kyoto, the wealthy Master of Yin-Yang, the onmyoji, is plagued by his fears and seeks tranquility in his command of sorcery. He learns of the monk and his inner peace; he dispatches demons to plague the monk in his dreams and eventually kill him to bring his peace to the onmyoji. The fox overhears the demons on their way to the monk and begins her struggle to save the man whom at first she so envied.
Dream Hunters is a beautiful package. From the ink-brush painted endpapers to the luminous page layouts--including Amano's gate-fold painting of Morpheus in a sea of reds, oranges, and violets--this book has been crafted for a sensuous reading experience. Gaiman has developed as a prose stylist in the last several years with novels and stories such as Neverwhere and Stardust, and his narrative rings with a sense of timelessness and magic that gently sustains this adult fairy tale. The only disappointment here is that the book is so brief. One could imagine this creative team being even better suited to a longer story of more epic proportions. On the final page of Dream Hunters, in fact, Amano suggest that he will collaborate further with Mr. Gaiman in the future. Readers of Dream Hunters will hope that Amano's dream comes true. --Patrick O'Kelley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
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 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
By Aaron Dawe
Format:Hardcover
Sandman: The Dream Hunters is a gorgeously illustrated graphic novel. During research into the myths of Japan while working on the english script for the film Princess Mononoke, Gaiman came across a story that would make an interesting take on the Sandman. The story of a shape-changing fox falling in love with a monk is the typical, bittersweet fantasy that Gaiman excels at. The ease into which he fits the Sandman milieu in this ancient story is to his credit as a writer and the archetypes on which the tales are based. He easily makes us believe that the Endless has always existed and are behind the scenes in mythos from every part of the world. You could call it a fairy tale for adults. But it is Amano's breath taking paintings that really make this book great. These paintings make the story come alive on the page and create a sense of past and wonder that could only be hinted at with words alone. It is unlike anything done before in Sandman or anything I've seen in Japanese manga. Truly a work of art.
Format:Hardcover
A stand alone entry in the world of Sandman graphic novels, this lovely piece is a pleasure to read. The story, based on a Japanese folktale, drags on somewhat in the labored way of folk and fairy tales, but it's mainly a framework for the real star here, which is the artwork. This is one I pull out occasionally and flip through just to see the pictures again. Lovely.
By Jean Huets
Format:Paperback
The illustrations and story perfectly balance, both exquisite, haunting and beautiful. I've read through the story, looking at the illustrations on the way. I've also leafed through the book just to pore over the art, with the story in mind, knowing that more details will emerge with each study. Usually, you have to go to children's lit for this caliber of picture book; finally, here's a fully realized picture book for people who have experienced a bit more of life. I only wish it had been produced in a bigger size.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Did you know?
The story isnt't actually based on a Japanese tale, Gaiman made it up.
Published on Jan 28 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
an outstanding entry
a lyrical, haunting fairy tale. this is the perfect introduction to neil gaiman's world. it's a stand-alone, so the reader needn't be scared off by a whole series, and it's a... Read more
Published on Jan 29 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Realm of the Fox
I found this book while searching for Yoshitaka Amano's illustrations. One of the most notable of living Japanese illustrators, he is still much under-represented in American... Read more
Published on Oct 18 2002 by Marc Ruby™
4.0 out of 5 stars
a good piece........
Adapted from a Japanese folktale, this collaboration involving Neil Gaiman of Sandman fame ought to please most enthusiasts of that now-classic series. Read more
Published on May 20 2002 by "mqz77"
5.0 out of 5 stars
a very adult fairy tale with very pretty pictures
Gaiman is at his best in this droll folky/fairy tale for adults --- while this is not ADULT in terms of content, I really think a lot of the more subtle aspects would be lost on... Read more
Published on Dec 26 2001 by Stephen Richmond
2.0 out of 5 stars
Eh...
Gaiman plus Amano? Hells, yes! *Brilliant* idea! Really, it's such a perfect match that it's a wonder that it actually, you know, happened. Read more
Published on Sep 9 2001 by GeoX
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but not to die for
so this book was great and very endearing story, I don't know if I would tell the casual reader to spend 20 dollars on a book that they will finish in twenty-thirty minutes though. Read more
Published on Aug 7 2001 by bookmage
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I expected
This book had absolutely gorgeous artwork, and is well worth the price for that reason alone. However, I found the story to be lacking something. Read more
Published on Jun 5 2001 by J. Hendricks
5.0 out of 5 stars
an inadequate comment from Japan
I'm a big Amano-san fan.This book reminds me of Koizumi Yakumo's(aka Lafcadio Hearn) horror tales.Amano-san and the Sandman made a pleassant(??)combination!
Published on Dec 8 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dream Hunters
From the first few words of this story, you are immediatley taken away. The wonderful way that Gaiman has written this tale, and the beautiful artwork by Amano create one of the... Read more
Published on Nov 17 2000 by Crystal Toulouse
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