The definitive exploration of the Sandman mythology. Neil Gaiman"s "Sandman" is a phenomenon - a mass-circulation comic book that caught and held the attention of serious readers. Besides its mass appeal, "The Sandman" has long interested students and teachers in myriad disciplines, and they have begun sharing their reactions by writing analytical essays. This book gathers some of the best of this criticism, mostly by young scholars and all written in readable, jargon-free language. The book contains 12 wide-ranging essays of criticism, exploration, and appreciation. The first half of the book addresses aspects of "Sandman" more or less in order of publication and the individual essays discuss particular "Sandman" episodes or story arcs, such as "A Midsummer Night"s Dream," "The Kindly Ones," and "Ramadan." The second half widens the net and examines Gaiman"s Sandman stories in relation to Gaiman"s other work and work by other writers - such as Jorge Luis Borges"s...