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The Sandman cover art

The Sandman

Written by: Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs
Narrated by: Riz Ahmed, Kat Dennings, Taron Egerton, Neil Gaiman, James McAvoy, Samantha Morton, Bebe Neuwirth, Andy Serkis, Michael Sheen
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Publisher's Summary

Please note: This content is not for kids. It is for mature audiences only. Just like the original graphic novels, this audio adaptation contains explicit language and graphic violence, as well as strong sexual content and themes. Discretion is advised.

Hailed by the Los Angeles Times Magazine as “the greatest epic in the history of comic books”, The Sandman changed the game with its dark, literary world of fantasy and horror - creating a global, cultural phenomenon in the process. At long last, Audible and DC present the first-ever audio production of the New York Times best-selling series written by acclaimed storyteller Neil Gaiman (who also serves as co-executive producer). Adapted and directed by multi-award-winner (and frequent Gaiman collaborator) Dirk Maggs, and performed by an ensemble cast with James McAvoy (It, Parts One and Two, X-Men: First Class, Split) in the title role, this first installment of a multi-part original audio series will transport you to a world that re-writes the rules of audio entertainment the way that The Sandman originally re-defined the graphic novel.

When The Sandman, also known as Lord Morpheus - the immortal king of dreams, stories and the imagination - is pulled from his realm and imprisoned on Earth by a nefarious cult, he languishes for decades before finally escaping. Once free, he must retrieve the three “tools” that will restore his power and help him to rebuild his dominion, which has deteriorated in his absence. As the multi-threaded story unspools, The Sandman descends into Hell to confront Lucifer (Michael Sheen), chases rogue nightmares who have escaped his realm, and crosses paths with an array of characters from DC comic books, ancient myths, and real-world history, including: Inmates of Gotham City's Arkham Asylum, Doctor Destiny, the muse Calliope, the three Fates, William Shakespeare (Arthur Darvill), and many more.

A powerhouse supporting cast helps translate this masterwork into a sonic experience worthy of its legacy, including Riz Ahmed, Kat Dennings, Taron Egerton, Samantha Morton, Bebe Neuwirth, Andy Serkis, and more. Setting the stage for their performance is an unprecedented cinematic soundscape featuring an original musical score by British Academy Award winner James Hannigan. Fans will especially revel in a new twist for the audio adaptation: Neil Gaiman himself serves as the narrator. Follow him as he leads listeners along a winding path of myths, imagination and, often, terror. Even in your wildest dreams, you’ve never heard anything like this.

©2020 DC. All Rights Reserved. The Sandman and all related elements are trademarks of DC Comics. (P)2020 DC Comics and Audible

What the critics say

"James McAvoy leads an all-star cast in narrating this magnificent audio adaptation of Neil Gaiman's iconic graphic novel series, The Sandman.... As listeners are swept up in a saga in which cats talk and nightmares walk, McAvoy's steady characterization reminds them that it’s all in a day's work for him. While the cast members are exquisite, special mention goes to the production staff. The sound effects are immersive, and there is a wonderful cinematic score. This audio drama is compelling. Listeners won’t be able to pause once they hit play." (AudioFile magazine)

Editorial Review

Fall deep into the enchanting and twisted world of The Sandman. Let yourself be swept away in this dark and dreamy tale of storytelling and entrapment from Neil Gaiman.

From comic book and sci-fi royalty Neil Gaiman comes a thrilling work of grim fantasy for adults, The Sandman. Follow the journey of Morpheus, the lord of dreams, through his capture, containment and bold escape from an Earthly prison. Morpheus sets about rebuilding the Dreaming realm and restoring its former grandeur. The Sandman is a New York Times best seller that weaves a tale of an unexpected antihero, the personification of dreams, effortlessly merging urban fantasy with fairy tales, modern myth, science fiction and history in a true genre bending epic. A tangled web of storylines entices the listener with unpausable action and a gripping narrative that can’t be ignored.

Gaiman himself narrates this epic with the true passion of a writer. The Sandman is a multicast audio masterpiece featuring award-winning screen and voice actors from across the United Kingdom and America. The diverse and star-studded cast lends dynamic and engaging voices, truly bringing the words and characters to life. James McAvoy, no stranger to comic book series and world fantasy from his former roles in Marvel's X-Men series, lends his seasoned voice to the title role with a commanding and emphatic flair. Michael Sheen (a Gaiman regular) voices Lucifer, and famed voice actor Andy Serkis is Matthew.

Just as The Sandman graphic novel was a revolution in its genre, this audiobook is a master in its field. It has instantly become a fan favourite and resonates with listeners worldwide. Whether you're a first-time listener or a long-standing fan of The Sandman series, this first volume will engulf you in the dream country and all its eccentric characters. The unique and complex storyline combined with an all-star cast of narrators makes this Audible Original truly unmissable and unpausable.

What listeners say about The Sandman

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EXCELLENT

this audio ookice was by far the best one I've ever listened to. the music, voices, story was engrossing and had me from the start

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Superb

Amazing! Well voiced, well put together and a wonderful universe to be sucked into. I was instantly hooked.

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Wow!

This is by far the best audio book I have ever heard! I couldn’t t stop listening to it!

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Casting is fantastic

I have loved these stories in written form and they are just as great in audio. The full performance feels more like a radio play than most audiobooks. It really works here where the cast is so large.

Looking forward to the next instalments!

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Incredible adaptation

An absolutely incredible job of adapting a comic book to a story. Unfortunately, that means that it also suffers from trying to fit two mediums of storytelling together. This is the best adaptation I have ever heard and is incredible written and acted. The background music and sound effects also add a great deal to the story.

The only thing difficult about this is that it is told like a comic book. This means that there are several smaller arcs that may have little or nothing to do with the main arc in the story. For that reason, I would recommend listening to this as a series of separate stories rather than bingeing it.

That being said, this is an incredible audiobook that tells a deep and at times disturbing story. I would absolutely recommend it.

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One of the best audio dramas I’ve listened too.

I wasn’t sure listening to an audiobook of what is essentially a graphic novel would work, but by the Nine was I wrong!

James McAvoy was perfect as Morpheus with the deep baritone and slower sentences. He depicted Morpheus in a quietly threatening but also comforting manner.

Kat Dennings as Death is as terrifying and as soothing as Death could possibly be. Not everyone welcomes Death, but none can escape it (except for a special few in the novel like Mad Hetty and Tobias)

The rest of the cast were just as amazing, and I particularly enjoyed the Rose Walker storyline. I highly recommend listening to this, you will not regret it.

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I looking forward to listening to more

So many stories they were awesome to listen to
And some familiar DC comics characters come to life
I must admit I never did read The Sandman series and I'm a big fan of listening to full cast audio drams I have been listening to different ones for more than 20 years The Shadow Lord Of The Rings BBC 13 part radio series, Sherlock Holmes, Hurcle Poirot, Miss Marple, to name a few...

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almost always on the edge of my seat...

fantastic (literally) listen. starts with such interesting story...but devolves somewhat into disjointed comics. great performances kept bringing me back. but insure that it should be packaged as one 'book'

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Utterly, utterly, GLORIOUS!!!!

What a truly glorious interpretation, basically a feast for the ears as the mind translates it into images in the head!!! I heartily recommend this to everyone!!!

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  • KMB
  • 2021-09-22

So much more than an audiobook

This full cast audio drama is the most immersive audio experience of any book I’ve ever read. It’s very true to the graphic novels, and well worth experiencing whether you’re meeting the Sandman for the first or five-hundredth time. Dirk Maggs has masterfully managed to create a comic book experience for your ears. Narration, score, sound effects, and superb voice acting all come together to engross and astound. Not for the faint of heart, Neil Gaiman’s tale shows the depravity of which humans and gods are capable, and, through it all, the unbreakable power of a dream. 12/10, have listened fully multiple times. Will return again and again.

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