Listen free for 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
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
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $43.80

Buy Now for $43.80

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

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

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,166
  • 4 Stars
    540
  • 3 Stars
    203
  • 2 Stars
    96
  • 1 Stars
    96
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,195
  • 4 Stars
    219
  • 3 Stars
    62
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    50
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,635
  • 4 Stars
    476
  • 3 Stars
    220
  • 2 Stars
    101
  • 1 Stars
    100

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Overproduced

This book is an audible *performance* of a comic book and does not read like a normal novel. Scenes are not explained, and instead they are heard through ambience and explanation. I love the comic series and the story, but this audio account of it is not for me. If you're truly curious about the Sandman story, try it as a graphic novel and enjoy the art. As for an Audible experience? 1 star.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

67 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Solid Gold

This is every Neil Gaiman fans dream come true. The cast knocks it out of the park. The music is fantastic. The story is obviously top notch. Hope this won’t be the last of it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Trying to hard

a plot that dosen't really add up or go anywhere.

the whole thing laced with edge teenage level gore or brutally or gender and sex tipics to try and make them seem real.

and alot if detours around unimportant characters.

also the music is too loud for headphones. it really didnt need any music.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Collection

Overall, this was a good audiobook. The narrating was amazing. The multiple voices and sound effects really added to the immersive experience. I found the story to be a little difficult to follow and confusing in the beginning. This was less of a novel and more of a collection of stories from the comic series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Shockingly awful

The first couple hours were fantastic, the cast was great and story flowed well. The entire rest of this audiobook was TERRIBLE. There was no story. Instead it was like each chapter was it's own storyline that was completely random and didn't relate back to the main character whatsoever. Tried to finish it but genuinely couldn't. It's a terrible shame because the cast did an excellent job and the opening music was very compelling. The story just disintegrated so quickly and there are way too many characters who aren't relevant to anything and too many random chapters of bullshit. I am extremely baffled as to how the fuck this has a five star rating.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Pointless?

Awesome production! Just only have a storyline that went anywhere for the first half... Then rambled into pointless short skits- then it just ends!! I kept hoping it would circle back to SOMETHING- some kind of direction that made any sense.. It didn't....

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

i love you

thank you. i finally get to hear sandman's voice in my head, in my ears!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • KT
  • 2020-07-31

Amazing production, story drops off after first arch

Outstanding voice work, music, and sound overall. The story is great too, but drops off once the first arch is complete. It then becomes a series of one off tales, which are good but not as compelling as the first narrative.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Exactly what I hoped for!

This was done so amazingly well. The voice acting is excellent and the story feels just as magical as the books. I really hope the rest of the series is made into audiobook form.... I got a little sad when I realized it only covers the first major arc.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Honestly, somewhat disappointing.

Neil Gaiman is one of my top 10 favourite writers… I never did read the graphic novels, and then I suspect is the flaw here. Aside from production sound level qualities which were distracting I don’t think the material translated very well from one medium to another. Glimpses of brilliance to be expected from Neil overall, somewhat disappointing.:[

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful