The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes

The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes
Cover of The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes  (1991), trade paperback collected edition Art by Dave McKean.
Publisher	DC Comics
Publication date	January - August 1989
Genre	Dark fantasy Mythology
Title(s)	The Sandman #1-8
Main character(s)	Dream
ISBN	ISBN 1-56389-011-9
Creative team
Writer(s)	Neil Gaiman
Artist(s)	Sam Kieth Mike Dringenberg Malcolm Jones III Dave McKean
Penciller(s)	Sam Kieth Mike Dringenberg
Inker(s)	Mike Dringenberg Malcolm Jones III
Letterer(s)	Todd Klein
Colorist(s)	Robbie Busch
Editor(s)	Karen Berger Art Young

Preludes & Nocturnes is the first trade paperback collection of the comic book series The Sandman, published by DC Comics. It collects issues #1-8. It is written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Sam Kieth, Mike Dringenberg and Malcolm Jones III, colored by Robbie Busch and lettered by Todd Klein.

The first seven issues of the collection comprise the More Than Rubies storyline. It tells the story of Dream's capture at the hands of an occult cult and his subsequent quest to reclaim his lost tools of power. The eighth issue, The Sound of Her Wings, is a self-contained story that serves as an epilogue to the More Than Rubies plot, and features the first appearance of Death.

Preludes & Nocturnes was first issued in paperback in 1991, and later in hardback in 1995 and features an introduction by Paul Wilson. A new edition with introduction by Karen Berger was published in 2010. This new edition, and all the included issues, are also available for digital download.

The next volume in the series is The Doll's House.

Stories

Dream and Gregory the Gargoyle, from Sandman #2, "Imperfect Hosts", pencilled by Sam Kieth

"Sleep of the Just"

In 1916, the magician Roderick Burgess attempts to attain immortality by capturing the embodiment of Death. Mistakenly, he binds Death's brother Dream instead. Fearing retribution, Burgess takes his tools (a pouch, a helm, a ruby) and keeps Dream imprisoned. The effects of Dream's capture are felt all over the world: others fall asleep and can't wake up, and others can't sleep at all. A young woman, named Unity Kinkaid, sleeps but no longer dreams.

In the following decades, the "sleepy sickness" as it was called, continues to spread. Ruthven Sykes, second-in-command to Burgess in The Order of Ancient Mysteries, disappears together with Burgess' mistress and takes with them the tools taken from Dream. He trades the helm to a demon for protection, receiving an eyeball amulet in return. Sykes, in turn, loses the amulet and the tools when she walks out on him in 1936, allowing Burgess to exact vengeance.

In 1988, long after Burgess has died and his son Alex has been left in charge of the order with his partner Paul, Dream is finally able to escape. Dream punishes Alex by cursing him to experience an unending series of nightmares.

"Imperfect Hosts"

Dream, also known as Morpheus, is weakened after his captivity, and attempts to return to his realm. He is found by Gregory, a gargoyle belonging to Cain and Abel. Once they have nursed Dream back to health, Dream returns to his home and is shocked to see it has fallen into ruin. Lucien, the librarian, fills Dream in on the goings-on since his incarceration. Dream decides to call upon the Three-in-One, an entity appearing as the Three Witches, who give Morpheus clues to finding his stolen tools.

Meanwhile, in the Arkham Asylum for Criminally Insane, John Dee a.k.a. Doctor Destiny receives a visit from his mother, Mrs. Dee, formerly Ethel Cripps and mistress to both Roderick Burgess and Ruthven Sykes.

"Dream a Little Dream of Me"

Dream begins his quest to retrieve his lost totems of power, which were dispersed following his capture. After recruiting the help of John Constantine, Dream learns the pouch is in possession of Constantine's former girlfriend, a junkie named Rachel. They arrive to Rachel's home and find the place infested by dreams, with Rachel rotting and kept alive only by the sand from the pouch. Dream reclaims the pouch and is persuaded by Constantine to use it to end Rachel's suffering, giving her a dying dream in which she, restored and happy, walks to the sunset with John. As a favor, Dream also relieves Constantine from nightmares that have been plaguing him for ten years.

"A Hope in Hell"

After retrieving the pouch, Dream travels to Hell. While in Hell, he stumbles upon his lover Nada (who knows him as "Lord Kai'ckul") and begs him to free her, as he was the one who ordered her there ten thousand years ago. Dream replies that he still loves her, but has not yet forgiven her and won't release her.

Journeying deeper into Hell, Dream meets Lucifer and demands his helm back. Lucifer reveals the he is no longer in sole charge of Hell, and now rules as a triumvirate with Beelzebub and Azazel. As Dream does not know which demon has his helm, Lucifer summons them all. The helm is in possession of Choronzon, who demands Dream to challenge him in return of the helm. Dream manages to best the demon by evoking hope and the helm is returned. Angered by Dream's comment that Hell would have no power if those imprisoned there couldn't dream of Heaven, Lucifer vows to one day destroy him.

In the epilogue, John Dee learns that his mother has passed away and left him an amulet resembling an eyeball in a chain.

"Passengers"

Following his mother's death, John Dee escapes from Arkham. Hitching a ride from a young woman at gunpoint, Dee embarks to find the dreamstone that was taken from him when he was captured by the Justice League of America.

At the same time, Dream visits former members of the JLA and learns from Martian Manhunter (who sees Dream as "Lord L'Zoril", an old fiery god to his people) that the ruby is kept in Mayhew, a warehouse in upstate Gotham. In Mayhew, Dream enters the warehouse and tries to retake the ruby, but the ruby knocks him unconscious. Dee arrives, kills the young woman he was travelling with, and takes the ruby which now belongs to him.

Later, Dee arrives on a 24 hour diner, and orders a coffee while he waits for "the end of the world."

"24 Hours"

Now in possession of the ruby, John Dee distorts the reality for those inside the diner, using them as toys until they all murder each other or commit suicide. Those trapped include Bette, a waitress who writes stories in her spare time, and Judy, the girlfriend of Donna and best friend to Rose Walker.

Finally, Dream arrives.

"Sound and Fury"

Dream pleads John Dee to return the ruby and help him repair the damage that has been done to the world, but Dee refuses and proceeds to attempt to kill him. Dream takes the battle to dreams where Dee again assumes the guise of Doctor Destiny. Thinking it will kill Dream, Dee uses the ruby to try and take Dream's remaining lifeforce, but this destroys the ruby and returns its' powers to Dream.

Thankful for Dee for returning his powers by destroying the ruby, which he himself had not considered, Dream shows mercy and returns Dee to Arkham Asylum.

"The Sound of Her Wings"

Reflecting on his recent incarceration, Dream is visited by his sister Death. Depressed and without a purpose after the end of his quest, he receives an earful from Death who calls him self-centered and infantile for feeling sorry for himself. Death then proceeds to take him with her when she leaves, telling him she was work to do. Dream and Death visit various people, including a dying old man, a stand-up comedian who ends up getting electrocuted, and a baby who dies a crib death. While travelling with his sister, Dream ponders about the nature of death, and how people fear her while "It is as natural to die as it is to be born."

In the end, Dream remembers that he, like his sister and the other Endless, have responsibilites and duties to perform.

Issues Collected

Issue	Title	Writer	Penciller	Inker	Colorist	Letterer	Ast Editor	Editor
1	Sleep of the Just	Neil Gaiman	Sam Kieth	Mike Dringenberg	Robbie Busch	Todd Klein	Art Young	Karen Berger
2	Imperfect Hosts	Neil Gaiman	Sam Kieth	Mike Dringenberg	Robbie Busch	Todd Klein	Art Young	Karen Berger
3	Dream a Little Dream of Me	Neil Gaiman	Sam Kieth	Mike Dringenberg	Robbie Busch	Todd Klein	Art Young	Karen Berger
4	A Hope in Hell	Neil Gaiman	Sam Kieth	Mike Dringenberg	Robbie Busch	Todd Klein	Art Young	Karen Berger
5	Passengers	Neil Gaiman	Sam Kieth	Malcolm Jones III	Robbie Busch	Todd Klein	Art Young	Karen Berger
6	24 Hours	Neil Gaiman	Mike Dringenberg	Malcolm Jones III w/ special thanks to Don Carola	Robbie Busch	Todd Klein	Art Young	Karen Berger
7	Sound and Fury	Neil Gaiman	Mike Dringenberg	Malcolm Jones III	Robbie Busch	Todd Klein	Art Young	Karen Berger
8	The Sound of Her Wings	Neil Gaiman	Mike Dringenberg	Malcolm Jones III	Robbie Busch	Todd Klein	Art Young	Karen Berger

Notes

• Bender, Hy (1999), The Sandman Companion, New York: Vertigo DC Comics, ISBN 1-56389-644-3

External links

• The Annotated Sandman