 The "Sandman" series: This series of graphic novels has won all kinds of awards--and would probably have won even more if it wasn't laid out like a comic book. But trust me, friends, this is real literature...even if it is does come with pictures.
Each title below represents a complete story arc (originally published as four to eight individual graphic novels), and is introduced by the likes Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Tori Amos. The books are complete in themselves, but they are also part of a larger whole; and taken in order, they build toward an inexorable conclusion. I strongly suggest you read them in the intended order; but if you really can't wait, at least save The Kindly Ones and The Wake for last, or you'll be sorry. Trust me.
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 Preludes and Nocturnes: Morpheus, the King of Dreams, is captured by mortal men and imprisoned for a human lifetime. Once he escapes, it's time to settle old debts...and create new ones.
paperback, 1991
The Doll's House: A young woman tangles with monsters both human and inhuman--and finally with the Sandman himself--in the search for her lost brother and her own mysterious origins. Keep an eye on Lyta while you're reading this one; she's more important than she seems at first glance.
paperback, 1991
Dream Country: A collection of stand-alone stories, including a re-interpretation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
hardcover, 1999
Season of Mists: After a tongue-lashing by his compassionate sister Death, Dream goes back to hell to free his lost love Nada. And you think you've got problems?
paperback, 1995
hardcover, 1999
A Game of You: Barbie is back, with an even stranger set of neighbors than she had in A Doll's House, including Foxglove, Hazel, Wanda, and the unforgettable Thessaly. This story starts off sappy, then kicks you in the head just when you think you've got it figured out.
paperback, 1993
hardcover, 1999
Fables and Reflections: Another collection of stand-alone stories, including an interesting twist on the myth of Orpheus.
paperback, 1994
Brief Lives: Delerium, Dream's colorful (in more ways than one) little sis, enlists his help in tracking down their AWOL brother Destruction. A very important story in the overall scheme of the series. Don't miss it.
paperback, 1995
World's End: Travelers stranded at an inn at the end of the world tell tales to pass the time; the one about the undertakers is especially loopy. And don't miss the foreshadowing at the end of the book: something big's going down in the world of the Endless.
paperback, 1995
hardcover, 1999
The Kindly Ones: Lyta's back, with a vengeance...literally. Absolutely do not miss this story, and absolutely do not read it until you've read Brief Lives, at the very least. That's all I can say without giving too much away. It's very, very powerful reading.
paperback, 1996
hardcover, 1999
The Wake: More than just an epilogue to The Kindly Ones, it answers a lot of questions and ties up a lot of loose ends. Oh, and the artwork in this one is gorgeous.
paperback, 1997
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REAMS OF 
EALITY
Other Stories Set in the Sandman Universe
The Books of Magic: What do you do with a young boy who's destined to become the greatest magician of all time? Guest-starring John Constantine and other well-known DC spell-slingers.
paperback, 1993
Dustcovers : The Collected Sandman Covers 1989-1996: Kinda self-explanatory, don't you think? Great artwork by Dave McKean.
All Other Titles
Black Orchid:
paperback, 1996
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