This week, Netflix’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman makes its debut. It’s been an extended, lengthy street for the variation of the legendary comedian, and Gaiman’s involvement helped maintain the variation true to his intent whereas making some key adjustments.
With the collection out, what higher time to have a good time the work of Gaiman, whose writing has been featured throughout mainly each doable writing medium you could possibly consider? Listed below are a few of our favourite novels, quick tales, graphic novels, TV episodes, and different assorted works from the writer (and for one thing extra Sandman-specific, listed here are our favourite storylines from the comedian).
![A page from issue #8, “The Sound of Her Wings,” from The Sandman.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XGKkfbtSPJNKG18c5eKLuGc_XUU=/0x0:1280x1966/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1280x1966):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23903933/The_Sandman_The_Sound_of_Her_Wings.jpg)
Picture: Neil Gaiman, Mike Dringenberg/DC Comics
Whereas the query of whether or not or not The Sandman is Neil Gaiman’s greatest work is a matter of debate, I emphatically keep that it’s the most Neil Gaiman work. It’s because, as my colleague Susana Polo so eloquently explains, The Sandman was the product not solely of a once-in-a-lifetime second in comics publishing historical past, however of a younger and bold author who poured each one among his inventive passions into the work for worry that he won’t have such a chance once more.
The outcome was not solely one of many largest cult hits in superhero comics (if not the most important), however a primer for the forms of tales Gaiman would go on to put in writing all through the remainder of his profession. The quarreling deities and trendy anthropomorphic facets of American Gods? That’s in The Sandman. The city fantasy components and far-flung folklore of Neverwhere and Stardust? That’s in The Sandman. The whimsical horror-humor of Coraline? You guessed it — The Sandman. If nothing else, The Sandman is an ideal entry level for any potential reader to acquaint themselves with Neil Gaiman’s specific model of writing. The Sandman feels just like the ur-text for each story Gaiman may conceivably aspire to put in writing sooner or later. —Toussaint Egan
![Cover art for Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DK3xQ_X4BBl2D01V6Kj-ifDjUPY=/0x0:295x475/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:295x475):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23922734/12067.jpg)
Picture: Workman Publishing
Good Omens is a type of popular culture issues I had heard about however by no means actually totally identified what the heck it was about — until I lastly learn the ebook and completely fell in love with it and understood all of the hype. Written by each Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett, Good Omens one way or the other turns the apocalypse right into a witty and charming musing on the thrill of humanity.
At its core, it’s about Aziraphale and Crowley, an angel and a demon, who’ve spent the previous few 1000’s of years biking out and in of one another’s lives, and as such have grown slightly keen on one another and dwelling on Earth. They crew as much as cease the apocalypse from occurring, regardless that their celestial and infernal bosses really need the top of the world to only kick off already.
The tv adaptation, which stars Michael Sheen and David Tennant, is simply as pleasant — and fleshes out Aziraphale and Crowley’s relationship much more. It’s getting a second season. Gaiman has a number of enter in it and it’ll incorporate bits of the sequel he and Pratchett by no means received to put in writing, so right here’s hoping it holds up. —Petrana Radulovic
![Cover art for Neil Gaiman’s “Smoke and Mirrors,” with a woman hugging a snowy tree behind a bushel of apples and the quote “Lies and half-truths fall like snow”](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5XGrIQvpJ_bkBASmZPhhgYTtGnk=/0x0:406x648/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:406x648):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23922799/smokeandmirrors.jpg)
Picture: HarperCollins
Gaiman is, if nothing else, a flexible author. Along with comics and novels, he’s penned works as various as one of the beloved episodes of Physician Who and the English screenplay for Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke. However for my cash, there’s nothing that Gaiman does higher than quick tales.
First revealed in 1998, Smoke and Mirrors collects items relationship way back to 1984. The reader will discover erotica, a Christmas card, dreamy sci-fi, fairy story retellings, deconstructions of the nice fantasy authors, and even a little bit of poetry inside. However above all, they’ll uncover Gaiman’s expertise for the quick, fantastical horror yarn that winds you up with unease and ends with — effectively, in case you don’t hear the Cryptkeeper cackle as if from a fantastic distance, perhaps you’re not paying consideration. —Susana Polo
![The cover for Neil Gaiman’s Stardust](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/l1o_OPrpuM1cy9A4y34exfdczJs=/0x0:323x500/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:323x500):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23922726/9400173_L.jpg)
Picture: Charles Vess/DC Comics
My favourite trivia reality about Stardust is that Neil Gaiman and Diana Wynne Jones as soon as in contrast notes on John Donne’s “Tune” — and in response to that poem, Gaiman wrote Stardust and Jones wrote Howl’s Transferring Fort.
Each the unique novel and the film model of Stardust play with fairy story conventions (in an identical manner that Howl’s Transferring Fort does). It follows Tristran Thorn (Tristan within the film), who guarantees to fetch a fallen star for probably the most lovely lady in his village — solely to seek out out that the fallen star is definitely a headstrong younger girl. There’s faeries, witches, pirates on floating ships — it’s a enjoyable romp and a compelling romance. And one way or the other, the movie model manages to seize the magic, albeit with just a few adjustments to make it extra cinematic and provides it a happier ending.
Nevertheless, the unique ebook ending is without doubt one of the most poignant, bittersweet endings I’ve ever learn and it holds a particular place in my coronary heart for simply how devastated it makes me really feel. —PR
![Cover art for Neil Gaiman’s Coraline](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5nDPgtHgZFwckcN7ig--khpSQS0=/0x0:432x648/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:432x648):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23922738/coraline.png)
Picture: HarperCollins
Coraline is a youngsters’s horror masterpiece. I nonetheless bear in mind discovering the ebook at my native library, without delay spellbound and terrified by illustrated cowl, which confirmed off a personality with buttons for eyes. I had just lately made the leap from the early readers part into center grade chapter books, and I used to be totally judging books by their covers. Little did I understand how strongly this iconography would hang-out me for weeks to return. It additionally made me a younger Neil Gaiman fan.
I couldn’t bear in mind the final time I learn a ebook that rapidly. The self-esteem is genuinely horrifying, even in case you’re grownup, and extremely relatable as a toddler. Very like different portal-to-another-world youngsters’s suspense (see additionally: Spirited Away), Coraline stars a younger lady who needs her life might be somewhat completely different after transferring to a brand new house. She crawls by a small door and into one other universe, the place she meets Different Mom, who makes her favourite meals and lets her have the adventures she actually desires. The catch? She will’t ever go away. Additionally, her eyes shall be changed with buttons, like all residents of this universe.
The film adaptation can be wonderful. In a phenomenal coincidence, I had simply grow to be obsessive about cease movement, significantly that period of campy Tim Burton horror — particularly something directed by Henry Selick. Coraline was tailored by the animation studio Laika (years later they made Kubo and the Two Strings, an absolute marvel of animation). The Selick-directed Coraline film is whimsical, great, and most significantly, completely terrifying. I watched it once I was in sixth grade, and it gave me nightmares for weeks. It was, and nonetheless is, the whole lot I ever needed. —Nicole Clark
His 2012 “Make Good Artwork” graduation speech
In 2012, I used to be a junior in school, approaching the top of my schooling and the beginning of a profession in a risky trade. This graduation speech, which I stumbled upon after a buddy shared it on Fb, had an enormous constructive influence on me at a time I wanted that enhance.
The entire thing is worth it, however one half particularly is price calling out.
Folks maintain working, in a contract world, and increasingly more of in the present day’s world is freelance, as a result of their work is nice, and since they’re straightforward to get together with, and since they ship the work on time. And also you don’t even want all three. Two out of three is okay. Folks will tolerate how disagreeable you’re in case your work is nice and also you ship it on time. They’ll forgive the lateness of the work if it’s good, and in the event that they such as you. And also you don’t must be pretty much as good because the others in case you’re on time and it’s all the time a pleasure to listen to from you.
It’s a worthwhile life lesson, particularly as work creeps increasingly more into each a part of our lives. I’m grateful I heard it at a time I actually wanted it. —Pete Volk
His Tumblr Presence
Earlier than I elaborate — sure, individuals nonetheless use Tumblr and it’s much more fashionable than most individuals suppose. Neil Gaiman has been an energetic Tumblr person since 2011, and he nonetheless actively makes use of the microblogging platform to this present day. That is notable, as a result of celebrities have notoriously been bullied off of Tumblr. But one way or the other, Neil Gaiman has outlived all of them, watching from the shadows of his personal dashboard.
He retains his ask field open and solutions questions from followers. He offers life and writing recommendation. He talks concerning the numerous variations of his works, giving info he is ready to give and answering with a signature “wait and see” when he can’t. He performs together with dumb jokes and reblogs additions. He helps followers monitor down obscure strains he’s written. And as is the fact of the web, he offers together with his share of haters and trolls, however he’s all the time remarkably swish towards them.
He additionally reblogs posts, including on new info, offering humorous commentary, or giving useful ideas (this normally causes some shock from individuals who organically come across a remark from Neil Gaiman within the wild, and it’s all the time actually amusing to see).
He’s only a good presence on the web, which is exceedingly uncommon to see lately. —PR
Neil Gaiman? What are you doing in my falafel?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the episode of PBS Youngsters collection Arthur the place Neil Gaiman involves advise Sue Ellen about writing her personal graphic novel. Within the episode, she meets Gaiman (his Arthur-sona, at the least, which is a cat) at a ebook studying and he presents her a replica of the Coraline graphic novel. When she makes an attempt to put in writing her personal ebook and will get discouraged by her mates’ suggestions and her personal self-doubts, an imaginary model of Gaiman seems to provide her some good recommendation! It’s a stunning episode concerning the inventive course of — but in addition affords the hilarity of a tiny catlike Neil Gaiman sitting in falafel. —PR