Now that the long-awaited Sandman series has come to Netflix, many fans might be wondering where to go next. Neil Gaiman is an absolute genius when it comes to the realms of science fiction and fantasy, and to say that his bibliography isn’t stuffed to the gills with marvelous stories worthy of both dreams and nightmares would be a gross understatement.
From comic books to fantasy novels to sci-fi epics, Neil Gaiman has crafted many marvelous worlds for fans to take a headlong dive into. Morpheus might be rewarded for dreaming, but even his head would spin if he could see the other universes the author has created.
The Sandman: Dream Country
Seeing as how the Netflix series essentially covered the first two volumes of The Sandman comic series, it only makes sense that viewers would want to pick up the next chapter before season two premieres. However, those expecting an epic fantasy Ssaga like the first season might be a little confused at first, because Dream Country is more of an anthology of the Sandman’s further exploits.
The third volume of the series contains stories involving Morpheus, his son, William Shakespeare, and the dreams of a clan of cats living on the streets. One thing many readers will come to understand is that Neil Gaiman has mastered anthologies, and this is only one fine example.
The Sandman: Midnight Theatre
Where Dream Country was a continuation of the main Sandman storyline, midnight theater is one shot concerning two Sandmen. A fact that many viewers of the series might not know is that Morpheus/Dream is actually a reimagining of an already existing character in the DC universe, a vigilante detective who wields a gun full of sleeping gas by the name of Wesley Dodds
This story happens before the events of Preludes and Nocturnes and features Dodds showing up at Roderick Burgess’s manor while the Dream Lord is imprisoned in his cellar. A bit paradoxical, but it’s a curious read to say the very least.
The Ocean At The End Of The Lane
When many people think of the cosmic horror genre, they’re quick to conjure up the works of H.P. Lovecraft, but Neil Gaiman’s contribution to the field is just as unsettling, especially since it concerns twisted things happening to children. It’s a strange cocktail of magic and sci-fi with witches, aliens, and interdimensional beings only the great Gaiman could dream up.
What begins as a coming-of-age story between a young boy and a mysterious magical family soon takes a sharp turn into horror with some obvious Cronenberg and Lovecraftian influences. It’s a quick read, and it’s certainly the same flavor of weird as The Sandman.
Neil Gaiman’s Eternals
Although most might be more familiar with the MCU’s version of The Eternals, the studio definitely had some help from Gaiman’s imagining, especially with Sprite. Eternals is essentially what would happen if the prolific author created the Justice League, and Sandman fans won’t be disappointed.
Set during Marvel’s Civil War, the Eternals arrive on the scene in all their ethereal glory as if stepping right out of the Dreaming. Gaiman takes a lot of heavy influence from the works of Jack Kirby, yet he sticks to the same mythological flavor seen in works like Sandman and American Gods.
M Is For Magic
When it comes to anthology books, M Is For Magic is Neil Gaiman 101. The compilation of different short stories runs the gauntlet of genres, including some of the author’s best examples of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. In simple terms, it’s one of the best introductions to the author’s work.
Although it’s merely a small sampling of what the author has to offer, readers will be treated to a selection of iconic works. Such stories include “Don’t Ask Jack,” “The Price,” “Chivalry,” and an excerpt from The Graveyard Book. All entries are fit for all ages but certainly have the same flavor seen in Sandman.
Smoke And Mirrors
If readers were satisfied by the previous title, Smoke and Mirrors is a great chaser. It’s definitely more fantasy focused than in the previous book, but it definitely has a darker edge that fans of the Sandman series will instantly recognize. Along with familiar stories such as “The Price” and “Chivalry,” the book also contains fixtures in Gaiman’s bibliography such as “Nicholas Was…,” and “We Can Get them For You Wholesale.”
Perhaps the most notable entry in the anthology is Gaiman’s “Snow, Glass, Apples,” in which the story ofSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs is told from the Evil Queen’s point of view. Readers familiar with the work will know that this variation is no Disney fairytale.
Good Omens
Chances are that if viewers have binged through The Sandman, Good Omens will be next if they haven’t devoured that one already. To the series’ credit, Amazon’s adaptation is surprisingly book-accurate, but the partnership between Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett resulted in one of the most comedic ventures in the fantasy genre.
The series is very well-made, but there’s a certain sense of humor only found on the pages of the novel. Pratchett always had a gift for satire, and Gaiman is a master wordsmith who paints a vivid picture of the End of Days with Crowley and Aziraphale trying to keep it all from going to Hell.
American Gods
Considered by many to be one of the greatest fantasy novels in the genre, American Gods is a slow-burning road trip across America with a massive pantheon of gods, goddesses, leprechauns, djinn, and everything in between. Although the show has its fanbase, the novel is a much different animal altogether.
After his wife is killed in a car accident, Shadow Moon is whisked away by the mysterious Mr. Wednesday on an adventure of healing, self-discovery, and a battle against the new gods of the modern world. It’s truly a more emotional and magical tale than the show would have fans believe.
Coraline
If there’s one novel Gaiman fans should read, it’s Coraline. Morpheus himself couldn’t have imagined a better nightmare than this surprisingly dark children’s novel. Fans might be more familiar with the stop-motion adaptation from Henry Selick, but the novel is much darker and a stronger dose of nightmare fuel.
The book features a much more vicious Other Mother, creepier doll motifs, and a tragically terrifying Other Father waiting for Coraline on the other side of the hidden door. Next to American Gods, it’s arguably one of the writer’s most recognizable works.
The Sandman: Book Of Dreams
Not a comic, but an anthology novel featuring contributions from Neil Gaiman and a host of other authors all taking a trip to the realm of the Dreaming and beyond. Concerning not just Dream but all of the Endless and their escapades, the compilation features a large sampling of the Sandman’s world.
Until fans get their season two, they will simply have to either keep reading the comics or explore the expanded universe. Of course, there are probably few fans who would find issue further exploring Gaiman’s mythos.
