The Sandman: Act III

Audible’s adaptation of “The Sandman: Act III” collects material from Brief Lives and Worlds’ End, the seventh and eighth volumes of “The Sandman” that collected issues 41-49 and 51-56 of the comic series. The stories focus on Delirium of the Endless seeking out her brother, Destruction, who disappeared hundreds of years prior. Their journey brings with it a great deal of tragedy and destruction, particularly fitting as the end of a recent love affair continues to burden Dream. Unhappily, Dream must consult his son Orpheus, who lives on as a head in a shrine following the Maenads mauling of him. Though they eventually find Destruction, their meeting comes at great cost and Dream commits the cardinal rule of the Endless. “World’s End” uses an inn called the World’s End as a framing device for various travelers’ stories à la Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” or Boccaccio’s “The Decameron.” The stories in “World’s End” include “A Tale of Two Cities,” about a man terrified that cities will someday awaken; “Cluracan’s Tale” about the world of faerie; “Hob’s Leviathan” about a girl who poses as a boy to go to sea and there meets Hob Gadling and a king of India; “The Golden Boy” about Prez Rickard, who becomes U.S. President after Richard Nixon, becoming a living representation of the American Dream; and “Cerements,” which tells of the necropolis Litharge and its devotion to various methods of burial.Dirk Maggs oversaw this adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s comic series, working to translate the visual medium of the comic books to the audio format. The full cast adaptation makes this possible. “Act III” stars Neil Gaiman as the narrator, James McAvoy as Morpheus, Riz Ahmed as the Corinthian, Kat Dennings as Death, Billy Boyd as Petrefax, Miriam Margolyes as Despair, David Harewood as Destruction, Mathew Horne as Hob Gadling, Andy Serkis as Matthew the Raven, Regé-Jean Page as Orpheus, Kristen Schaal as Delirium, Niamh Walsh as Nuala, Wil Wheaton as Brant Tucker, KJ Apa as Prez, Jeffrey Wright as Destiny, Kevin Smith as Merv Pumpkinhead, Justin Vivian Bond as Desire, Emma Corrin as Thessaly, Joanna Lumley as Lady Johanna Constantine, Kerry Shale as Abel, Simon Vance as Lucien, Samantha Béart as Calliope, Clare Corbett as Eurydice, Barnaby Edwards as the Psychopomp, Ashleigh Haddad as Ishtar, David Holt as the Satyr, among many others.If these Audible adaptations continue, “Act IV” will adapt the final two volumes, “The Kindly Ones” and “The Wake.” Those will conclude the regular “Sandman” series, though they could potentially adapt “Endless Nights” and “Overture” as well at some future date.

So happy to have this series be restored and made as audio books and reprints and betflix adaptations! I felt such nostalgia over listening to these and it was great. Well worth the money

I'm a huge fan of The Sandman and this series just brings the material to life. I purchased a portable mp3 just to listen to The Sandman. This will keep any fan happy until the next Netflix season is done. I can't say enough good things about this production.

I'll start by admitting I'm a giant Sandman fan. But you don't need to be! This is an auditory feast for the ears. If you're lucky enough to have the comics and can read along as it plays, do so. Combined together creates an amazing experience. Again, you don't need the comics, it is just that good on it's own.

The Sandman has so much to offer even if you've never read the comic before or don't know to much about it - it really has its own creative/unique style. Been addicted since Act: 1 dropped. now we're on Act: 3 and I'm still just as happy definitely worth the buy!

We already listened to the beginning acts and this was just as superb. The actors chosen are ones you will recognize. It is more of a radio theater than anything. Different actors for different parts. It transports you!

I loved it. Totally obsessed. James McAvoy is the voice of the Morpheus in my head.

Loved it! “The Song of Orpheus” and his story is so well done, as are all the stories. Definitely set in the world of Dream!