I finished Fables and Reflections.
"Soft Places" is...this whole collection seems to be stories about Gaiman playing with historical figures, and I'm just not getting into them. Sure, Marco Polo is cool, but his story, not so much. There are some nice touches, like the very idea of a "soft place," where the line between dream and reality blur, I like that; I was amused by the setting of the desert, which allowed the use of physical sand; and I like Fiddler's Green. It's a decent tale, but not a favorite.
"The Song of Orpheus" is Gaimain's retelling of the Orpheus myth, and since I'm into Greek mythology, I liked it all right. It's our first glimpse of Destruction, the prodigal brother (was the special published before or after Brief Lives?). It's interesting to make Orpheus the son of Morpheus, and...was it always like that? The similarity in names can't be coincidence. I don't remember the details of the myth as I learned it. I don't recall anything about Furies ripping him apart, either. But I really liked the short scene with Charon, entranced by the song of Orpheus. It's a nice reminder that just because you serve in Hades does not mean you don't appreciate beauty. And the ending is a killer, with a biting parallel. GREAT FUCKING PARENTING, DREAM! At least he went to the trouble to get his son's severed head back a few thousand years later. Man, wouldn't life suck as a head?
"The Parliament of Rooks" is of course a winner, being a story about stories. And Matthew is now one of my favorite Dreamlings. Also, Hippolyta! Daniel! Oh, continuity. And it makes me wonder what Dream really wants with Daniel (he doesn't even appear in the issue!) because the baby's allowed in the Dreaming and gets to hang out with Dream's peeps. And oh my God, Li'l Death and Li'l Dream are SO CUTE HEE HEE HEE.
"Ramadan" was very, very nice. It reminded me of "August" in that it was about a monarch's feelings about his kingdom, but I was much more into it, I think because of the style, the use of mythical language, the feeling that you're sitting in a room and being told a great story about fantastical events. And it's so sweet, Haroun's wish to have the city preserved in dreams so that it can last forever.
I've read the first issue of Brief Lives. This is going to be good.
::cackles::
Dude, you're so going to enjoy your first re-read. And when you do re-read, make sure you also re-read your first impressions. Oh yes.
It's interesting to make Orpheus the son of Morpheus, and...was it always like that?
No, I think it's usually Apollo and Calliope. Though I'm sure there's 100 different versions.
I don't recall anything about Furies ripping him apart, either.
Not Furies, Bacchae. Or, I guess, Maenads, but Bacchae is more fun to say. Bacchae Bacchae Bacchae! But yes, that is traditional, though their reasons vary a bit.
It is because of this issue that I impressed a veddy, veddy proper English prof when I took a class on Milton. I was the only one in the class who recognized Eurydice's name. I didn't tell him why I knew, though.
Dude, you're so going to enjoy your first re-read. And when you do re-read, make sure you also re-read your first impressions. Oh yes.
Hee hee. I will be compiling my first impressions in an LJ post when I'm done.
Bacchae Bacchae Bacchae! But yes, that is traditional, though their reasons vary a bit.
Heh, right, but it was the Furies that sent them because Orpheus made them cry or something. Bacchae is fun to say, for sure.
I was the only one in the class who recognized Eurydice's name. I didn't tell him why I knew, though.
Heh. You didn't know the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice before that? Didn't you read Edith Hamilton's
Mythology
in, like, elementary school? Kids these days.
I don't recall anything about Furies ripping him apart, either.
In the original myth, he's killed by Maenads (Bacchae).
The similarity in names between Morpheus and Orpheus may just be because they're both of Greek origin. According to wikipedia, the Greek word for "darkness" is "orphe".
P-C, do not go looking at wikipedia entries for The Sandman, Morpheus, or Orpheus, as you will be spoiled.
Thanks, Dana.
And yeah, I was conflating the Furies with the Bacchae since they did their dirty work.
You didn't know the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice before that? Didn't you read Edith Hamilton's Mythology in, like, elementary school?
No, no, I knew the story, but I wouldn't have recognized her name from whatever the hell I'd read ten years previous.
I was conflating the Furies with the Bacchae since they did their dirty work.
Ah. I feel better about being totally confused, then.
For reasons painfully obvious to anyone who knows my first name, I at one point was so down with the Greek myths that I was able to not only nail, but nail almost all the extra credit on, a pre-IB English mythology exam where I hadn't, err, done the actual reading for reasons that escape me 17 years down the line.
I mean, I got my first book on it at age 4. I think I chose it (pre-school rummage sale) because it Had My Name In It.
In my old age, my memory is failing me, so I'm clearly in need of a massive re-read.
Aw, very cool. I got into Greek mythology pretty early (though not that early) and loved it. I forget my initial reaction to discovering the similarities between Greek and Roman mythology.
I've read the first issue of Brief Lives. This is going to be good.
Damn right it is. Just thinking about it, I may have to read it again now.
