From: tara@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Lady Johanna Constantine)
Subject: Re: Sandman -- Brief Lives 7
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 04:15:12 GMT

ross@BofA.com (Ross Lefstin) writes:

>1) Was anyone really surprised to find Destruction's villa right across from
>the temple of Orpheus?  I seem to recall several people speculating that
>this would be the case early on.  It just occured to me that Orpheus is
>Destruction's favorite nephew.  I think its time to re-read Song of Orpheus.
>More on this later.

My first thought was, since Dream hasn't gone near his son in so long,
and indeed had vowed to himself *never* to, what better place for
Destruction to be?  He knew Dream would most likely never go there,
nor would the rest of the family go lookign for him.  Except Del.  And I
even think he knew Del would be the one to finally seek him out.  I get
the feelign that the relationship between Del and Destruction is 
similar to that between Dream and Death.  They were truly fond of each
other, closer than they were to the rest of the family.

>2) The references to change are getting kind of heavy handed.  "Cooking is one
>of the fine arts."  Art = Change = Destruction?  Is Destruction treing to
>change himself to an artist.  I think there is validity to thinking of
>the lord of Destruction as patron of the arts.  Does anyone know the Hindu
>take on this?  Hinduism is the only religion I can think of off the top of my
>head which personifies destruction (Shiva), but can anyone think of another?


Hey, in most forms of my religion, war is a Woman.  Well, three to be exact.
and there's a Raven involved.

>3) This issue dropped some hints about the nature of the endless.  The dialogue
>between Destiny & Dream about the 'lives' of the Endless.  Dream may be bitter
>when he questions Destiny's characterization of the Endless' existence as
>'life'.  I think Destruction may have a better understanding of the nature of
>the Endless than his siblings, and perhaps this realization contributed to
>his departure.  The end notes imply that the nature of the Endless will be
>a subject of dinner conversation.


>4) Morpheus is certainly very upset to have to visit his son, who he promised
>never to see again.  But something else occurs to me.  Dream now owes Orpheus.
>What would Orpheus want?  I think that he would want to die.  We know that
>the Endless are prohibited from spilling family blood, and that doing so
>will 'bring the Kindly Ones down on his head'.  This could tie in to the next
>Sandman arc, which will supposedly be titled 'The Kindly Ones'.  This could
>explain why Morpheus is shivering.  He may also have to interfere in Death's
>realm, because Death promised not to come for Orpheus.  Maybe the scene in
>Destiny's book with the Corinthian has something to do with this.  (I do think
>this scene is in the future)  I think I'll also have to go re-read the Oedipus
>cycle for the origin of The Kindly Ones.

oooohhh.  I never thought fo that.  Actually, I just got the issue
yesterday, and haven't had *time* to do much speculation yet.  But I will
keep that in mind.

By the way, someone mentioned to me that LJC (The real one, not me) also has 
her headstone on the cover of last month's Hellblazer.  I can't find it to
check (dorm room is a mess, per usual).  If its true, it is just another
example of continuity :)  The lack thereof, of course.  do you think out
mister ennis reads Sandman?

>Enough for now -- comments anyone? (Like I need to ask)

I'm just being airy and typing what leaps into my head first.
I'm sure other net people will contribute more, and better, comments.

Don't watch tv in the dark

LJC
-- 
Lady Johanna Constantine* Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths that will
tara@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu   * endure when mere facts are dust, and ashes, and
Disclaimer - huh?       * forgot.      -Dream of the Endless (and Neil G.)
Church of Our Lady of the Perpetually Clueless, donations accepted......