The Sandman with Neil Gaiman at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

Over its 76 issues The Sandman has become one of the most influential comics of the modern era. It is a dark, literary fantasy series that tantalises readers with hints of a nightmare just beyond our vision. In this event, filmed live at the 2013 Edinburgh International Book Festival, Neil Gaiman is interviewed by graphic novelist and illustrator Hannah Berry and together they explore how to play with words, images, motifs and themes to create a sense of the unknown and unexplained.

[@Stormdragonbrisvagas]

Best Alan Moore impersonation ever...

[@Frogwai]

His Alan Moore impression was pretty incredible.

[@whssy]

This is what I was going to write.

[@cianmcgrath125]

Neil Gaiman is a comic book genius. I'm 14, and over the past 8 months I have broken away from poetry and novels/short stories to try and combat comic books. It is certainly a daunting task in many ways, but I feel I am more suited to comic books, and if a project veers into extinction or I'm going through a bout of writers block, I always turn to an interview with Neil Gaiman, and it feels as though my creativity is renewed, and I return eager to write once again. He is a true inspiration and a wondrous writer.

[@JohnSmith-wj7ge]

Cian McGrath next try alan moore

[@cianmcgrath125]

I actually started. I first read Watchmen, now my favorite graphic novel, then The Killing Joke. Next, I'm going to try V for Vendetta and Saga of the Swamp Thing.

[@Aerakade]

Cian McGrath Try Swamp Thing. Not only is it fantastic in it's own right but in many ways it sets the stage for Sandman (The Absolute version has his pitch to DC/Vertigo with him referencing Moore's Swamp thing several times) and it also introduces John Constantine (also seen in Sandman).

[@billybarnell1996]

+Aerakade Yes, Swamp Thing is a masterwork, a transcendent american comic book. Also, try Grant Morrison's 'Batman: Arkham Asylum', painted by Dave McKean, Gaiman's collaborator who made the Sandman covers as you're probably aware.

[@ProfessorChernobyl]

Verdun, France∴ Stefan Wasserman (“dhe Water-Bearer”) goes over dhe top AGAIN tonight∴ As soon as it/s DARK∴ He never dreamed it would be like dhis∴ Nobody told him∴ He LIED about his age (of Aquarius) to enlist (XX. Judgement/The Aeon)∴ He/s almost 14∴ - Neil “Clever Trousers” Gaiman

[@danebarrett237]

Got to listen to him read and met him at a local bookstore just after American Gods was published. So warm, and so funny, and a great speaker. Listening to him read from his own work lifts you to a new level. Inspirational.

[@SofijaMitrovic]

the kid at the end is adorable ! Gaiman has the best fan base

[@Taintless101]

Man's a genius but is still so charming and friendly.

[@mariamkinen8036]

True genius is charming n modest. Humble .

[@Martin_TheCollector]

Neil Gaiman is too incredible. Very few comic book writers can reach his level of creativity. His books/novels and other written works are magnificent as well.

[@DanielLopez-pb3zs]

the interviewer is adorable! shelooks like such a good person.

[@volumedealer2716]

You're so right,Capn' O.

[@squamish4244]

I love how he expresses the joy of being creative. It's often such a contrast between genre writers and insufferable 'literary' writers in that regard. Also, I believe the "Death, the brother of sleep" quote comes from Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince, or at least that is where I remember reading it first when I was like ten years old.

[@Zilegil]

valar that was possibly a reference

[@Zilegil]

valar There was a Central European poet (might be Hans Christian Anderson I forget) who wrote about the two brothers 'ol jacoje' (I forget how it was spelt too) One brother would come into your room at night and give you sweet dreams. The other would steal your eyes

[@Zilegil]

valar I think death and dream being siblings was just a trope once upon a time

[@squamish4244]

Zilegil Whoa.

[@squamish4244]

@ΜΚ There's no such thing as being late for the Endless ;)

[@brvndxxxn]

His American comic book store owner impression is a character of its own!

[@Drellistenstomusic]

i always thought Death was based on Siouxsie Sioux from Siouxsie and the Banshees. You see a picture of her and Robert Smith and they look cosplaying as the Endless.

[@Zilegil]

Drellistenstomusic XD

[@TheManInTheLongBlackCoat]

Death was based on an alternative model, Cinnamon Hadley. She died on the 6th of January 2018.

[@ecchikun3139]

For me I thought the goth girl from The breakfast club

[@kyojiruyu]

I'm here after watching Netflix the sandman. my curiously about his masterpiece of work its like my new obsession now ❤️

[@omer8882]

The interviewer is sweet

[@george474747]

She did an excellent job. Patient, attentive, gracious... Really good interviewing.

[@fleetingtwilight9718]

@@george474747 I knowww right, it like she also enjoy listening to him as well.

[@grahamadamson5933]

He is the epitome of what he rightly says is so important , and has been since the dawn of human consciousness , a brilliant storyteller with brilliant stories to tell .

[@oldgit4260]

great interview

[@KemptonLam]

Great interview & Q&A. Very enjoyable after watching the new Sandman 2022 TV series!

[@MemphiStig]

i haven't read nearly enough Gaiman, especially not since Sandman, but i need to get back to it, so... *if you need me, me and neil'll be hangin out with the dream king* *neil said hi by the way*

[@cmcgrew98]

Lol. A Tori Amos fan, I see. The dream king, the Lord of Dreams...

[@wallacelovecraft8942]

Always nice to hear Neil talk about stuff.

[@patricktumulty2852]

very inspired after watching this

[@mattheendpod2659]

What an exceptionally lovely man.

[@LegsMachinima]

To whoever made this video: Why did you cut out the lady who does the sign language translation? She did all that amazing work for people who cannot hear, and she is standing literally right outside of the camera frame. Maybe next time think of including her too. Just cuz you can hear doesn't mean nobody would appreciate seeing her.

[@WOLVEOVSIBERIA]

Gaiman is the best there is.

[@rolan5948]

He ain’t better than Alan Moore sorry but he comes pretty damn close

[@Martin_TheCollector]

@@rolan5948 lol Alan Moore is garbage compared to Gaiman. That dude sure had very good comics before mid 90s, but Gaiman continues to write fantastic stories outside of comic books, which Moore could never do.

[@rolan5948]

Martin The Collector But Alan has a bigger track record that trumps whatever Gaimans done. Who cares if he can write stories outside comic books? The only thing that matters is whatever he's writing outside comic books are actually "good"

[@Dream-qy9ir]

Hey! *That's my dad*

[@JoshMC2000]

I really want to see some one cosplaying as death to repeat that line to him I think that exchange would be priceless

[@whitehair8824]

This Man is definitely a dragon.. I look at him and there is something I just can't put my finger on, but the easiest way to put my finger on it Is to just say he is a dragon.. in the nicest possible way of course but a dragon non the less. He's practically sparkling...

[@monsouranda2822]

45:22

[@saintpaulkirch7274]

43:35 yesss

[@RashmikaLikesBooks]

Starts 2:07

[@JCResDoc94]

57:27 HE KNOWS ABOUT THE TAXI! ABORT! ABORT!

[@ipreferapenne3030]

41:51 13:09

[@JCResDoc94]

1:09:09 im gonna say...mushrooms.

[@Wulf425]

The American accent cracked me up.

[@justinpiscinesanesbystrang5699]

"deviants' - tooth fairy

[@mayfair_forest_witch]

Tell me it's an interview from 2013 without telling me it's 2013: 51:43 "the lady behind the lady with the red hair, sorry that's a man" collective laugh

[@mariamkinen8036]

By 16 ,i knew everything I wanted to be n do. Except for writing.

[@arthursb42]

Neil is not in black, wow!

[@DanielLopez-pb3zs]

ikr!!

[@DechantMusic]

This is Earth 2 Earth 1 was destroyed on December 21st 2012 at 2:33 am this is Earth 2 Neil. :)

[@chrisjames1924]

He's like a cliched caricature of a narcissistic and self-aggrandizing best selling author.

[@edwardm1326]

In what way is he narcissistic or self aggrandising?

[@elizabethtrejo9623]

41:01