I started being diligent about reviewing the books I read here as a form of diary. I've never been vey good at diaries but I do like writing about books, and I tend to associate books with the times and places I read them. I regret that I was a bit slow about including graphic novels, but that's neither here not there. So I'm prefacing this review with a remark almost entirely of interest to none but myself.

The reason for the gap between the review of volume one in this series and the subsequent volumes was because volume three and four arrived from the library weeks ago and volume two only arrived the other day. I'm not complaining, I'm amazed and delighted to have them, even of only on loan, and I'm delighted that they're out there in the system for others to enjoy. I was searching for a copy of Overture, actually, when I came across the Absolutes in the system and promptly decided that it was time to read the whole series. Volume five is there too, but, apparently, 'for library use only.' Since it consists of ancillary stories, and the main story ends in volume four, I'll get by without it for now.

Anyway, yay libraries, as Lucien would no doubt agree.

Onto Brief Lives, then, the longest story so far. Delirium decides it's time to find the lost brother of the Endless and ask him to come back. After some toing and froing, Dream, on the rebound from a break-up, goes along with her, half as a distraction, half in the hopes of running into hos lady-love, whoever she may be. Throughout the series it has become apparent that Dream is his own worst enemy or his own best friend, depending on how you view things. Certainly he is making decisions that lead to certain inescapable conclusions all the while insisting that he's doing them for other reasons and he hasn't really changed at all. Their search sets of events which damage and destroy certain lives, and this actually bothers him. In order to find his brother he has to make a certain sacrifice. Why does he do it? His sense of obligation and responsibility has broadened, perhaps, or he has become aware of blind spots and gaps in his approach to them, and maybe this is the breaking point. It's all there now, all ready to go. What's next is inevitable.

After Brief Lives comes Worlds End, more masterful stories, including the great Wolfe homage and big sign saying SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE which, in case you were slow on the uptake, is followed by a massive vision of a funeral. Artists include Mike Zulli, and there's another cruel but lush Zulli story right at the end. The script for Ramadan is included, and it's possibly the least informative of all the scripts, except to compare it to Russel's gorgeous execution of the story and the layouts is stunning.