The audio production was just as great as on the previous 2 volumes, but Brief Lives was always my least favorite of the original run. And Prez was one of my least favorite one shots. ( )

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. ( )

A worthy successor to Act I & II! The production value remains as high as ever (cast, music, sound design) - it's a pleasure to listen and immerse yourself in different worlds. The stories are still outstanding but the tone and tension are entirely different than in previous acts.

It's the first time I got to know some Sandman stories via audio adaptation first. I knew some of the stories from this Act, but the majority was new to me and I didn't have the comic images in mind when listening. Which has not taken any joy from the experience! I remember I had some issues with Act II spoiling crucial details or slowing down for lengthy expositions - this time nothing was breaking my flow. It's perfect!

The cast is amazing ("the regulars" as well as new additions), the adaptation is flawless, and the production seems to engage more senses than just hearing. The highlight of this Act for me was The Song of Orpheus, notably missing in Act II but completely justified to be moved here. Regé-Jean Page delivers, again, a wonderful performance.

Unfortunately, Brief Lives didn't work as well for me. This storyline feels like an interlude, providing some closure for loose ends from previous chapters and some setups for the next chapter, but I don't feel it fully stands on its own. It grapples with really strong themes - change, family, identity, freedom, and mortality - and I loved this exploration (a bit less "action sequences" as the tension seemed to be forced and inconsequential). It's still great material but story-wise it is not as captivating as previous installments.

I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the previous Acts. If you got hooked, then you'll be rewarded in this part. If you had doubts if this is for you, then they might get confirmed at this point. ( )

Not as riveting as the first two volumes, but I can say the same of the graphic novels from which these stories are taken. Still worth it, and expertly performed. I honestly feel I enjoyed these as much as the television series, though nothing will ever diminish the books. For one who loves all things Sandman, they’re a welcome addition. ( )