One of definitions of "Absolute" is all encompassing, which is why I am supremely pissed off to pay over $75 for the first volume of Absolute Sandman only to discover that it doesn't even include the script for Calliope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the fuck??!!!!??

If I'm expected to shell out that kind of boneage, which actually approaches a real amount of money for something that claims to be all encompassing, then I sure as fuck want EVERYTHING.

And don't even start about it having the script for A Mid-Summer Nights Dream. I have two words for you: whoop-dee-fucking-doo.

This is a fucking travesty and I demand an explanation.

First of all, mind the pottymouth.

Secondly, precious few of the Absolute series have contained absolutely everything, and Absolute Sandman was available at a variety of bookstores and libraries for your perusal before purchase. Caveat emptor and all that.

Thirdly, Midsummer Night's Dream is the only non-prose story to ever win a World Fantasy Award. I apologize if that doesn't mean much to you, but it does give it a bit more oomph than the complete script for Calliope.

Fourth, Calliope's script is gathered, at least in part, in this book, if you really want it.

Fifth, the definition you're looking for is "Perfect in quality or nature; complete," but I've always taken them to mean, "Unqualified in extent or degree; total," meaning that you aren't going to find a more thorough treatment of the book than this.

Fifth, am I talking out my arse on the Absolute editions not containing the complete script all the time every time? I know that Absolute Sandman doesn't, I'm fairly sure Absolute Watchmen had a least most of it, and I know that Kingdom Come and New Frontier were missing some bits people complained about.

One of the things that Neil wanted with the Absolute Edition was to offer new material that had not been seen before. The script to Calliope had been printed before, so instead of that script he opted to use the one that is there.

I would feel rather ripped-off if it had reprinted extras in it myself.

quote:

Originally posted by Dweller in Darkness:
Absolute Sandman was available at a variety of bookstores and libraries for your perusal before purchase. Caveat emptor and all that.

Thirdly, Midsummer Night's Dream is the only non-prose story to ever win a World Fantasy Award. I apologize if that doesn't mean much to you, but it does give it a bit more oomph than the complete script for Calliope.

Fourth, Calliope's script is gathered, at least in part, in this book, if you really want it.

Fifth, the definition you're looking for is "Perfect in quality or nature; complete," but I've always taken them to mean, "Unqualified in extent or degree; total," meaning that you aren't going to find a more thorough treatment of the book than this.

Fifth, am I talking out my arse on the Absolute editions not containing the complete script all the time every time? I know that Absolute Sandman doesn't, I'm fairly sure Absolute Watchmen had a least most of it, and I know that Kingdom Come and New Frontier were missing some bits people complained about.

Taking the points I quoted in turn:

Absolute Sandman costs at least $75 and almost every library is going to think twice before they order a book that costs that much, especially if the primary audience s going to be teenagers/young adults, as is the audience for Sandman. And since that particular age group isn't well known for giving a rats ass about their own property, let alone anyone else's or for being the neatest of people, most libraries will say, "I don't think so, go buy it yourself" when beseiged with requests for it.

As for perusing it in bookstores such as Borders/Barnes & Noble, sure I can peruse it, except I have to take the plastic wrap which including the price tag, which means that in most cases the book will have to be sent back to be recovered in plastic, as most book stores don't have a handy-dandy plastic wrap machine lying around. I know B&N and Borders don't having worked at both. And before you say it, don't bother, 'cause you and I both know it't not true. The majority of people who would take the plastic wrap off to look at the book or at any book wrapped in plastic, just toss the plastic any old place or crumple it up into a ball and squish it down between the cushions where it will stay for the next 10 years.

In other words, screw your caveat emptor.

And I know all about Midsummer winning the World Fantasy Prize. That's been beaten into everyone's head by now as well as the boring crap about how they changed the rules after it won. No one cares anymore.

As for the definition, no, that isn't the one I was looking for. I wasn't looking for a particular definition of the word. Rather I chose thee one in the unabridged OED, which is the definitive dictionary in this and all other universes.

As for the complete scripts being left out of the Absolute Editions, yeah, that's pretty much the case. The 10th Anniversary hardcover of Marvels had the complete script.

Watchmen had the first page of issue 1 and the last page of issue 12.

It just seems disingenuous to say the least to call some Absolute using of course the OED definition when it in fact is the farthest thing from Absolute. The description of it should have included the fact that the script for Calliope wasn't included.
End of story.

quote:

Originally posted by Cheers My Corn:


Absolute Sandman costs at least $75 and almost every library is going to think twice before they order a book that costs that much, especially if the primary audience s going to be teenagers/young adults, as is the audience for Sandman. And since that particular age group isn't well known for giving a rats ass about their own property, let alone anyone else's or for being the neatest of people, most libraries will say, "I don't think so, go buy it yourself" when beseiged with requests for it.

Speaking as a librarian who has ordered graphic novels for 2 library systems, we tend to put Sandman in the adult section, not the YA section. It is worth at least checking to see if your library has a copy.

After some time has passed, you'll be able to inter-library loan it through your local library. Not right away just after it was published (libraries aren't willing to lend their materials to other libraries when their patrons are still using the new books).

And, from my own experience, it would appear libraries have a higher opinion of teens than you do. I've never denied a purchase request based on age.

As to the rest of your complaints, I'd suggest contacting the publisher and requesting a more complete list of contents for the future publications. Ain't nothing we can do about it.

edit :

This reminds me of my new favorite quote:

You've Been So Helpful -- Thanks!

Thug teen: I wanna take out this fuckin' book.
Librarian: Okay, well, go to the check-out desk.
Thug teen: I got to go to the other fuckin' desk, mothafuckah?
Librarian: Yeah, motherfucker. The other fuckin' desk.

--Brooklyn Library

via Overheard in New York, Feb 12, 2007

Ah! I see my edit is all that more apt now!

quote:

...almost every library is going to think twice before they order a book that costs that much, especially if the primary audience s going to be teenagers/young adults, as is the audience for Sandman. And since that particular age group isn't well known for giving a rats ass about their own property, let alone anyone else's or for being the neatest of people...

Do we like steriotypes just a little bit?

quote:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dweller in Darkness:


As for perusing it in bookstores such as Borders/Barnes & Noble, sure I can peruse it, except I have to take the plastic wrap which including the price tag, which means that in most cases the book will have to be sent back to be recovered in plastic, as most book stores don't have a handy-dandy plastic wrap machine lying around. I know B&N and Borders don't having worked at both. And before you say it, don't bother, 'cause you and I both know it't not true. The majority of people who would take the plastic wrap off to look at the book or at any book wrapped in plastic, just toss the plastic any old place or crumple it up into a ball and squish it down between the cushions where it will stay for the next 10 years.

In other words, screw your caveat emptor.

In both Borders and Barnes and Noble stores they had copies that were unwrapped available for perusing. Every single store I checked at did. They even let you take the unwrapped copy to the table or sofa and look at it as long as you wanted.

quote:

Originally posted by Detour:

quote:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dweller in Darkness:


As for perusing it in bookstores such as Borders/Barnes & Noble, sure I can peruse it, except I have to take the plastic wrap which including the price tag, which means that in most cases the book will have to be sent back to be recovered in plastic, as most book stores don't have a handy-dandy plastic wrap machine lying around. I know B&N and Borders don't having worked at both. And before you say it, don't bother, 'cause you and I both know it't not true. The majority of people who would take the plastic wrap off to look at the book or at any book wrapped in plastic, just toss the plastic any old place or crumple it up into a ball and squish it down between the cushions where it will stay for the next 10 years.

In other words, screw your caveat emptor.

In both Borders and Barnes and Noble stores they had copies that were unwrapped available for perusing. Every single store I checked at did. They even let you take the unwrapped copy to the table or sofa and look at it as long as you wanted.

same here.

This annoyed me too (it was a gift from someone who no longer wanted to put up with my requests to get books from far away libraries)but everyone else is right. Your library might choose not to carry it (though this is likely more for lack of popularity of the series there, which has been my problem)but then again they might, and you could definetly have looked up what it contained or found an uncovered copy. It sucks that it disappointed you, butthat's life, right?

also, what do you think the neil gaiman message board is going to be able to do about it? if you read the FAQ's for this place, which ARE available, you'd see that we aren't comprised of a group of dedicated troubleshooters. i think the mods have been very pleasant, considering your first post was a bitchfest.

get over it, in other words.

also, don't use up all the !'s. other people might want some.

An honest comment:
I never liked the script for Calliope. It was okay, but really... what did it have that the comic didn't?

What exactly are you suggesting? Are you expecting each Absolute Sandman to contain the full scripts for each issue collected in it? Do you realize how insane that is? The books are staggeringly large, heavy, and unwieldy as is! I far prefer other unseen extras myself. In most cases the scripts don't enlighten me and if I read them at all I just skim through the descriptive parts for Neil's asides and anecdotes. I'd far rather that extra space be used for other rarities.