Sleeper
''Sleeper'' is an English-language term with multiple meanings. It may refer to:- In arts and entertainment:
- ''Sleeper'' (1973 film), a science fiction comedy directed by and starring Woody Allen
- Other fictional characters, television episodes, literature, musical groups, albums, songs, and artistic uses
- In biology: Sleeper fish or sleeper sharks
- In construction and engineering: Structural beams, railroad ties, or garden applications
- In fashion: Baby sleepers, sleeper earrings, or fashion brands
- In transportation: Sleeping cars, sleeper buses and trucks, performance vehicles, or hypothetical spacecraft
- Other uses: Sleeper agents, sleeper hits, or fantasy sports platforms
Arts and entertainment
Fictional characters
In the Wildstorm comic series Sleeper (2003–2005), written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Sean Phillips, the protagonist Holden Carver is a covert operative for International Operations who infiltrates the criminal organization led by the villain TAO.[1] Carver's backstory involves exposure to an alien artifact that grants him superhuman abilities, including rapid regeneration and complete immunity to physical pain or sensation, allowing him to absorb damage and redirect it through touch as a weapon.[2] This power isolates him emotionally, amplifying his moral ambiguity as he navigates betrayal, loyalty, and survival in a noir-infused world of espionage and superpowered crime, where his handler's coma leaves him unmoored between heroic ideals and villainous temptations.[1] Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Sleeper" (originally titled "Irene" in 1831 and revised through 1849) features a central figure, the deceased woman Irenë, depicted in a trance-like state of eternal repose that blurs the boundary between sleep and death.[3] The narrator, standing beneath a "mystic moon" at midnight in June, gazes upon her serene form amid gothic imagery of crimson chambers and winding sheets, interpreting her stillness as a peaceful slumber undisturbed by the world's chaos.[3] This character embodies Poe's recurring theme of transcendental love extending beyond mortality, symbolizing death as an alluring, dreamlike escape rather than oblivion, with the poem's revisions emphasizing her as a symbol of unchanging beauty in repose.[3] In the 2003 video game Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, developed by Core Design, the Sleeper serves as a pivotal plot device: a dormant, ancient entity revealed to be the last surviving member of the Nephilim, a biblical race of hybrid angel-human offspring believed exterminated millennia ago.[4] Buried in a subterranean complex, the Sleeper is targeted by the Cabal, a secretive organization led by alchemist Pieter Pieter van Eckhardt, who seeks to resurrect it using the alchemical artifact known as the Sanglyph to revive the Nephilim and dominate humanity.[4] As Lara Croft uncovers the conspiracy amid accusations of murder and pursuits across Paris and Prague, the Sleeper represents a latent threat of apocalyptic rebirth, its awakening thwarted in the game's climax at the Strahov facility.[5]Films
Sleeper (1973) is an American science fiction comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen, who also stars alongside Diane Keaton. The plot follows Miles Monroe, a health food store owner in 1973 who undergoes a minor surgery, is declared clinically dead, and is cryogenically frozen by his family without his consent. He awakens 200 years later in a dystopian future where society is controlled by a totalitarian regime, and he reluctantly joins a group of rebels attempting to overthrow the government by stealing a cone implanted in the nose of the former dictator.) The film blends slapstick humor with satirical commentary on politics, technology, and human nature. With a production budget of $2 million, it grossed $18.3 million at the box office, marking a significant commercial success for Allen's early career. Critically, it received widespread acclaim for its witty script and performances, earning a 7.1/10 rating on IMDb from over 46,000 users and 100% approval from 39 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, where it is regarded as a cult classic in science fiction comedy. Sleeper (2005), originally titled Schläfer, is an Austrian-German drama-thriller directed by Benjamin Heisenberg in his feature debut, starring Bastian Trost as Johannes Mehrveldt. The story centers on Johannes, a young German postgraduate researcher in virology at a Munich university, who befriends his Iranian colleague Farid Atabay (Mehdi Nebbou) but is soon approached by the German secret service to spy on him due to suspicions of terrorism. Complications arise when Farid begins a romance with waitress Beate (Loretta Pflaum), whom Johannes also develops feelings for, leading to a web of betrayal, professional rivalry, and emotional turmoil that explores themes of identity, migration, and post-9/11 paranoia. The film premiered at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, receiving praise for its subtle handling of tension and character-driven narrative, though it had a limited theatrical release. It holds a 6.4/10 rating on IMDb based on 409 user reviews, with critics noting its low-key intensity and Heisenberg's precise direction.Television episodes
Several television episodes titled "Sleeper" or "The Sleeper" have been produced across various series, often exploring themes of hidden identities, psychological turmoil, or espionage akin to sleeper agents in spy narratives. These self-contained stories typically appear in science fiction or supernatural genres, highlighting character-driven conflicts within larger season arcs.[6] In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the episode "Sleeper" (Season 7, Episode 8) aired on November 19, 2002, directed by Alan J. Levi and written by David Fury and Jane Espenson. The story centers on Spike's psychological torment following his soul's restoration, as he experiences memory lapses and is suspected by Buffy and the Scooby Gang of committing murders in Sunnydale, leading to an investigation that uncovers his unwitting involvement in a larger vampire threat. The episode received a 7.7/10 rating on IMDb from over 2,600 user votes and drew approximately 5.0 million viewers, contributing to the season's average of 4.1 million. No specific awards were nominated for this installment.[7][8][9] "Torchwood" features "Sleeper" (Series 2, Episode 2), which premiered on January 23, 2008, written by James Moran and directed by Colin Teague. The plot involves the Torchwood team investigating a burglary that escalates into a massacre, revealing a human woman, Beth, as an unwitting cybernetic sleeper agent programmed for a 21st-century alien invasion, forcing the group to contain a conspiracy threatening Cardiff. It holds a 7.4/10 IMDb rating based on 1,200 votes and attracted 3.4 million UK viewers, a 14% share of the audience. The episode garnered no individual awards but was part of the season praised for advancing the series' mythology.[10][11]Literature
One of the most notable literary works featuring the "sleeper" motif is Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Sleeper," first published in revised form in 1840 as part of his collection Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque.[3] Originally titled "Irene" when it appeared in the 1831 collection Poems of Edgar A. Poe, the poem underwent significant revisions, including a shift in focus from a dream vision to a more direct confrontation with death.[12] The narrative centers on a grieving lover who stands vigil at midnight beside the tomb of his deceased beloved, described in ethereal terms that blur the lines between slumber, dreams, and eternal rest. Poe employs vivid imagery of an opiate vapor and a "mystic moon" to evoke a dreamlike atmosphere, symbolizing the sleeper's transition into death as a profound, inescapable slumber.[13] Thematically, "The Sleeper" explores grief's transformative power and the gothic boundary between life and death, with the speaker's lament highlighting beauty preserved in mortality: "She is not dead,—/ But sleeps in the valley of many-colored grasses." This use of dream motifs underscores Poe's recurring interest in the macabre, where sleep represents both solace and horror, influencing later gothic literature by emphasizing psychological torment over physical decay.[14] Critics note its publication history reflects Poe's evolving style, moving toward denser symbolism that impacted poets like Baudelaire in their explorations of melancholy.[3] Another seminal work is H.G. Wells's dystopian novel When the Sleeper Wakes, serialized in 1899 and revised in 1910 as The Sleeper Awakes.[15] The story follows Graham, an artist who falls into a trance-like sleep in 1897 and awakens over two centuries later in a stratified future society where his accumulated wealth has made him a pivotal figure in a global oligarchy. Wells uses the "sleeper" archetype to critique capitalism and technological progress, portraying a world of aerial cities, labor exploitation, and revolutionary unrest.[16] Key themes include the perils of unchecked wealth accumulation and the betrayal of socialist ideals, as the protagonist grapples with his unintended role in perpetuating inequality. The 1910 revision streamlined the narrative for clarity, enhancing its prophetic vision of urban dystopias and influencing subsequent science fiction, such as Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.[17] While shorter works like Arthur Rimbaud's 1870 poem "The Sleeper in the Valley" employ the motif to contrast pastoral peace with the violence of war—depicting a soldier mistaken for a resting figure amid nature's serenity—these classics by Poe and Wells remain foundational for their enduring exploration of sleep as a metaphor for oblivion and awakening.[18]Musical groups
Sleeper is a British Britpop band formed in London in 1992, initially gaining prominence in the mid-1990s as part of the Britpop movement. The original lineup consisted of Louise Wener on vocals and guitar, Jon Stewart on guitar, Diid Osman on bass, and Andy Maclure on drums.[19] The band achieved commercial success with their debut album Smart (1995), which went gold in the UK, followed by the platinum-certified The It Girl (1996), featuring hits like "Inbetweener," "What Do I Do Now?," "Nice Guy Eddie," and "Sale of the Century."[20] Their third album, Pleased to Meet You (1997), marked a shift toward a more introspective sound but underperformed amid the Britpop genre's decline, leading to the band's dissolution in 1998 as the scene "imploded" due to self-embarrassment and shifting musical tastes.[21] Sleeper reunited in 2017 for live performances, retaining core members Wener, Stewart, and Maclure, with bassist Diid Osman replaced by Kieron Pepper.[19] The reunion culminated in their fourth studio album, The Modern Age (2019), and subsequent tours, including a 2025 greatest hits tour celebrating 30 years since "Inbetweener."[22] Their live shows during the reunion era emphasized high-energy performances of their catalog, drawing on their reputation for witty, feminist-leaning lyrics and Wener's charismatic stage presence.[23] Oh, Sleeper is an American metalcore band formed in 2006 in Fort Worth, Texas, blending post-hardcore elements with Christian lyrical themes.[24] The band originated from members of the short-lived rock group Terminal, including founding vocalist Micah Kinard, guitarist Shane Blay, rhythm guitarist James Erwin, bassist Lucas Starr, and drummer Ryan Conley.[25] Their debut album, When I Am God (2007), released on Solid State Records, established their aggressive sound with soaring clean vocals and breakdowns, followed by Son of the Morning (2009) after Conley's departure and replacement by Matt Davis on drums.[26] Subsequent releases included Children of Fire (2011) and the independent The Titan (2013), with lineup changes continuing, such as Starr's exit in 2011 (he passed away in 2018) and Erwin's in 2012.[27] Oh, Sleeper's discography reflects evolving production, incorporating electronic influences in later works, and they remain active with sporadic tours emphasizing their thematic focus on redemption and spiritual struggle.[24]Albums and songs
Sleeper, the English Britpop band, released their debut album Smart in February 1995 through Indolent Records. The album peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart and spent 15 weeks in the top 100.[28] It features 12 tracks, including the singles "Inbetweener" and "Swallow," and was certified gold by the BPI for sales exceeding 100,000 copies in the UK.[29] Key tracks highlight the band's witty lyrics and energetic rock sound, such as "Delicious," "Hunch," and "Vegas." The full track listing is as follows:- "Inbetweener" (3:18)
- "Swallow" (2:41)
- "Delicious" (3:01)
- "Hunch" (3:38)
- "Amuse" (2:09)
- "Bedhead" (3:00)
- "Lady Love Your Countryside" (2:39)
- "Vegas" (3:15)
- "Poor Flying Man" (4:01)
- "Alice in Vain" (3:35)
- "Twisted" (3:01)
- "Pyrotechnician" (3:26)
- "Lie Detector" (2:31)
- "Sale of the Century" (4:29)
- "What Do I Do Now?" (3:42)
- "Good Luck Mr. Gorsky" (4:05)
- "Feeling Peaky" (2:54)
- "Opium Man" (4:35)
- "Dress Like Your Mother" (2:34)
- "Statuesque" (3:23)
- "Glue Ears" (3:06)
- "Nice Guy Eddie" (3:20)
- "Stop Your Crying" (3:35)
- "Nothing Is Anywhere" (3:00)