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Dreamside
Finally available in the debut novel from the author of The Tooth Fairy and Dark Sister
It began as an experiment in college--a seemingly harmless investigation into "lucid dreaming," the ability to control one's dreams.
But they stayed too long on Dreamside, and now, ten years later, the dreams have returned--returned to upend their adult lives. The dreams of youth fade, if you're lucky. If not, they can consume you . . . and will.
It began as an experiment in college--a seemingly harmless investigation into "lucid dreaming," the ability to control one's dreams.
But they stayed too long on Dreamside, and now, ten years later, the dreams have returned--returned to upend their adult lives. The dreams of youth fade, if you're lucky. If not, they can consume you . . . and will.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
21 people are currently reading
632 people want to read
About the author
Graham Joyce
73 books569 followersGraham Joyce (22 October 1954 – 9 September 2014) was an English writer of speculative fiction and the recipient of numerous awards for both his novels and short stories.
After receiving a B.Ed. from Bishop Lonsdale College in 1977 and a M.A. from the University of Leicester in 1980. Joyce worked as a youth officer for the National Association of Youth Clubs until 1988. He subsequently quit his position and moved to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Crete to write his first novel, Dreamside. After selling Dreamside to Pan Books in 1991, Joyce moved back to England to pursue a career as a full-time writer.
Graham Joyce resided in Leicester with his wife, Suzanne Johnsen, and their two children, Joseph and Ella. He taught Creative Writing to graduate students at Nottingham Trent University from 1996 until his death, and was made a Reader in Creative Writing.
Joyce died on 9 September 2014. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013.
After receiving a B.Ed. from Bishop Lonsdale College in 1977 and a M.A. from the University of Leicester in 1980. Joyce worked as a youth officer for the National Association of Youth Clubs until 1988. He subsequently quit his position and moved to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Crete to write his first novel, Dreamside. After selling Dreamside to Pan Books in 1991, Joyce moved back to England to pursue a career as a full-time writer.
Graham Joyce resided in Leicester with his wife, Suzanne Johnsen, and their two children, Joseph and Ella. He taught Creative Writing to graduate students at Nottingham Trent University from 1996 until his death, and was made a Reader in Creative Writing.
Joyce died on 9 September 2014. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 19, 2013
Being a massive fan of lucid dreaming and everything to do with the subconscious, I picked up Dreamside expecting my mind to be absolutely blown away by the scary imagery, the ridiculously in-depth character background and how their individual relationships with each other.
Needless to say, I was rather underwhelmed. Joyce delivered a solid story with a decent plot and believable characters, but I felt that the dream imagery was rather underplayed. There were a fair amount of bizarre moments, and I loved how Joyce incorporated real-life aspects of dreaming (false awakenings, sleep paralysis, etc). However, the dreamscape seemed too similar and bland all the time for me to be truly immersed, and what all the characters decided to do in the lucid dreams were pretty unoriginal. Yet, this opinion is strongly based from taste, and creating a ridiculous dreamscape is a tough challenge for an author, so I'm not going to let this affect the rating too much.
The characters had a bit too much of a Dean Koontz feel to them; they were three-dimensional, but seemed to have absolutely no life outside of the plot. Sure, they had professions, personality traits and different dynamics with each other. Yet they weren't complicated, they seemed like plot puppets that were only in the book to move forth the story. I didn't feel any emotion at the end for the characters, which spoke volumes for me, personally.
I'm not sure, this book could have handled the dream theme a lot better, but I'm thankful it exists, because I think the topic of lucid dreaming is severely ignored in today's society. The book featuring a part of its story in the past was a very clever idea, and even allowed Joyce to get away with the almost perfect characterisation of Ella (she's much more roughed up in the first section of the book). However, the book still has its glaring flaws, and as a result I can only give it so much.
Needless to say, I was rather underwhelmed. Joyce delivered a solid story with a decent plot and believable characters, but I felt that the dream imagery was rather underplayed. There were a fair amount of bizarre moments, and I loved how Joyce incorporated real-life aspects of dreaming (false awakenings, sleep paralysis, etc). However, the dreamscape seemed too similar and bland all the time for me to be truly immersed, and what all the characters decided to do in the lucid dreams were pretty unoriginal. Yet, this opinion is strongly based from taste, and creating a ridiculous dreamscape is a tough challenge for an author, so I'm not going to let this affect the rating too much.
The characters had a bit too much of a Dean Koontz feel to them; they were three-dimensional, but seemed to have absolutely no life outside of the plot. Sure, they had professions, personality traits and different dynamics with each other. Yet they weren't complicated, they seemed like plot puppets that were only in the book to move forth the story. I didn't feel any emotion at the end for the characters, which spoke volumes for me, personally.
I'm not sure, this book could have handled the dream theme a lot better, but I'm thankful it exists, because I think the topic of lucid dreaming is severely ignored in today's society. The book featuring a part of its story in the past was a very clever idea, and even allowed Joyce to get away with the almost perfect characterisation of Ella (she's much more roughed up in the first section of the book). However, the book still has its glaring flaws, and as a result I can only give it so much.
January 26, 2009
This was Joyce's first novel--it's a much slimmer volume than his better-known THE TOOTH FAIRY or REQUIEM. I nearly gave it two stars, since the final return to the "dreamside" was so outrageously extreme--but somehow this little book had some mesmerizing ideas. The concept of 4 people linked in lucid dreaming, under the guidance of a college professor, is an interesting one. At first it's miraculous for the whole group--but what they've done is peel back the covering of something dark and dangerous (no surprise there; this IS Graham Joyce, after all).
However, the characters are all pretty two-dimensional, and that's a shame. It's almost as if they are just the clothesline upon which to hang the story--and the strangest character, a child who might have been BORN on the "dreamside" but not in reality, is never given her due.
Still, there's a spell that Joyce weaves--as dreams become nightmares--that drew me in. He steps back at the end, giving somewhat more of a "happy ending" than in others of his works. Maybe, since this was his first novel, he didn't realize just what a magnetic pull the dark would have on him in later works.
The quotations about dreaming at the beginning of each chapter are carefully chosen and come from a wide range of sources--well done.
However, the characters are all pretty two-dimensional, and that's a shame. It's almost as if they are just the clothesline upon which to hang the story--and the strangest character, a child who might have been BORN on the "dreamside" but not in reality, is never given her due.
Still, there's a spell that Joyce weaves--as dreams become nightmares--that drew me in. He steps back at the end, giving somewhat more of a "happy ending" than in others of his works. Maybe, since this was his first novel, he didn't realize just what a magnetic pull the dark would have on him in later works.
The quotations about dreaming at the beginning of each chapter are carefully chosen and come from a wide range of sources--well done.
February 1, 2016
This was a fantastic book that was finished way too soon in my opinion. I can't say enough about this book, so I'm going to keep this review minimal. I have a fascination with lucid dreaming, sleep studies, parallel realities, ghosts, haunted houses, and most things paranormal or otherworldly. If you enjoyed the psychology and fear aspect of the movie The Haunting (based on The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson) or if you're familiar with the "Brian" study that mass hypnosis/hysteria can conjure ghosts (or would read a story about the aftereffects of such a study) then this is the book for you. I felt that the ending wrapped up a bit too neatly, but this was definitely a book that kept me turning pages while trying to figure out what was dream and what, if anything, was reality. I love to read about dream worlds, ESP, Psychics, and pretty much anything paranormal, so this was right up my alley.
March 24, 2017
Négy fiatalról szól a regény, akik egyetemista korukban beiratkoznak egy álmokkal foglalkozó kurzusra. A professzoruk irányításával egyre jobban elmerülnek az álomvilágban. A professzor meghal , de ők folytatják az kísérleteket, amelyeket már nem tudnak teljes mértékben kontrollálni. Évek múlva megint összehozza őket a sors és akkor a rémálom kezd elhatalmasodni.
Az eleje tetszett, de a vége, mikor már thrillerre kezdett hasonlítani, nem.
Az eleje tetszett, de a vége, mikor már thrillerre kezdett hasonlítani, nem.
April 13, 2021
eminently enjoyable and readable. Joyce can paint a wonderful word picture.
April 7, 2018
In Dreamside Graham Joyce perfectly captures the slow, heavy feeling of being stuck in a bad dream, unable to properly distinguish fantasy from reality, and struggling to wake up.
The plot is split between the flashbacks to the past, which delve heavily into the mechanisms and psychology of both dreaming and group dynamics; and the current action which is tense and mysterious, as the characters are haunted by their past mistakes, in dreaming and with each other.
This falls somewhere between sci-fi, magic realism, and fantasy: and due to the lack of sufficient knowledge about dream states and lucid dreaming, I would say that this is a grey area that Joyce thoroughly explores, whilst somehow leaving it as shrouded in post-wake-up fog as before.
As in other books I have read by Graham Joyce, the prose is beautiful, almost poetic, yet somehow encapsulates the mundane details of life, and the awkwardness of not-quite-connecting, not-quite-belonging. I feel that, more than the plot, it is this ethereally earthy dichotomy which draws the reader to his writing, and tempts his classification as ‘literary fiction’ in addition to the previously mentioned genres.
Dreamside is not a light, whimsical read, and certainly not an ‘easy’ one, but a thoughtful treatise on the relationships within a group, and how the different individual personalities and actions can impact on each other in unforseen, and predictable, ways.
It had been a strange night. A dervish of unfathomable, fevered images had crowded his dreams. Now they were sluicing away, as though painted on his skin. He threw on his once-white towelling robe and went into his kitchen. Somewhere a time-set radio switched itself on and a breakfast voice piped feebly. He took an egg and cracked it on a pan but it didn’t break. He tried a second time. Again it didn’t break. “Oh, no,” he said, “oh, no…” Raising the egg close to his face, he blew on it sharply.
Then he woke up.
– Graham Joyce, Dreamside
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
The plot is split between the flashbacks to the past, which delve heavily into the mechanisms and psychology of both dreaming and group dynamics; and the current action which is tense and mysterious, as the characters are haunted by their past mistakes, in dreaming and with each other.
This falls somewhere between sci-fi, magic realism, and fantasy: and due to the lack of sufficient knowledge about dream states and lucid dreaming, I would say that this is a grey area that Joyce thoroughly explores, whilst somehow leaving it as shrouded in post-wake-up fog as before.
As in other books I have read by Graham Joyce, the prose is beautiful, almost poetic, yet somehow encapsulates the mundane details of life, and the awkwardness of not-quite-connecting, not-quite-belonging. I feel that, more than the plot, it is this ethereally earthy dichotomy which draws the reader to his writing, and tempts his classification as ‘literary fiction’ in addition to the previously mentioned genres.
Dreamside is not a light, whimsical read, and certainly not an ‘easy’ one, but a thoughtful treatise on the relationships within a group, and how the different individual personalities and actions can impact on each other in unforseen, and predictable, ways.
It had been a strange night. A dervish of unfathomable, fevered images had crowded his dreams. Now they were sluicing away, as though painted on his skin. He threw on his once-white towelling robe and went into his kitchen. Somewhere a time-set radio switched itself on and a breakfast voice piped feebly. He took an egg and cracked it on a pan but it didn’t break. He tried a second time. Again it didn’t break. “Oh, no,” he said, “oh, no…” Raising the egg close to his face, he blew on it sharply.
Then he woke up.
– Graham Joyce, Dreamside
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
March 20, 2018
Dreamside is Graham Joyce's first novel and it shows, in that it doesn't have the same sophistication of his later work. Having said that, there's some good writing here, but the fantasy element was too far-fetched for me, particularly the latter scenes. In the early 1970s four students sign up to an experiment in lucid dreaming - the ability to control one's dreams - led by Professor Burns. What begins as an enjoyable exploration of their dreams and sexuality, turns into a nightmare over which they have no control.
February 4, 2015
Four students engage in an experiment using lucid dreaming. But when the experiment ends, they continue the dreaming, with devastating consequences for them all. An interesting concept and a suspenseful, fast read.
September 1, 2023
over the years Graham Joyce has become one of, if not my favorite authors, at least one i always looked forward to reading. he has a grasp of magical realism, of the thinning of the veil and the intersection of folklore, magic and "the real world". of course his over the top supreme BRITISHNESS screams through in every page which for me only adds to the charm - sort of like reading the literary equivalent of Nil By Mouth - although it's somewhat more muted here in his debut than in others (notably The Limits Of Enchantment).
and it truly is hard to think of this as his debut, even allowing for the (often true) cliche of demo era/first albums being the best. i am an unabashed lover of this book in a way that i don't often love books. the descriptions practically sparkle off the page and the characters are believable in their annoyances (Lee in particular is terrible). the writing is phenomenal and the central conceit is equal parts spellbinding and terrifying. writing about dreams in an engaging way is hard. nearly every dream sequence in any book is a guaranteed skip for me so for this to succeed is really saying something. the professor was a great character, lots of color there, same for Brad despite being a bastard.
the book has its flaws - the pacing is a little off, Honora is underwritten. the endless potential of the dreamworld is barely mined - but then again let's recall that we're dealing with dreaming 20-somethings, so of course it's all ethereal BJs. the regrettable fixation that Joyce has with Catholicism rears its cassocked head for the first time here and nearly derails the ending (this would get much, much worse with Requiem and others). and yet, and yet... there's a scintillation here, an addictive quality, an unrest that pulls me back time and again, much like what i imagine the attraction of the dreamside itself would feel like.
"he hath awakened from the dream of life." flaws noted, a slam dunk of a read.
and it truly is hard to think of this as his debut, even allowing for the (often true) cliche of demo era/first albums being the best. i am an unabashed lover of this book in a way that i don't often love books. the descriptions practically sparkle off the page and the characters are believable in their annoyances (Lee in particular is terrible). the writing is phenomenal and the central conceit is equal parts spellbinding and terrifying. writing about dreams in an engaging way is hard. nearly every dream sequence in any book is a guaranteed skip for me so for this to succeed is really saying something. the professor was a great character, lots of color there, same for Brad despite being a bastard.
the book has its flaws - the pacing is a little off, Honora is underwritten. the endless potential of the dreamworld is barely mined - but then again let's recall that we're dealing with dreaming 20-somethings, so of course it's all ethereal BJs. the regrettable fixation that Joyce has with Catholicism rears its cassocked head for the first time here and nearly derails the ending (this would get much, much worse with Requiem and others). and yet, and yet... there's a scintillation here, an addictive quality, an unrest that pulls me back time and again, much like what i imagine the attraction of the dreamside itself would feel like.
"he hath awakened from the dream of life." flaws noted, a slam dunk of a read.
September 12, 2024
There are certain books that stay with you long after you read them and Dreamside for me is one of these. I first read it as a teenager and the concept of lucid dreaming fascinated me. I’ve always been a fan of the Nightmare on Elm Street films and the whole set up of a group of teens trying to shape their dreams in group sessions reminded me of Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. Loved how things started off light and then took a dark turn.
Re-reading it 30 years on, I was much more interested in the psychological aspect and the relationship between the four characters and how the unspoken tensions took monstrous form Dreamside. I also liked the parallel of their summer idyll becoming a toxic waste dump. The ‘elementals’ are never really explained but I’m not sure they even need to be – you can read them simply as monsters from the Id if you will.
I like the narrative structure – we begin in present day – 1986 then flash back to 1974. As well as a horror novel this weaves in strands about how we can’t bury mistakes of the past and have to face our demons and I thought flipping between the two versions of the characters nicely enhanced that.
While Dreamside didn’t have nearly the same impact on me as an adult, I still really enjoyed it a second time round. I hated the new 2000 cover design by Jan Uretsky and Shelley Eshkar however – The autumnal colours, silhouetted tree and falling leaf don’t give any indication of the contents or even feel like a fantasy-horror novel. I remember the old purple pan cover of the body among the rocks, which intrigued me enough to take it out from the local library, I think had it been the new edition I might have passed it over as it doesn’t at all look my type of thing, which just shows you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Re-reading it 30 years on, I was much more interested in the psychological aspect and the relationship between the four characters and how the unspoken tensions took monstrous form Dreamside. I also liked the parallel of their summer idyll becoming a toxic waste dump. The ‘elementals’ are never really explained but I’m not sure they even need to be – you can read them simply as monsters from the Id if you will.
I like the narrative structure – we begin in present day – 1986 then flash back to 1974. As well as a horror novel this weaves in strands about how we can’t bury mistakes of the past and have to face our demons and I thought flipping between the two versions of the characters nicely enhanced that.
While Dreamside didn’t have nearly the same impact on me as an adult, I still really enjoyed it a second time round. I hated the new 2000 cover design by Jan Uretsky and Shelley Eshkar however – The autumnal colours, silhouetted tree and falling leaf don’t give any indication of the contents or even feel like a fantasy-horror novel. I remember the old purple pan cover of the body among the rocks, which intrigued me enough to take it out from the local library, I think had it been the new edition I might have passed it over as it doesn’t at all look my type of thing, which just shows you can’t judge a book by its cover.
October 16, 2020
The first half of this book is similar to INDIGO. Both involve people who are trying to expand their mind or consciousness by doing some sort of experiment. In INDIGO it had to do with visibility and seeing. In DREAMSIDE it had to do with your dreams and controlling them. And in both, the methods given to reach the state of heightened awareness seem really probable for success. DREAMSIDE focuses on four college students who work on the power of lucid dreaming, the ability to control and be aware of your dreams while dreaming. This talent and their growth in using it is told in a flashback as something dangerous and unknown starts to play havoc with their lives in the present. In that regards the story follows the typical "something evil happens when younger and comes back to revisit when adults" theme. I'm not too sure why but halfway through the book, I lost my momentum to finish it. The story seemed fine and interesting all the way through and the ending wasn't totally predictable but I wasn't able to finish the book as quickly as I started it. Despite that I would probably recommend this more than some of his later works since this book has more supernatural or weird things happening than his later and more literary material.
January 27, 2022
DNF at page 70
This is the second book by this author that I have read now, and although I did not finish this one I did finish the first and gave it a one star. I think that it’s safe to say that this author just doesn’t work for me personally in terms of writing and in storylines overall. I believe that I only own these two books by him but I’ll have to double check to be sure. There are a couple of authors that I intend to purge from my shelves as I just continue to find the works to be below a rating that makes them worth the time that it takes to read them (for me). If an author’s books are only averaging a one or two star rating from me despite how many I read, than it’s obvious that I need to move on from that author.
This is the second book by this author that I have read now, and although I did not finish this one I did finish the first and gave it a one star. I think that it’s safe to say that this author just doesn’t work for me personally in terms of writing and in storylines overall. I believe that I only own these two books by him but I’ll have to double check to be sure. There are a couple of authors that I intend to purge from my shelves as I just continue to find the works to be below a rating that makes them worth the time that it takes to read them (for me). If an author’s books are only averaging a one or two star rating from me despite how many I read, than it’s obvious that I need to move on from that author.
August 15, 2022
This is Joyce's debut novel. It is told in three parts. The first and last part are set about 13 years after uni, and the middle part concentrates on a lucid dreaming study, that shows the four uni students 'dreamside'. The study into controlling dreams is more powerful, connective, and dangerous than those involved thought possible.
I found the first and last part quite captivating, although also very dark. The middle bit dragged more than Joyce's later work, but this is still worth reading, although not as much as his other novels.
I found the first and last part quite captivating, although also very dark. The middle bit dragged more than Joyce's later work, but this is still worth reading, although not as much as his other novels.
March 7, 2019
I couldn’t wait to sink into Dreamside, I think my expectations exceeded my dreams of what this book did for me. I love the concept and what the dreams come to in the end an amazing first novel I’ll say that for sure.
October 13, 2019
I wanted to read about lucid dreaming & loved Joyce’s Limits if Enchantment. This didn’t seem to cover as much about lucid dreaming as I expected. It seems to skirt around the the fun, scary, eerie parts I expected. But I love Joyce’s writing. I look forward to some of his others.
May 17, 2020
Interesting and unique idea about lucid dreaming, but the story felt unresolved. The violent act was never resolved, nor its consequences (without being spoilery). I would have liked more repercussions of these events.
June 21, 2025
Das Konzept des Buches hat mir richtig gut gefallen. Die Geschichte beginnt sehr spannend und ist schön geschrieben, die Chemie zwischen Lee und Ella gefiel mir besonders gut. Leider verliert sich das Buch so ab der Hälfte und das Ende war wahnsinnig unspektakulär
August 24, 2020
Dreadful!
August 1, 2021
I am a big fan of Graham Joyce but his first novel is kind of a mess. Unlikeable characters and no internal logic.
April 9, 2022
I wasn't "gripped", but an enjoyable read nevertheless.
July 13, 2022
So. Freaking. Weird. In the best possible way.
July 17, 2022
Decent premise, dreadful execution.
January 10, 2024
I guess I missed the point with this one. The characters felt like stereotypes and the ending was unsatisfying.
Read
October 3, 2024The ending was shit.
January 24, 2025
Érdekes koncepció, nem a legjobb kivitelezés. Egy felejthető történet.
March 9, 2017
This might've gotten 5 stars had it had a different ending.
November 23, 2014
Graham Joyce was not an author I was aware of until Neil Gaiman tweeted about his untimely death. So I sought out this book, his first novel, since he seemed to operate in an area of fiction I like.
This is a story about lucid dreaming, the ability to control one's dreams consciously and even interact with other dreamers. Focussing on four students, Ella, Lee, Honora and Brad, who take part in a study on lucid dreaming run by a professor Burns in the 1970's, we follow their struggles to gain and then control the ability to affect their dreams. Joyce's writing here (this part of the story is told in flashback) is wonderful, poetic even. The picture he paints of "Dreamside" is idyllic and the four are excited by the possibilities that lucid dreaming offers.
It is only when the experiment comes to an end, when they decide, rashly, to carry on without supervision, that things take a darker turn. The sexual tensions within the group ultimately lead to tragedy and they splinter.
Thirteen years later (which is when the book opens), the four are troubled by dark dreams again. Someone, or some thing, is stalking them. Something has crossed over from Dreamside and, led by Ella, they must return to undo what was done. The second half of the book is much darker, horror dripping from the page as they struggle to separate reality from dreaming.
Joyce is a good writer and the story rattles along but at one point you are asked to suspend disbelief in order for the plot to advance. And it's a big ask. Some will go with it, as I did, and some won't. But the whole latter part of the book hinges on that choice. For me, at the end, things are never quite explained properly, loose ends never quite tied up satisfactorily. But as a first novel its a million times better than some of the drek that clogs up the best seller shelves. I'll be reading more of Mr Joyce, and if you enjoy fantastical fiction with a dark twist, I'd urge you to do so too.
This is a story about lucid dreaming, the ability to control one's dreams consciously and even interact with other dreamers. Focussing on four students, Ella, Lee, Honora and Brad, who take part in a study on lucid dreaming run by a professor Burns in the 1970's, we follow their struggles to gain and then control the ability to affect their dreams. Joyce's writing here (this part of the story is told in flashback) is wonderful, poetic even. The picture he paints of "Dreamside" is idyllic and the four are excited by the possibilities that lucid dreaming offers.
It is only when the experiment comes to an end, when they decide, rashly, to carry on without supervision, that things take a darker turn. The sexual tensions within the group ultimately lead to tragedy and they splinter.
Thirteen years later (which is when the book opens), the four are troubled by dark dreams again. Someone, or some thing, is stalking them. Something has crossed over from Dreamside and, led by Ella, they must return to undo what was done. The second half of the book is much darker, horror dripping from the page as they struggle to separate reality from dreaming.
Joyce is a good writer and the story rattles along but at one point you are asked to suspend disbelief in order for the plot to advance. And it's a big ask. Some will go with it, as I did, and some won't. But the whole latter part of the book hinges on that choice. For me, at the end, things are never quite explained properly, loose ends never quite tied up satisfactorily. But as a first novel its a million times better than some of the drek that clogs up the best seller shelves. I'll be reading more of Mr Joyce, and if you enjoy fantastical fiction with a dark twist, I'd urge you to do so too.
June 4, 2013
Very interesting book. The beginning was slightly off-putting. The author's very clear vagueness of subjects and people to come was just a bit too obvious for me to start. He kept phrasing things like, "Who do you think it is, him or her?" when naturally, you'd have used names, especially repeatedly referencing these same people in this way. I almost put the book down because I worried the entire book would be written in this way. There was just no reason for it, really. In fact, it would have drawn a better connection to the beginning of the book if he'd simply used their names and referenced the actual subject matter they were talking about clearly.
But, that aside, I've always been intrigued by the subject of lucid dreaming and have experienced episodes of it, though few and far between. It was a bit inspiring to restart an effort to train yourself to lucid dream.
The majority of the story is told from Lee and Ella's perspectives with a chapter here and there for Honora and Brad, though I feel the story would have been much more involved if we'd seen more of the world and Dreamside through their eyes.
But, that aside, I've always been intrigued by the subject of lucid dreaming and have experienced episodes of it, though few and far between. It was a bit inspiring to restart an effort to train yourself to lucid dream.
The majority of the story is told from Lee and Ella's perspectives with a chapter here and there for Honora and Brad, though I feel the story would have been much more involved if we'd seen more of the world and Dreamside through their eyes.
October 4, 2010
This wasn't a bad book, I just wish there were more things happening. It felt almost like just an overview...it also reminded me of a Nighmare on Elm Street movie. Except for the killing...lol!
4 college students participate in an experiment regarding dreams in 1976. It is about "lucid dreaming" and how far they can go in controlling their dreams.
They end up getting pretty far, but when the professor dies he tells them to stop with the experiments. Unfortunately they do not stop and this leads to some bad things.
Fast forward to 1986 and lucid dreaming is still continuing and getting worse. Now weird things are happening even when they are awake and half the time they are not even sure if they are awake or still sleeping.
Ella, one of the 4 college students tries to get everyone back together to end this once and for all.
Like I said, not a bad book, but I just wish there were more details...
4 college students participate in an experiment regarding dreams in 1976. It is about "lucid dreaming" and how far they can go in controlling their dreams.
They end up getting pretty far, but when the professor dies he tells them to stop with the experiments. Unfortunately they do not stop and this leads to some bad things.
Fast forward to 1986 and lucid dreaming is still continuing and getting worse. Now weird things are happening even when they are awake and half the time they are not even sure if they are awake or still sleeping.
Ella, one of the 4 college students tries to get everyone back together to end this once and for all.
Like I said, not a bad book, but I just wish there were more details...
April 21, 2013
This does have its share of first novel flaws, but the concept is fascinating, the forays into the dreamworld are interesting - they're fairly straightforward in the early parts where the main characters are college kids trying out their chops, and then become more intense as their mentor guided their lucid dreaming. What with raging hormones and all they spend a lot of their time having sex, or trying to. I think this is realistic given the dynamics of this group, and what they do sows the seeds for the souring of their dream. Years later, one of them tries to draw them back into the dream, to try and finish what they started and the climax in the dream world has all the pyrotechnics you could hope for. It's a subtle, intelligent novel, and is as much about people, relationships and choices as it is about the fantastic ideas that drive the plot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews