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To Build a Dream
He could be dead, dreaming, or painfully alive. Does he really want to find out which?
Timothy Smit is sick. He’s stuck in middle management at a second-rate news aggregator when an intense coughing fit causes him to pass out at his desk. Tim wakes up in the ICU to a diagnosis of a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer and the news that he likely has no more than a few months left to live.
Confined to a hospital bed with his health deteriorating, Tim finds himself immersed in a series of vivid dreams. As he becomes increasingly captivated by this enigmatic fantasy world, he realizes his dreams just might be keeping him alive.
But can Tim discover a real life worth living before it’s too late?
To Build a Dream is a mesmerizing psychological sci-fi novel that blurs the line between dreams and reality. If you like lone heroes fighting to survive, visionary quests, and a race against time, then you’ll love Greg Hickey’s enthralling dream world.
Buy To Build a Dream and let your imagination take over today!
Timothy Smit is sick. He’s stuck in middle management at a second-rate news aggregator when an intense coughing fit causes him to pass out at his desk. Tim wakes up in the ICU to a diagnosis of a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer and the news that he likely has no more than a few months left to live.
Confined to a hospital bed with his health deteriorating, Tim finds himself immersed in a series of vivid dreams. As he becomes increasingly captivated by this enigmatic fantasy world, he realizes his dreams just might be keeping him alive.
But can Tim discover a real life worth living before it’s too late?
To Build a Dream is a mesmerizing psychological sci-fi novel that blurs the line between dreams and reality. If you like lone heroes fighting to survive, visionary quests, and a race against time, then you’ll love Greg Hickey’s enthralling dream world.
Buy To Build a Dream and let your imagination take over today!
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2023
31 people want to read
About the author
Greg Hickey
9 books139 followersGreg Hickey is a former international professional baseball player and forensic scientist, and endurance athlete and Amazon-bestselling author. His previous works include the novels Parabellum, The Friar’s Lantern and Our Dried Voices, the latter of which was a finalist for Foreword Reviews' INDIES Science Fiction Book of the Year Award. He lives in Chicago with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
September 14, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Thriller + Science Fiction
This is the story of Timothy Smit, who works for a mediocre news aggregator. One day, an intense episode of coughing caused him to pass out at his desk while he was working. Tim regains consciousness in the intensive care unit (ICU) to learn that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer and that it is highly unlikely that he will have more than a few months left to live.
Tim is admitted to the hospital, and there his health deteriorates further. All this causes the man to be sucked into a series of very vivid dreams. As he grows more and more entranced by this mysterious fantasy world of dreams, he starts to believe that these dreams might be the reason why he remains alive.
This is a really intriguing tale in which the boundary between life and death is not clearly delineated and often appears hazy. The reader, much like the character himself, embarks on this adventure in the dark about what exactly is going on. Therefore, there is a significant amount of suspense and a feeling of unknownness, both of which contribute significantly to the mood of the story.
I think the author has done a great job with the characters and building the atmosphere. It is an interesting read. Just be sure you are aware of the trigger warnings, which are mainly related to the disease.
I’d like to thank the author for sending me an ARC of this book.
Genre: Thriller + Science Fiction
This is the story of Timothy Smit, who works for a mediocre news aggregator. One day, an intense episode of coughing caused him to pass out at his desk while he was working. Tim regains consciousness in the intensive care unit (ICU) to learn that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer and that it is highly unlikely that he will have more than a few months left to live.
Tim is admitted to the hospital, and there his health deteriorates further. All this causes the man to be sucked into a series of very vivid dreams. As he grows more and more entranced by this mysterious fantasy world of dreams, he starts to believe that these dreams might be the reason why he remains alive.
This is a really intriguing tale in which the boundary between life and death is not clearly delineated and often appears hazy. The reader, much like the character himself, embarks on this adventure in the dark about what exactly is going on. Therefore, there is a significant amount of suspense and a feeling of unknownness, both of which contribute significantly to the mood of the story.
I think the author has done a great job with the characters and building the atmosphere. It is an interesting read. Just be sure you are aware of the trigger warnings, which are mainly related to the disease.
I’d like to thank the author for sending me an ARC of this book.
March 24, 2024
This was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me. Tim has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, will he make? Another good read from the author; solid writing and thought provoking.
Read
January 5, 2026Protagonist Tim's life is monotonous, betraying the vibrancy and zeal of the soundtrack of his college days. Once an eager young adult craving a fulfilling career in political analysis, musical prestige, and maybe even a lady to share it with, Tim wakes up one day to find himself in a midlife slump. His career aspirations have hit a dead end, his guitar collects dust in his closet, and his love life is a series of disappointments. When he feels that things couldn't get much worse, he finds himself facing death both in reality and in his dreams, and his actions in each plane have equally severe consequences for himself and for others. Faced with the choice of a streamlined end to an unfulfilling life or a harrowing journey into renewed possibility, Tim faces the music and hits "PLAY" on the soundtrack of his dream life once more. Author Greg Hickey has crafted a peculiar dreamscape that will make readers reassess both their real-time actions and their shelved dreams.
The appeal of this novel derives largely from its simple elegance. Though there are richer themes to be gathered from the context, this book reads a lot like classic turn-of-the-century allegories. The Great Divorce comes to mind as a comparison; its curious approach to an exploration of religion is quite like Hickey's exploration of purpose and self-worth. Whereas Lewis used surrealism and dreamscapes to unpack ascent into Heaven or descent into Hell, Hickey uses similar mechanics to unpack the choice between life and death. There's a no-fuss approach to Hickey's story, and he gets to his major points without making unnecessary detours or splurging on character building, reviving the simplicity and straight-forward nature of the writing of our favorite literary theologians of years past. Further, to Hickey's credit, this novel is a fabulous display of well-informed authorship as Hickey was wonderfully descriptive about Tim's battle with cancer, carefully balancing a lingering hope with an aching despair.
That being said, I don't necessarily feel that I was part of the target audience for this novel. There are similar themes to another novel I have read, Small Rain in particular; both novels explore middle-aged men who are reassessing their priorities while battling life-or-death situations and recovering with the help of music. However, Greenwell's book is more accessible to a wider audience because its realism and sexual diversity strengthen its appeal to readers outside of the age and gender demographic of Hickey's protagonist. Hickey's protagonist is a vague, unremarkable character whose narrow interests do not necessarily reach readers of my generation as reliably. Greenwell's protagonist in a parallel position to Tim is a gay educator whose love for poetry and more niche music soften the reader's reception. Though readers like me feel empathetic towards Tim, he is not a character I felt easily connected to.
Further, Greenwell's approach relied on the assessment of real-life scenarios that any reader could easily find themselves in, and he provided the richness of these scenarios that Hickey's cut-and-dry storytelling does not typically allow for. For example, Greenwell explicitly addresses the difficulties of being a gay man in America, the tension between MAGA Americans and liberals, the frustration of language barriers, and the financial strife of homeownership, to name a few. In what seems to be an attempt at garnering the vague appeal of a wider audience, Hickey instead avoids directly addressing his protagonist's political values and theology in depth. This tactic seems to work really well with an older male audience-- I figure this would appeal to readers in my parents' generation-- that shies away from the pressure of write-in diversity and challenged beliefs and instead lauds a don't-ask-don't-tell mindset. My generation of readers craves literature with an in-your-face attitude towards hot-button topics. I still enjoyed this novel, so this all comes to me as commentary instead of criticism, but I think someone of a much different lifestyle would resonate with it a lot more.
Further, the musical selections featured in this novel emphasize the fact that the target audience for this novel constitutes a different sector of the reading community that rarely overlaps with my literary circles. To be fair, Hickey offers a communally agreed-upon selection of the guitar greats for Tim's playlists. However, I was surprised to find that the title of this novel was borrowed from Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter," a song that really does not showcase guitar prominently, because Tim's recover (even up to his final dream) is inseparable from his guitarist aspirations. I wonder if Hickey chose a song by Led Zeppelin because Jimmy Page is not really on any serious guitarist's mind for "Greatest Guitarist of All Time;" Page is generally revered as a great performer but sloppy guitar player. Did he choose Page's band to give Tim an example of a guitarist whose skill he could realistically rival one day? Curious.
Still, I do have some criticisms that led this book to four-star status rather than five-star. One thing that bothered me throughout the novel was the dream-character Triggs whose presence in the book was, to me, superfluous. Perhaps there was some greater purpose Triggs served that went over my head, but I felt that everything Tim accomplished in his dreams could have been achieved independently of Triggs. I assume that Triggs' character highlighted Tim's desperation for control and unfulfilled companionship, if anything, but I think that element was also exaggerated in the final dream Tim shares with us. In that last glorious dream, Tim's mind races towards an unidentified woman (?), underscoring his unfulfilled relationships and desire for a partnership. I think it would have been more effective for the final dream to feature Triggs' reappearance to emphasize the value of Tim's budding friendships (between you and I, Tim is not emotionally prepared for a romantic relationship).
Overall, I enjoyed the novel because of it reminded me of some of my classic favorites and because I really respect Hickey's well-informed writing about both dreams and cancer treatment. There is a tuneful balance between reality and dream that makes it a quick, easy, and generally fulfilling read. While older male audiences would feel most connected to the protagonist storyline, this is a curious story that showcases Hickey's authorship. Thank you to Hickey for the copy of the book he so graciously allowed me to read!
The appeal of this novel derives largely from its simple elegance. Though there are richer themes to be gathered from the context, this book reads a lot like classic turn-of-the-century allegories. The Great Divorce comes to mind as a comparison; its curious approach to an exploration of religion is quite like Hickey's exploration of purpose and self-worth. Whereas Lewis used surrealism and dreamscapes to unpack ascent into Heaven or descent into Hell, Hickey uses similar mechanics to unpack the choice between life and death. There's a no-fuss approach to Hickey's story, and he gets to his major points without making unnecessary detours or splurging on character building, reviving the simplicity and straight-forward nature of the writing of our favorite literary theologians of years past. Further, to Hickey's credit, this novel is a fabulous display of well-informed authorship as Hickey was wonderfully descriptive about Tim's battle with cancer, carefully balancing a lingering hope with an aching despair.
That being said, I don't necessarily feel that I was part of the target audience for this novel. There are similar themes to another novel I have read, Small Rain in particular; both novels explore middle-aged men who are reassessing their priorities while battling life-or-death situations and recovering with the help of music. However, Greenwell's book is more accessible to a wider audience because its realism and sexual diversity strengthen its appeal to readers outside of the age and gender demographic of Hickey's protagonist. Hickey's protagonist is a vague, unremarkable character whose narrow interests do not necessarily reach readers of my generation as reliably. Greenwell's protagonist in a parallel position to Tim is a gay educator whose love for poetry and more niche music soften the reader's reception. Though readers like me feel empathetic towards Tim, he is not a character I felt easily connected to.
Further, Greenwell's approach relied on the assessment of real-life scenarios that any reader could easily find themselves in, and he provided the richness of these scenarios that Hickey's cut-and-dry storytelling does not typically allow for. For example, Greenwell explicitly addresses the difficulties of being a gay man in America, the tension between MAGA Americans and liberals, the frustration of language barriers, and the financial strife of homeownership, to name a few. In what seems to be an attempt at garnering the vague appeal of a wider audience, Hickey instead avoids directly addressing his protagonist's political values and theology in depth. This tactic seems to work really well with an older male audience-- I figure this would appeal to readers in my parents' generation-- that shies away from the pressure of write-in diversity and challenged beliefs and instead lauds a don't-ask-don't-tell mindset. My generation of readers craves literature with an in-your-face attitude towards hot-button topics. I still enjoyed this novel, so this all comes to me as commentary instead of criticism, but I think someone of a much different lifestyle would resonate with it a lot more.
Further, the musical selections featured in this novel emphasize the fact that the target audience for this novel constitutes a different sector of the reading community that rarely overlaps with my literary circles. To be fair, Hickey offers a communally agreed-upon selection of the guitar greats for Tim's playlists. However, I was surprised to find that the title of this novel was borrowed from Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter," a song that really does not showcase guitar prominently, because Tim's recover (even up to his final dream) is inseparable from his guitarist aspirations. I wonder if Hickey chose a song by Led Zeppelin because Jimmy Page is not really on any serious guitarist's mind for "Greatest Guitarist of All Time;" Page is generally revered as a great performer but sloppy guitar player. Did he choose Page's band to give Tim an example of a guitarist whose skill he could realistically rival one day? Curious.
Still, I do have some criticisms that led this book to four-star status rather than five-star. One thing that bothered me throughout the novel was the dream-character Triggs whose presence in the book was, to me, superfluous. Perhaps there was some greater purpose Triggs served that went over my head, but I felt that everything Tim accomplished in his dreams could have been achieved independently of Triggs. I assume that Triggs' character highlighted Tim's desperation for control and unfulfilled companionship, if anything, but I think that element was also exaggerated in the final dream Tim shares with us. In that last glorious dream, Tim's mind races towards an unidentified woman (?), underscoring his unfulfilled relationships and desire for a partnership. I think it would have been more effective for the final dream to feature Triggs' reappearance to emphasize the value of Tim's budding friendships (between you and I, Tim is not emotionally prepared for a romantic relationship).
Overall, I enjoyed the novel because of it reminded me of some of my classic favorites and because I really respect Hickey's well-informed writing about both dreams and cancer treatment. There is a tuneful balance between reality and dream that makes it a quick, easy, and generally fulfilling read. While older male audiences would feel most connected to the protagonist storyline, this is a curious story that showcases Hickey's authorship. Thank you to Hickey for the copy of the book he so graciously allowed me to read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2023
Greg Hickey is a talented writer. The book captures your attention from the first page, leaving you wanting more with each page turned. The book bridges two worlds, the real world, where Tim is battling surviving a rare cancer, and a dream world, where his explorations help him deal with the challenges in an engaging way.
It was fortuitous to have been reading this, as we have a close family member currently going though cancer and treatments. This book helped me share some of the pains, challenges and mindsets that come with such a dreaded disease.
I really liked the diversity of characters, the idea behind the story, some of the thinking around consciousness through a physics lens. Overall, it was a good read.
It was fortuitous to have been reading this, as we have a close family member currently going though cancer and treatments. This book helped me share some of the pains, challenges and mindsets that come with such a dreaded disease.
I really liked the diversity of characters, the idea behind the story, some of the thinking around consciousness through a physics lens. Overall, it was a good read.
February 4, 2024
Mild Spoilers Below
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of ‘To Build a Dream’ from Greg Hickey in exchange for an honest review of his work. After enjoying his novel ‘Parabellum’, I happily dove into this one too. Unfortunately I really struggled to get into this story, and the further I got into it, the more it felt like it was a tale of two halves which individually may have worked, but together they didn’t necessarily mesh well.
Timothy Smit, the protagonist of the story, is very much an average Joe in every sense of the word, meandering through his existence and stumbling through its challenges like his work life or his attempts at finding love. Tim represents the ordinary man, with very little going for him that would make him stand out from a crowd or make him appear extraordinary. I’d say that this is arguably his biggest charm though as he is an easy character to sympathise with and relate to. Shuffled into the mundanity of his life, it’s established early on in the story that Tim is suffering with an illness that refuses to go away. We see how much he’s struggling to achieve the simplest tasks, but it isn’t until Tim that he begins to find out what suffering really is.
During this time, Tim experiences a recurring dream where As with ‘Parabellum’, Greg has done a wonderful job with crafting these dreamscapes utilising great descriptive writing and pacing. These sequences are spliced together with Tim’s experiences within the ICU and unfortunately for me, this is where the disconnect began. I found myself eagerly wanting to know more about these dreams and looked forward to those chapters, but I found the hospital scenes mundane and a chore to read which tarnished the overall experience of the story for me. I can appreciate that the hospital scenes are supposed to be this way, and once again Greg did a great job of describing these scenes, but for me personally it made these early stages a chore to stick with.
Throughout the second half of the story I found the pacing much better as the focus began to shift further into the dreamscapes and the effects they played in Tim’s life. Greg did a great job with the latter parts of the novel, and really built up a sense of jeopardy with Tim’s struggle to survive. Further than that,
The frustrating part for me was that I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of this story and I found Greg’s take on what a limbo between life and death may look like to be very interesting. If the entire novel had held the same degree of intrigue then I would have rated it higher.
Ultimately, 'To Build a Dream' is a wonderfully written story that shows the depths and lengths a person will do to survive and live again. It just felt disjointed and disconnected in its approach to telling Tim’s journey.
I would still recommend you pick this up and give it a read as my personal tastes won’t necessarily translate to yours.
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of ‘To Build a Dream’ from Greg Hickey in exchange for an honest review of his work. After enjoying his novel ‘Parabellum’, I happily dove into this one too. Unfortunately I really struggled to get into this story, and the further I got into it, the more it felt like it was a tale of two halves which individually may have worked, but together they didn’t necessarily mesh well.
Timothy Smit, the protagonist of the story, is very much an average Joe in every sense of the word, meandering through his existence and stumbling through its challenges like his work life or his attempts at finding love. Tim represents the ordinary man, with very little going for him that would make him stand out from a crowd or make him appear extraordinary. I’d say that this is arguably his biggest charm though as he is an easy character to sympathise with and relate to. Shuffled into the mundanity of his life, it’s established early on in the story that Tim is suffering with an illness that refuses to go away. We see how much he’s struggling to achieve the simplest tasks, but it isn’t until Tim that he begins to find out what suffering really is.
During this time, Tim experiences a recurring dream where As with ‘Parabellum’, Greg has done a wonderful job with crafting these dreamscapes utilising great descriptive writing and pacing. These sequences are spliced together with Tim’s experiences within the ICU and unfortunately for me, this is where the disconnect began. I found myself eagerly wanting to know more about these dreams and looked forward to those chapters, but I found the hospital scenes mundane and a chore to read which tarnished the overall experience of the story for me. I can appreciate that the hospital scenes are supposed to be this way, and once again Greg did a great job of describing these scenes, but for me personally it made these early stages a chore to stick with.
Throughout the second half of the story I found the pacing much better as the focus began to shift further into the dreamscapes and the effects they played in Tim’s life. Greg did a great job with the latter parts of the novel, and really built up a sense of jeopardy with Tim’s struggle to survive. Further than that,
The frustrating part for me was that I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of this story and I found Greg’s take on what a limbo between life and death may look like to be very interesting. If the entire novel had held the same degree of intrigue then I would have rated it higher.
Ultimately, 'To Build a Dream' is a wonderfully written story that shows the depths and lengths a person will do to survive and live again. It just felt disjointed and disconnected in its approach to telling Tim’s journey.
I would still recommend you pick this up and give it a read as my personal tastes won’t necessarily translate to yours.
September 30, 2023
I’ve had the pleasure of reading another of Greg Hickey’s speculative fiction books ahead of publication. It’s amazing to share that nearly all its setting is a hospital room, beginning in a run-of-the-mill office when Tim Smit has a coughing fit and collapses. Thus Greg begins Tim’s harrowing journey as his doctors discover he has a rare lung cancer. The attacks on his body range between the cancer itself, and chemo treatments. He’s filled with tubes, hooked to lines, mostly shivering under piles of blankets with little relief, until the dreams start. As a reader, I actually felt some relief myself when another dream took me away from Tim’s horrific experiences as a very ill man. It’s filled with anxious moments, even in the dreams, although they offer some hope or at least better hope than what happens in Tim’s ICU room. There is one professional who has begun a study of the effects of dreams on people that’s intriguing to consider. The description of one particular doctor’s care of Tim also gave hope to me for Tim, but the story’s mercurial scenes kept me wondering how it could possibly be a good ending. You’ll need to read it to discover if the end Greg offers satisfies. I enjoyed every bit.
May 8, 2024
First of all, this book took me forever to get through, not because it wasn't incredibly interesting, but because so much of the medical trauma triggered so many memories for me that I had to take long breaks to recover a bit before diving back in. I wanted to know what happened, but I had to take my time with this story.
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I loved the idea of Dreams being a way to heal, of having a random guide to help you navigate the dream world and to help process the physical things that are happening while you sleep.
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I really felt for Tim. Pretty much everything bad that could have happened to him, medically, did happen to him. I haven't had serious health problems, but I've had enough in my life (and enough problems on top of problems) to be profoundly affected by this character and his struggles.
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If you are interested in speculative sci-fi at all, this book may just be for you. Just know that there may be some things in the story that may be difficult to read if you have had any sort of medical trauma.
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Thanks to the author for sending me an ebook to review, and especially for being patient with my slow reading of this book! All thoughts and opinions are mine.
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I loved the idea of Dreams being a way to heal, of having a random guide to help you navigate the dream world and to help process the physical things that are happening while you sleep.
.
I really felt for Tim. Pretty much everything bad that could have happened to him, medically, did happen to him. I haven't had serious health problems, but I've had enough in my life (and enough problems on top of problems) to be profoundly affected by this character and his struggles.
.
If you are interested in speculative sci-fi at all, this book may just be for you. Just know that there may be some things in the story that may be difficult to read if you have had any sort of medical trauma.
.
Thanks to the author for sending me an ebook to review, and especially for being patient with my slow reading of this book! All thoughts and opinions are mine.
October 9, 2023
I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and its journey. The hero and plot are both very interesting and the tenor of their telling is engaging.
I have to say that in some ways, the beginning of this tale reminds me Stephen R Donaldson Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever.
This is a very good read. I await more.
I have to say that in some ways, the beginning of this tale reminds me Stephen R Donaldson Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever.
This is a very good read. I await more.
October 24, 2023
WOW! It's is an intense read through one man's journey through illness. The reader follows our protagonist through feeling unwell, to diagnosis, treatment and to the brink. Does the power of our conscious and subconscious have an affect on our physical health and recovery? These are the questions posited and beautifully explored in this compulsive read.
January 18, 2026
This one really got to me. It’s well-written, and it has that feeling of chasing answers that always seem just out of reach, but it worked for me. By the end, it hit me hard. It reminded me of Connie Willis’s Passage in that it has nonstop momentum and a lot going on, but the emotional payoff is worth it. I can see why neither author is for everyone, but they are definitely for me.
September 26, 2023
The imagery within Tim's dreams was beautiful and described thoroughly without falling into the category of overdone fantasy. I can appreciate the repetitiveness of the dreams and their representation of Tim's world coming to a mundane halt in the hospital, but I did begin to get this feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop, for more action to come. As always, Greg Hickey's writing style is succinct and easy to follow, and this story format made for an interesting, what I like to call, "book version of a bottle episode".
January 22, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an ebook copy of To Build a Dream from the author, in exchange for an honest review. I was honored to be thought of to write a review for another author, so I gave it my best shot! Anyway, review (with spoilers) below.
Overall, I found the book to have very good prose and description. I was always drawn to the dream sequences because of how rich the description of the dream environment and Tim's sensations within those environments were. I did appreciate the empathetic lens that Hickey took when writing about illness, especially with my own background and witnessing a relative go through cancer treatment. Where the book lost me at times, was my lack of investment in character relationships. I'll go a bit more into detail about good and bad specifically below. I'd go 2.5-3 stars overall.
THE GOOD:
-I really liked the description of Tim’s dreams. The prose was very rich and descriptive, and the peril he felt when being pulled under waves was palpable and kept me very engaged in the dream sequences.
- I liked the humor in this book, which I didn’t expect. Describing a character as a “modern court jester” took me all the way out.
-I liked when the dream sequences leaned into the outlandishness that can appear in a dream world, like when Dream!Triggs punched holes in a wall to make light, or when he summoned a cheeseburger for Tim at will. I found that the dream world felt, oddly enough, very rooted in reality in terms of a setting that didn’t have a lot of fantastical qualities, so I was always pleasantly surprised when some dream-like antics happened to really remind me anything goes in this environment.
-I liked the ending, and Tim fully embracing his dream and the richness of the prose that surrounded the ending really gripped me.
-Very humanizing and compassionate tone when writing about the process of going through chemo/dealing with a debilitating illness.
THE BAD:
-Paragraphs are VERY long on the whole and there are instances where there are multiple trains of thought in one big paragraph that could/should be split for the sake of flow. Like on page sixteen there’s a paragraph that’s almost the ENTIRE page that could’ve been split at least three times.
-Also had issues with thoughts not being italicized and texts not being formatted differently than dialogue. It makes it confusing, and with the above paragraph issue they tend to be obfuscated with actual text and tripped me up when reading. There were some italicized dialogue lines which makes this feel a bit like an inconsistency issue.
-Would’ve wanted more of Tim’s life/routine in the present before he gets confined to hospital bedrest. In particular, I would’ve wanted hints about his relationship with his family, or lack thereof, especially since it comes up later that Tim isn’t a present uncle for Jessica’s family. I would’ve wanted to see that play out early on rather than just be something I’m told.
-I also wish in the scene where Dream!Triggs is talking alongside a doctor in the real world from p.106-110, that his dialogue be italicized so that there’s a distinction there that singles out Triggs as being in Tim’s head.
-The relationship between Tim and Jessica fell really flat to me. Like I say in the 3rd bullet, I would’ve wanted more established relationships (or lack thereof) beforehand so when Jessica appears, I have a frame of reference for their dynamic, and I don’t need like 3 paragraphs of exposition beforehand. I also felt like the conflict between Tim and Jessica that could’ve been, from his neglect of her in the present/bottling of feelings over the death of his parents, kind of went nowhere. I understand that Tim is ill and Jessica would try to keep it cordial, but I would’ve wanted more of that resentment for him not being a present brother to come through, or even have some more of the dialogue between Tim and Jessica to be charged and not always end in a clean resolution like it tended to do. I also think that the situation that develops with Jessica having to move in with Tim for a while and leave her family to help him could lead to them having more conversations about the deaths of their parents, or how they need to spend more time together in the present. I felt like the whole “siblings who aren’t close are now suddenly thrust together” could’ve been a really interesting thing to explore, but it really wasn’t, and I felt like Jessica as a character fell flat as a result.
-Relating to my point above, I REALLY wanted Jessica to appear in Tim’s dreams. Tim’s whole family being absent from the dreams in favor of one of Tim’s coworkers (no shade to Triggs) felt like a really odd choice to me. Especially considering my point above, that if the sibling relationship is going to be harped on, making Jessica the dream guide would be such a fantastic way to do that. It’d also be interesting to see the dreams shift through time, like having Tim and a hypothetical Dream!Jessica go through environments of their childhood/have the dream still be an island, but have childhood knicknacks (or music albums of Tim’s that he liked then/now) pop up in the dreams. Also, having the contrast to have Dream!Jessica voice some of the resentments/wishes of Present!Jessica to be closer could’ve really helped the sibling dynamic take on an interesting spin.
Overall, I found the book to have very good prose and description. I was always drawn to the dream sequences because of how rich the description of the dream environment and Tim's sensations within those environments were. I did appreciate the empathetic lens that Hickey took when writing about illness, especially with my own background and witnessing a relative go through cancer treatment. Where the book lost me at times, was my lack of investment in character relationships. I'll go a bit more into detail about good and bad specifically below. I'd go 2.5-3 stars overall.
THE GOOD:
-I really liked the description of Tim’s dreams. The prose was very rich and descriptive, and the peril he felt when being pulled under waves was palpable and kept me very engaged in the dream sequences.
- I liked the humor in this book, which I didn’t expect. Describing a character as a “modern court jester” took me all the way out.
-I liked when the dream sequences leaned into the outlandishness that can appear in a dream world, like when Dream!Triggs punched holes in a wall to make light, or when he summoned a cheeseburger for Tim at will. I found that the dream world felt, oddly enough, very rooted in reality in terms of a setting that didn’t have a lot of fantastical qualities, so I was always pleasantly surprised when some dream-like antics happened to really remind me anything goes in this environment.
-I liked the ending, and Tim fully embracing his dream and the richness of the prose that surrounded the ending really gripped me.
-Very humanizing and compassionate tone when writing about the process of going through chemo/dealing with a debilitating illness.
THE BAD:
-Paragraphs are VERY long on the whole and there are instances where there are multiple trains of thought in one big paragraph that could/should be split for the sake of flow. Like on page sixteen there’s a paragraph that’s almost the ENTIRE page that could’ve been split at least three times.
-Also had issues with thoughts not being italicized and texts not being formatted differently than dialogue. It makes it confusing, and with the above paragraph issue they tend to be obfuscated with actual text and tripped me up when reading. There were some italicized dialogue lines which makes this feel a bit like an inconsistency issue.
-Would’ve wanted more of Tim’s life/routine in the present before he gets confined to hospital bedrest. In particular, I would’ve wanted hints about his relationship with his family, or lack thereof, especially since it comes up later that Tim isn’t a present uncle for Jessica’s family. I would’ve wanted to see that play out early on rather than just be something I’m told.
-I also wish in the scene where Dream!Triggs is talking alongside a doctor in the real world from p.106-110, that his dialogue be italicized so that there’s a distinction there that singles out Triggs as being in Tim’s head.
-The relationship between Tim and Jessica fell really flat to me. Like I say in the 3rd bullet, I would’ve wanted more established relationships (or lack thereof) beforehand so when Jessica appears, I have a frame of reference for their dynamic, and I don’t need like 3 paragraphs of exposition beforehand. I also felt like the conflict between Tim and Jessica that could’ve been, from his neglect of her in the present/bottling of feelings over the death of his parents, kind of went nowhere. I understand that Tim is ill and Jessica would try to keep it cordial, but I would’ve wanted more of that resentment for him not being a present brother to come through, or even have some more of the dialogue between Tim and Jessica to be charged and not always end in a clean resolution like it tended to do. I also think that the situation that develops with Jessica having to move in with Tim for a while and leave her family to help him could lead to them having more conversations about the deaths of their parents, or how they need to spend more time together in the present. I felt like the whole “siblings who aren’t close are now suddenly thrust together” could’ve been a really interesting thing to explore, but it really wasn’t, and I felt like Jessica as a character fell flat as a result.
-Relating to my point above, I REALLY wanted Jessica to appear in Tim’s dreams. Tim’s whole family being absent from the dreams in favor of one of Tim’s coworkers (no shade to Triggs) felt like a really odd choice to me. Especially considering my point above, that if the sibling relationship is going to be harped on, making Jessica the dream guide would be such a fantastic way to do that. It’d also be interesting to see the dreams shift through time, like having Tim and a hypothetical Dream!Jessica go through environments of their childhood/have the dream still be an island, but have childhood knicknacks (or music albums of Tim’s that he liked then/now) pop up in the dreams. Also, having the contrast to have Dream!Jessica voice some of the resentments/wishes of Present!Jessica to be closer could’ve really helped the sibling dynamic take on an interesting spin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2023
Author Greg Hickey sent an email asking if I would read his newest book for an honest review. I said yes and took it with me while my husband and I went away for a few days. Little did I know, weeks later, I’d still be thinking of this story. I even sent him an email telling him I can’t seem to get it out of my head. And for me, that’s the sign of a good story. One that you think of when you’re not reading it and for long after.
I believe in dreams. I use them to my advantage. Not interpreting why the bear is chasing me down the street, but I use them to think out a problem, run ideas through my brain, and to find things. I’ve heard that if there’s something you’re struggling with, make it be the very last thing you think of as you fall asleep and the answer will come in a dream. Even if you don’t know you dreamt it. And I also heard that you can’t die in your dreams. You will always wake up before the parachute doesn’t open or you hit the rocks. Always. Because if you died in your dream it would kill you.
Dreams, are very real.
Timothy Smit is a guy who lived a quiet life while working what he thought would be a temporary job while he explored his options. It is now many, many years later, still in that job and suddenly his life does change. He’s lying in a hospital bed consumed with a very rare (only 12 known cases) lung cancer and it’s literally devouring him. I think because it’s so rare the medical team is not writing him off, sending him home to make his preparations. They are fighting this disease as hard as Tim wants to fight it. But it turns out he isn’t fighting alone.
While he is unconscious from his treatments Tim is experiencing intense dreams. Dreams that take on a life of their own. The dreams are keeping Tim alive along with the medication that’s almost killing him.
It feels like a battle between the disease and the dream. You feel like you are watching the gladiator take on the lion with his bare hands. You know one of them has to lose. But the dream isn’t trying to kill Tim, it’s trying to save him. CAN our dreams guide and take over our physical bodies? There is research that says they can and do. Tim comes to the realization in his dream that he can consciously let his unconscious take over. Let it do what it has to do. Tim will fight on the outside, the dream can fight from the inside.
I really don’t like to hear reviewers say a book would be great for a book club, I really don’t. I think it diminishes the book but boy, if you want a thinker and a talker, this is the one. I kept marveling at the idea of our dreams taking over our life when we are not in control (I don’t like to lose control of me) but I also have it on personal authority that dreams are real. And so is our waking life.
October 3, 2023
He could be dead, dreaming, or painfully alive. Does he really want to find out which?
Timothy Smit is sick. He’s stuck in middle management at a second-rate news aggregator when an intense coughing fit causes him to pass out at his desk. Tim wakes up in the ICU to a diagnosis of a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer and the news that he likely has no more than a few months left to live.
Confined to a hospital bed with his health deteriorating, Tim finds himself immersed in a series of vivid dreams. As he becomes increasingly captivated by this enigmatic fantasy world, he realizes his dreams just might be keeping him alive.
But can Tim discover a real life worth living before it’s too late?
*Thank you to the author, Greg Hickey for ARC, in exchange of honest review*
Haunting.
I don't know how I should be feeling right now. There are a lot of different emotions that are going through me right now. Even though I know this is fictional, To Build A Dream felt so real; in every chapter, I imagined I was there, along with Tim. Through the years, I have read a few books that dealt with cancer, but it was nothing like this. This story was so vivid, especially the dreams, and I felt like I was going on a roller coaster ride with Tim. Once I started reading the book, it didn't take me long to figure out the title behind the book. There wasn't a single moment in the book that didn't keep me engaged. I would have finished it within a few days if it wasn't for being a full-time student and working. A few times during the weekend, I read late into the night.
I can't begin to imagine finding out that you have cancer and there was a chance that you might not survive. I loved that Tim didn't give up and kept fighting. I have lost a few family members due to cancer. I can imagine how it was for his sister, Jessica, to see him suffering through it. I have a good feeling that there is a chance that he wouldn't made it as far as he did if it wasn't for her. I believe that he kept on fighting because of her. To Build A Dream was an emotional book to read, but at the same time, it is a book you won't be able to put down once you start. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it and wanted to see how it would end.
I loved the dream portions of the book. I always wondered where the dreams would lead Tim next. Throughout the book, I was rooting for Tim to make it through; I had grown attached to him. I loved the transition between the real world and the dreams. Once I turned in the last page, I wanted to go back and reread it. This is the second book I have read by Greg Hickey , and I can't wait to see what adventures await us next.
Timothy Smit is sick. He’s stuck in middle management at a second-rate news aggregator when an intense coughing fit causes him to pass out at his desk. Tim wakes up in the ICU to a diagnosis of a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer and the news that he likely has no more than a few months left to live.
Confined to a hospital bed with his health deteriorating, Tim finds himself immersed in a series of vivid dreams. As he becomes increasingly captivated by this enigmatic fantasy world, he realizes his dreams just might be keeping him alive.
But can Tim discover a real life worth living before it’s too late?
*Thank you to the author, Greg Hickey for ARC, in exchange of honest review*
Haunting.
I don't know how I should be feeling right now. There are a lot of different emotions that are going through me right now. Even though I know this is fictional, To Build A Dream felt so real; in every chapter, I imagined I was there, along with Tim. Through the years, I have read a few books that dealt with cancer, but it was nothing like this. This story was so vivid, especially the dreams, and I felt like I was going on a roller coaster ride with Tim. Once I started reading the book, it didn't take me long to figure out the title behind the book. There wasn't a single moment in the book that didn't keep me engaged. I would have finished it within a few days if it wasn't for being a full-time student and working. A few times during the weekend, I read late into the night.
I can't begin to imagine finding out that you have cancer and there was a chance that you might not survive. I loved that Tim didn't give up and kept fighting. I have lost a few family members due to cancer. I can imagine how it was for his sister, Jessica, to see him suffering through it. I have a good feeling that there is a chance that he wouldn't made it as far as he did if it wasn't for her. I believe that he kept on fighting because of her. To Build A Dream was an emotional book to read, but at the same time, it is a book you won't be able to put down once you start. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it and wanted to see how it would end.
I loved the dream portions of the book. I always wondered where the dreams would lead Tim next. Throughout the book, I was rooting for Tim to make it through; I had grown attached to him. I loved the transition between the real world and the dreams. Once I turned in the last page, I wanted to go back and reread it. This is the second book I have read by Greg Hickey , and I can't wait to see what adventures await us next.
August 13, 2024
4.5 stars, rounded for goodreads.
Mister Smit is a sick and stuck in management as a news aggregator before the catch phrase “fake news” became a thing. He learns soon enough that he has an aggressive form of cancer, that will most likely end his story. However, relegated to ICU, he finds himself immersed in vivid dreams. As time goes by, he realizes that these same dreams might be keeping him alive.
I have come to anticipate the next release by Gregory Hickey. Whether it’s a mystery, or a choose-your-own adventure, his novels always demonstrate a mastery of prose, dialogue, and characterization. To Build a Dream does not buck this trend. The one difference with this from the others, was the predictability of the narrative. This did not affect my enjoyment.
What makes a tale, is the way it is flavored. Hickey starts, as always, with a solid foundation. His writing style flows, at times bordering on the eloquent. The setting is well established, and his descriptions are very vivid – though they can be overlong and erudite. His pacing mostly compliments with his prose; there is a captivating rhythm to it all.
But To Build a Dream is largely a character drama. Most of the plot takes place in one physical location, and so it is Timothy Smit’s and the secondary players personification – as well as his reactions in the dream state – that drive the story and make it impactful. I found myself unable to pull away, as Smit and Triggs, progress through their narratorly rabbit whole.
Aside from a minor subplot in the later half of the novel, I did enjoy the narrative, even if it was predictable. What drove me to read on was to see how the characters reacted. What kept me reading past any reasonable bedtime, was the way Greg Hickey manages to immerse the reader with his writing style. In short, if you buy this book it may be a while before you see the light again.
Mister Smit is a sick and stuck in management as a news aggregator before the catch phrase “fake news” became a thing. He learns soon enough that he has an aggressive form of cancer, that will most likely end his story. However, relegated to ICU, he finds himself immersed in vivid dreams. As time goes by, he realizes that these same dreams might be keeping him alive.
I have come to anticipate the next release by Gregory Hickey. Whether it’s a mystery, or a choose-your-own adventure, his novels always demonstrate a mastery of prose, dialogue, and characterization. To Build a Dream does not buck this trend. The one difference with this from the others, was the predictability of the narrative. This did not affect my enjoyment.
What makes a tale, is the way it is flavored. Hickey starts, as always, with a solid foundation. His writing style flows, at times bordering on the eloquent. The setting is well established, and his descriptions are very vivid – though they can be overlong and erudite. His pacing mostly compliments with his prose; there is a captivating rhythm to it all.
But To Build a Dream is largely a character drama. Most of the plot takes place in one physical location, and so it is Timothy Smit’s and the secondary players personification – as well as his reactions in the dream state – that drive the story and make it impactful. I found myself unable to pull away, as Smit and Triggs, progress through their narratorly rabbit whole.
Aside from a minor subplot in the later half of the novel, I did enjoy the narrative, even if it was predictable. What drove me to read on was to see how the characters reacted. What kept me reading past any reasonable bedtime, was the way Greg Hickey manages to immerse the reader with his writing style. In short, if you buy this book it may be a while before you see the light again.
November 5, 2023
What if your dreams were helping you move on in your life or even keeping you alive? That is what seems to be happening with Tim. After being diagnosed with a normally fatal type of cancer, he seemingly starts to beat the odds. Were his dreams an escape? A way for his body to heal itself? Or something more? It is up to each reader to decide for themselves what is really happening in Tim's dreams.
This book can be hard to read because of everything Tim is enduring while undergoing treatment for cancer. The effects are real and might hit too close to home for some people. The descriptions were what I would expect for someone battling terminal cancer, from the treatments to the sores, losing weight, and so forth. None of it is a pretty situation, and the fact that Tim's dreams seem to be curative is beyond amazing.
Let's talk about these dreams. In these dreams, Tim is in a tunnel being led around by a coworker, or at least someone who comes across as a coworker. The dreams are fairly repetitive as they stumble around these caves, not knowing where they are going or where they will end up. There were times I wanted to skip ahead because I didn't feel like this wandering led to anything and felt like some filler. However, it is the dialogue when he exits the dreams with the doctors, nurses, and his sister that is intriguing. Were these dreams restoring his life? Is that even possible? The mind is an amazing thing, and I wouldn't discount this entirely.
While we have an idea of how the book ends, I would have liked to have seen more information about where Tim went from there. Was he cured? Were there relapses? What did he do with his life? There were many unanswered questions.
This book was an interesting read, but do not expect to sail through it in one sitting. At least, that was not my experience.
We give the book 4 paws up.
This book can be hard to read because of everything Tim is enduring while undergoing treatment for cancer. The effects are real and might hit too close to home for some people. The descriptions were what I would expect for someone battling terminal cancer, from the treatments to the sores, losing weight, and so forth. None of it is a pretty situation, and the fact that Tim's dreams seem to be curative is beyond amazing.
Let's talk about these dreams. In these dreams, Tim is in a tunnel being led around by a coworker, or at least someone who comes across as a coworker. The dreams are fairly repetitive as they stumble around these caves, not knowing where they are going or where they will end up. There were times I wanted to skip ahead because I didn't feel like this wandering led to anything and felt like some filler. However, it is the dialogue when he exits the dreams with the doctors, nurses, and his sister that is intriguing. Were these dreams restoring his life? Is that even possible? The mind is an amazing thing, and I wouldn't discount this entirely.
While we have an idea of how the book ends, I would have liked to have seen more information about where Tim went from there. Was he cured? Were there relapses? What did he do with his life? There were many unanswered questions.
This book was an interesting read, but do not expect to sail through it in one sitting. At least, that was not my experience.
We give the book 4 paws up.
November 12, 2023
This book is not due until later this year, I was offered a free copy for an honest review.
The premise is interesting -- the protagonist develops cancer and during his treatment, he goes through a series of interconnected dreams that interact with his treatment journey. The writing comes off as genuine, with realistic world building and visceral prose to aid with that -- naturally there are surrealistic elements in the vivid dreams that blend well with the physics of the world he is in. This work tries to explore the interconnected nature of our realities and dreams, of the bidirectional nature of how one influences the other, and is a fairly grim read about the gruesomeness that is shed in the battle against cancer, and it could be triggering at times.
Some questions that probably remain unanswered: what does the protagonist think about love? Could he have spent more time thinking about it, would it have affected the dreams he had (we know he had a love interest, but just that these aspects also tend to crowd dreams, atleast from what is observed in literature)? However, there are the brief periods of levity between the protagonist and his sister, who helps him through his journey, and I think there's a realistic portrayal of this relationship too, in the seemingly detached but strongly affectionate sense. There is a relatable description of living alone, that the writing absolutely nails.
Overall, if you're interested in the interpretation of dreams (sorry Freud, you don't own the copyright hopefully), you should read this one!
The premise is interesting -- the protagonist develops cancer and during his treatment, he goes through a series of interconnected dreams that interact with his treatment journey. The writing comes off as genuine, with realistic world building and visceral prose to aid with that -- naturally there are surrealistic elements in the vivid dreams that blend well with the physics of the world he is in. This work tries to explore the interconnected nature of our realities and dreams, of the bidirectional nature of how one influences the other, and is a fairly grim read about the gruesomeness that is shed in the battle against cancer, and it could be triggering at times.
Some questions that probably remain unanswered: what does the protagonist think about love? Could he have spent more time thinking about it, would it have affected the dreams he had (we know he had a love interest, but just that these aspects also tend to crowd dreams, atleast from what is observed in literature)? However, there are the brief periods of levity between the protagonist and his sister, who helps him through his journey, and I think there's a realistic portrayal of this relationship too, in the seemingly detached but strongly affectionate sense. There is a relatable description of living alone, that the writing absolutely nails.
Overall, if you're interested in the interpretation of dreams (sorry Freud, you don't own the copyright hopefully), you should read this one!
July 9, 2025
To Build a Dream deals with Tim's recent diagnosis with a lung tumor. After being hospitalised for an extended period of time, and his health keeps deteriorating, Tim starts experiencing a series of dreams that, at first, seem outlandish, but he will soon enough realise that they are crucial for his survival.
Hickey's novel can be categorised as a mixture between magical realism, and science fiction. Through the use of vivid accounts of the dreams and the extremely detailed descriptions of the symptomatology that Tim goes through, Hickey allows readers into his narrative with ease. I have found that the author's prose style is extremely successful at conveying Tim's emotions regarding his illness, as well as the testing that he is put through.
I loved the characters in this novel, especially Doctor Ndukwe and Jessica, Tim's sister. However, I did not feel quite connected to them. At least not in the way I would have liked to. Through my reading, I felt quite detached from the characters. I feel like the descriptions were so relevant and detailed that maybe it took the focus from the protagonist of the novel. Having said that, I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was not familiar with the author's writing style, but I will definitely research some more titles by him.
Huge thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of To Build a Dream.
Greg Hickey
#tobuildadream #review #honestreview #scifi #magicalrealism
Full review in Saqueadores de Palabras
Hickey's novel can be categorised as a mixture between magical realism, and science fiction. Through the use of vivid accounts of the dreams and the extremely detailed descriptions of the symptomatology that Tim goes through, Hickey allows readers into his narrative with ease. I have found that the author's prose style is extremely successful at conveying Tim's emotions regarding his illness, as well as the testing that he is put through.
I loved the characters in this novel, especially Doctor Ndukwe and Jessica, Tim's sister. However, I did not feel quite connected to them. At least not in the way I would have liked to. Through my reading, I felt quite detached from the characters. I feel like the descriptions were so relevant and detailed that maybe it took the focus from the protagonist of the novel. Having said that, I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was not familiar with the author's writing style, but I will definitely research some more titles by him.
Huge thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of To Build a Dream.
Greg Hickey
#tobuildadream #review #honestreview #scifi #magicalrealism
Full review in Saqueadores de Palabras
September 8, 2023
This book arrived and from the moment I clicked open the pdf, the story did not disappoint! The storyline has an enriching quality and made me think about life, and dream states and appreciate the complexity of the human body.
In truth, I recall vividly dreaming when I was a child but seldom do I recall my dreams now. Yet, I'm informed that people often dream four to five times a night with a mental picture of what they want to achieve.
Throughout this read, readers have a chance to dissect the scenes and symbols in Tim's dreams which are filled with sensory-based content.
From the very first chapters of To Build a Dream, I was drawn in by the thought that a dream state like drowning or suffocating may symbolize being powerless or overwhelmed by the amount of decisions and choices one must make. Then I thought about Tim wearing a diaper and how that could symbolize eliciting some care from others.
The story examines the interplay of perception and illusion. It scrutinizes episodic memory and specialty care delivery with exceptional imaging. It looks at the role and function of family, the importance of instilling hope, and is a wonderful reminder that combination treatments can assist many times in cancer survival.
I received an advanced reader copy from the author.
In truth, I recall vividly dreaming when I was a child but seldom do I recall my dreams now. Yet, I'm informed that people often dream four to five times a night with a mental picture of what they want to achieve.
Throughout this read, readers have a chance to dissect the scenes and symbols in Tim's dreams which are filled with sensory-based content.
From the very first chapters of To Build a Dream, I was drawn in by the thought that a dream state like drowning or suffocating may symbolize being powerless or overwhelmed by the amount of decisions and choices one must make. Then I thought about Tim wearing a diaper and how that could symbolize eliciting some care from others.
The story examines the interplay of perception and illusion. It scrutinizes episodic memory and specialty care delivery with exceptional imaging. It looks at the role and function of family, the importance of instilling hope, and is a wonderful reminder that combination treatments can assist many times in cancer survival.
I received an advanced reader copy from the author.
September 23, 2023
Tim is your average thirty-something and is coasting through life. He has a pretty good job, a nice car, a cosy, rented apartment and is enjoying his single life as much as anyone of that age does. He is happy enough but has reached that age where he needs to assess what he really wants from life.
Then he gets sick. Really sick. He contracts an aggressive form of cancer and is not expected to live. Tim starts having a recurring dream, but it is not like any other dream. It is more an ongoing narrative than a recurring dream, as the story picks up where he left off each time he sleeps. Are the obstacles in his dream a reflection of his health? Is it his subconscious attempting to process the gravity of his situation? Or is the dream somehow prophetically, directly impacting on his health in the real world?
Hickey’s descriptions of Tim’s life, the torturous cancer and associated medical treatments, and the magic of the dreamscape are brilliant, sensitive and bring the reader into the world of the protagonist. Both visually and emotionally rich, the prose adds volumes to the reader’s experience and takes them on a captivating journey from start to finish. Hickey has managed to be graphic, sincere and sensitive in his delivery of this incredible story.
A wonderful read. Highly recommended.
Then he gets sick. Really sick. He contracts an aggressive form of cancer and is not expected to live. Tim starts having a recurring dream, but it is not like any other dream. It is more an ongoing narrative than a recurring dream, as the story picks up where he left off each time he sleeps. Are the obstacles in his dream a reflection of his health? Is it his subconscious attempting to process the gravity of his situation? Or is the dream somehow prophetically, directly impacting on his health in the real world?
Hickey’s descriptions of Tim’s life, the torturous cancer and associated medical treatments, and the magic of the dreamscape are brilliant, sensitive and bring the reader into the world of the protagonist. Both visually and emotionally rich, the prose adds volumes to the reader’s experience and takes them on a captivating journey from start to finish. Hickey has managed to be graphic, sincere and sensitive in his delivery of this incredible story.
A wonderful read. Highly recommended.
April 26, 2025
[I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]
I really liked the concept of this book - it explores dreams and how they connect to our reality. The magical realism angle was fun, making you wonder if life shapes our dreams or if dreams can actually change our lives.
Tim's character growth after his near-death experience was a highlight. I didn't like him much at first, but seeing him make better choices about his life (and dreams) after his hospital stay was refreshing. And we can see how profound experiences can fundamentally change a person's outlook.
The biggest problem for me was how slow everything moved. There were too many long descriptions of everyday tasks and dreams that just dragged on. These parts were meant to set the mood, but they made the story feel like it was barely moving forward.
I also had trouble feeling connected to Tim. Even though he changed throughout the story, I just couldn't really feel for him, which made it hard to stay interested during the slower parts.
The book has some good ideas about dreams and reality. But the slow pace and my struggle to connect with the characters meant it wasn't really for me. If you enjoy thoughtful stories with lots of description and don't mind a slower read, you might enjoy it more than I did.
I really liked the concept of this book - it explores dreams and how they connect to our reality. The magical realism angle was fun, making you wonder if life shapes our dreams or if dreams can actually change our lives.
Tim's character growth after his near-death experience was a highlight. I didn't like him much at first, but seeing him make better choices about his life (and dreams) after his hospital stay was refreshing. And we can see how profound experiences can fundamentally change a person's outlook.
The biggest problem for me was how slow everything moved. There were too many long descriptions of everyday tasks and dreams that just dragged on. These parts were meant to set the mood, but they made the story feel like it was barely moving forward.
I also had trouble feeling connected to Tim. Even though he changed throughout the story, I just couldn't really feel for him, which made it hard to stay interested during the slower parts.
The book has some good ideas about dreams and reality. But the slow pace and my struggle to connect with the characters meant it wasn't really for me. If you enjoy thoughtful stories with lots of description and don't mind a slower read, you might enjoy it more than I did.
February 12, 2025
First things first. This book contains some absolutely beautiful prose. The descriptions throughout are incredible, painting such vivid images. Definitely my favorite part of the book.
The flow of the story itself was a little less engaging, in part because it was hard for me to get a sense of where the story was going for the first half or so. That being said, it absolutely hit its stride in the second half, which I basically read in a single sitting. This kind of story where reality might be somewhat malleable can be less enjoyable for me when they don't have as much of a clear structure, but that shifted a lot by the end-- hence reading it in a single morning.
The other half of that might be the characters. There wasn't as much strong characterization at the beginning of the book (possibly part of the point?), which tends to make it harder for me to engage with a story, but that is pretty much just personal preference.
All in all, I enjoyed it. The writing itself was beautiful, and certainly by the end I was invested in how it would all end.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The flow of the story itself was a little less engaging, in part because it was hard for me to get a sense of where the story was going for the first half or so. That being said, it absolutely hit its stride in the second half, which I basically read in a single sitting. This kind of story where reality might be somewhat malleable can be less enjoyable for me when they don't have as much of a clear structure, but that shifted a lot by the end-- hence reading it in a single morning.
The other half of that might be the characters. There wasn't as much strong characterization at the beginning of the book (possibly part of the point?), which tends to make it harder for me to engage with a story, but that is pretty much just personal preference.
All in all, I enjoyed it. The writing itself was beautiful, and certainly by the end I was invested in how it would all end.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2025
Thanks to the author (who insists I call him Greg) for sending me a copy of To Build a Dream in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book a lot, especially the dream sequences. I love books that don’t quite take place in this reality, because the dreamscape has a lot of room for play and experimentation. I thought Greg’s dream world was fantastically written and compelling.
What I didn’t find compelling was Tim’s real life. I found myself trying to get through the real life scenes quickly to get back to the dream world. Tim’s relationships with others and with his own life come across as unimportant in the grand scheme of the book.
I liked the exploration of sickness and the question of continuing to live normally after a harrowing and traumatic experience. I thought Tim’s sickness was handled really well and respectfully, and the questions being dealt with through that vehicle are important to reflect on.
Overall, I liked this book, but I wish that the relationships and normal life sequences were explored as deeply as the dreamscape, which is why it doesn’t quite reach 4 stars for me.
Thank you for sending me your book, Greg, I was happy and honored to read it.
I liked this book a lot, especially the dream sequences. I love books that don’t quite take place in this reality, because the dreamscape has a lot of room for play and experimentation. I thought Greg’s dream world was fantastically written and compelling.
What I didn’t find compelling was Tim’s real life. I found myself trying to get through the real life scenes quickly to get back to the dream world. Tim’s relationships with others and with his own life come across as unimportant in the grand scheme of the book.
I liked the exploration of sickness and the question of continuing to live normally after a harrowing and traumatic experience. I thought Tim’s sickness was handled really well and respectfully, and the questions being dealt with through that vehicle are important to reflect on.
Overall, I liked this book, but I wish that the relationships and normal life sequences were explored as deeply as the dreamscape, which is why it doesn’t quite reach 4 stars for me.
Thank you for sending me your book, Greg, I was happy and honored to read it.
February 21, 2026
This was a really interesting book. I had a blast reading this novel, that mix a mystery with some sci-fi and magical realism elements.
Here we follow Tim who passed out at his desk and end up in the hospital. When he wakes up on the ICU he learns he has a rare form of cancer and likely only a few months to live.
What I liked more about the book was the mystery surrounding the dream world he enters as he is in the hospital and how there he wonders if dreams are keeping him alive.
This is a really intriguing tale in which the lines between dream and reality are blurred all through the story. That kept me intrigued and reading non-stop till I reached the end of the book.
The dreams are written to perfection, contributing to the atmospheric part of the story and are quite clever, keeping the reader guessing all the time.
This is a very suspenseful and atmospheric story perfect for thriller and magical realism lovers. If you want to read a book about someone questioning their own reality, this give a chance.
I want to thank the author for writing such an interesting book and sending me a copy of it, in exchanged for an honest review.
Here we follow Tim who passed out at his desk and end up in the hospital. When he wakes up on the ICU he learns he has a rare form of cancer and likely only a few months to live.
What I liked more about the book was the mystery surrounding the dream world he enters as he is in the hospital and how there he wonders if dreams are keeping him alive.
This is a really intriguing tale in which the lines between dream and reality are blurred all through the story. That kept me intrigued and reading non-stop till I reached the end of the book.
The dreams are written to perfection, contributing to the atmospheric part of the story and are quite clever, keeping the reader guessing all the time.
This is a very suspenseful and atmospheric story perfect for thriller and magical realism lovers. If you want to read a book about someone questioning their own reality, this give a chance.
I want to thank the author for writing such an interesting book and sending me a copy of it, in exchanged for an honest review.
September 26, 2023
I had a difficult time pausing my reading To Build a Dream because, like the main character, Tim, I wanted to see how his dream unfolded in relation to his healing as he struggles with a serious illness. The story is unique, quite different from anything I’ve read before, so it held me captivated. At times I felt frustrated when more did not happen during a dream sequence, and I felt the character’s frustration when the dream eluded him. I definitely felt his frustration, fear, boredom and fatigue. I could imagine the pain he experienced and could well relate to the more minor aspects of his illness for those times I endured a feverish state, weakness, inability to eat or to hold down food. This story is fresh and it could translate into an interesting movie or TV show, just as the author’s other work that I read, Parabellum, would, especially in light of how overly rehashed many movies and television programming are these days. Greg Hickey is a talented writer and one to watch for his future works, which I look forward to reading.
October 23, 2023
Happy Pub Day!
Warning: slight spoiler
Tim Smit is diagnosed with a rare type of cancer and he must undergo countless medical procedure to beat it. While he fights for his life in waking world, he also experiences a strange recurring dream that somehow plays a role in his health development. Is there any connection between consciousness and unconsciousness? And what happens if Tim survives in his dream? Will he survive in reality too?
I like this better than Parabellum because it's more cohesive. And I found the blend between real and dream realm—sometimes resembling an isekai type of story where the hero knows they're in some sort of reverie and realizes whatever they face in that world is conquerable—interesting. I really enjoyed that aspect and I think that's the book's strength.
The thing about Greg Hickey's books (at least I've read two of them) is that it features diversity seamlessly. I don't know if anyone has pointed this but I appreciate it a lot. This feels shorter than Parabellum yet still packs so much intensity especially in Tim's recovery journey. This is also worth to note that the book contains heavy, immersive description of cancer treatment so consider it as a content/trigger warning.
Aside of Tim, whose struggle can be related to a lot of readers, I liked Taylor and I hope she pops up more often. The color palette of this book is much like the cover, so a little bit of sunshine is a joy. I was also invested in Tim's relationship with his sister Jessica that thankfully ends in a brighter note. The uniqueness of this book premise confused me at first as to what I can expect from the story: sci-fi, fantasy, or realistic? Turns out the dream part is closer to realistic one, albeit pseudoscientically (is that a word) sounding, so it might be too slow for readers who expect thriller. I too was hoping for more 'action' scene than summary/exposition even when the telling part accelerate my reading speed.
I'd recommend this book for readers who likes an out-of-the-box general fiction, a realistic medical tale, and a non-preachy story that motivates to keep going no matter how hard it seems.
Warning: slight spoiler
Tim Smit is diagnosed with a rare type of cancer and he must undergo countless medical procedure to beat it. While he fights for his life in waking world, he also experiences a strange recurring dream that somehow plays a role in his health development. Is there any connection between consciousness and unconsciousness? And what happens if Tim survives in his dream? Will he survive in reality too?
I like this better than Parabellum because it's more cohesive. And I found the blend between real and dream realm—sometimes resembling an isekai type of story where the hero knows they're in some sort of reverie and realizes whatever they face in that world is conquerable—interesting. I really enjoyed that aspect and I think that's the book's strength.
The thing about Greg Hickey's books (at least I've read two of them) is that it features diversity seamlessly. I don't know if anyone has pointed this but I appreciate it a lot. This feels shorter than Parabellum yet still packs so much intensity especially in Tim's recovery journey. This is also worth to note that the book contains heavy, immersive description of cancer treatment so consider it as a content/trigger warning.
Aside of Tim, whose struggle can be related to a lot of readers, I liked Taylor and I hope she pops up more often. The color palette of this book is much like the cover, so a little bit of sunshine is a joy. I was also invested in Tim's relationship with his sister Jessica that thankfully ends in a brighter note. The uniqueness of this book premise confused me at first as to what I can expect from the story: sci-fi, fantasy, or realistic? Turns out the dream part is closer to realistic one, albeit pseudoscientically (is that a word) sounding, so it might be too slow for readers who expect thriller. I too was hoping for more 'action' scene than summary/exposition even when the telling part accelerate my reading speed.
I'd recommend this book for readers who likes an out-of-the-box general fiction, a realistic medical tale, and a non-preachy story that motivates to keep going no matter how hard it seems.
October 17, 2024
3.5
The author gave me the book to read, but I’ll give it an honest review regardless…
I really enjoyed the storyline — it was quite riveting and I kept wanting to read it to find out what would happen next. Even so, there were moments that I had to use some assumptions to bridge some gaps.
First, very little work was done to tell me who Tim was as a person. I can assume that since his sister stuck by his side and so many medical staff supported him that he was a good guy, but nothing in the book led me to believe he was one type of person or another.
Second, there were a few time gaps between Tim’s treatments that I had to fill in with my own inner exposition. I completely understand that most of these gaps were unnecessary in terms of telling the reader exactly what was happening, but some other authors might have spent a free more sentences tying one scene to the next.
Overall, this was a good, enthralling medical thriller. I didn’t read anything that connected it with Sci-fi… Definitely metaphysics, but not Sci-fi. Worth the read.
The author gave me the book to read, but I’ll give it an honest review regardless…
I really enjoyed the storyline — it was quite riveting and I kept wanting to read it to find out what would happen next. Even so, there were moments that I had to use some assumptions to bridge some gaps.
First, very little work was done to tell me who Tim was as a person. I can assume that since his sister stuck by his side and so many medical staff supported him that he was a good guy, but nothing in the book led me to believe he was one type of person or another.
Second, there were a few time gaps between Tim’s treatments that I had to fill in with my own inner exposition. I completely understand that most of these gaps were unnecessary in terms of telling the reader exactly what was happening, but some other authors might have spent a free more sentences tying one scene to the next.
Overall, this was a good, enthralling medical thriller. I didn’t read anything that connected it with Sci-fi… Definitely metaphysics, but not Sci-fi. Worth the read.
October 30, 2023
This is the third book I've read by Greg Hickey and I've been impressed by the growth in his writing skills with each one. To Build a Dream is an imaginative, medical-heavy sci-fi tale in which the technical details contribute strongly to the believability and depth of the story without distracting from the flow of the plot. Although a lot of nonsense has been written elsewhere about dream interpretation, the reality is that our brains are extremely complex electro-chemical machines and there are deep connections between what happens in your brain and what happens elsewhere in your body. Dreams are especially interesting to think about in light of the hallucinations of Large Language Models as next token prediction takes them down creative but entirely fictional paths. In many ways, we are not that far off from next token prediction machines ourselves when we speak and maybe our dreaming state is the rough equivalent of turning the temperature way, way up on an LLM.
March 23, 2025
ARC
To Build A Dream offers a thematically ambitious exploration of illness, mortality, and psychological unraveling. Tim’s recurring dreams of drowning, confinement, and eventual surrender, mirror the disorientation of serious illness and the internal stress it brings on. This book gestures towards the tension between resistance and acceptance, and the desire to locate meaning in the face of uncertainty. But the execution is a little uneven. The writing often shifts between over-explained realism and strained metaphor, blurring the line between realism and allegory without fully committing to either and over explanations of the unnecessary. As a result, the emotional core of the story feels diluted by inconsistency. What might have been a focused meditation on death, identity, and existential surrender instead reads like a loosely structured draft — thematically rich but narratively underdeveloped. The ideas linger, but the delivery struggles to hold them.
To Build A Dream offers a thematically ambitious exploration of illness, mortality, and psychological unraveling. Tim’s recurring dreams of drowning, confinement, and eventual surrender, mirror the disorientation of serious illness and the internal stress it brings on. This book gestures towards the tension between resistance and acceptance, and the desire to locate meaning in the face of uncertainty. But the execution is a little uneven. The writing often shifts between over-explained realism and strained metaphor, blurring the line between realism and allegory without fully committing to either and over explanations of the unnecessary. As a result, the emotional core of the story feels diluted by inconsistency. What might have been a focused meditation on death, identity, and existential surrender instead reads like a loosely structured draft — thematically rich but narratively underdeveloped. The ideas linger, but the delivery struggles to hold them.
October 12, 2023
Tim has known that there is something really wrong with his health. He had been feverish, with a cough that he could not shake. After passing out at work Tim finds himself through a journey of a rare cancer illness. As Tim navigate his ICU recovery he experiences eerie dreams of endless tunnels that seem to lead him nowhere but also to a place that he needs to go. As frustrating as the dreams are, wanting to know what is at the other side of the tunnel may be the very thing keeping Tim alive.
To Build a Dream is poignant and well executed. The author seamlessly has us travel between Tim’s wakefulness and dream state that often merge to become one realm. It is atmospheric, presenting the harsh realities of the ICU. The relatability of this novel can strike a chord at anyone’s heart as we all have known someone experiencing a grave illness.
To Build a Dream is poignant and well executed. The author seamlessly has us travel between Tim’s wakefulness and dream state that often merge to become one realm. It is atmospheric, presenting the harsh realities of the ICU. The relatability of this novel can strike a chord at anyone’s heart as we all have known someone experiencing a grave illness.
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