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Lucid: A Mind-Bending Thriller
"Eighteen books into the Blackwell Files series, and Steven F Freeman still manages to come up with unique plots that are futuristic and awe-inspiring. There are red herrings galore, and the reader will keep switching between who they think the villain is until the final, unexpected reveal." - Readers' Favorite
When reality isn’t enough…
Lucid Nightscapes, Inc. has introduced the most immersive entertainment experience in lucid dreaming. Clients pick the time and place—a space station, medieval Europe, or a battlefield—and Lucid creates dreamscapes impossible to discern from reality.
But some dreams come at a price…
A secret CIA program to track terrorists in the dreamscape has been disabled, and the deaths of lucid dreamers are starting to pile up. To save the company from ruin, CEO Andy Crenshaw reaches out to government contacts for help.
Assigned to the case, NSA special agents Alton and Mallory Blackwell fight to untangle the truth amidst the twisted realities of Lucid’s imaginary worlds…while being plunged into dreamscapes depicting horrific events from their past. Can the husband-and-wife investigators uncover the truth before perishing in the dreamscape themselves?
When reality isn’t enough…
Lucid Nightscapes, Inc. has introduced the most immersive entertainment experience in lucid dreaming. Clients pick the time and place—a space station, medieval Europe, or a battlefield—and Lucid creates dreamscapes impossible to discern from reality.
But some dreams come at a price…
A secret CIA program to track terrorists in the dreamscape has been disabled, and the deaths of lucid dreamers are starting to pile up. To save the company from ruin, CEO Andy Crenshaw reaches out to government contacts for help.
Assigned to the case, NSA special agents Alton and Mallory Blackwell fight to untangle the truth amidst the twisted realities of Lucid’s imaginary worlds…while being plunged into dreamscapes depicting horrific events from their past. Can the husband-and-wife investigators uncover the truth before perishing in the dreamscape themselves?
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2025
About the author
Steven F. Freeman
199 books80 followersThriller/mystery author Steve Freeman is a former member of the US Army's Signal Corps, a thirty-four-year employee of a large American technology company, and an avid traveler who has visited every continent but Antarctica. His novels draw from firsthand knowledge of military service, the tech industry, and the diverse cultures of our world.
He currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, daughter, and four dogs.
He currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, daughter, and four dogs.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 12, 2026
Imagine stepping into a dreamscape of your choice where you can't feel pain. That's exactly the premise of Steven F. Freeman's Lucid.
Lucid Nightscapes, Inc. has introduced the most immersive entertainment experience in history: lucid dreaming. Clients pick the time and place, like a space station, medieval Europe, or a battlefield, and Lucid creates dreamscapes impossible to discern from reality.
The story follows NSA special operatives Alton and Mallory as they investigate twin murders within Lucid’s dreamscape environment.
The book is gripping and fast-paced. The writing is crisp, and the mechanics of lucid dreaming are well explained.
I was fascinated by the idea of stepping into a dream, and this book delivers on it.
I loved the different scenarios and features of the dreamscape, which made the story feel cinematic. It also features famous personalities and historical figures that the characters interact with.
The murder mystery leans more toward a procedural investigation than a high-octane thriller. The whodunnit element of the book keeps the reader hooked.
The investigation involves many suspects. I appreciated how the author periodically summarises key developments seamlessly into the narrative. This made it easy to keep track of the case without having to flip back through previous chapters. The ending had an unexpected twist and is one of the book's strongest points.
I found the author's note at the end particularly exciting, as it revealed that research into concepts like this is already underway in the real world.
Lucid is a light and interesting read. Anyone who enjoys sci-fi with thriller and mystery tropes will enjoy this book.
This book is a part of The Blackwell Series, but it reads well as a standalone. This was my first book from this author and I am looking forward to reading more of his works!
(I thank the author for sending me a copy of the book. All views expressed are my own)
Lucid Nightscapes, Inc. has introduced the most immersive entertainment experience in history: lucid dreaming. Clients pick the time and place, like a space station, medieval Europe, or a battlefield, and Lucid creates dreamscapes impossible to discern from reality.
The story follows NSA special operatives Alton and Mallory as they investigate twin murders within Lucid’s dreamscape environment.
The book is gripping and fast-paced. The writing is crisp, and the mechanics of lucid dreaming are well explained.
I was fascinated by the idea of stepping into a dream, and this book delivers on it.
I loved the different scenarios and features of the dreamscape, which made the story feel cinematic. It also features famous personalities and historical figures that the characters interact with.
The murder mystery leans more toward a procedural investigation than a high-octane thriller. The whodunnit element of the book keeps the reader hooked.
The investigation involves many suspects. I appreciated how the author periodically summarises key developments seamlessly into the narrative. This made it easy to keep track of the case without having to flip back through previous chapters. The ending had an unexpected twist and is one of the book's strongest points.
I found the author's note at the end particularly exciting, as it revealed that research into concepts like this is already underway in the real world.
Lucid is a light and interesting read. Anyone who enjoys sci-fi with thriller and mystery tropes will enjoy this book.
This book is a part of The Blackwell Series, but it reads well as a standalone. This was my first book from this author and I am looking forward to reading more of his works!
(I thank the author for sending me a copy of the book. All views expressed are my own)
Displaying 1 of 1 review